DieMATIE WOENSDAG 2 MEI 2018 | GR ATIS
SEWE-EN-SEWENTIGSTE JAARGANG | NO 6
Exclusive interview: Thuli Madonsela 7
Sêr het nou ’n nuwe naam 7
Ontmoet die Stofrotte 3
DRAMA BY DROSTDY Die jaarlikse toneelfees het laasweek plaasgevind by Drostdy-teater. ’n Nagraadse groep het as wenners weggestap met hul produksie “UP SIZE 2.0”
Ten academic courses to be “decolonised” over the next two years
Foto: LESKA NETLEY
Decolonisation of courses to commence HAYLEY GRAMMER
S
tellenbosch University (SU) has made plans to decolonise several academic courses over the next two years without consulting student leaders and committees. The programmes to go under review include: Faculty of AgriSciences: Conservation Ecology; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences: BA (Language and Culture); Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences: Bcomm (Mathematical Sciences); Faculty of Education: MPhil in Higher Education; Faculty of Engineering: Aspects of the BEng programs; Faculty of Law: The LLB programs; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: the MBChB program; Faculty of Military Science: Bmil Technology; Faculty of Science: BSc (Earth Sciences) and the Faculty of Theology: BDiv programs. Martin Viljoen, SU spokesperson, said that the decision to decolonise the curriculum is not a new thing. “The SU council gave SU management instruction in November 2016 to think about the issue of decolonisation and to make recommendations on how the University should respond to it. Students are consistently part of the
process in all 10 of the programmes,” he said. However, according to Euwen Etson, chair of the Academic Affairs Council (ABR), the decision to alter the academic offering at SU was not tabled in any committee meeting. “These decisions are usually discussed in Academic Planning Committee meetings on which I serve, but this matter was not discussed at all this year,” he said. Etson declined to deliver any further comment. Lwando Nkamisa, chairman of SU’s Student Representative Council (SRC), also stated that he did not recall the ABR or SRC being consulted on the decision. “This being said, I don’t want people to think of this as management forcing change down the throats of students without consultation, all of these things will be discussed in faculties and faculty committees, which are elected by students. “As discussed in Vision 2030, we always strived to be a truly Africa centered university. This vision was agreed upon by students, stakeholders, the council, the senate and all executive structures of the university,” said Nkamisa.
He also acknowledged that conservatives may feel concerned when hearing the term ‘decolonisation’ since it is not clearly defined and mostly associated with the movement Fees Must Fall (FMF). “We have a large number of students coming from other African countries to study at the University and they are looking for an African experience and an African curriculum at an African university. “This means we will now be more attractive to students from other countries, and it also means that the graduates we are producing will be more aware of what is going on within their continent. All it means is when necessary or possible, instead of learning about studies that are not in our context, we will focus on what is relevant to our country. “SU was isolated for decades and now it is trying to re-enter the market of higher education in Africa. It doesn’t mean we are excluding what was already being taught, it just means we are adding to the curriculum,” he said. Prof. Arnold Schoonwinkel, vice rector of Learning and Teaching, shared Nkamisa’s sentiment.
“We’re not erasing history, we’re teaching students to think critically and to not only accept one viewpoint. This will be done by following a scientific approach and using findings from other sciences to weigh up different methods of research,” he told Netwerk24. Monica du Toit, head of the Transformation Office at SU, said that curriculum renewal is part of what universities do all the time. “Decolonisation is part of looking at the relevance and how we prepare students to be global thought leaders. It is the task of all academics and support staff to do this all the time and not the role of a single person or division,” she said. According to her, decolonisation is not rejecting what we know. “It is helping us to ask questions about what we do not know and learning to value equally.” Du Toit said that students will have access to more perspectives, examples and applications. “Over time I would argue it would inspire creative and relevant content and methodologies.” Du Toit pointed out that conversations about decolonisation
did not only start now. Brenda Wingfield, professor of Genetics at the University of Pretoria, vice president of the Academy of Science of South Africa and DST-NRF SARChI chair in Fungal Genomics, said in 2017 that the decolonisation of education means that a nation must become independent with regards to the acquisition of knowledge skills, values, beliefs and habits. “What’s really important is that South African teachers, lecturers and professors must develop curricula which build on the best knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits from around the world. These cannot be limited to one country nor one continent – be it Africa or Europe,” she said. In a 2016 media release, Prof. Barney Pityana, human rights lawyer, theologian and one of the founding members of the South African Students’ Organisation, said that there has been a backlash against science within the call for decolonisation. “Science is the ability to use collective thinking to solve problems. Much needs to be done to change the misconceptions around science as a western concept,” said Pityana.
2
NUUS
Menseregte Jeugkonferensie Saterdag 21 April is die jaarlikse Menseregte Jeugkonferensie gehou, waarvan die doel was om mense bewus te maak en in staat te stel om hulle eie inisiatief te gebruik vir probleme waar menseregte oortree word, volgens Luke Waltham, UNASA Menseregtekoördineerder. Die geleentheid was gehou in samewerking met Amnestie Internasionaal Stellenbosch en Verenigde Nasie Genootskap van Suid-Afrika (UNASA). “Die konferensie is ’n geleentheid waar mense geïnspireer word om leiding te neem in die oplos van probleme wat lande in vandag se tyd beleef. My eie ondervinding van die byeenkoms was dat dit inspirerend, insiggewend en opbouend was.” Die byeenkoms het uit drie dele bestaan. Die eerste deel was ’n opvoedkundige inligtingsessie waar sprekers die belangrikheid van kwytskelding bespreek het asook verduidelik het hoe kwytskelding werk. Hierdie sessie het ook ’n bespreking ingesluit van hoeveel
menseregte oortredings daar op ’n daaglikse basis plaasvind. Die tweede deel het uit ’n paneel wat vrae beantwoord bestaan. Sprekers van die paneel was Aluwani Ramarumo, SR-lid van transformasie, Professor Liebenberg, staatsregdosent en hoof van Menseregte by US, Nqaba Mpofu, lid van die uitvoerende span van Amandla.mobi, asook Anthony Martin Andrews, speaker van die SR. Die paneel het algemene vrae oor kwytskelding en menseregte beantwoord. In die laaste deel van die byeenkoms is daar gepoog om die bywoners in staat te stel om self met menseregteprojekte vorendag te kom. Die doel van hierdie sessie was om die groepe op te lei om oplossings te vind vir die probleme wat mense in vandag se tyd ervaar. Volgens Vuyokazi Hlwatika, lid van Amnestie Internasionaal, was die byeenkoms inpirerend en bemagtigend. “Mense het weggestap met nuwe moed asook ’n gevoel dat hulle regtig ’n verskil kan maak.” -Heléne Leonard
10% Afslag vir studente Studente sonder sente mag dalk verligting kry in die volgende paar maande. Shoprite en Checkers het op 19 April aangekondig dat hulle supermarkte landwyd sekere weke in die jaar ’n promosie gaan loods waar studente 10% afslag kan kry. Die promosie was oorspronklik slegs geldig vir die 7de Februarie, en ook net vir daardie dag. Die bemarkingsdirekteur van Shoprite en Checkers, Neil Schreuder, het besluit om die promosie regdeur die jaar te loods. “Dit is finansieel baie uitdagend om ’n student te wees, daarom het ons as handelaars besluit om die Studenteafslagweek in te stel,” het Schreuder in ’n persverklaring van Shoprite gesê. Die promosies vind telkens plaas aan die einde van die maand.
Die promosie is geldig vir aankope van ’n minimum bedrag van R1 tot ’n maksimum van R1500 en die koepon kan een keer gebruik word. Die promosie is geldig vir studente tussen die ouderdom van 18 tot 30 en slegs studente met Suid-Afrikaanse nommers kan hiervan gebruik maak. Die promosie gaan plaavind op die volgende datums: 23 Mei - 27 Mei 27 Junie - 1 Julie 29 Augustus - 2 September 26 September - 30 September 24 Oktober - 28 Oktober Studente kan van hierdie promosie gebruik maak deur ’n spesiale nommers te bel wat van toepassing is op óf Checkers óf Shoprite winkels. Daar is ’n opsie om die promosie via SMS, e-pos of albei te ontvang. -Carla Visagie
Studente grom oor SSVO
SENTRUM VIR STUDENTEVOORLIGTING EN -ONTWIKKELING LIAN VAN WYK
D
ie Sentrum vir Studentevoorligting en -ontwikkeling (SSVO) het die afgelope paar weke in die spervuur beland. Dit kom nadat klagtes by die studenteraad (SR) ingedien is deur studente wat voel toegang tot die dienste van die SSVO se Eenheid vir Psigoterapeutiese en -ondersteuningsdienste (EPOD) deur lang wagperiodes vertraag word. Wiann Bester, SR-lid vir studentesukses, voer aan dat die SR van die kommer onder studente bewus is: “Die meeste klagtes wat ons ontvang, is tydens hoë druk- en spanningstye. Dit is gewoonlik rondom eksamens en aan die begin van die jaar tydens die verwelkoming en die registrasietydperk.” Volgens die SSVO se webwerf bied EPOD ’n gratis psigoterapeutiese, sosiale en ontwikkelingsdiens aan alle ingekrewe studente om hulle te help om sukses in hulle studies te bereik. Lizzie Witbooi, ’n maatskaplike werker verbonde aan die SSVO, sê
Sêr name and rules changed for 2018 MARIE MCAJU
Sêr is being renamed to SU Acapella this year and changes are being made to the rules. This change was implemented by KuKo in preparation of the national competition. Blaine Josephs, chairperson of KuKo, said that he and his team recognise that change can sometimes be difficult to accept, but that they feel this is a necessary change. The name was decided on by asking HK members who fill the culture portfolio in their various residences and PSOs to submit suggestions for a new name for “Sêr” and SU Acapella received the most votes by them. Josephs said that the name itself is neutral and “does not push any agendas, but simply states what the competition is”. He also said that “Sêr,” which is derived from the Afrikaans word “serenade” did not truly connote the musical excellence they strive for. “Participants could bring lower standard pieces to the competition in the name of serenade.” Josephs also said that the
perception of what a cappella is in Stellenbosch did not fit the image of how it is perceived globally. “Over recent years the nature of the competition has become more and more prestigious and in line with what is internationally recognised as superior quality a cappella.” According to Josephs, the shift from an Afrikaans to an English name was a factor, but it was not a change that was solely motivated by language. He added that the old “Sêr” competition was Afrikaans-based. “That needed to change because Afrikaans does not represent South Africa as a whole.” Alterations were also made to the rules and requirements of the competition. Previous requirements for Sêr included that each group had to perform an Afrikaans song and any other “multi-cultural” song. Josephs said that KuKo held this in disfavour. “It alienated the other official South African languages, implicitly attenuating the cultural significance they bear.” The new rules state that each group must perform an arrangement from
any South African song in any of the official languages. The “own composition” category, where groups have to write their own songs, can now also be composed in any of the official languages where it had to be in Afrikaans previously. There will also be no prescribed songs in this year’s competition. “The committee found that it does not make judging the competition easier, since groups perform different parts of the song and different lengths of the song as well. “These adaptations serve to help promote artistic excellence, which is something this year’s committee wants to emphasise to the greatest extent.” According to KuKo they want the competition to meet international standards and believe it is time for change in a competition which is widely viewed. KuKo is also focused on promoting professionalism within the competition. Josephs said that the competition is now more focused on the music than it is on the entertainment value. “It’s no longer about serenading, it’s actually about singing.”
dat die behoefte vir maatskaplike dienste onder studente aan die toeneem is: “Tussen 22 Januarie en 24 April het 198 studente van die evalueringsdienste gebruik gemaak.” Hierdie evaluering behels ’n ondersoek van ongeveer 15 minute en is verpligtend vir almal wat vir die eerste keer by die EPOD aanmeld. Die evaluering stel die dringendheid van ’n student se situasie vas en daarna word besluit of die student verdere hulp benodig. “Die SSVO het om hierdie rede die hulp van nog ’n maatskaplike werker ingeroep om in die werkslading te deel. Addisionele ure is vir hierdie tweede maatskaplike werker in plek gestel om optimale dienslewering te verseker,” het Witbooi bygevoeg. Bester het gesê dat die SR kennis dra dat die SSVO net een permanente maatskaplike werker in diens het. Hy het egter bygevoeg dat die personeel by die SSVO baie bekwaam in hulle werk is en dat die sentrum alle studente verwelkom wat van hulle dienste gebruik wil maak.
Foto’s: DANÉ DOOGE
“Die SR het ’n baie goeie verhouding met die SSVO en werk saam om hulp aan die studente te bied. Al is daar kommer onder die studente, moedig ons studente aan om gebruik te maak van die dienste wat die SSVO verskaf deur direk met hulle in kontak te tree of om die SR om hulp te vra, waarna ons die student sal help om met die nodige persone in verbinding te tree,” het hy gesê.
Amnesty helps this winter LUCY BRYANT
The Amnesty International Stellenbosch branch is hosting a clothes and blankets drive to distribute to those in need this winter. The drive commenced on 23 April and will end on 4 May (Friday). Ornila Serga, outreach coordinator of the Stellenbosch Amnesty International branch said that the purpose of the clothing drive is to “honour the physiological need of comfort and shelter as a basic human right”. She added that the outreach done by the organisation includes arranging events such as drives, campaigns and other events that are beneficial to the community. “Outreach done by Amnesty International is a proliferation of our ideologies in a manner that is more tangible and vivid,” said Serage. “It is to bring people the comfort and warmth that has been stripped away from them.” She hopes that the clothing drive will bring about more awareness of the Amnesty International organisation to the Stellenbosch campus. Serage explained that her goal is to
have the clothing drive incite a “spirit of solidarity and servitude among students and to make people who are in positions of privilege understand and think more about the importance of community and giving”. The drop-off points for the donated items are located at Stellenbosch University’s residences, Harmonie and Simonsberg, as well as LLL Village. These items will be donated to The Night Shelter, a homeless shelter located in Stellenbosch. Amnesty International is a “nongovernmental organisation that is committed to the advancement and protection of human rights,” according to their Facebook page. The local Amnesty International branch is run by students and aims to ensure that the organisation transposes what Amnesty International does as a whole and brings that into a Stellenbosch context. Serage said her role as coordinator is to “bring the organisation closer to Stellenbosch communities and to provide support in ways that reflect the organisation’s ideological purpose, which is to protect human rights and to hold those accountable who violate the rights”.
2 Mei 2018
NUUS
3
Maties respond: Residence visiting hours Visting hours in residences have been a hot topic on Stellenbosch University’s campus. Hélene Leonard spoke to a few residents of various residences on campus, asking them what their thoughts are on their residence’s visiting hours.
Munashe Matingo Eendrag
Marloise Du Plessis Irene
Simoné Smit Lydia
Wahnice Du Toit Metanoia
Visiting hours for males run from 7.30am to 11.30pm daily and females are allowed to visit at any time.
Visiting hours for males are from 6pm to 11pm only on weekends. Females are not restricted to a time.
Visiting hours for both males and females are from 6pm to 12am.
“I think it is quite reasonable. Sometimes it becomes an inconvenience since we are here to study. For female residences, the times, I think, can be expanded.”
“Persoonlik glo ek dit is baie billik en gepas vir Irene. Ek kan nie praat oor ander koshuise nie en glo mansbesoek ure is iets waaroor elke koshuis self moet besluit. Ek hou van hoe die ure nou is, maar as ons stem daaroor en die huis besluit saam om dit te verleng, is dit iets wat ons, binne perke, behoort te doen.”
Visiting hours for males are only on weekends – Fridays from 7pm to 11pm, Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 11pm. Females are allowed everyday from 10am to 11pm. “I do not care what the visiting hours are, as long as they are equal. Almal moet onder dieselfde kamp gespan word.”
“Female residences’ visiting hours are not fair. Firstly, there is no equality between the residences regarding visiting hours. What makes it worse is the fact that, at female residences, visiting hours are restricted, yet, at male residences, the hours are more liberal. It becomes a gender issue, where females are allowed less than males.”
Cari Ockhuis Minerva Visiting hours are from 11am to 11pm daily for males. Females are not restricted to a time. “The visiting hours were changed at the beginning of the year because we were not sure if the first years were comfortable with it. But then we made the first years vote on visiting hours and they agreed on the previous male visiting hours from 2pm to 11pm. This personally suits me because it is not too unequal to men’s residences.”
Stofrotte: A group of hard bearded, rugged men, but with soft hearts
DANÉ DOOGE & JANKE VAN SCHALKWYK
Eight Stellenbosch University (SU) students will be participating in the Put Foot Rally to raise funds for underprivileged school children. The Stofrotte will be travelling through six countries in Africa as part of a charitable event taking place from 17 June to 5 July. According to the organiser of the group, BComm Law student Jean “Bakkies” Nel, the Put Foot Rally involves a road trip through several countries in Southern Africa where people all over the world come together to experience a true African adventure. Teams use their own vehicles and meet up at checkpoints at the heart of each country where they engage in charitable activities. The route is approximately 9 000 km, starting in South Africa (followed by Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Malawi) and eventually concluding in Mozambique. The Put Foot Rally uses each checkpoint to collect funds for their official charity, The Put Foot
Photo: JANKE VAN SCHALKWYK
READY FOR IT Back: Jean Nel, Henco Jordaan, James Raubenheimer, Burger Storm. Front; Henning Venter, Tim Peach, Christiaan Beyers, Leonard van Wyk. Foundation. This foundation has two primary objectives: firstly, to provide African children with school shoes and secondly, to maintain the wildlife conservation of endangered animals, such as the rhinoceros. Teams are also encouraged to raise funds to support a charity of their choosing. Teams participating in the rally
will be delivering and fitting the shoes at schools in South Africa, Namibia and Zambia personally. Nel explained that the Stofrotte will be dropping shoes off themselves in Zambia at a school in Livingstone. Each participant is required to raise a minimum of $50 (approximately R620) to qualify to place new shoes
on the feet of underprivileged children during the rally. When embarking on a road trip of this magnitude, a considerable amount of financial resources is required to cover the travelling costs. According to Nel, there are another 2 000 km that they need to cover from Cape Town to the starting position of
the rally, which contributes an additional expense to their trip. Another Stofrot, Tim Peach, stated that the fundraising they are currently doing serves to cover their travelling costs and accommodation for their journey through Africa. “We need your help to get there,” said Peach. “We will be hosting an event at Drum restaurant on 9 May from 4-9pm to gather some funds for our road trip. It is open to students for R30 a ticket and there will be drink and food specials as well as live music,” explained Nel. “If anyone is willing to fund this trip, we can offer you a primary brand placement on our vehicles. We are taking two bakkies through Africa, but we are willing to brand our personal cars that we drive through Stellenbosch,” said Nel. In addition, the group is willing to promote sponsors’ brands on their individual social media pages, providing exposure to a total of approximately 8 000 followers on Instagram.
STUDENTELEWE
4
Student businesses: in style on Instagram Not only are more people starting to post Instagram stories to keep us in the loop about what’s going on in their lives, many students are also using this platform to earn extra money. Willow-Ruby van der Berg tells about these entrepreneurial students whose products add an extra flare to our cupboards.
@xfromtheheart Tassel earrings are dangling their way into our hearts at the moment as they are the perfect accessories for making a statement. This is exactly why Nina Hornlein started @xfromtheheart where she sells her gorgeous hand-made tassel earrings and crochet tops. After laying eyes on her crochet creations, you will also realise that crochet is no longer just something meant for your granny’s cupboard as it was a big trend at Africa Burn this year. Do yourself a favour and get your hands on Nina’s tassel earrings and crochet tops as they are the perfect statement items for you to rock out at Rocking the Daisies this year.
@hitherehighwaist For a long time, high-waisted pants were absent from the fashion scene and were only really prevalent in throwback 80s movies and thrift shops. Today, however, they can be seen everywhere on campus and we would just like to say: “hi there, high waist”. High-waisted pants are essential for creating those Pinterest ensembles and looking like a style queen on campus. Lize Coetzee, a third year BCom Accounting student, started this wonderful Instagram page to spare us the trip to the vintage market at Trumpet Tree or Long Street’s pricey thrift shops. You definitely don’t want to miss out on these little treasures, so give @hitherehighwaist a follow and look out for their posts.
HOW TO:
Get out of your funk REBECCA PITT
“I felt impotent and out of control, and I really hate that,” said Cher from Clueless. As unavoidable as it may be to hit lows from time to time, it is definitely not OK to remain in that space for extended periods of time. Granted, we find ourselves in a rut occasionally, be it creatively, academically or emotionally. However, after a storm comes a rainbow; after a tough week comes a weekend… and we are certainly no exception to this paradigm of resurgence. Dress to get out of your mess Perhaps an easier way to start feeling more put together is to dress as though you have your act together. This lends on the idea that when you look good, you feel good. Create opportunity to interiorise what you have going for you on the outside and it might just prove effective in improving your state of mind. Whilst sipping on your morning coffee and contemplating whether today is a pyjama day or not, opt for the latter. Instead, search for the cashmere sweater you know you shouldn’t have taken from your mom’s cupboard, put on your brows and mission out the door. Chances are, you’ll feel like you can tackle the next thing on your todo list… or at least begin to draft one. Refocus and lower your InetKey Often mindless consumption is paired with our millennial perspective. Frankly, if you only started watching. Game of Thrones last Sunday and you’re now on season 7, you and your
Inetkey are in a serious danger zone. Sometimes binge watching series and taking hour-long naps become an unconscious habit. We need to remind ourselves that it’s more beneficial to reach for our books instead of our cell phones as we repeatedly forget the reason we’re here at all. This is the time to sculpt our opinions and acquire the knowledge and skills we require to have prosperous careers. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with binge-watching, but maybe try binge-reading when you get the chance next time. I get by with a little help from my friends The Beatles said it best and it maintains its applicability to this day. It is widely agreed that we become like those with whom we surround ourselves. Sometimes all it takes is a friend’s humour, spirits or a blunt statement to put things back into perspective. Simply being in the presence of those whose spirits are high and hopeful will remind you that if it won’t matter in five years, don’t spend more than five minutes worrying about it. Shake it like a polaroid photograph Get moving. Science suggests that exercising releases endorphins (the ‘happy cells’) into our bloodstreams – notwithstanding that science also once deemed Pluto a planet, its assertions are correct most of the time. This is evident when you feel good after shaking it all off at De Lapa from time to time. There are many forms of exercise other than sport and gym. Find your fit, set some goals and get moving.
@infamous.laradebruijn You can trust in the talented Lara de Bruijn to make the stylish Stellenbosch University (SU) students go crazy over something as simple as a white t-shirt. De Bruijn, a third year BA Drama student, or better known on Instagram as the @infamous.laradebruijn, decorates our plain white tees with unique drawings such as “Krida Fahlo,” “Donny Jepp” and “Antjie Krog”. Plain white tees are such a classic fashion symbol that even a band decided to name itself after it. Therefore, it is a must-have for everyone, but if you want to stand out in a sea of students wearing these basic white t-shirts, you’ll need to get one of Lara’s creations.
@knot_forhair Scrunchies and head scarves are the new tiaras for SU students because they are such an easy way to add a pop of colour to your outfit and round off your entire look. Of course, it can be quite difficult to find the perfect tiara for you without having to pay an arm and a leg for it. This is exactly why we love the Instagram page @knot_forhair so much. The page was started by best friends Elmé Oosthuizen and Alé Du Toit, who are both third year students. They want to travel the world but need an extra few cents to make this dream possible, which is why they offer us these beautiful scrunchies and head scarves at reasonable prices.
@thatsawrap.kp Not only are wraps a good choice for a light lunch, but wrap skirts and pants also make for enthralling clothing items that can make you look and feel like a fairy on campus. Kristin Pienaar is a third year BA Drama student who started @ thatsawrap.kp and makes elegant skirts and pants for all “shapes, sizes and seasons”. In winter we tend to eat more rusks with our tea than usual which gives us that extra layer of protection against the cold. There is no better way to hide the extra curves than these stunning wrap skirts and pants which are also much more comfortable than your usual skinny jeans.
Sxuirrel - Die “Airbnb” van spasie SURETHA SWART
Michel-John Dippenaar, Henri Bam en Michael Louis het as studente gesukkel met bekostigbare, toeganklike en buigsame stoorplek. “Ons het besef dat tradisionele stoorplek nie regtig deur studente gebruik word nie,” het Dippenaar, ’n oud-B-student, verduidelik. Aan die einde van 2015 het die idee ontstaan nadat daar geen ander keuse was as om hul besittings in ’n voertuig voor hulle koshuis, vir die vakansie te parkeer nie. In April 2016 het hulle ’n kompetisie by die universiteit se LaunchLab gewen en ses maande daarna is die eerste weergawe van die produk bekendgestel. Na ’n jaar van nimmereindigende innovasie het hulle ’n app ontwerp wat stoorplek met individue verbind, genaamd Sxuirrel. “Dis toe ons besluit
het, kom ons connect mense met beskikbare ruimte.” Die doel van Sxuirrel is om ’n gedesentraliseerde gemeenskap te skep wat verbind word deur die behoefte aan stoorplek. Met ander woorde, om die manier waarop mense oor spasie dink, te verander. Die platvorm wat Sxuirrel tans bied is om mense met beskikbare stoorplek en parkeerruimte te verbind met mense wat ruimte benodig. Die nuutste weergawe van ruimte is lokale, wat kreatiewe idees met kreatiewe ruimtes kombineer, soos tuine en restaurante. Die oorspronklike teikenmark was studente, maar nou kan die algemene publiek oud en jonk ook daarby baat vind. Hulle bemarkingstrategie is geleidelike blootstelling soos meer mense daarvan te hore kom. Die oorvleuelende effek wat Sxuirrel het, maak dit ’n maklike keuse,
want dit is een app teenoor byvoorbeeld twee of meer verskillendes. Soos Stellenbosch aan eekhorings verbind word, só word Sxuirrel aan ruimte gekoppel. Dit is dan ook waar die naam Sxuirrel vandaan kom. Die ‘x’ is afkomstig van die app se oorspronklike naam, wat eers Box geheet het. Die ‘scurry’, soos hulle na hulself verwys, is voortdurend besig om die fynere detail aan te pas, “ons is vasberade om iets vir mense te gee wat hulle kan gebruik”. Met ’n paar noterings reeds in Stellenbosch en Kaapstad, is Sxuirrel in die proses om uit te brei na Johannesburg en Pretoria. Uitbreidings na Durban en Bloemfontein is ook in die pyplyn. Die app is beskikbaar op iOS en Android en Sxuirrel se webtuiste bevat al die inligting vir dié wat belangstel om betrokke te raak.
Campus Closet: Cheese & Wine Festival Floral prints were all the rage at this year’s annual Cheese and Wine festival, and all the cool kids were seen sporting sunglass straps. Experimenting was definitely in style with some sleek all-white ensembles standing out from the crowd. Guys opted for laid-back button-up shirts – some bright yellow and some bright and floral. Here are some of Die Matie’s favourite style moments from the festival. Photos: Wianda Gilliland
DAG & NAG
2 Mei 2018
Black Lung is back at it GEORGE VAN DYK
C
ontrary to the lung disease their name references, Black Lung is breathing fresh new material into the South African psychedelic rock scene and aims to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. Birthed in 2012, the band was founded by Dylan Rooibokkie (guitar vox), Justus Kotze (bass, vox, mouth harp, percussion) and Melissa Williams (drums). The band describing themselves as “a group of skaters looking for an outlet”. As of 2014, the Black Lung lineup features Warren Fisher behind the drums, who played his first show for the band at Ramfest 2014. “Being in a band with your best friends, for no other reason than just loving music and wanting to try our hand at it, has led to so many insane, great memories,” Rooibokkie said. When asked about inspiration, it became clear that Black Lung is undoubtably built on friendship, and this solid friendship allows them to produce music in a manner that doesn’t appear to be contrived. “Inspiration is such a cool and weird little beast. Why make art? Why write that poem? I guess we tend to try not to put a finger on it too much. On a simplistic level, making noise with your homies is pretty inspiring
Black Lung Just wants to play music for their audience already. We just let it flow from there,” he explained. This personal, non-corporate approach to art extends to the true nature of the band in a more holistic sense, with the band describing its vibe as one that is full of love while treating everything around us with more respect and less contempt. Tied in with this inspiration and philosophy of sorts is a strong will and determination to keep the South African psychedelic garage rock scene and all that it entails alive. “In terms of our biggest dream, I guess it would be to keep the South African psychedelic garage scene alive,” he said. This support of the psychedelic garage scene isn’t selfish in any sense;
it’s heavily implied that the band isn’t necessarily aiming to be at the centre of attention in this scene. “Our dreams also include creating platforms for new bands while supporting the amazing bands we already have, it’s all happening anyway,” he said. Furthermore, the band expressed an ardent desire to continually progress from one strength to the next. Unsurprisingly, the band is currently working on its third fulllength album. Rooibokkie made it abundantly clear that Black Lung is simply here for a good time that’s built on good vibes. “We’re really not in it to ‘make it’, we just wanna play some songs and hang out.”
Piet Botha: Rockliefhebbers se droom LIAN VAN WYK
Daar doen ’n sêding die rondte dat Afrikaanse musiek in twee kategorieë verdeel kan word: dit wat voor Anton Goosen daar was en dit wat na hom gekom het. Piet Botha se nuutste album, Die Middernagtrein, kom dalk jare na die gloriedae van die Afrikaanse rockvader, maar met ervare vingers reik Piet en sy band, Jack Hammer, terug na die voue van die verlede. In die proses lê hy die soetste vrugte van ’n genre waaraan hy help bou het, voor alternatiewe rockliefhebbers neer. Piet Botha en sy band is al vir jare deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse rockmengsel – soveel so dat hy een van die eerste musikante geword het om in die SA Rock Hall Of Fame opgeneem te word. Hy is van 1981 tot 1983 betrokke by Wildebeest, die eerste Suid Afrikaanse band om rockmusiek met Afrikaanse lirieke te versier en in 1997 stel hy die album Suitcase Vol Winter vry. Vandag is daar Jan Blohm, Karen Zoid, Francois van Coke en Spoegwolf, maar in die ondertone van hierdie rockreuse se musiek, fyn verweef tussen elkeen se unieke bydraes tot die genre, loop die oorspronklike drade van Piet en sy tydgenote se handewerk. Met Die Middernagtrein neem Piet Botha luisteraars reg na die kern van hierdie handewerk. Die 62–jarige rocklegende lol nie veel met die resep wat van sy 2003 album, Die Mamba,
Culture Emporium sweetening the deal EMILY O’RYAN
Photo: SUPPLIED
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Lights, camera, stay woke. The dubbed ‘glass box’ of Huis Russel Botman House is set to host more than your typical ‘dance and dop’ student soirée. Following their successful pop-up event in August 2017, BRAhSSE, in collaboration with Ripchord, have organised what they’re calling the Culture Emporium on Friday, 4 May 2018. Their aim is to create a platform for local artists, designers and creatives in student communities around campus to showcase their creative talents; everything from clothing to critical engagement will be used as a medium to educate, expose and inspire. Festivities will commence at 17.30 with pop-up shops and an art exhibition from student brands Amani Clothing (Ted Wenday), Yours Faithfully (Zachary Magolie), Midare Apparel (Michael Reddy), Thaakierah Abdul (Design Indaba 2018 Emerging Creative) and BRAhSSE. The focus of this time is to socialise and engage. 20.30 until 22.00 will be a time of musical talents, a ‘boiler room’ style DJ performance by Ripchord (Robin Jones) and freestyle student rap. Neighbourhood Entertainment (Ziyaad Jeftha) and Smaak Vriet (Irvin van Rooy) will be added to the mix, providing additional entertainment
and filming of the evening. Pandora had one, every plane has one, Jack has one. Your juice, your mail, your lunch – they’ve all got one: and now the ‘glass box’ at Huis Russel Botman will be added to the list of renowned boxes used for the betterment of its people. Make no mistake, the venue choice is not a haphazard twist of fate. Huis Russel Botman will host the event not only because it is the home of BRAhSSE creatives Shakoer Baderoen and Chad Mockey, but to honour Professor Hayman Russel Botman, a beacon of transformation for Stellenbosch University and our country before his demise in 2014. A visionary, leader and fighter, Botman stood for a welcoming and inclusive university atmosphere. The initiative is a response to the hype following BRAhSSE’s successful pop-up store last year as well as the need to recognise students pursuing entrepreneurial journeys while studying. To sweeten and seal the deal, entry to the Culture Emporium is free. One more time for the people at the back, gratis! Ultimately, it’s a place to enjoy, to educate, to be exposed to emerging creatives and to engage. Expect anything from norm-breaking apparel, to a good jam and an interesting conversation with remarkable students.
Ever heard of PXLS?
Photo: LAUREN THOMAS
PXLS like to keep things as spontaneous as possible LUKE SMITH
iets ikonies gemaak het nie. Hy skaaf eerder en verfyn om ten einde ’n goed afgeronde album voort te bring – sewe jaar na sy vorige een in Afrikaans. Botha gebruik Die Middernagtrein om al sy talente ten toon te stel tot verstommende effek. Met “Catharina” open die album met die egte elektriese akkoorde waarvoor Jack Hammer so bekend is en hierdie tendens skyn in die meeste van die liedjies op die album deur. Daar word egter ruim plek gelos vir Piet se bekende akoestiese klanke. Die album is hoofsaaklik op die stewige fondamente van ’n
paar uitmuntende instrumentele gedeeltes gebou. Die kere wat Piet se rasperstem egter sy regmatige plek tussen melodieë inneem, voel dit soos die stiltes in die oog van die storm. Sy woorde is kort, maar hul boodskap is beslis kragtig. “Daar is goed in die lewe waarvoor mens nie kan weghardloop nie. Dit is maar die noodlot. Dít is wat die middernagtrein is. Dit is spookagtig, verbode, soos wanneer mens huis toe ry ná ’n gig in die middel van die nag. Die Middernagtrein is maar ’n metafoor vir life on the road.” het Piet gesê.
PXLS take the shape and form of a five-piece permanently-evolving psychedelic punk band that is a little rough around the edges, but that is how they like it. The band is made up of Ruan Vos (lead guitar), Lourens Swart (bass guitar), Neil Buchner Jr vocals and guitar) and Rowan Slemon (drummer). The five got together at the beginning of 2017 and have been jamming out ever since. This seems to be the staple of the band - jamming. “We try to keep our shows as spontaneous as possible. Like, before a show we will jam for a bit and whatever we come up with, we try to play that that evening. It keeps things exciting and new,” explained Swart. After a year and a half playing together, the band explained that it is still trying to find its sound and that it is always evolving. “Every time we pick up our
instruments, we find each of us bringing something new to the table,” said Vos. When asked how they would describe their music or who their influences are, the band became very vocal. “We don’t want to sound like anyone else, we try not be influenced too heavily by other bands, you know?” said Swart. However, the band reached a consensus and remarked that at their core, they are a Psychedelic Punk band that is not afraid to push the limits of any genre at any time. PXLS have been busy over the past year performing all over from Die Mystic Boer in Stellenbosch to Trenchtown in Observatory, Cape Town with bands such as Black Lung and Julia Robert. The band has decided to take some time off to focus on their up and coming EP scheduled for release some time in June/July.
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EDITORIAL
editorial/redaksioneel POSITIVITY AND MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE It’s very easy to get down in the dumps about life. Tests are everywhere, food is expensive and sometimes it’s just too easy to get mad at people. During my conversation with Prof. Thuli Madonsela last week (read the interview on the next page), one thing stood out for me: her absolute refusal to become negative or angry at the way the world is. Instead of only blaming those around her, Prof. Madonsela saw the problems the country was and is facing as challenges. She went about solving the problems she saw and
making work of it, instead of merely pointing them out. I think this viewpoint of hers all comes down to one thing: attitude. I know, you’re probably getting flashbacks of your LO teacher in high school telling you that with the right attitude you can accomplish anything that life throws at you. The thing is, maybe your teacher was right. There is something extraordinary about deciding that you are going to tackle an issue head on. There are a lot of things you can’t avoid in life, things
you have to do. You might as well have a positive attitude about those things. I know, someone telling you to be positive isn’t magically going to make you be positive, but it doesn’t hurt to hear it. Of course, it’s very easy to be positive when everything is going your way. It’s also easy to forget that the people around you might be going through a tough time. On the days where you feel your best and you want everyone around you to join in on whatever you are
doing, remember the days when you were not on top of your game. Everyone has their off days, and some people have off weeks or months. Be patient with these people, because you would want them to be patient with you. Onthou ook dat om geduld te hê met mense nie net van toepassing is as dit kom by hulle emosionele welstand nie. Dit is baie maklik om “nee” te sê vir idees of opinies wanneer dit baie ver afwyk van jou eie. Daar is egter ongelooflike voordeel
wat getrek kan word wanneer jy die moeite doen om te probeer verstaan waarvandaan mense se oortuigings kom. Nie noodwendig sodat jy daardie oortuigings kan aanneem vir jouself nie, maar sodat dit vermy kan word om vyande van almal wat nie dieselfde as jy dink te maak nie. Dit is baie makliker om diskoers te voer as jy nie op ’n podium staan nie, maar op dieselfde vlak as die mense met wie jy wil redeneer. Vra jouself altyd af: “Hoekom is my opinie belangriker as die persoon s’n met wie ek nie saamstem nie?”
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GORRELKOP Klaagliedere Gorrel wens die mense wat so mooi sing kan soos die Engelse sê “laaiten ap.” Dis mos nie so erg as Gorrel se liefste Die Matie net skryf oor wat gebeur het nie? Dalk moet die heuningstemme nie dinge sê as hulle dit nie bedoel nie. HK’s is useless maat Gorrel kan eerlikwaar sê dat Gorrel gatvol is vir Gorrel HK struktuur. Gorrel wonder wat maak hulle met hulle tyd. Gmf. Gorrel appreciate dit nie dat Gorrel se squeeze vir 5 dae koue water in haar koshuis gehad het nie. Ha arme voetjies was vrieskoud gewees in die aande. Nee man. Die HK moes dit mos reg ruk. Gorrel is ook baie keen vir lekker biere so nou en dan, maar die HK’s laaik die biere heeltemal te veel. Gorrel is regtig nou moeg hiervoor. Uni worry nie oor mental health Gorrel try nou al vir meer as drie weke ’n afspraak by die uni se sielkundige kry. Gorrel is egter op ’n waglys geplaas. Gorrel is egter nog oukei, maar Gorrel se beste vriend, Borrel, is nie lekker nie. Borrel het regtig hulp nodig en wag ook op die waglys. Hoekom kan daar nie meer sielkundiges wees om te help nie? Mental wellbeing is essential.
But don’t stop saving water!
The gossip behind the news. The truth behind campus politics. Die kommentaar waarvoor almal bang is. Gorrel is nie verantwoordelik vir enige ongerief veroorsaak nie.
Kaas en Wyn is Raas en Pyn Gorrel het darem maar te lekkuh gekuier by verlede naweek se Kaas en Wyn wees. Gorrel is egter nie so bly om weer terug te verkeer klas toe nie. ’n Hele Mei sonder geen vakansie-dae nie. Klas loop. Die babbelas het nogsteeds nie stil gaan lê nie. Gorrel pop maar die panados so tussen deur sy Englandish klasse. Lewe in die oomblik mense Gorrel is ietwat omgekrap vir mense wat heeltyd in Gorrel vasloop wanneer hulle Instagram story. Jy hoef nie alles af te neem om te bewys dat jy daar is of was nie meneertjie of dametjie. Probeer vir ’n slag regtig vir jou maatjie te luister as julle, julle capachinou drink. Jy hoef nie elke keer af te neem as jy by Hazz is nie. Stywe jeans vir finale jaar? Gorrel is nie baie hêppy nie. Gorrel het eerstejaarsindroom gehad, en nou verkeer Gorrel na ’n finalejaarsindroom. Die jeans, die hempde, die truie en die rugbybroekie sit alles styf om Gorrel se goue lyf. Die probleem is Gorrel laaik dit ook nie baie om gesond te eet nie. Gorrel ken van spinasie, maar dit lyk soos iets tussen Gorrel se tone.
Fiat en Mini Cooper Dames Gorrel het op Stellies Rage gesien dat die mense lelik is met meisies wat Fiats en Mini Coopers ry. Gorrel dink persoonlik die meisies wat daai motors bestuur is baie oppit, want Gorrel kry altyd ’n sweet lift en notes van die girlies af. Aca-wat Gorrel wil nou nie snaaks wees nie (alhoewel Gorrel eintlik altyd snaaks is), maar hierdie herbenaming van Gorrel se gunsteling Stellenbosch-tradisie is een te veel. Gorrel sukkel alreeds so baie om sy klasse te kry want al die geboue het nuwe name, maar nou gaan Gorrel sommer sukkel om te onthou wat die sing-kompetisie genoem word. Hoekom mag net die HK’s besluit het oor die naam? Gorrel is immers Sêr se namba 1 fên. Sêr was so lekker vinnig en kort om uit te tik as Gorrel vir Gorrel se maatjies van Gorrel se gunstelinge vertel het. Teen die tyd wat Gorrel nou SU Acapella klaar getik het gaan die liedjies al klaar wees. SU Acapella-krit het ook net nie dieselfde sprankel as Sêr-krit nie. Ai tog. Gorrel gaan maar aanhou om Sêr te sê.
Papsopwinterwaternat Gorrel is baie bly oor al die reën wat die afgelope tyd oor Matieland geval het. Gorrel is nou al so moeg om saam met ’n emmer te stort - en dan duur dit nie eers lank genoeg vir die emmer om vol te raak nie. Gorrel sien uit om darem nou bietjie sy sêr-watook-nie-meer-sêr-is-nie-liedjies onder die stort te kan sing, maar Gorrel weet darem nie of Gorrel so lank onder die stort kan staan dat Gorrel soos Oupa Gorrel begin lyk nie. Dit lyk vir Gorrel of van sy vrinne dink hulle kan nou weer water gebruik asof dit wyn is by ’n onlangse fees vir kaas en wyn. Veral Gorrel se vrinne wat nie self aan die einde van die maand ’n waterrekening betaal nie. Gorrel weet dit sal nog baie moet reën voor hy en sy vrinne hulle ou water-maniere kan uithaal.
Sout en sous Gorrel hoop dat Gorrel se gunsteling redakteur baie sukses sal behaal vandag. Gorrel weet sommer dat die vier van die vyf sal sien dat alles weer lekker moet verloop op Gorrel se liefste kampus. Gorrel weet: Alles klink mooi as iemand anders vir jou woorde voer om te praat, maar dit maak net saak wat in jou hart is
CANVAS / OPINION
2 Mei 2018
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Former public protector on her childhood, the new president and Wim de Villiers
Prof. Thuli Madonsela: No time for cynicism INGRID HEŸDENRŸCH
B
eing thrown back into an academic environment is a welcome break for the country’s former public protector, advocate and professor Thuli Madonsela. “The transition has been fantastic in that people have asked me if I miss the adrenaline and I think it’s too early for me to miss it. “It’s a breath of fresh air to interact with students who don’t have the cynicism that creeps up on you when you’ve seen too much.” Even though she retains the sentimentality that she was thrown in the deep end, she admires the attitude of the students she has taught over the past few months. “I was thrown in the deep end teaching constitutional law to second years. I had done these things, but I was rusty. “So, I had to catch up and I’ve been telling my friends that, at times, it felt like reading in an oral exam.” Madonsela has since stopped lecturing second year students. “I think it was the preparation and the rush. I had taken on a whole lot of other responsibilities, so trying to balance the two was difficult.” She attributes her happiness in the law faculty to her colleagues. “It’s a quintessentially academic environment. They are not cynical, nor are they aggressive. “When I entered the academic environment as a young person, it was fun, but it was also an environment where if you disagreed about ideas, it had to be robust. As a young person, what they considered robust, I considered rude. There is no need to diminish each other to make a point. Now, the discourse is more intellectual than personal.” It was the experiences of her childhood that made Madonsela want to fight for social justice. She said that she never wanted to go into politics, but as a child she saw too many families broken apart by Apartheid. She saw the effects of Apartheid in her own family as well. “My father was a giant. When he asked you to jump you wouldn’t even be asking how high, you would just jump as high as possible. “But as a child I once saw him interact with a traffic officer, who was
change: hope.” Even though this recent change in leadership of the country is positive, according to Madonsela, she reminds us to stay vigilant. “One person cannot change a society. Society needs to have a good leader to set the right temperature, but moving forward the entire body should be ready for change. “You can’t put all your trust and all your hope in him. He needs to be monitored and assisted himself to see the difference being made and to have the conviction to do what is right.” Madonsela believes that solving individual social injustice problems are great, but that the problems underlying it are systematic. “So, you also need a systematic approach to it.” This hope that she finds in President Ramaphosa she sees, too, in the students she teaches. Photo: INGRID HEŸDENRŸCH “Coming back to university, I’ve loved the inspired attitude of THULI MADONSELA Working at SU is a breath of fresh air for the former public protector of South Africa. the young people. They have this a young person, probably 20 or so. university has. If you look at prof. acknowledged the role it played in invincible hope. This sense that ‘yes, Suddenly, my father was reduced to Wim de Villiers when he does the past in entrenching inequality things are messed up’, but each young something I had never seen, saying public speaking and when you have and social injustice. It is now a key person thinks that they are a hero and ‘yes baas’. conversations with him, you can feel role player in working towards an to keep with that is very rewarding. “I think at a young age I realised his genuineness. But he is representing inclusive future. The truth is, the people who have there was something wrong with this an institution that in the past was Madonsela is positive and hopes changed the world are young people.” system, where a grown-up can call a entrenched in isolationism and a that President Cyril Ramaphosa Madonsela is focused on child “sir” and that young person calls divided society.” will also work towards building an continuing to promote social justice. you “boy” or calls you by your first Madonsela thinks that other inclusive future for all South Africans. “I can do it more systematically name. It was a very distorted system.” challenges universities face include “I am extremely positive about rather than case by case, and I’ve had According to Madonsela, her people who suffered injustice or where we are. President Ramaphosa’s so much support. social justice side was evoked by the experience the legacy of injustice and election to president of South Africa “I am excited about mobilising events that happened on 16 June 1976 want “today to be better than yesterday has placed this country back on the sources in civil society and leveraging in Soweto, where she grew up. pedestal. overnight.” goodwill in civil society to advance “I remember even writing a drama “His messaging around building social justice.” Madonsela said that the reality is [piece] about it, although it never that social change is slow and that it a united nation and a South Africa Throughout the difficult times in really got published.” that belongs to all communities have her life, Madonsela credits the women will take time. Madonsela’s motivation was There are also people who are told been unequivocal. He has been very in her life for supporting her. always to help people and to solve that what they used to find normal, is consistent about his message of one “When I was going through trials as cases of injustice. She realised that not. South Africa, one nation. He has also the public protector, like being called praying about injustice was not “You are carrying the burden that been very consistent about correction. a spy, it was women who jumped in enough. was bestowed on you by birth. You He has been consistent in saying we to assist me. Maybe because of their “You’ve got to enter the fray and didn’t personally take someone’s went off track and we need to get back own sense of injustice that they have do your time with it.” land, you didn’t personally invent on track. endured.” Being the chair of social justice Apartheid, you didn’t personally do Above all, Madonsela places value Madonsela thinks that it is easier at Stellenbosch University (SU) is an all of these things. Sometimes you feel on hope. to empower others when you have a “enormous privilege” for Madonsela the challenge is made personal.” “Hope is important, because even sense of your own power. and it gives her the opportunity She added that it is difficult to if things aren’t as organised as they “You don’t have to be powerful to promote social justice more understand legacy issues. should be, with hope you are able to because you are white or in a position systematically. According to Madonsela, she loved transcend that. If things are relatively of power.” Although, she admits that SU does SU’s commitment to building a better good looking, hopelessness makes it At this stage in her life, Madonsela face some challenges. difficult to push forward. [President said she is happy. She is supported by South Africa. “I think branding is the first “Prof. Wim de Villiers has Ramaphosa] has given us the most her partner and her children and does challenge that a historically white been fantastic. The University important thing in terms of managing work that she loves.
OPINION PIECE
Relationships and reciprocity of love
DILLON HENWOOD
I recently attended a wedding and witnessed two of my closest friends tie the knot. What made this particular wedding so beautiful to me wasn’t the sumptuousness or extravagance of the event; it was their ‘redamancy’ – a love returned in full. Every guest was able to recognise an absolute, mutual reciprocity of love between them. It had me thinking, however, about our innate desire to be involved in a relationship and why most do not work out. Also, why do some relationships feel like hard work? What constitutes a successful relationship? We all know someone who invests their all in their relationship while their partner barely tolerates them. Most of the time, the ‘investor’ realises that they’re likely to lose their partner and tries even harder to win them over, and this usually results in an expedited breakup. Here we have a perfect example of
unrequited love. Do we blame the person who didn’t love their partner back or do we hold the investor accountable for pushing their partner away in their forcefulness? A wise friend once told me that you should never invest in someone based on how much you like them. Instead, invest in them based on how much they invest in you. But what about marriage? What if your marital partner stops loving you? And where does faith fit in? I think faith requires a presence of potential. I don’t believe that there is any point in staying married to someone who has fallen out of love with you. Ask yourself this question: are you the same person you were five years ago? I can almost guarantee that your answer is “no”. So, how can you guarantee that you will love your partner in five years from now if you’re both going to change drastically by then, too? I think the answer lies in your willingness to constantly create a
successful relationship. By that, it is meant that the responsibility lies with both parties to bring that success into beingness. Allow me to reiterate that it must be a mutual effort. Confront the problems. Fulfill promises. Appreciate. Listen to understand. Be considerate. Communicate. I’m confident as I make the bold statement that a relationship is successful to the degree that it has effective communication. I have learnt this the hard way: just because you’re shouting, it doesn’t mean that they’re listening. Effective communication requires that what leaves your mouth is absolutely duplicated in the recipient’s brain (along with awareness of your intention). It’s only logical to state that your partner cannot possibly have a reality on your experience of the relationship if you do not communicate with them about it. On the other hand, why do we
stay in relationships we are unhappy in when we see no potential for its longevity? Is it because we want to prove to others that we are capable of sustaining a relationship? Is it to avoid loneliness? Is it for personal gain? Are we fearful that we might not find someone better in a timeline that is socially acceptable?
Perhaps none, some or all of the aforementioned might apply to you. No one should ever be made to feel guilty for wanting to be happy, however. With that said, know when to walk away and do so unapologetically. Just because it’s easy, it doesn’t make it right… but it doesn’t necessarily make it wrong either. Just communicate.
WEDNESDAY 2 MAY 2018 | FREE
Kry daardie parkie gevoel
Foto: MATIES SPORT
MATIES SPORT BIED DIE CENTENARY GAMES AAN Alle studente is welkom en spanne is gemeng.
ANKE VAN DER MERWE
M
aties Sport se atlete is deesdae gereeld in die internasionale nuus. Die rede hiervoor is dat hulle so goed presteer en die koshuisligas is self nie agter as dit by talent kom nie. Vir daardie studente wat nie James Murphy se Blitzbok-vaardighede het nie, is daar ’n ander opsie: die Centenary Games. Sandrugby en futsal (ʼn sport soortgelyk aan sokker) is nie alombekend onder die meeste Maties nie. Hierdie is maar net twee van die sporte wat deur Maties Sport se Eenheid vir Rekreasie en Aktiewe Lewenstyl aangebied word. Saam met netbal, waterpolo en krieket vorm die sporte deel van die Centenary Games wat tans aan die gang is. Die aksie vind alles by Coetzenburg plaas, met die sandrugby wat op die vlugbal se sandbane plaasvind en die res van die sporte op die gras en
netbalbane. By elke sport neem daar spanne van vyf deel, alles gemeng. Dit beteken dat netbal nie net beperk is tot die vroue nie en dat daar geleentheid vir die vroue is om ’n rugbybal rond te gooi. “Daar was effense bekommernis by die aggressiwiteit van die rugby as mans en dames speel, maar daar was al in die verlede gevalle waar die meisies kalmeer moes word,” het Kiran Maharaj, bestuurder by Maties Sport se Eenheid vir Rekreasie en Aktiewe Lewenstyl, geskerts. Vir Maharaj was dit belangrik om die atmosfeer en gees reg te kry by die wedstryde. “Dit moet voel soos toe jy klein was en in die parkie gespeel het,” het hy verduidelik. Daar is dus geen skeidsregters nie, behalwe by die rugby. Die rugby is soortgelyk aan touchies, maar net meer gevorderd. Elke speler kry ’n band wat afgetrek moet word om te dien as ’n tackle. Dié sport is goed vir fiksheid en
kuite. Die krieket werk ook effens anders, aangesien dit ’n mengsel van aksiekrieket en quad-krieket is. Dit word op die tennisbane by Coetzenburg met ’n spesiale mat gespeel. Die sandrugby en futsal vind op Maandae en Woensdae om 19:00 tot 21:00 plaas. Die netbal en krieket vind op Dinsdae en Donderdae, ook om 19:00 tot 21:00 plaas. Met al die sporte kan studente net ’n groep vriende bymekaarkry en opdaag. Die waterpolo vereis egter dat deelnemers vooraf by Maties Sport moet inskryf. Hierdie sporte bied ’n ideale studiebreek aan studente, veral tydens die opkomende eksamen. Studente verwerf punte vir hul Kluster wanneer hulle aan hierdie sporte deelneem. Die Kluster met die meeste punte aan die einde van die jaar, wen ’n kontantprys wat nog bepaal sal word. Studente kan die Maties-app aflaai om op hoogte met die punteleer te bly, asook ander kampusaktiweite.
Res soccer in full swing THEMBEKA NGWENYA
Maties res soccer provides a platform for male and female residences/PSOs at Stellenbosch University (SU) to play against each other and develop players’ potential. This is one of the benefits of the residence soccer league, said Ellroy Smith, Maties Football coordinator. The league consists of two categories, namely: the women’s 5-a-side and the men’s 11-a-side, which is further divided into the super league (top league) and premier league (second division). The year started off with the launch of the knockout tournament which resulted in Huis Marais men’s team and Medics women’s team claiming the title of the 2018 knockout champions. “We might not have been the best ball-playing team in the final, but our determination to win ensured that we won,” said Kyle McKinnon, Huis Marais captain, after they beat Huis Visser. “Our goal for the rest of the season is to be in the top four because it is our first season in the A league,” said McKinnon. He elaborated that it would be gratifying for them to win the league, and their 3-0 victory against Huis Visser gives them a head start. The Medics women’s team has been creating quite the storm for the past few years by continuously landing themselves in the finals and claiming the title. They demonstrated formidable skill during the knockout tournament. They played against Minerva for the first time in the finals, who was only able to hold the game down to the final score of 7-4. Zander Biyo, the captain of Medics, said that their coach, Lwazi Batala, deserves credit for the role he played in their success. “He is nothing short of amazing and we really love working with him. We definitely wouldn’t be where we are without him. Although we’ve come a long way as a team, we definitely still have a lot of work to
do. We look forward to the rest of the season and wish everyone the best of luck,” explained Biyo. The league, however, doesn’t come without its challenges and disadvantages, more so during this drought-stricken season, where all the fields are prohibited from use. This has placed pressure on the committee in terms of all the teams playing on only one astro field for the men and one for the ladies while accommodating the Maties Football Club training sessions. The women’s 5-a-side games frequently experience issues involving unavailability of players, causing friction and conflict among the residences. Zia Jonathan, one of Irene’s players, proposes that it is likely resultant from the perception that soccer is predominantly a male sport that some women feel soccer is less suited to them. According to Jonathan, when women do end up joining the games, most do not take it as seriously as they would other sports. “Also, some of them do not know what is required of them because soccer is not just about kicking a ball around as most people make it out to be,” said Jonathan. The fact that the players are students creates challenges in terms of balancing studies and playing during evenings when most tests and studies are scheduled. McKinnon mentioned that they are still working on their team to get a kit for the house “since soccer is not such a big thing in this house and we are working on building up a new culture and tradition”. Maties res soccer, thus, aims to challenge social norms by providing a formal platform for competition, drawing awareness to the sport and identifying untapped potential at the University. The official league games commenced on 16 April and will continue for the remainder of the year. The games take place on Monday to Thursday from 18.15 at Lentelus Sportsground (Goldfields).
Ontvangers van Bettie Harmsen-beurs wil in die gemeenskap belê
LISA DE CLERCQ
Om terug te gee aan die gemeenskap is die idee wat sentraal tot die Bettie Harmsen-studiebeurs lê. Dit is ook wat die Maties Gardeo Isaacs en Justine Palframan, die eerste ontvangers van die studiebeurs, beplan. Bettie Harmsen het in 1989 haar HonsBSc in mediese biochemie aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) voltooi. Volgens Maties Sport se webblad was sy ’n entoesiastiese atleet wat na haar gemeenskap omgesien het. Enkele dae voor sy in 2016 aan kanker oorlede is, het Harmsen en haar man besluit om ’n studiebeurs vir belowende US baan- en veldatlete te stig. Volgens Maties Sport se webblad het die familie hulleself voorgeneem om vir ten minste 10 jaar ’n skenking van $10 000 te maak.
Gardeo Isaacs is tans ’n tweedejaarBCom-student en spesialiseer in die 200 m en 400 m. Hy het saam met die Boland-span ’n silwer medalje in die 4x400 m-aflos gewen en ook die finale ronde van die 400 m by SA-kampioenskappe gehaal. Isaacs het eers op hoërskool kompeterend aan atletiek begin deelneem, maar het gesê dat hy nie dieselfde persoon sonder atletiek sou wees nie. “Atletiek het my oor dissipline, toewyding en deursettingsvermoë geleer,” het hy gesê. Justine Palframan, wat die studiebeurs met Isaacs deel, is ’n HonsBSc (Biokinetika)-student. Sy is die SA-kampioen van die 200 m en 400 m, het twee medaljes by die Wêreldstudentespele gewen het en sy het in 2016 aan die Olimpiese Spele in Rio deelgeneem.
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Palframan het ’n passie vir atletiek en voel dit is deel van haar doel op Aarde. “Ek hardloop om God se naam te verheerlik,” het sy gesê. Op die oomblik berei Palframan vir die atletiekwêreldbeker voor wat gedurende Julie in Londen gaan plaasvind. Haar raad aan voornemende atlete is: “Wees passievol en werk met die doel om die mikpunte wat jy vir jouself gestel het te bereik. Dit is wat jou deur die moeilike tye sal kry.” Isaacs werk op die oomblik daaraan om die Suid-Afrikaanse studentespan te haal wat gedurende Julie in Botswana aan die CUCSAkampioenskappe gaan deelneem. Sy boodskap aan ander atlete is: “As jy terug gee aan jou gemeenskap sal jy in die toekoms groter seëninge ontvang. Moet ook nie vergeet om hard te werk nie.”
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Foto’s: VERSKAF
BEURSHOUERS WAT PRESTEER Baanatlete Justine Palframan en Gardeo Isaacs is die eerste ontvangers van hierdie studiebeurs. www.diematie.co.za
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