Die Matie - 20 April 2022

First things first: Know your status

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ccording to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the “HIV prevalence rate is approximately 13,7% among the South African popula tion”. This number, according to Stats SA, is even higher amongst young people, especially young women. According to the official Twitter page of the SU Student Representative Council (SRC), this is why Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Equality Unit led a “First Things First” wellness campaign (FTF) in the Neelsie’s VroueVereniging Hall (better known as the VV Hall) from 5 to 8 April. These campaigns are supported by Higher Health and take place at all higher education institutions in South Africa.

Students had the opportunity to be tested for HIV and could get screened for sexually transmitted diseases as well as tuberculosis. They could also receive further in formation on other important med ical issues, such as breast examina tions, pre exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP (medication used to prevent HIV infection), as well as informa tion on the termination of pregnan cy and medical male circumcision.

Michelle Munro, manager of the Equality Unit’s HIV and Sexu alities Portfolio, believes the cam paign was a success after its first

run since the COVID-19 lockdown started. “We aimed to screen and test at least 100 people per day, and we reached this goal by test ing just over 500 people over the four day period of the campaign,” Munro said.

Although the Equality Unit took responsibility for the over all organising of the event, they collaborated with multiple in ternal health partners (such as the Campus Health Services and QueerUS), along with external groups, such as Sonke Gender Justice, Higher Health, Gender DynamiX, Triangle Project, TaMa ties, Marie Stopes South Africa and atHeart. Takealot vouchers were up for grabs for students who took part in the lucky draw.

Sebastian Foster, a final-year LLB student and vice chairperson of the Academic Affairs Council, also took part in the initiative and believes it is a “great idea”. He affirms that it is important that these campaigns be run by the university and supported by stu dent leaders in order to reach as many students as possible.

Munro voiced a similar opin ion, saying, “Student leaders should lead by example by sup porting these initiatives and hav ing themselves tested openly; they should also encourage and provide opportunities for other

students to improve their know ledge and know their HIV and other health status[es]. We ex perience great support and buy in from both [the] SRC and TSC [Tygerberg Societies Council], spearheaded by their wellness portfolio members.”

Owethu Mbele, a second year BA (Human Resource Manage ment) student, decided to get tested after he received an email from the campaign managers. It was his first time getting tested, and he believes it is important to break the stigma surrounding sexual health.

He thought it was important to get tested, even though “[he] knew [he] was going to be negative, [be cause] if more people do it . . . [oth ers] might feel more comfortable to

go ahead and get tested.”

Professional nurses conducted the tests. The HIV test, in particu lar, involved a finger prick, said Skye de Pontes, a second-year BA (Humanities) student. “It didn’t hurt, although my finger bled quite badly.”

She described the experience as “really well run” and said she would get tested again, seeing as it was free to all students.

Students who want to get tested for HIV can receive free, reliable and confidential support and test ing at the Huis Simon Nkoli House from 13:00 to 16:00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The HIV and Sexualities port folio also provides free support and workshops upon request at hiv@sun.ac.za.

FEESTYD Talle gretige studente het op Saterdag 9 April een van Suid-Afrika se grootste musiekgeleenthede bygewoon. Liefde By Die Dam, ’n Afrikaanse musiekfees vernoem na die bekende Valiant Swart-snit, het ná die verligting van die ramptoestand ‘n skare toeskouers in Kaapstad by Meerendal Wine Estate verwelkom. Photo: Karmen Wiid

ILA ALBERTS

Postgraduate scientific research booming at SU

HOLLY MELLIN

Stellenbosch University (SU)’s Science Faculty has a long history of being a frontrunner in global research and development, with its polymer science research department ranked first in Africa. This is according to Dr Ndumiso Sibanda who, along with Dr Christina Meiring, recent ly added to SU’s plethora of scientific innovations.

Sibanda recently received his PhD for his research on, and development of, a polymer chemistry method that breaks down lignin, a byproduct of the paper-making process.

“The main purpose [of] the innovation is to valorise lignin by breaking it down into value-added compounds via a process called ‘lignin depo lymerisation’,” said Sibanda.

The method also prevents recombination reactions, which are when depolymerisation is reversed through condensa tion and other mechanisms, explained Sibanda.

As the process is still under pilot testing before it can be

implemented, Sibanda’s work is not done just yet. “It is important for us to conduct upscaling experiments and conduct reproducibility tests for the bigger batch sizes to ensure that there is a replication from low scale to bigger batch sizes,” said Sibanda.

Furthermore, with the transition from the laboratory into the indus trial space for practical application, new challenges such as transition ing from conventional methods to more sustainable ones arise, but Sibanda‘s morale remains high.

“The drive for sustainability as a polymer scientist has stimulated in me an approach of creative innova tion and tailored scientific solutions to critical sustainability challenges facing the polymer, pharmaceutical and plastics industry,” he said.

Regarding what drove him to pursue his PhD in this field, Sibanda said his zeal for chemistry started at an early age. “My passion for chem istry was ignited at high school. People say money makes the world go round, but to me, chemistry makes the world go round. I fell in love with chemistry because it is the bedrock of science.”

Meiring also recently received her PhD on 5 April for her re search on the genetic diversity of

the endangered African wild dogs. She explained that her research was conducted using whole genome sequencing and that the research considered how the lack of genetic diversity of wild dogs is causing the species to become more endangered and susceptible to diseases, such as Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB).

hoping that this study will provide the foundation to develop genomic profiles [that] can be used for stra tegic population management. This genome database is incredibly val uable and will allow for the genetic comparison between different wild dog populations.”

Conservationists will be able to use Meiring’s work to relocate wild dog packs to different game reserves, mimicking natural disper sion. This will increase the genetic diversity of the wild dog offspring, thereby preventing the loss of the species.

fourth industrial revolution, and grow the local economy,” said Prof Frikkie Scholtz, vicedean of research of the Faculty of Science. Furthermore, SU’s research leads to products that can be produced locally and even forms start-up com panies like BioCODE, which create more job opportuni ties and add to the economy, added Scholtz.

“A machine determines the order of nucleotides (adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine) in DNA. Knowing the order or the ‘sequence’ of the nucleotides across the entire genome (all the nucleotides across all the genes) of an individual (or a wild dog in this case) enables us to look at differences in genes and de termine many things related to their health and the potential of them to survive in the future,” said Meiring.

Meiring‘s research will form a baseline for conservationists who are trying to preserve the critical ly endangered species. “We are

Meiring’s research also identi fied that African wild dogs contract bTB from their prey. “The ability to diagnose and understand bTB across different species may pro vide the opportunity to develop more effective strategies to control or prevent the spread of bTB. It is an important goal for the Animal TB Research Group to continue working on improving bTB detec tion methods in wildlife,” Meiring explained.

“By training postgraduate stu dents in our research programs, we build high-level human capacity in the country that can support in dustry, especially in the light of the

BioCODE Technologies is a “spinout company” of SU and “is developing a sensor that can detect novel circulating inflammatory molecules in the blood”, according to the com pany’s website.

As SU’s Faculty of Science continues to grow and become even more involved in global scientific advances, Sibanda addresses aspiring scientists by saying, “The world needs you to bring innovation and advancement; therefore, [you should] study . . . . The road to success is not always easy, and at times not straightforward, but with that comes the ability to think in other terms to over come whatever obstacles come your way.”

Halaal certified residences scarce on SU campus

O

f the 31 undergraduate residences on the Stellenbosch Universi ty (SU) campus, which houses approximately 6500 students collec tively, only five are certified to serve halaal meals. These residences include Metanoia Residence, Irene Women’s Residence, Goldfields Residence, Harmonie Women’s Residence and Monica Women’s Residence. This is according to SU’s webpage about student accommo dation.

Jienaan Ishmail, a first-year BOccTher student, explained that halaal food is “food that is safe for us [Muslim people] to eat.”

She explained that if a business or catering place serves pork then it is not halaal, and added that some establishments might not be halaal but are halaal friendly. In these cas es such establishments may serve pork; however, they use different facilities and tools to prepare halaal food and have measures in place to prevent cross contamination. For example, a halaal friendly restau rant may “use a different grill” to prepare halaal food.

This is specific to the preparation of meat, which must not be in con tact with pork or pork derivatives (such as oil from pork) and must be “ritually slaughtered”, according to the South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) website.

According to Martin Viljoen, SU’s media manager, the univer sity has a transformation plan that “prioritises and expands initiatives of social inclusion, which promotes a welcoming and enabling insti tutional culture as well as student access and success”.

In alignment with this plan, Viljoen said that SU “has, over the years, added facilities to cater for Muslim students. Initiatives include the prayer room in the Neelsie and,

importantly, continuously expand ing on the kitchens catering for Muslim students.”

Muslim students who are placed in residences that do not serve halaal meals can book meals at a residence that is certified to do so and either eat there or fetch their meals and eat elsewhere. Most stu dents opt to book these meals from a residence that is in the same clus ter as them, according to Azihaarah Ebrahim, a third-year BAcc student.

Ebrahim, who orders her food from Metanoia Residence, said that “there [is] a variety of halaal op tions to choose from at the halaal certified residences.”

Halaal meal options available at the residence include “vegetarian, lifestyle, protein, lokal, standard and chicken surprise meals,” says Ebrahim.

According to Viljoen, this in formation is also available on SU’s webpage about “halaal meals on Stellenbosch Campus”. The option to book halaal meals at a halaal cer tified residence is not only available to students who stay in the universi ty residences. Muslim students who stay in private accomodation and are part of Private Student Organ isations (PSOs) can book at halaal residences within their cluster. This means that Venustia PSO and Pieke PSO, as part of Rubix Cluster, can book meals at Metanoia Residence, and students who in Aristea PSO and Vesta PSO, in the Wimbledon Cluster, can book their meals at Irene Women’s Residence. The deli in Huis Russel Botman House also serves halaal takeaways and is available for use by students who are part of the Wimbledon cluster.

Layla Adams, a second-year BA (Sport Science) student, said that the limited number of facilities that serve halaal food is “a big problem, . . . not just amongst residences [but] also in Stellenbosch in gen

eral. There are very limited halaal places to eat on campus for Muslim students and those that eat halaal food.”

Adams went on to say that “not all the residences need to have halaal catering services, but at least half should have to accommodate for Muslim students and those who eat halaal food.”

Aashiqah Salie, a third-year BAcc student and member of Nemesia Women’s Residence, says that her residence does not serve halaal meals and she has to eat at Metanoia Residence.

“The walking to and from Metanoia everyday does take some time, but sometimes I’m coming back from campus, so it’s on the way. I don’t particularly mind it [because I have gotten] used to it al ready. It would be more convenient if there was a halaal kitchen closer,” said Salie, who also added that she has not heard of any processes be ing put into place for halaal meals to

be delivered to Nemesia Women’s Residence.

Saadiqa Petersen Palekar, a fourth-year LLB student who lived in Sonop Women’s Residence, on the other hand said, “It’s a bit of an inconvenience to walk to halaal res idences . . . during meal times, espe cially with the limited time on our hands, and it’s unfair that our peers can just go down to the dining hall and their food is ready for them.”

According to Viljoen, many res idences that do not serve halaal meals have these meals delivered to them; however, “[residences] that [do not] have this option yet can simply make the necessary arrange ments with the relevant caterers in that particular residence.”

This process is one that is used in Sonop Women’s Residence in collaboration with Irene Wom en’s Residence’s catering services.

Petersen Palekar said that although halaal meals were not delivered to Sonop during her first year, in

2020, processes were put in place for them to be ordered from Irene Women’s Residence and delivered to Sonop Women’s Residence.

These processes, according to Petersen Palekar, were put in place after attempts to have Sonop Women’s Residence catering ser vices certified to serve halaal food failed due to “many difficulties”. These difficulties may be due to the certification process that estab lishments must undergo to receive certification.

Marzuq Alexander, Cape Town Office Manager of SANHA, said that in order to receive certifica tion, an establishment must make an enquiry at a certifying body and provide a “letter of intent”. There after, further information must be provided if necessary and an appli cation is made. The establishment will then be required to pay a onceoff fee and a recurring fee and be subject to “ongoing monitoring” to ensure it remains halaal.

LESEDI MNISI

DINNER TIME A caterer serving halaal food to students in Monica Residence, one of the few residences certi fied to prepare halaal meal. Photo: Chéyenne Britten

The world needs you to bring innovation and advancement

Studentelewe

Earth Week: Celebrating eco-consciousness

SKYLA THORNTON

the clothing swap.

F

arth Day is celebrated world wide each year on 22 April, a date which marks the anniver sary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. The day is typically used to high light environmental protection and preservation through eco-con scious activities, such as tree plant ing or mass-participant cleanups. By extension, the week preceding Earth Day is celebrated as Earth Week—even the whole month can be dedicated to the cause.

EcoMaties, Facilities Manage ment, SRC Sustainability, Academ ics for Development and United Nations Association of South Afri ca (UNASA) Stellenbosch Univer sity Chapter have collaborated for this year’s Earth Week, and have planned a series of events to run from 18 to 23 April.

“The first Earth Week that Stellen bosch is hosting is set to be a memo rable one! Students from diverse so cieties, faculties and ages have come together to organise a string of en vironmentally focused events, from informative climate change talks to a sustainability amazing race, to a green market on our very own Rooi plein,” said Megan Farquhar, Eco Maties secretary and co-planner of

“There is an event to meet every person’s interest.”

To start off Earth Week, there was a poster painting session on the Rooiplein on 19 April, which was followed by the Amazing Race on 20 April, and there will be a film screening at the AmaMaties Hub on 21 April. The green market is happening on 22 April on the Rooi plein, and there will be a commu nity cleanup in Kayamandi and clothing swap at Jan Marais Nature Reserve on 23 April. A seminar series is being held in the CoCreate Hub between 19 and 21 April along with other activities throughout the week.

Matthew Wingfield, PhD candi date and co-planner of the climate seminar series for Earth Week, said, “In my time as a Stellenbosch student (since 2015), I don’t think I’ve seen [many events arranged] for Earth Week, so it’s a welcome change, and I am excited to see how we can deal with climate change on a practical level [and] in a way that engages with a wide range of students.”

“As we all know, the need to take care of our home is becoming increasingly important, and I am so glad sustainability is increas ingly featured on the university’s

agenda this year. If we don’t have a planet to live on, almost nothing else matters,” said Nina Hugo, chairperson of UNASA Stellen bosch University Chapter.

“The projects that are planned are going to be wonderful opportunities to educate and get students involved in the case against climate change, and we look forward to helping to facili tate them.”

Earth Week is a promising en deavor and has the potential to be come an annual event series at SU, growing in magnitude and reach every year. It can serve as a plat form to promote environmental consciousness through engaging activities, to open conversation, and to promote accessibility to students—especially those who are not passionate about envi ronmental movements, or those who are curious to know more or expand their understanding.

“My hope is that Earth Week will have big and little effects— from encouraging our univer sity, to pushing for sustainable policies, to inspiring just one in dividual to make greener lifestyle choices! And [the dream is to] do this all in a sustainable way,” said Tessa Brooke, SRC Sustainability portfolio manager.

Cause you’re hot then you’re cold

ARSHIA RAMLUCKUN

They say it is altyd lente but right now, it is altyd confus ing here in the town of Stel lenbosch. The weather has us all confused, and students’ rooms—which look like their wardrobes exploded—are proof. Let Die Matie paint a pic ture for you: imagine a typical dorm room, then imagine jack ets thrown over chairs. In the mix are scarves ranging from light silk to heavy wool, then on the foot of the bed, a pile of clothes resembling Mount Crumpit from The Grinch. The weather is sending more mixed signals than your latest crush.

Reading these signals is not easy, but Stellenbosch students have risen to the task and are taking this challenge by the horns with their impressive, not-something-you’d-seeevery-day style.

Talitha Koen, a first-year BCom (International Business) student, is looking stunning in her outfit. The white shorts paired with a white jacket and maroon top are great for the days when you feel a slight crisp coolness in the air, but once you get walking to classes, your body temperature begins to rise. This ensemble will prevent you from overheating.

Shayla De Leeuw, a third-year BEng (Electrical and Electronic) student, is proof that even though it is still April, the weather can have students dressing as if it is winter. The light beige polo neck is breathable so as not to overheat easily, while her green sweater in hand shows just how prepared she is for when the weather decides to turn at midday.

Rachel Jonker, a third-year BCom (International Business) student, can be found on campus rocking her light blue, fluffy pullover paired with blue jeans and sneakers.

This outfit is perfect for when the sun is out but the wind is blowing, because you do not overheat but your chest remains warm.

My light beige boots and widelegged, fleece pants provide the perfect amount of comfort and warmth to my legs, and the white wool scarf around my neck keeps me warm and can be wrapped around myself to treat the occasional goosebumps.

ROOIPLEIN Be sure to check out the Earth Week events happening on the Rooiplein! Photo: Skyla Thornton

PROTEST Students stand together for climate justice at the climate strike held at Stellenbosch Town Hall on 25 March. Photo: Skyla Thornton.

And then there is me, Arshia Ramluckun!

Between the pages

Xorld Book Day, also known as World Book and Cop yright Day, aims to promote reading, publishing and copy righting amongst individuals. The day links together the past and the future, people across different generations and cul tures, and lovers of different genres.

Each year, World Book Day is celebrated on 23 April to commemorate the anniversary of several prominent authors’ deaths, including William Shake speare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. This annual event, which was start ed in 1995, is organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organ isation (UNESCO) along with international organisations rep resenting the three major sectors of the industry—publishers, booksellers and libraries—to create a platform to bring peo ple across the globe together through the world of words.

“There is always something new to experience and to learn from a book, no matter what age you are,” said Amanda van Rhyn, the national marketing and publicity manager of Penguin Random House Publishers.

“Days like World Book Day provide a platform to further nurture this passion for reading and expose young readers to various genres and broaden their minds.”

In celebration of the upcoming World Book Day, Die Matie spoke to a representative of the book industry based in Stellenbosch: the quaint and colourful bookstore, Stellenbosch Books.

Located on Andringa Street, Stellenbosch Books is an independ ent bookstore whose curation aims to have customers linger a little longer. With reference to World Book Day aiming to promote a lifelong love of literature and integration into the world of work, Sarah Emery, manager of Stellenbosch Books, be lieves that reading and copyright ing are integral parts of life and any vocation.

“If one sees reading and the celebra tion of literature as a positive thing and not a chore, then it immediately brings a sense of peace,” said Emery.

“Reading and copy[righting] [are] integral part[s] of life and any vocation, so reading for pleasure encourages this positive association and makes the day-to-day tasks as sociated with work more bearable.”

During the pandemic, individuals had to find ways to keep themselves busy whilst they were isolated in or der to stimulate their minds and re store their creativity—this is where books came in. “Imagination is para mount to happiness, in my opinion, and it brings colour to a world that

can sometimes be dull,” said Emery. “If one is not actively participating in their life and stimulating their mind, then it is impossible to find joy in the day-to-day, especially during the pandemic.”

In preparation for this year’s World Book Day, UNESCO en courages individuals to challenge themselves by exploring new topics and genres outside of their ordinary selection. According to Emery, this correlates with the stimulation provided by read ing, as it expands readers’ minds to new points of views, which, she believes, prevents them from “becoming one-dimensional”.

With reference to our ever-ex panding digital world, Emery believes that the power of print will not easily or soon be pushed aside. “I think that we will always

have the written word. There is something very powerful about putting pen to paper, and I see tangible books sales still sur passing their electronic counter parts globally,” stated Emery.

Van Rhyn seems to agree with Emery and believes that printed books will never become irrel evant, as the printed book is something that will always be with us. “A printed book has that physical appeal—a beauti ful cover, the smell of a new book, the texture of the paper [and] the author’s signature in front (if you’re lucky enough to get it),” Van Rhyn stated.

“People will always want stories and knowledge, and my hope is that they find it in the printed book, which is also beautiful to put on their shelves and which they can share with other book-lovers so that fu ture generations can share and engage with them too.”

This year, on 23 April, Van Rhyn and the team at Penguin Random House Publishers will be celebrating World Book Day by telling readers about their latest unputdownable books, whilst Emery will be celebrat ing the day by working at the beloved bookstore and return ing home afterwards for “a cup pa and a good fiction read”.

By celebrating books and copyright across the globe, World Book Day stands up for creativity, diversity and equal access to knowledge, and invites book-lovers to join in on celebrating the world of words hidden between the pages.

Die Matie se feesoorlewingsgids

ANAKIN CURTIS (VERTAAL DEUR MIEKE DE WET)

Toe oom Cyril die einde van die na sionale ramptoestand effektief vanaf middernag op Maandag 5 April aangekondig het, het hy ook onbe wustelik die sluise vir die feessei soen oopgetrek. Soos die feesseisoen weer begin, verskyn die probleem van eerstekeer-feesgangers wat net een paar skoon onderklere inpak en wat hulle ook al kan insmokkel met dié wat hulle op die oomblik dra. So om die skade veroorsaak deur sulke haastige besluite te verminder, het ons besluit om ’n lys van moet-in pak-items saam te stel.

DIE BASIESE BENODIGHEDE

Voordat jy jou pick-up line om tus sen sets in iemand se oor te skree, begin oefen, moet jy eers seker maak dat al jou admin in orde is. Dit sluit goed soos jou ID, kaartjies, kamp permit en bankkaart (indien daar ’n kontantlose kroeg is) in. Maak ook seker om ander belangrike goed soos ’n waterbottel, sonbrandroom, ’n handdoek en, as jy gaan poog om te slaap, oorpluisies in te pak. Net in geval van besering is dit ook ’n goeie idee om ’n noodhulpkissie in te pak. Sluit pleisters, ontsmettings middel en handreinigingsmiddel in. Hou al hierdie goed in ’n rugsak, en maak seker dat jy weet waar dit te alle tye is.

KAMPTOERUSTING

As jy na ’n naweek-lange fees gaan, sal jy ’n tent benodig. ’n Ska re mense kan uitputtend raak, so maak seker dat jy ’n gemaklike plek inrig waarnatoe jy kan terugkruip. Bring ’n slaapsak, komberse en ’n paar kussings saam. ’n Lugmatras behoort ’n goeie aand van slaap te verseker, maar as jy nie baie spasie het nie, sal ’n jogamat ook werk. Eindelik, slaan ’n kampstoel voor jou tent op om jou tuiste vir die naweek af te rond. As jy waarde volle items soos ’n kamera of ’n skootrekenaar saamneem, maak seker om jou tent toe te maak en wees waaksaam.

TOILETWARE

Toiletpapier, tissues en wet wipes Wanneer die ry buite die stort te lank is en jy het geen ander opsie nie, dan is ’n pakkie wet wipes en ’n paar bottels water die manier om te gaan. Insekmiddel is ook baie waardevol as jy in ’n area met bosse is.

KLERE

Soos ons die kouer tyd van die jaar betree, kan weervoorspellings misleidend wees. Moenie vir

die idee dat jy nie ’n baadjie sal benodig nie en dat jy eenvoudig “jouself warm sal dans” val nie. Bring ’n hoodie vir wanneer dit donker raak. Jy kan ook enigiets anders dra waarin jy gemaklik is, maar wees reg vir die koue.

KOS

As jy toegelaat word om kos te bring, hou eerder by onbederfbare kos. Tente kan warm word, so ver my kos wat teen hoë temperature bederf kan raak. Voedselvergiftig ing is nie lekker nie, veral nie as jy ook babelas het nie.

As jy na ’n daglange fees gaan, soos die opkomende Rocking Stel lies, hou net by die basiese beno dighede. Die belangrikste goed om te onthou is sonbrandroom en wa ter. Maar wees versigtig: net omdat somer verby is, beteken dit nie dat jy kan wegkom met ’n lae SPF nie.

Onthou dat sonbrand tot dehidra sie kan lei en dit meng nie goed met alkohol nie, so maak seker dat jou waterbottel vol is en smeer weer jou sonbrandroom aan nadat jy geswem het.

Hierdie lys is glad nie uitvoerig nie, maar dit noem wat noodsaak lik is om te weet as jy ’n aangename feeservaring wil hê. Lekker jol!

CAMPUS QUOTES

“Ek vertrou mos nie ‘n pres ident wat korter as ek nie.” - Zelensky-aanhanger wat kommentaar lewer oor Po etin

“I’m in a bit of a haze and a lot of panic.” - Student after seeing her ex at a Varsity Cup

“Wag, moet mens jou bed degoed meer as een keer ‘n kwartaal was?” - Deurmekaar student

“I started writing and was like, eh, it’s a public holiday and am i not a member of the public?”

- Student talking about an assignment not due on Hu man Rights Day

“Well, I guess eerder ‘n hickey as ‘n STD.” - Student wat haar kamer maat se keuses probeer pro sesseer

“Even then, I can watch Khan Academy if there’s something I don’t know.” - Two resourceful Science students.

“Ek is te moeg vir ‘n nap.” - Student op pad klas toe.

WARM WELCOME Stellenbosch Books, located on Andringa Street, is the perfect reading hideaway with curated collections and coffee to be enjoyed on bright yellow couches. Photo: Karla de Bod

WORLD OF WORDS World Book Day has been celebrated annually since 1995 as a platform for connecting people from around the world through the world of words. Photo: Karla de Bod

GRAS GESELSIES Feesgangers geniet die saligheid van die gras se skaduwee voor die fees begin. Foto: Skyla Thornton

TOUSTAAN Rye voor feesgronde se ingange kan selfs to kilometers strek. Foto: Skyla Thornton

Zamalek Media: Bombing down hills and breaking down barriers

ANAKIN CURTIS

Nany students make use of their longboards to get across cam pus quickly. When fourth-year BSc (Geoinformatics) student Joshua van Coller is not snaking down Victoria Street between classes, he is going 80 km/h down any hill he and his crew, Zamalek Media, can find.

Zamalek Media is a downhill skating collective formed and filmed by Van Coller and b-roll specialist Mathew Paine. The rest of the group consists of skaters Tanner Dewrance, Matthew de Lange, Sean Grobbelaar, Matthew Cutten and Morgan Petersen.

On their Instagram and YouTube

pages, Zamalek Media showcase their exhilarating, and at times nail-biting, runs down the scenic hillside roads in various places around Cape Town. Their most re cent outing followed skaters down the picturesque, albeit rainy, hills of Llandudno, near Hout Bay. Every year when the Cape Cycle Tour takes place, the downhill skating community takes advantage of the closed roads to host the event known as Llandslide.

The road has taken some damage in the years since the first event, but this does not easily deter Zamalek Media from getting the perfect run.

Considering these conditions, Van Coller stated, “It’s not prime skating,

Iftar around Stellenbosch

BUHLE BAM

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims during which they abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. With many students being away from home during Ramadan, iftar, which is the evening meal to break the fast each day, is usually shared with close friends. However, with crazy schedules one does not always have the time to pre pare a feast.

The following Stellen bosch restaurants are halaal friendly, and their meals are packed with flavour—perfect for breaking a fast.

Hygge Hygge

Hygge Hygge is another ha laal friendly restaurant and is described as “the place where great food and remarkable

people come together” on their website. Hygge Hygge is locat ed on Church Street, where they serve “fresh, locally sourced,

but it makes it sketchy and fun.”

Van Coller aims to keep Zamalek Media as inclusive as possible in or der to open doors for people who have not had the chance to showcase their skill and see themselves on film. He further described the over all mission of Zamalek Media and said, “I started [Zamalek Media] because I wanted to tape people that are extremely good [at skating] for people that never get the opportuni ty to see it themselves.”

With this, Van Coller extends an invitation to any skater keen to film their runs down the hills of Stellen bosch to join him on his mission. Find Zamalek Media on YouTube and Instagram (@zamalek__media).

sustainable, affordable and sea sonal cuisine”, which their web site states is guaranteed to “make you feel at home”—a necessity during the month of Ramadan.

Man’oushe

Fancy going on a trip to Lebanon? Man’oushe has got you covered with their authentic Lebanese

cuisine. Man’oushe is located on Andringa Street and never fails to transport its customers to a distant land with their de lectable flatbreads, kebabs and “Sweet Man’oushe” desserts, as the menu calls it.

At Man’oushe, “lamb, beef and chicken [are] prepared on a sep arate grill,” says Matthew Kastis, the head chef at Man’oushe. The restaurant also provides a warm atmosphere where memories can be made over food with Lebanese tunes playing in the background.

Mochachos

Next up is Mochachos. Locat ed in Stellenbosch Central on Andringa Street, Mochachos is halaal certified and the favour ite Stellenbosch restaurant of Nasira Lemmetjies, a third-year BAccounting student.

Mochachos has a variety of Mexican-inspired chicken dishes.

Lemmetjie’s preferred dish is the Mexican chicken pieces and rice.

She describes the restaurant’s atmosphere as relaxed and goes on to say, “[I]t reminds me a bit of home . . ..”

BIPOC students braiding hair

LAURA MUTYAMBIZI

Coming to Stellenbosch as a stu dent of colour may be a daunting experience, as the majority of Stel lenbosch’s population is white. With this, there might be a fear that certain needs that are unique to BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of colour) students will not be met. One of these needs is hair salons.

There is a limited number of BI POC hair salons in Stellenbosch. This inaccessibility makes it a strenuous task for BIPOC students to maintain their hair through re laxing, washing, and styling or braiding. It becomes very taxing to look for a good hair salon or someone who braids hair. Addi tionally, because of this limitation, there is no wide market for com petitive pricing, causing a strain on a student’s budget due to the expense of getting their hair braid ed. This is exclusive of getting the fibre to braid.

Ntombizethu Cele, a third-year BCom (Management Sciences) student, explains, “Coming from Pietermaritzburg, which is pri marily black, Stellenbosch was a [culture shock] because it was very easy for me to get someone [in Pietermaritzburg] to do braids for as a little as R100, including the

hair pieces.”

Cele notes that Stellenbosch made her notice certain challenges that she had never faced before, such as affordability and time con sumption in searching for good hair stylists, since the POC hair sa lons that she has encountered are mostly focused on coloured peo ple’s hair. This is an issue because of the different hair texture they have compared to black people. Thus, she narrows down the main issues to “affordability, availabili ty and quality”.

Moreover, it is difficult to find hair products that tend to BIPOC hair, as the only easily accessible store is Clicks in Eikestad Mall, which has a wider range than Checkers or PEP.

This limitation has inspired many students to start their own hair or braiding businesses on Instagram.

Princess Motloung, a second-year BSc (Human Life Sciences) student, found that

“there was a gap in Stellenbosch, as the available hairdressers charged [exorbitant] prices”, so this pushed her to learn how to do her own hair. When she improved her braiding skills, she opened up her services to other students at a

student-friendly price.

Motloung meets clients and runs her business on her Instagram

page @snatched.by.pree. Tasimba Ndengu, a third-year international student study ing BCom (Law), learnt how to braid hair by watching her mom, and states “I never used to braid seriously until I came to Stellen bosch.” So she began braiding her own hair.

In her second year she began to braid professionally and started her own business, which has allowed her to earn extra money. She mainly does box braids, twisted braids and cornrows.

All of Ndengu’s previous work can be found on her Instagram page @hairby_tas.

These students have not only found innovative ways to earn extra money, but also ways to help BIPOC students who need to get their hair done at an affordable price.

Moreover, they have realised that while a gap in access to hairdressers for BIPOC students still exists, there are ways to turn lemons into lemonade.

SNATCHED Box braids done by Princess Motloung. Photo: Supplied/@snatched.by.pree

BRAIDED Box braids by Tasimba Ndengu: Supplied/@hairby_tas

DOWNHILL Zamalek Media going 80km/h down Du Toitskloof pass. Photo: Supplied/Zamalek Media

SHARING Lebanese bread sandwich fit for two. Photo: Instagram/@manoushe_

SUMMER SALAD Fresh, crisp and light. Photo: @_hyggehygge_ on Instagram

HUNGER-BUSTER Lemon and herb, mild or hot. Photo: Instagram/@mochachos_chick enfiesta

DAG&NAG

Lights, camera, Pulp is (almost) back in action!

JANI ROUX

N

ot so long ago cinephiles from all over Stellenbosch came to gether on 7 April for an open-air movie night at Dagbreek Men’s Residence. The event was hosted by the Pulp Film Society and was their first public screening since renovations to their Neelsie prem ises began in December last year.

Pulp kicked things off with a bang with movies from completely different ends of the spectrum. For the horror lovers, they screened the twisting tale of Last Night in Soho, after which they catered to the more faint-hearted with some thing to sing along to: the roman tic-yet-jazzy WestSideStory.

Annadeé Oerlemans, a first-year BCom (Industrial Psychology) student, commented, “The movie night was fantastic. The popcorn is 10 out of 10 and the movies are a must-see.”

Die Matie spoke to Kaiser Ary ee, BAHons (Psychology) student and chairperson of the society, to find out what has been happening behind the scenes. Aryee seemed hesitant to disclose the exact date MOVIES UNDER THE STARS Pulp’s open-air movie night at Dagbreek Men’s Residence. Photo: Jani roux

the cinema will open its doors, but she believes it will be worth the wait when the new cinema is filled with comfortable sofas, the wel coming smell of popcorn and loads of funky films to watch.

Pulp is well known for their unconventional choice in movies. According to Werner de Swardt, previous owner of Pulp Cinema and associate of Pulp Film Society, the films are chosen according to the “c-principle”: classic, contemporary and curious. He said that this principle “was a good bet and definitely paid off, [because] Nu Metro and Ster Kinekor [don’t] show all the other cool indie films.”

As for the future of Pulp, Ary ee is confident that “the cinema will continue screening high-qual ity movies where there is always something to watch.”

Another up-and-coming event the Pulp team is bringing to the screen is a mobile cinema. So, be prepared to eat your popcorn and watch your movie under the stars in a spooky forest or at the foot of a mountain, which is bound to make your movie-going experience that much more memorable.

Rocking Stellies is terug in die Bosch

EMMA HAMMAN

SENIOR studente is in rep en roer oor hulle geliefkoosde Rocking Stellies wat vir die eerste keer ná

die pandemie weer sy verskyning sal maak. Die sogenaamde “PreBash” vind die 22ste en 23ste April plaas, en studente gaan in massas na die Van der Stel-sportgronde vir

hierdie geleentheid stroom.

Rocking Stellies poog om die beste Suid-Afrikaanse kunstenaars met die grootste biertuin te kombineer om ’n jolige atmosfeer

te skep. Volgens Jan-Harm Steenkamp, projekbestuurder van Rocking Stellies, deel plaaslike kunstenaars soos Loufi, Early B en Jack Parow die verhoog met internasionale kunstenaars soos Neon Dreams en Casey Lowry om ’n dag vol vermaak te bied.

Hierdie geleentheid skakel met die “Rocking”-handelsmerk, wat feeste soos Rocking Stilbaai en Rocking Potch, insluit. “SA Concerts se algehele doelwit vir Rocking Stellies en die ‘Rocking’handelsmerk is om vir studente ’n naweek van bekostigbare, ononderbroke musiek te bied,” verduidelik Steenkamp.

“Wat dit so lekker maak, is dat die fees so sentraal is vir Stellenboschstudente en dat die kaartjies so goedkoop is,” het Heinrich Naudé, finalejaar-BAgric-student wat in 2019 Rocking Stellies bygewoon het, verduidelik. Hy vertel verder van die lekker herinneringe wat hy in sy eerste jaar daar gemaak het en dat hy uitsien om hierdie jaar se geleentheid te beleef.

“Hierdie musiekfees het in 2019 vir die eerste keer plaasgevind en al ons verwagtinge oortref te danke aan al die Maties wat hul verskyning gemaak het. Ongelukkig het ons

nie die geleentheid gehad om die musiekfees in 2020 of 2021 aan te bied nie, maar ons is terug!” het Steenkamp vertel. Hierdie fees word gesien as die herlewing van studentefeeste ná die pandemie en wil ander organiseerders aanmoedig en inspireer om dieselfde te doen.

Om hierdie geleentheid moontlik te maak, moet die COVID-19-regulasies wat deur die regering uiteengesit is, gevolg word. Rocking Stellies vereis dat feesgangers dus ’n bewys van inenting of ’n negatiewe PCRtoets, nie ouer as 72 uur nie, verskaf. Dit is egter ’n buitelugfees daarom is die dra van maskers nie verpligtend nie. Alhoewel slegs 50% van die fasiliteit se kapasiteit gebruik mag word, sal die atmosfeer steeds elektries en die geleentheid onvergeetlik wees.

Die Pre-Bash in al sy glorie is egter slegs die voorganger vir die eintlike hoofgeleentheid, Rocking Stellies, wat beoog om in Augustus 2022 plaas te vind.

Hierdie fees gaan kunstenaars vir Stellenbosch bied soos nog nooit tevore nie. Soos Jack Parow sal sê: “Ons gaan hard partytjie hou!”

Stellies

Photo: Jan-Harm Steenkamp

Drama students turning campus conversations into theatre

CHARLIE MOODY-STUART

The Stellenbosch University (SU) drama department will be per forming a play on the subject of race—These are the things that sit withus—which consists entirely of real-life conversations with SU stu dents on campus.

Inspired by the book of the same title, the play by editors Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Friederike Bubenzer and Marietjie Oelofsen will be performed between 26 and 30 April.

“The book is about generational trauma, especially in South Africa with apartheid. It’s full of testimo nies of different people [of] differ ent races, [and] what they went through,” explains third-year BA (Drama and Theatre Studies) stu dent Thalia Alberts.

“The authors had different inter views with people and they would record them, so it’s like a book full of people’s stories. The drama de partment was commissioned by the Arts [and Social Sciences] fac ulty to do a theatrical reaction on the book.”

This is a “verbatim” physical theatre piece. Here, the cast have had conversations with people, re corded them (with their consent), and then replicated the exact con versations in the production itself.

For the SU drama department, that meant patrolling the Neelsie and engaging in five-minute con versations on the topic of race with different students.

“The point of it [this produc tion] is to [stay] true to the inten

tion of the conversation. You can’t just take a little snippet, or twist the meaning of it.”

Alberts emphasises that the ob jective of the play is not a didactic one. “We’re not trying to preach anything. We’re literally just tak ing the conversations as they were had, and putting them on there. We sat down and [thought], ‘Okay,

how do we fix racism?’ We don’t know! So that’s kind of the whole thing of the play: all you can do is talk about it,” she says.

While commenting on conduct ing interviews on a topic that is as charged and personal as race, Al berts admitted that this is not an easy task. “It’s very scary,” laughs Alberts. “You’re like, ‘Hey, would

you like to have a conversation with me about this very hectic top ic?’ And the point [as an interview er] is to stay . . . non-opinionated.”

Still, there was an almost una voidable degree of bias in the in terview process, which largely ex pressed itself in racially profiling people to obtain a specific answer or point of view.

“You realise that you go to cer tain people expecting certain an swers. You’re like, ‘We’re lacking some of this opinion’, so then you go out and try [to] find that opin ion, which is not the way to do it,” acknowledged Alberts.

Persistence was key in obtain ing an opinion in the first place. According to Alberts, barely half of the students whom she tried to talk to actually engaged with her.

“50% is a bit optimistic,” she said, shaking her head.

“Most people off the bat would be like, ‘Nee, sorry, I have some where to be’.

“The whole thing that [we were] trying to do was to get people to . . . [s]peak [their] mind!” she said.

An ethnic imbalance between cast and interviewees means that in the production they will not be able to represent all the opinions they heard.

Encapsulating this imbalance is the disparity between the number of black males interviewed and black males in the cast. There are no black males in the cast. “The cast is predominantly white,” not ed Alberts.

“No black men auditioned . . . and if you were talking to a black

guy you can’t . . . have a white woman playing them in the piece. So we couldn’t include any black men’s conversations. So we have had to work through that, which was hard, because there’s a lot of things that like white people won’t ever touch on.”

The intensity of rehearsals was not without effect on the cast. “A lot of us felt very burnt out after re hearsals because we would sit for . . . three hours and just talk. And you feel like you’re exhausted,” re called Alberts.

“[There were] [no] arguments, but . . . different things affect peo ple differently.

“But it was really good hearing different people’s perspectives,” she said.

By providing this space for dis course, it seems the whole cast has reaped rewards from rehearsals.

“This has been the best experi ence of my life thus far. I’ve met beautiful, talented people that I have shared a building with but just never come across,” said cast member and third-year BA (Dra ma and Theatre Studies) student Luyanda Jantjie.

“I got to say things I thought I would never say out loud in my life, but everyone created such a safe space for that type of stuff,” Jantjie continued.

The impact of this play on its cast is testament to its potency as a production. It would be remiss of students not to avail themselves of this opportunity to witness first hand a theatrical piece that can be an instrument for change.

Hoe lyk die musieksmaak van Stellenbosch?

Wayden Rogers

Tuwan van Rooyen

Derdejaar-BCom

Tuwan

Tanika de Meyer

Derdejaar-BRek

STUDENTS AT REHEARSELS The seven students in the production. Photo: Gareth Hayward

Wayden

Tanika

Rhea Naidoo

Eerstejaar-BRek

Rhea luister na BoyWithUke en blackbear se “IDGAF”, ’n sorgelose pop-deuntjie wat reflekteer oor die einde van ’n verhouding.

Lost//Youth drown out the noise

JANI ROUX

C

ape Town-based band Lost// Youth released their debut EP, Chasing Shadows, in January of this year. The alt-rock quartet con sists of Alanna Joy (vocals), Charlie Charles (bass guitar), Faghri Hen dricks (electric guitar) and Teddy Frazer (drums).

“I have been singing, appar ently, before I could talk,” Joy explained about the roots of her passion for music. After playing various open mics as a teenager and meeting her bandmates, she decided to pursue music full-time.

Lost//Youth officially became a band during the COVID-19 lock down when they spent long peri ods of time jamming and exper imenting together. When asked about the origin of their band name, Charles explained that it ties in with the fact that “we all lost two years to isolation.”

Joy added that she “can’t im agine how it must have felt being a teenager during [the lockdown].”

Joy described the band’s sound as being a combination of rock and folk, with influences ranging from artists like Tracy Chapman and Hozier to iconic bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queens of the Stone Age. Their unique ability

to bring forth something new whilst simultaneously staying true to a more classic sound keeps any old soul coming back for more.

“[We make music] for peo ple going through something,” Charles elaborated.

In songs like “Sinner”, Joy’s vo cal ability really shines. Her stellar performance is beautifully accen tuated by the mellow instrumen tals and sombre lyrics.

Joy’s advice to new artists would be to “take time to think about what you want to say and what your sound should be”.

She also noted that it is impor tant to stay mindful of the fact that “the music business is a business” and that there are many less cre ative steps behind the scenes that are necessary to release music suc cessfully.

Joy noted that being part of the South African rock scene is chal lenging, especially for English rock music. However, with a na tionwide tour on the horizon and plans for a second EP, Lost//Youth have a very promising year ahead of them.

Chasing Shadows is now available on all streaming platforms, and the band can be found on Instagram and Facebook @lostyouthofficial.

LIT MATIE

BOUGH LEAF

DANIEL BOTES

You’ve grown so much, though winter has come.

each leaf a story told;

distant memory to behold.

Fall, one leaf, another, then another.

know the soil could never ask for a better grandmother, than you.

That last leaf dangling from the highest bough.

hope only that I have made you proud.

gracefully, do not be afraid, for God, surely, is proud of the woman He’s made.

’n Platform waar ons gedigte deur studente publiseer.

jy passievol oor poësie? Stuur

A platform where we publish

THE ALT-ROCK QUARTET Lost//Youth at one of their intimate performances. Photo: The Brand Media

“JY

Die stadige seisoen

lke jaar is daar ’n verwelkomende verandering in dié studentedorp. Ten spyte van die feit dat dit in ons oë altyd lente is, kom die skielike seisoensverandering altyd op ’n tyd wanneer die meeste studente nie kyk nie. Laas jaar was dit oor die week lange reses, en die blare wat groen bo die koninginstraat op kampus gehang het, het verkleur en begin val voor die meeste studente terug was.

E

Dié jaar, ná die langnaweek wat Maties dringend nodig gehad het, het Victoriastraat skielik die herfs ingeroep – en daarmee wintermodes, selfs meer koffie, en studente se kwartaallikse besluit om werk minder uit te stel.

Die korter dae as gevolg van die later oggende en vroeër nagte kan ’n Matie laat voel asof daar minder tyd in die dag is, maar steeds is daar net soveel verpligtinge om na te kom. Sommige studente is steeds besig met die res van hulle

eerste toetse ná die reses terwyl ander al weer laataande deurbring om die huidige kwartaal se akademiese verpligtinge na te kom. Die studente wat hierdie jaar hulle 21ste verjaarsdag vier, sowel as dié wat dit op die ouderdom van 22 doen weens die pandemie se partytjiepolisie, se Outlookkalenders beur onder die gewig van al die gemerkte datums. Koshuissport se terugkoms verg baie meer tyd van die spelers – en die toeskouers – as waaraan hulle verlede jaar gewoond geraak het.

Lang storie kort (en effens koud), maak nie saak watter seisoen nie, Stellenbosch is deesdae weereens vol studente en al hulle studentebekommernisse. Reeds in die derde week van klasse, betree studente ’n tydperk van meer ernstig en somber raak oor alles wat gedoen moet word. Dit is ook ’n tydperk waar baie studente meer tyd alleen spandeer as tydens die gesellige

GORRELKOP

Die kommentaar waarvoor almal bang is. Gorrel is nie verantwoordelik vir enige ongerief veroorsaak nie.

LONG WEEKEND LAZINESS

Gorrel is jealous of the Easter Bunny because he gets to clock off after this weekend, whereas Gorrel has to deal with the consequences of his Easter procrastination. A few days of rest were definitely needed to keep Gorrel from exploding, but now he has to work even harder to keep the HEMIS Monster away.

WATTER KLEUR IS DIE ROOI PLEIN NOU WEER?

Gorrel se fakulteitsgebou is vol bloedbelope oë wat so lank terug die Neelsie betree het dat hulle nie eers meer die verskil tussen MyBrew en DCM ken nie. Selfs dié wat in die bib uitkamp kruip eers soms na sonsondergang vanuit hulle leeshokkies. Gorrel se rug

somersaande gekenmerk met baie verskonings om uit die huis of koshuiskamer te kom. Vir baie mag dit dalk ’n besige seisoen wees met min kans om die gevoel van altyd-lente te ervaar. Menigte Maties is tans halfpad deur leierskaptermyne, naby aan aansoeke vir nagraadse studies, en besig met die stryd teen die komende winterweer.

Ek glo baie mense kan hulle vereenselwig met die gevoel van te besig wees. Verlede kwartaal was ek een van dié wat hulleself soms beskryf as “chronic overachievers” met ’n neiging tot emosionele uitputting. Dit is regtig maklik om jouself te ernstig op te neem, elke nou en dan oor klein dinge te gestres te wees, en altyd met een of ander ding te besig te wees. Ek vind dat ek nooit genoeg tyd het vir alles wat ek moet doen nie, en dit frustreer my meer as wat dit my motiveer om vroeër op te staan. In plaas daarvan om

trek skewer as die bouplan van die Skuinshuis in die dorp ná al sy neus-in-die-boek sessies.

LOAD SHEDDING STUDY BREAKS

Luckily, Gorrel gets a break every now and then when the start of load shedding is announced by alarms going off all around campus. When the backup generators and WiFi run out at Gorrel’s residence, he takes a welldeserved break from scrolling through social media next to his textbooks.

AITJIES IKEYS!

Gorrel het amper gedink iemand grawe ou koeie uit die sloot toe hy Ikeys verwar met die voormalige

oppit te wees, is ek oorit

Dit kan egter ’n stadige seisoen wees, solank jy daarop besluit.

Meer en meer besluit ek om in die oomblik te bly en die res te las – soos die gesegde gaan. Ek het besluit dat ek eintlik nie meer tyd het om te besig te wees nie. Ek wil te rustig wees om te min tyd te hê. Dit maak glad nie ’n verskil aan die hoeveelheid werk wat ek tussen my medestudente in die bib doen nie, nóg aan die dinge wat my kampusbetrokkenheid vereis, nóg aan my eie sosiale kalender. Dit stel my wel baie gerus. Ek vind my doelbewuste procrastination bevry my gedagtes om te worry waaroor ek tans moet, en nie te vrees oor wat later gedoen kan word nie. Watter student sou kon raai dat tydsbestuur belangrik is?

Soos elke ander ervaring op universiteit, moet jy dit ten minste een keer self probeer om te leer hoe jy onder daardie

kopseer Inetkey. Toe hy besef dit gaan oor rugby was Gorrel meer geïnteresseerd om in die gesprek deel te neem. Gorrel skreeu deesdae op Maandae-aande by die Danie Craven sy longe uit. Dit is die enigste ding wat sy aandag aftrek van Pokkel wat Gorrelina se aandag probeer vang met sy problematiese dansbewegings en oorgroot ore.

WINTER WONDER-LAND

Gorrel hasn’t gotten the flu like some students, but he is sick and tired of the weather going haywire this time of the year. When Gorrel is not wrapped in layers and sweating, he’s shivering in lecture halls for daring to dress for a sunny day.

omstandighede sou optree. Al is dit net om te besef dat iets glad nie vir jou werk nie, is dit belangrik om iets self te ervaar. Dié is ’n plek om meer dinge te leer, en watter beter leerskool is daar as die lewe?

Ek het onlangs geleer dat ek nie meer te besig wil wees om my studentelewe te geniet nie. Dit is noodsaaklik dat ek my dag-totdag rustiger deurgaan en my tyd meer betekenisvol aanwend.

Dit is hoekom ek kies om die herfs die stadige seisoen te noem.

As daar een ding is wat ek aan jou wil gee, is dit ’n moontlike verandering aan die te-besigdenkwyse. Daar gaan nooit meer tyd in jou dag wees as wat daar reeds is nie, en ’n mens gaan lank wag as “meer tyd” iets is wat jy hoop om te kry (as jy, soos ek, steeds tonne werk het ná die langnaweek, is dit ’n bewys daarvan). Die uitdaging is om tyd te maak – vir die groot dinge en al die klein oomblikke.

The cold has skyrocketed the number of hot drinks on Gorrel’s COB, leaving him a broke(n) man.

“EK KAN NIE NOU DINK NIE.”

Gorrel is naby aan die vyfde burnout van die kwartaal en sukkel om die verskil tussen ’n WhatsApp-boodskap en ’n akademiese opstel uit te ken. Gorrel wil nie langer die Outlookdeuntjie vyftien minute voor sy volgende aanlynklas of groepstaak se bewerige voorlegging hoor nie. Gorrel is lus om soveel as moontlik niks-doen gedoen te kry. Dalk is nagraadse studies nie vir hom bedoel nie.

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE AND REPORTING ERRORS

Die Matie is onderhewig aan ’n gedragskode wat by die SR-lid vir Media beskikbaar is.

Alle klagtes word deur ’n regsdosent ondersoek, waarna

Die Matie voor die Mediaraad kan verskyn. Klagtes moet volgens die uiteengesette prosedure binne veertien dae ná publikasie aanhangig gemaak word.

Die Matie subscribes to the South African Press Code that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced.

If we don’t live up to the code,

please contact the Ombudsman.

You may also lodge an internal complaint or report factual errors by contacting the

member for Media.

Also following the procedure

above.

Die Matie is accountable to its readers and will correct errors

necessary.

Please send any complaints to the paper’s ombudsman/

Claassen

Stellies students have caught the F1

Fever

My earliest memory of Formula 1 (F1) is sitting at home in front of the TV watching a race. Of course, six-year-old me, who had just started to read, pointed out that one of the drivers’ names was BUT.

My father laughed and explained that it was not his name but the first three letters of his surname and, for those who remember, BUT was no other than Jenson Button. I, however, took more of a liking to his thenteammate, HAM (Lewis Hamilton).

So yes, when I say that I support Sir Lewis Hamilton, I mean I support the rookie who almost won in his rookie season and won in his second season in F1, and I think the rest is history.

Through the years, many young people like me have started following the sport and last year, F1 saw a massive increase in its fan following. This included Stellenbosch students—many of whom would congregate in their residence rooms on Sundays to watch the races.

According to my survey, this is how “badly” the Stellenbosch students have the F1 fever:

What do you love most about F1?

My favourite part of F1 hands down must be the strategy behind every race. Whether it is the qualifying or the actual race, seeing different teams having different ways in which they approach the situation is very interesting to me.v

Who is your favourite driver and why?

[If] I had to pick one, it would probably be Max Verstappen. This choice is probably just influenced by the fact that I lived in the Netherlands for the past year, though.

What are your bold predictions for the 2022 season?

I want to go ahead and make the bold prediction that George Russel will be the 2022 World Champion, as well as that Sergio Pérez will end up above Max Verstappen in the [driver] standings.

On the topic diversity in the F1 community and that it is time “to take the next steps”: what are the next steps, in your opinion, to making F1 more diverse?

TIAAN SERFONTEIN, FIRST-YEAR BA (LANGUAGES & CULTURES) STU DENT

Which constructor/s do you support and why?

McLaren coincidentally has two of my favourite drivers, so it just makes sense that they are my constructor too! McLaren also has a rich racing history, with the likes of [Alain] Prost, [Ayrton] Senna, and even Lewis Hamilton having won the championship with them before. Ironically, my next favourite team is McLaren’s biggest rival currently: Ferrari. I reckon they are favourites to win the championship this year.

more specifically South Africa, since we have the Kyalami Track to use that has hosted a GP before.

Last question, if you could work in F1, what would you be?

Toto Wolff is an awesome role model for me, so my dream position would be team principal! (I’m way too terrified to be a driver!)

place during the pre-race events. F1’s chief executive Stefano Domenicali reportedly called the message “the first step” to focus on the diversity of the F1 community and that it is time “to take the next steps”. What are the next steps, in your opinion, to making F1 more diverse?

The next step would be to lose that boys’ club mentality. F1 has so much money to invest in programs and young drivers so they should be doing morve [to support] drivers who do not come from wealthy backgrounds.

Do you think Haas made the right decision to drop Mazepin, and why?

NICOLA DANIELLE ROHWER, FIRST-YEAR BSC (MOLECULAR BIOL OGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY) STUDENT

The first steps in making F1 more diverse would probably be focused on two things. The first would be having [a] more diverse [group of] people competing in the sport. The second would be to stop racing in countries that don’t align with the message of people being allowed to be [themselves] and express themselves the way they want to.

Whatareyourboldpredictions for the 2022 season?

With the new regulations being implemented, I think it’s the best opportunity for the whole grid to get at least one podium!

Is there a Grand Prix [GP] you want to see added to the race calendar of F1, and which one?

Since the winner of F1 is called the ‘Champion of the World’, Africa should have a GP, and

SARAH HOWES, SECOND-YEAR LLB STUDENT

Who is your favourite driver and why?

I really love Lando [Norris] just because he is fun and brings in a light-heartedness to a serious sport. Daniel [Ricciardo] for the same reason, and I love an underdog. Charles [Leclerc] because he is a good driver with an inspiring story. Carlos [Sainz] because everyone underestimated him and then he matched Charles last year.

The “We Race as One” ceremony will no longer take

Sometimes it can be unfair, but Nikita Mazepin’s father was one of 37 Russian businessmen called into a meeting at the Kremlin before the war started. His family has close links to the Kremlin and Putin himself, and Mazepin cannot distance himself from that connection because he wouldn’t be where he is without it. He also has not said anything public condemning Russia’s actions.

What are your thoughts on the inclusion of women in a male-dominated sport?

I think it is important. Driving is driving and women are strong, so I do not see the harm of seeing women in the sport. It was a male-dominated sport because of when it was started. I do not see why women cannot pick up debris from a track.

Maties tennis players chosen for national university squad

VICKY HENDRIKZ

Three Maties tennis players recently participated in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) tennis tournament alongside three players from the University of Pretoria (Tuks). The tournament, which would have taken place in December but was postponed, took place from 18 to 21 March. The team consisted of Maties Maryke Badenhorst, Corin de Waal and Jason Fogle, as well as the three players from Tuks to spawn a full team of three women and three men.

The team had a strong start in the tournament, with wins over the University of the Free State, better known as Kovsies, followed by the North-West University (Pukke’s) second team, Tuks’ first team and

Pukke’s thirrd team. The team’s luck ran out, however, after they were through to the semi-final of the tournament, only to be stopped minutes before and told they were not allowed to play because their team was made up of different universities.

Because of this, they were then pushed out of the semis and were now playing for 9th to 12th position. Their first game was against Rhodes University where they won in a breeze but were again not allowed to progress. Rhodes then qualified to play for the 9th position while the Maties/Tuks conglomerate had to play against Nelson Mandela University for 11th or 12th position.

All in all the penalty put the team back way more than they would have been, with the Tuks

team winning the tournament at the end, even though Maties beat them in the pool stage.

“So basically, we actually won the tournament,” says Badenhorst.

“All of the Maties players played really well. Corin and I won all of our singles and doubles matches and Jason only lost one match,” says Badenhorst.

All three Maties players were additionally chosen for the FISU World University Games (International University Sports Games) squad, which will be held the week of 27 June to 7 July this year in China. The chosen squad consists of five players and will eventually be reduced to three. The eventual team will consist of South African student tennis players competing in a strong, global competition.

ARSHIA

MATIE AMBASSADORS From left to right: Jason Fogle, Corin de Waal and Maryke Badenhorst. Photo: Supplied

The trans athlete debate—Die Matie’s sports editor weighs in

JAN-HENDRIK PRETORIUS

SINCE 2018, nearly 670 bills against the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, or otherwise queer) community have been filed across the United States of America (USA). In this year alone, state lawmakers in the USA have proposed 238 bills—with about half of them specifically targeting transgender individuals—that attempt to limit the rights of the community. This is according to an article by Matt Lavietes and Elliot Ramos posted on the NBC News website .

In the same breath, the past two years saw many headlines regarding trans women in sport. In March earlier this year, Lia Thomas, a transgender woman, made history as the first openly transgender athlete to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I national championship (which is the highest division of intervarsity athletics in the USA) in any sport. The 2020 Summer Olympics also had transgender athletes participating in the event. Most notably, the Kiwi weightlifter, Laurel Hubbard, and Canadian gold-medallist footballer, Quinn, who is also non-binary.

Why, however, should we care about Western politics here in South Africa? If the old saying “when America sneezes, the world catches a cold” does not make this link clear, the recent controversy surrounding South African singer and activist, Steve Hofmeyr, will. In short: Hofmeyr alleged, in a sincedeleted video on social media, that the LGBTQIA+ community promotes and includes bestiality (as part of the + at the end of the abbreviation). This was in response to Disney employees alleging that the media giant censors LGBTQIA+ themes in its content.

Transgender people exist in South Africa and in Stellenbosch. Whilst the debate surrounding transgender athletes in South Africa has not developed much, the time is indeed ripe for these conversations to make some headway. Die Matie reached out to some transgender students at Stellenbosch University (SU) to share their thoughts:

Tyler O’Connell (he/him), a first-year BA (Humanities) student and athlete, feels that he is excluded from taking part in sport on campus. “Because I am a male, I do not want to be in an all-girls sports team with everyone assuming I’m a girl. It makes me very, very uncomfortable, and they will not allow me to participate in the male team—and even if they did, the men [would] be unsure why I am there at all.

“I am not a studying student. I didn’t want to go to university in the first place, yet I went with it because sports is my happy place and I love playing sport. I passed by with the studying part because I knew I would find my happiness in sports; yet with SU being so

discluding, I do not have a way to enjoy sports anymore. And therefore, I am not enjoying SU in the slightest way,” O’Connell said.

When asked whether he believes that transgender women should be allowed to compete in women’s sports, O’Connell agreed that biological men have an advantage, but that anyone should still be allowed to play for the team of their choice. “Trans individuals should still have the right to participate in sports and be comfortable by being in a team that includes all genders, not just your sex that you were born with.”

Die Matie asked Maties Sport about their stance on the inclusion of transgender individuals in sport at SU. With regard to the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ athletes, Jerry Laka, the director of operations at Maties Sport, replied, “Maties Sport believes that sport should be enjoyed by all, and we ensure that our sport codes/clubs are reflective of this. We are also currently aware of the ongoing global debate concerning trans athletes in sport.”

With regard to any current transgender athletes in any of their

Stormers tuis by Danie Craven

ANÉ HAVENGA

DIE Stormers het op Sondag 13 Maart Kaapstad-stadion vir Maties se eie Danie Craven-stadion verruil. Hierdie geskiedkundige oomblik was as gevolg van die Kaapstad-fietstoer wat hulle tuiste onbeskikbaar gemaak het, aangesien die meeste paaie in die Kaap gesluit was. Watter beter alternatief vir die Kaapstad-stadion as die Danie Craven-stadion wat omring word met die mooiste berge en ’n intieme gevoel van net 16 000 sitplekke teenoor die 55 000?

Die Stormers speel op die oomblik in die United Rugby Championship waar hulle tans eerste op die ranglys vir Suid-Afrikaanse spanne lê te danke aan spog oorwinnings soos oor Zebre in Stellenbosch. Hierdie span van Parma, Italië het behoorlik

klippe gekou en die wedstryd 55 – 7 verloor.

Damian Willemse, binnesenter, het in sy 50ste wedstryd vir die Stormers uitgeblink deur ’n drie te druk. Verder het Scarra Ntubeni, haker, en Leolin Zas, linkervleuel, twee drieë gedruk en Manie Libbok, losskakel, een drie. Dit is egter die speler van die wedstryd en die regtervleuel, Seabelo Senatla, wat die kollig gesteel het met sy driekuns.

Die Suid-Afrikaanse boorling Erich Cronje, buitesenter, was die enigste Zebre-speler wat aan die anderkant van die doellyn vir die opponerende span gaan kuier het.

Liam Mitchell, Zebre se slot, het ná die wedstryd gesê: “Daar is tog baie positiewe wat uit die wedstryd geneem kan word en baie waarop die spelers kan verbeter veral met die talentvolle groep spelers. Op die

ou einde is dit net ’n spel van rugby en ek is dankbaar om dit te kan doen waarvoor ek lief is.”

John Dobson, die Stormers se afrigter, het ná die afloop van die wedstryd vertel: “Ons was effens skrikkerig oor die weer en het heel week die weervoorspelling dopgehou en ons is baie bly die reën het vanaand weggebly. Stellenbosch ooze rugby en alhoewel ons uitsien om weer in die Kaap te speel sal ons enige tyd weer hier kom speel.”

Dobson noem ook dat Senatla se goeie spel te danke is aan die feit dat hy mal is oor rugby en hy wens die Springbokke wil hom ’n kans in die groen-en-goud gee.

Deon Fourie, die Stormers se kaptein, het duidelik gesê wat hy van die wedstryd gedink het: “My droom is om Kaapstad-stadion vol te sien met die Stormers faithful,

teams, Laka said that Maties Sport is unaware of any transgender athletes currently registered at one of their clubs, but that it is possible that there are some.

Regarding the participation of transgender athletes at Maties Sport, Laka replied that “Maties Sport is aligned with the IOC [International Olympic Committee] position on this matter, where each international federation (IF) needs to engage with all affected parties concerned. This will allow each IF to investigate, explore, assess and balance the fairness, inclusion and safety of trans athletes in their specific sport, without isolating or marginalising a particular group in the sport, i.e. women and girls. In so doing, they will provide guidelines for their sport—from global to local levels, which institutions like Maties Sport can learn from.”

C. Chase, a first-year BAcc student and transmasculine (female to male) individual, believes that participation in sport does not just concern achieving victory. He said, “Sports is more than just getting achievements.

It’s about being part of a team: experiencing wins and defeats together, facing each challenge together, making lifelong friends with similar interests to your own. Why should this experience be withheld from trans individuals just because their biology doesn’t match their identity?”

Although he does not have much experience with sport as a first-year student, Chase remarked that he feels excluded by sport. “I never felt invited to join any of the team sports, despite being really interested in rowing and volleyball. [I dislike] [t]he concept of having to join a male team that would forever consider me a weaker link, or join a female team where I—instead of feeling like part of the team—[would] always feel self-conscious of being seen as female, rather than male, as I put so much effort into my appearance to make apparent to strangers. I ended up just joining my PSO’s table tennis [team] because that felt like some neutral ground.”

According to Laka, however, Maties Sport does place importance on the inclusion of athletes based on sexuality, gender, and race. “Maties Sport is not exclusionary. We believe that we provide an environment that allows students to comfortably participate in sport—high performance or recreational. Higher education sport and sport in South Africa does not have a policy to guide the South African sport fraternity [with regard to] LGBTQI[A]+. Maties Sport continues to learn to enable our personal and departmental experiences to be informed.”

Whilst the transgender athlete debate has been on many athletes’ and individuals’ minds, it is still in its infancy in South Africa. It is my hope that with this article, more conversations can be born to address this sporting issue.

maar die intieme gevoel van hierdie stadion was lekker.”

Fourie het veral beklemtoon hoe spesiaal dit vir hom was om hier te speel: “Ek het die eerste keer Maties o. 19 hier gespeel, 17 jaar gelede. Dis ’n lang tyd terug. Dit was ’n wonderlike gevoel

om terug te kom hierheen. Ek wens ons kon die stadion vol kry met manskoshuise ‒ dit sou ongelooflike gees na die wedstryd gebring het. Dis lekker om na dié deel van die Kaap te kom en al die ondersteuners te sien!”

TRANS IDENTITY The transgender flag. Photo: Sourced from OutRight Action International Website

DANIE CRAVEN VERKLEUR Stormers-ondersteuners versier Maties se tuisveld. Foto: Ané Havenga

Danie Craven maak gereed vir eindstryd!

Die ondenkbare het gebeur: Maties het Ikeys in ’n wegwedstryd geklop, én Tukkies vir Shimlas, ook in ’n wegwedstryd. Dít was nodig vir Maties om op 25 April ’n tuiseindstryd te kan speel waar Maties vir Tukkies in Stellenbosch gaan aanpak.

Maties het op 18 April teen Ikeys by die Universiteit van Kaapstad se rugbyvelde gespeel. Vroeër in die kompetisie het Maties op 28 Maart op hierdie einste velde teen Ikeys 44 – 27 verloor en Ikeys was dus die gunstelinge in die semifinaal (hulle was ook hoër op die ranglys). Maties het egter nie dieselfde fout twee keer begaan nie en hierdie keer vir ’n wegholsege van 58 – 19 gesorg. Maties het regdeur die wedstryd gemaklik voor gebly te danke aan die skitterende spel van mans soos Sean Swart en Nevaldo Fleurs.

Swart, haker, het ’n driekuns behaal en het vir ’n derde keer met die toekenning vir die FNB Player that Rocks weggestap. Swart het vertel: “Ek is baie opgewonde. Ons praat baie by die huis daaroor – ek

en my pa praat dat dit nie net een uitskieterwedstryd is nie en dat ’n mens toenemend moet presteer. Ek is baie trots op my spel sover en ek wil dit net elke wedstryd doen. Ek voel vanaand het die ouens vir die eerste keer regtig lekker saam gespeel en by mekaar ingepas. Ek is vreeslik beïndruk. Ek kan nie wag vir die eindstryd nie!”

Fleurs, wat as losskakel gespeel het, is besig om behoorlik naam te maak met sy bestendige skopskoen.

Hy het tydens ongierige, winderige weer dit steeds reggekry om met agt van sy tien skoppe suksesvol te wees. Die Varsity-beker bevestig met die statistiek dat Maties nie net op die telbord gedomineer het nie, maar ook op vele ander plekke. Dít was duidelik uit Maties se 62% balbesit, asook hulle beter dissipline aangesien slegs een van hulle spelers ’n geelkaart ontvang het. Hierteenoor het twee van Ikeys se spelers geelkaarte ontvang en het hulle ook 18 strafskoppe afgestaan. Dit het alles bygedra tot Maties wat teen halftyd 31 – 7 voor was.

Maties het in hulle destydse openingswedstryd van 14 Februarie

teen Tukkies met 19 – 9 gewen en gaan nou om hulle tiende finaal meeding. Hulle hoop saam met hulle ondersteuners dat dit vir hulle ’n rekord sesde titel in die sak sal bring.

Francois Pienaar, stigter van die Varsity-beker en oud-kaptein van die 1995-wêreldbekerwenners, het die semifinaal kom ondersteun en het gesê: “Hierdie is net fantasties. Ons het begin met ’n droom en mense het gesê hierdie idee gaan

nie werk nie en ons het nie die nodige ondersteuning gekry toe ons hiermee begin het nie. Nou het ons 17 spanne wat speel. Tien in hierdie kompetisie en sewe in die ‘Shield’afdeling en volgende jaar gaan dit agt spanne in elk wees.”

Hy het verder vertel: “Die gehalte rugby en die talent wat deur kom en die studente wat kans kry vir die eerste keer, en eintlik die enigste keer, om hulle universiteit te ondersteun, maak my vreeslik

opgewonde. Ek is baie trots op hierdie! Dit is vir my baie belangrik ook dat die spelers moet studeer en ’n graad kry. Elke universiteit het hulle eie kultuur en die lekker ding is dat elke universiteit hulle eie kultuur gevestig het – dit wat hulle is.”

Dit is veral Pienaar se wyse woorde wat altyd sal bly: “Stellenbosch is fantasties. As die maan eers in die lug is en die studente sing – dis fantasties!”

MAGIESE MATIES Vreugde na `n skitter vertoning. Reguit finaal toe! Foto: Marthinus Havenga

ANE HAVENGA

DIE SON SAK OOR IKEYS Maties speel hulleself in `n tuis finaal in. Foto: Ané Havenga