Free higher education debate continues - pg. 4
SA Premier Hockey League launched pg. 11-
Perdeby
Tuks se amptelike studentekoerant / Official Tuks student newspaper / Kuranta ya baithuti ya semmušo ya Tuks
12September2016
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TuksRag’s statement on the cancellation of Spring Day. Image: TuksRag Facebook page
Sonop at this year’s Serenade gala evening. Photo: Stefan Stander
Sonop banned from participating in events CHAD JOHNSTON On 30 August the University of Pretoria’s executive management took the decision to ban Sonop from all student life activities. On 6 September an email was sent on behalf of UP’s executive management to Dr Matete Madiba, the director of Student Affairs, in which management handed down a decision on Sonop’s participation in student activities. The decision comes a few days after Sonop was forced to withdraw as the official UP representative at the ATKV Serenade Nationals. In the email, management said that they “resolved that no private residence may participate in any
student life activities of the university, and requested the executive member responsible for Student Affairs to communicate the said decision to the Director: Student Affairs and the Director: Residence Affairs and Accommodation.” When asked to comment on the decision, Sonop released the following statement: “The implication of the decision made by UP management on the future of Sonop’s participation is still unclear. Sonop is currently actively addressing the standing transformation and internal culture issues with TuksRes, the SRC and UP management. Sonop is driven to become an inclusive and diverse residence which complies with all of the TuksRes policies.”
SRC cancels Spring Day Bash CHAD JOHNSTON AND HUVASAN REDDY The annual official UP Spring Day event was cancelled by the SRC on 5 September, two days before it as scheduled to take place. The event, which was supposed to be held on the Rag Farm, was cancelled due to the resignation of SRC ex-officio member and Rag chairperson Peter Kamlongera. In an email sent by SRC chairperson Thabo Shingange to Dr Matete Madiba, the director of Student Affairs, Shingange said that the responsibility of the organisation of the event was entrusted to Kamlongera and the rest of the TuksRag committee, as
they had planned similar events in the past. Shingange also alleged that Kamlongera had taken the responsibility of planning Spring Day Bash on his own, which meant that his resignation presented the SRC with difficulties in finalising the event. The SRC took the decision to cancel the event after they did a cost-benefit analysis. They came to the decision that because Kamlongera had communicated with the relevant stakeholders, taking over the communication would make facilitating the event difficult. In a statement released on social media by the SRC, they said that they are in the process of contacting the relevant stakeholders to ensure students that had already purchased
tickets would be reimbursed. The designated funds for the event will be donated to the university’s Disability Unit. Kamlongera said that he would have assisted in the organisation of the event on the condition that a permanent personnel member for the position of Rag Officer is reinstated. Shingange explained that the SRC does not have the power to reinstate staff members. In the statement, the SRC confirmed the resignation of Kamlongera. When Perdeby requested comment from the SRC, SRC secretary Donovan du Plooy, Shingange and the SRC member with the media, marketing and communications portfolio Nobungcwele Mbem refused to comment immediately and did not return any of Perdeby’s request for comment later on. Kamlongera referred all questions to Shingange, saying that Spring Day is an SRC event. TuksRag released a statement on social media in which they have claimed no involvement in the UP SRC Spring Day Bash. The statement said that all responsibilities for the organisation of the event were delegated directly by the SRC to Kamlongera as the TuksRag exofficio member. They also said that Kamlongera had told the TuksRag executive committee that they would not be involved in the organisation of the Spring Day Bash, as it was an SRC event and has been for the last two years.
Afriforum demand Menziwa’s expulsion MARKO SVICEVIC On 8 September, Afriforum Youth Tukkies Branch handed over a memorandum of agreement to UP management in which they listed several demands relating to Luvuyo Menziwa’s recent Facebook post. In his Facebook post Menziwa, former SRC member for study finance, expressed his hatred towards white people, adding that whites should be killed. According to Afriforum spokesperson Henrico Barnard, the memorandum contained four demands: that Menziwa be expelled from UP with immediate effect, that UP enforce its internal policies on hate speech, release a media statement when Menziwa is expelled and ensure the safety of all its students on campus. Members of Afriforum present during the handover of the memorandum wore bulletproof vests which, according to Barnard, expressed the danger white students
felt being on campus with individuals who expressed their hatred toward white people. Barnard further explained that due to the timing of the suspension of Menziwa from the SRC, Afrifourm sees the suspension as “no real action [and] does not carry any weight”. The memorandum of agreement, which was directed at Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof. Cheryl de la Rey, was accepted by executive Henrico Barnard handing over the memorandum. Photo: assistant to the viceafriforumjeug.co.za chancellor of student A case of intimidation has been affairs, Michelle Viljoen. Viljoen opened at the Brooklyn Police Station confirmed that the she had received by Afriforum Youth. According to the memorandum of agreement on Captain Collette Weilbach, the case Prof. de la Rey’s behalf. has been referred to the Directorate The handover comes after for Priority Crime Investigation Menziwa’s suspension from the SRC (Hawks) for investigation. on 29 August.
The University of Pretoria Camerata has progressed to the semi-finals of the inaugural Varsity Sing competition, edging out the competition as the best in the first round. Camerata’s conductor, Michael Barrett, said, “The Varsity Sing competition has been great exposure for both the choir and the university, but I believe the “winner” is choral music itself. People are being exposed to the rich diversity of our South African culture through our greatest asset - singing.” Support your university choir by watching the final of the competition on 13 October. The final will be in the Linder Auditorium and will be broadcast live on KykNET. Camerata will also host their annual gala concert on 25 September in the Musaion, with tickets available on Computicket. Image provided.