Perdeby
SRC hosts curriculum transformation conference
The SRC, the Department of Student Affairs and the Student Transformation sub-council hosted a curriculum transformation student conference on 26 July. The conference was held as a platform for students to contribute to the intellectual discussion about the transformation of the curriculum. The discussion questioned what transformation is and whether the curriculum should be transformed.
The welcoming was given by Dr Matete Madiba, the Director of the Department of Student Affairs, and the participants included Darragh Meaker, the SRC representative for academics, and three students: Quraysha Ismail Sooliman, Thabang Manamela and Marko Svicevic.
In her welcoming, Dr Madiba urged the SRC to show their leadership regarding curriculum transformation but also called for the many other societies at UP to get involved. “I’m calling upon you to come on board and to help organise the student community to engage in this conversation,” she said. Dr Madiba affirmed that the talk was not like many other transformation agendas and would not be “an empty
type of journey”. “I hope that this session alone will deliver the start of the conversations that we will have to pick up in the future,” she said.
Meaker, from the Curriculum Transformation Work Stream, presented a draft framework document titled “Reimagining curricula for a just university in a vibrant democracy”.
“The idea of framework is to guide the process of transforming the curriculum,” he said.
He defined transformation as “an ongoing process of rethinking, not merely this sporadic, monumental change”. Meaker also mentioned the issues that the work stream had identified within the curriculum and had formed four driving factors or objectives to address:
Responsiveness to a social context: The university should prepare students and graduates for the outside world. It should form the content and structure of the curriculum by being aware of the social context and putting it into students’ learning and studying.
Epistemological diversity: There should be exposure to the knowledge of the diverse traditions of students and a move toward a global South Africanised concept of learning.
Pedagogy and renewal of classroom practices: This highlights how we learn and how material is conveyed to diverse students.
Institutional culture of openness and critical reflection: This questions what kind of university UP will be including standards, cultures and symbolism of the university.
Sooliman’s paper, titled “Reflections form the decolonisation summer school in Granada”, mentioned how the call for curriculum transformation is a call for decentering the Eurocentric perspective that has prioritised the knowledge of white, Christian males from five countries: Germany, Britain, Italy, France and the US. “In order to reactivate their humanity, students are demanding local relevance over international recognition,” she said.
Manamela sought to relate, through his presentation, the continued marginalisation of students with disabilities. He highlighted the shortsighted approach to the recognition of the rights of students with disabilities, which emphasises the law and legal process for protecting and attaining these rights, but very often does not go further than this. He mentioned that the curriculum structure can
burden students with disabilities. “I have faced hurdles and hurdles of admin,” he said about acquiring textbooks in braille.
Lastly, Svicevic presented his paper titled “Implementable policy considerations in the advancement of official indigenous African languages as mediums of instruction at institutions of higher education”. He emphasised the non-progressive nature of current university language policies as most current language policies differ from national framework on the advancement of indigenous African languages and how, currently, university language policies have no clear implementation plan.
“Wits is the only university with a four-phased plan. They have time periods, which many universities lack,” he said. The University of the Witwatersrand’s indigenous African language implementation plan’s phase 1 was completed in 2010 and phase 2 began in 2011.
The conference discussions come in light of UP’s decision on 22 June to revise the university’s language policy in which English is the only language if tuition and assesment. Afrikaans as a language of tuition will be gradually phased out.
Dr Madiba welcoming those in attendance. Photo: Kay O’Brien
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Each year I leave Oppikoppi and think, “Thank goodness I will never have to do that again.” I don’t particularly enjoy Oppi-style camping (read: having a friend occupy your sleeping bag and mattress without your
permission) and I am definitely not a fan of being dusty, having to use porta-loos and being woken by drunken festivalgoers shouting “Oppi!”, hoping for the response of “Koppi!”, at 03:00.
And yet, I find myself returning to Oppi again and again, this year included. Maybe it’s the delicious cheese roosterkoek from Kobus se Gat, the Ray Ban top stage or just the fact that their mascot is a bull terrier that brings me back. For many, it may be something entirely different, but there’s no denying that Oppi makes repeat visitors of many students, a large portion of whom will eat dry two minute noodles for months in order to scrape together the money for a ticket.
I really do think that this year’s festival will be my last and I’m grateful that the line-up is looking better than the past few years (the rand-dollar exchange is no event organiser’s friend but they’ve managed well this year). I’ve secretly always been a metalcore fan and first-year me is still upset that she couldn’t witness Kongos first hand at the Rag afterparty because it took place in the Square and she wasn’t allowed there.
Let’s not forget the excellent local talent. Some heavyweights are at the festival this year and there’s nothing better than the opportunity to see so many of them all in one weekend.
Our popular Oppikoppi ticket competition
Oppikoppi competition winners
“She always gets what she wants”
Prime Circle (Oppikoppi Version)
It comes around like a wild fire,
And like Perdeby to my fame.
I’m on my way to getting turned up, once again.
And I’ve been through this before,
I need one more time or more,
And I keep on coming back.
What are you waiting for?
She always gets what she wants.
She always gets what she needs the most. She always counts out the coins, that she’s saving.
She always moves to the rhythm Oppi is making. She is.
She walks to the sound of the Northam drum,
One minute she’s there the next she’s numb.
And I’m left to remember pieces of the night, to carry on.
And I’ve been through this before,
I need one more time or more
The Unsea is drawing me back
What are you waiting for?
It is, It is, It is my home
Please, Please, Choose my poem.
And I have been there before,
Please make this number four.
Because I keep on coming back,
What are you waiting for?
It is, It is, It is my home
Please, Please, Choose my poem.
Although I’ve been there before,
It’s a sign that I want more
Because it keeps me coming back,
What are you waiting for?
- Carina Scheepers and Joané Jansen van Rensburg
Professional and affordable editing & proofreading of all academic documents (theses, dissertations, essays etc.).
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had some creative entries this year, some of which are featured below. Now all these winners need is a slot at Oppi to perform their creations (hey, Hilltop Live?)
For those of you going to the festival, we have our trusty map of the campsite and the line-up on pages 7 and 10 (perfect for taking with in your bag or sticking on the inside of your car window).
For those who aren’t going to the festival, there’s still plenty of content for you. We have a look at the Zimbabean #ThisFlag movement and the local Cool Capital project.
For sport fans, there’s a whole four pages that look at UP’s Olympic athletes that are setting off to Rio this month. With the race and performance times of our featured athletes provided in the feature, there’s no reason not to pull this part of the newpaper out either (we recommend sticking on your wall and not your car window though, but each to their own).
Perdeby will be back on 22 August due to all the lovely holidays lined up. I hope you have a lovely Women’s Day and please remember to vote on 3 August (you even have the whole day off to do so).
Rest well!
Michal
For the Lovely Young Taken to the Sea for the first time
Escape - Kongos (Oppikoppi version)
Every 365 days
Come true man’s partying ways
All the living things
Limpopo nature brings – dusty days
When the shots are bursting in the air
And the alcohol is making that red glare
I’m heading down
Down to that good hope town - where the weather’s fair
So why don’t you come away
With me my love
We’ll do what it takes
I’ll keep you sane
Why don’t you stay by me
And when the time comes
We’ll escape
When the ticket finally comes my way
And Perdeby makes my day
We’re heading to the Northam tip
On a Chevy road trip
We’ll do what it takes - we’ll find a way
And if the dust forms up above
No sign anywhere of a buff
There’ll be no reason not to stay
We’ll try and live another day
In this place where there’s still love
- Carina Scheepers and Joané Jansen van Rensburg
A lovely young who would like to be taken to the dusty sea for the first time
Drone on to the next fun stop and experience things for the first time
Go on for three days without sleep in fear of missing the fun
But alas, my bank account is standing between me and my greatness
Then I hear that Perdeby is running a competition for the Lovely Young
But my mind betrays me for it cannot come up with something worthy
And now, my bank balance and my mind stand in the way of my greatness
But the Lovely young would truly love to go
Spend my weekend with other lovely young
Make memories that no one can take away
Memories that will warm me when I’m old and cold
Make new bonds, connect with new beings, for that is what life is truly about
Indeed my bank balance stands in between me and my greatness
And that saddens my heart
But Perdeby will come to the rescue and give me a weekend full of greatness
And I will forever be grateful
- Tshilisanani Ndou
Snap story submitted by Richard Hay
Innovative research centre joins UP
MAMMETJA MOGOTLANE
UP has established The Mining Resilience Research Centre (MRRC) that will focus on facilitating research activities that touch on various disciplines within the mining industry.
The research centre which aims to collaborate with a variety of faculties currently liaises with the Humanities, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology and Law faculties in an attempt to make the research multidisciplinary.
Given the challenges that the mining sector faces, such as economic constraints, the establishment of the research centre comes after the realisation, post-rigorous consultation with industry, that there is a need to provide innovative and modern approaches and efficient world class facilities to increase productivity and produce ground-breaking research, says Prof Jan du Plessis, Sasol chair of health, safety and environment in the Department of Mining Engineering at UP. Prof Du Plessis added that the outcomes of the research aim to be a catalyst for transformation and growth in the African
continent and produce a robust mining industry.
According to statement released by UP, South Africa’s mining industry provides a total of 19% of the economic activity, mining continues to be a key driver for economic growth.
The Mining Resilience Research Centre with its multidisciplinary collaborations seeks to address the future of mining education, with the aim of co-creating, developing and adopting a Resilient African Mining Model as the blueprint for mine designs of the future. The statement by UP also added that the centre seeks to ensure that future technologies including mechanised mining, automation, robotics and the workplace order and culture are associated with these developments. Furthermore, the centre will address future socio-economic aspects of mining, including how empowered, technologically-enabled and educated communities relate to mining operations and lastly the standard of mining governance in Africa and how it can be improved for the future.
According to UP’s press release, the MRRC seeks to develop relations with prominent international research and academic institutions.
Congratulations Liam Ward, Nicholas Bayly and Jacques Celliers on their ticket-winning facebook video.
See more Oppikoppi ticket winners on our Youtube channel
Aandklas hangs in the balance
CHAD JOHNSTON
The well-known bar and restaurant Aandklas has been earmarked for demolition by the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority of Gauteng. Aandklas Hatfield has been functioning as a venue for rock lovers, local musicians and students for more than ten years. The building was built by Norman Eaton in 1943, which makes the building a national heritage site, according to Section 34 (1) of the National Heritage Resources Act,. The proposed demolition of the venue has seen a petition created in an attempt to save it. Christo de Beer, a loyal customer for over eight years and the host of the weekly Aandklas quiz night, said that he started the petition as a “friend of Aandklas” and that the petition had gained 300 signatures by 25 July.
Aandklas’s owner and manager, Rudi Oosthuizen, expalined that the property was sold two years ago to counsel which made it subject to demolition and that as a group. Aandklas did everything they could to negotiate, which led them to considering to buy the property. “In the current state of affairs we are still renting and to avoid conflict with our landlord, we chose not to get directly involved.” Oosthuizen said that nothing has been finalised yet because there has been no communication about the building being demolished. He added that “when it comes to heritage sites, the community has a big say in whether a building should be demolished or not” and that business at Aandklas will continue as normal to “serve the students and community at large.”
Aandklas is a well-known Hatfield venue. Photo: Fezekile Msimang
SRC issue public apology
MICHAL LINDEN AND CHAD JOHNSTON
On Friday 19 July, the SRC published a public apology as instructed by the Constitutional Tribunal. The apology comes after the tribunal issued a judgement following complaints by Daso UP.
On 26 May, Daso UP brought the matters of alleged forged SRC meeting minutes, the SRC’s failure to comply with specific requirements of the CSG (which provided for documentation relating to Student Forum), and the questionable SRC meeting that had taken place in which the SRC decided not to hold the re-election of the SRC president and deputy-president before the Constitutional Tribunal.
These issues were initially raised in the Perdeby articles “SRC legitimacy questioned: Exclusive investigation into constitutional amendments and CSG transgressions” (9 May) and “SRC legitimacy questions answered: Exclusive investigation into constitutional amendments and CSG transgressions” (16 May) and included the election of Thabo Shingange, initially the deputy secretary, as the interim chairperson, Constitution for Student Governance (CSG) amendments that weren’t reported to the Constitutional Tribunal or students, inauguration irregularities, an outdated SRC website and a lack of communication about student forum as well as the fact that the first quarterly student forum was not held. SRC meeting minutes that contained discrepancies in dates, implying that the election of Shingange as interim chair happened on 25 January 2016 instead of 25 November as previously claimed by the SRC, were also questioned.
On 3 June, the Constitutional Tribunal published it’s findings on the alleged transgressions of the CSG. The tribunal found that the election of Shingange had taken place in 2016 but rejected the allegation that the minutes were forged. Instead they found the SRC, and
SRC secretary Donovan du Plooy in particular, were negligent.
On the allegation that the SRC had contravened the CSG by failing to publish documents relating to Student Forum at least two weeks beforehand, it was found that the SRC were guilty. They were ordered to publicly apologise to the student body for failing to uphold their responsibilities in relation to this matter and release a statement in which they commit to ensuring that they stick to these responsibilities in the future.
On the final allegation that the SRC’s internal decision not to re-elect the portfolio’s of president and deputy president was unconstitutional and not communicated to the student body, the tribunal could not prove whether this vote took place and that therefore the allegation was invalid. The Tribunal concluded that the DSA was to enforce the orders of the judgment.
Staying classy at the Taaibos July 2016
CAROLYN HUGHES
The Taaibos July has the reputation for being an event to pencil into your calendar from the day that it is announced and with good reason. The fifth annual Taaibos July was held at Rafters Pub and Grill in Pretoria East on 23 July 2016. The event was full of Taaibos spirit and substantially attended. An obvious highlight of the evening was the traditional hockey stick horse races and winner of Miss Taaibos July. This year’s winner was Andrea Coutinho from Magrietjie.
Versaa, featuring Taaibos’s own ex-external culture HK of Lungelo Moyo and old Olienhout cabinet member Samuel Mahlangu were first to
take the stage. The duo wowed crowds with their own take on a couple of familiar tunes.
Shaun M, a familiar Taaibos face picked up the pace of the evening with his own EDM selection and became a fast crowd favourite.
DJ Mako followed with a hip hop set and then Matt Gardiner, who has opened for names like Matthew Mole, Prime Circle and Desmond and the Tutus. The crowd enjoyed him so much that he was coerced into another two closing songs. Gardiner set the tone for the headliners, the December Streets. After an action packed set, Vimo shut down the evening.
Overall the Taaibos July was definitely worth looking forward to and left many guests in good spirits.
Notice a lot of students in their pyjamas on Wednesday? UP student Darren Spencer created the event Onesie Wednesday hosted on campus this last week. Here are a number of the participants. Photo: Petros Kyriazis
Public apology issued by the SRC on ClickUP.
First years racing in the July on their homemade ‘horses’. Photo: Chris Graupner
#ThisFlag: a symbol of change?
SAVANNAH PLASKITT
Over the past two months tensions have been rising in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans took to the streets to voice their concerns and raise awareness of numerous issues in the country. At the forefront of this protest stands Harare based Pastor Evan Mawarire, the face of the #ThisFlag movement, who began the movement for social awareness with a single post on social media.
On 20 April Pastor Mawarire posted a video on his Facebook page wearing a Zimbabwean flag around his neck. In the video, which has been viewed almost 170 000 times, Mawarire said, “When I look at the flag it’s not a reminder of my pride and inspiration. It feels as if I just want to belong to another country. […] And so I must look at it again with courage and try to remind myself that it is my country.” The video sparked a large social media response with hundreds of people posting pictures of themselves wearing the Zimbabwean flag. In reaction to the overwhelming response he began five days of digital activism from 1 May using the hashtag ThisFlag. The action was then extended to 25 days, ending on Africa day on 25 May. In a video posted on his Facebook page Mawarire said, “The 25th is not when we stop but when we start, where we start to push them to accountability. The last 25 days have been us waking up, us knowing that we all have these frustrations. […] A lot of people have got to a place where, like me, they didn’t know what to do, but they really just want Zimbabwe to work.”
On 1 July protesters shut down the Beitbridge border post, close to the town of Musina in Limpopo province, over new import restrictions introduced by Zimbabwe. The new import laws, which restrict the importation of basic items such as jam and bottled water, affect both sides of the border. Speaking to eNCA, International Cross-Border Traders Association representative Dennis Jeru said of the restrictions, “If the situation continues there will be a total shutdown in Musina as most businesses rely on buyers from Zimbabwe. Without Zimbabwean clients, Musina will cease to be active.”
On 5 July fourteen unions representing civil servants, including doctors and workers in the health sector, went on strike after their June salaries were not paid. The first national shutdown in Zimbabwe happened the following day. Zimbabweans answered social media calls made by Mawarire to stage a peaceful protest and close all schools and businesses in the country. According to a BBC article titled “Zimbabwe shutdown: What is behind the protests?” this strike was the biggest strike action since 2005. According to the same article the protests were caused by a 90% unemployment rate, strict limits on the amount of money people can withdraw from banks and a severe drought that has led to Zimbabweans being unable to feed themselves.
Zimbabwe’s telecommunications regulatory body issued a public notice warning users that they were being closely watched, were “easily identified” and would be “dealt with accordingly”. The public notice explained that any person caught sharing “abusive” or “offensive” messages would be arrested. This notice came after WhatsApp and other communications were shut down in the country on the morning of 6 July.
Encouraging citizens to go ahead with a second national shut down, Mawarire tweeted on 8 July, “In the face of intimidation, abductions and arrests we are determined to be builders of a better Zimbabwe than the one we have #ThisFlag.”
On 12 July Mawarire was called to appear before police for questioning, however, shortly before 11:00 am a tweet was posted on Mawarire’s Twitter account which said, “Pastor Evan Mawarire is being charged with section 36 for inciting public violence and disturbing peace.” These charges were later changed to subverting a constitutional government in contravention of Section 22 (2) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Mawarire was released on 13 July when the court found the
charges pressed by the state were in violation of the Constitution. Zimbabweans were singing and praying outside the court the entire day and approximately 100 lawyers had showed up to represent Mawarire.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe denounced Mawarire, accusing him of being sponsored by foreign governments. During an address at the funeral of Charles Utete, the country’s first black cabinet secretary, Mugabe said in reference to Mawarire, “A man of religion will speak the biblical truth. 1 Corinthians what does it say? Love one another […] So beware these men of cloth, not all of them are true preachers of the Bible.” He went on to say, “I don’t know whether they are serving God [...] We spell God double G.O.D, they spell God in reverse.””
In an unexpected move, The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA), a prominent supporter of Mugabe for decades, said that they will “no longer back President Robert Mugabe in elections”. The group said in a statement, “We note, with concern, shock and dismay, the systematic entrenchment of dictatorial tendencies, personified by the president and his cohorts, which have slowly devoured the values of the liberation struggle,” and, “He [President Mugabe] has a lot to answer for the serious plight of the national economy.”
Speaking to Perdeby, former Minister of Education, Sport, and Culture of Zimbabawe, David Coltart, who is a member of the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said of the decision by the ZNLWVA, “The war vet statement is one of the most significant events in recent Zimbabwean history. It was they who brought Mugabe to power in Mozambique in 1975 and without their support Mugabe will be deprived of a disciplined body of men who have been the backbone of Zanu PF for decades.” He added that he was not sure whether the #ThisFlag movemement would evolve into something else, such as a political party, but said that he hoped that #ThisFlag would “challenge opposition leaders to get their act together”.
Speaking to eNCA on 19 July, Mawarire explained his role in the protests, saying,“Part of what I’m advocating for as a young person and I do so openly, is that it is time for new ideas to enter the political fray of our country. There’s no doubt about the fact that we have recycled the same people and the same ideas for a long time. It is time for us to think differently [...] The elders dreamt about a Zimbabwe when they went to war. They’ve laid the foundation.”
Cool Capital creates community culture
COURTNEY TINK
“Small is big” is the slogan of Cool Capital, the DIY guerilla platform that endorses a citizen led initiative that strengthens communities and promotes pride in Pretoria. The platform works as a starting point and guiding structure for preconceived projects that will brighten up the community. Often someone may have a great idea but lack a way to go about making it a reality. This is where Cool Capital steps in to help.
In 2012, Pieter Mathews, partner at Mathews and Associates Architects in Pretoria, attended the Architecture Venice Biennial, an international architecture exhibit that invites artists from the best countries to present their work every two years. It was at the Canadian pavilion that Mathews saw a poster encouraging citizens to take active control over their city. As a result Mathews decided to bring this initiative back to Pretoria and in 2014 he started Cool Capital. According to Jana Kruger, junior architect at Mathews and Associates, Cool Capital intends to show citizens the value of art in South Africa because there is currently a lack of influence in the creative community.
In August 2014 Information Design students at UP created the “Stop in the name of love” project in collaboration with Cool Capital. Students constructed a rollout zebra crossing that was then applied on a road in need of a pedestrian passage. Once the crossing was rolled out, students in reflective shirts would stop traffic with signs that read “stop in the name of love, before you break our bones” while pedestrians were free to cross. The project encouraged a sense of privilege and acknowledgement among the pedestrians.
Universities, high schools and groups with a cause are encouraged to submit their ideas on Cool Capital’s website and the platform will then get in contact with them in order to plan how to make their idea a reality. All mediums of art and design that promote positive social and environmental change are accepted and can include dance, murals and film. The platform’s goal is to create a structure that encourages communication and produces results that bring about excitement and local change.
Cool Capital has become so successful that their platform has been introduced into certain curriculums, such as that of second year architecture students at UP who have been designing beehives or “Honey Houses” as part of their practical work. This project allows students to construct a challenging model while being made aware of the importance of bees and their ecosystems.
The 2016 Architecture Venice Biennial invited Cool Capital to attend this year’s exhibition. The exhibition will run from September to October. The biennial will exhibit a range of art movements and pieces that have inspired the community of Pretoria. The pavilion will also give South Africa a chance to showcase the best up and coming artists whether they are professionals or amateurs.
Cool Capital invites everyone to share or join in because every idea, no matter how small, has a big impact that’s necessary in generating social change.
#ThisFlag leader Evan Mawarire Image: Pastor Evan Mawarire’s Twitter page
“Think outside the box” by Kim Morrow, Visual Arts Department, UP.
Photo: Kim Morrow
Local is lekker: a look at the SA music scene
Copyright Act of 1978 it is illegal to convert a CD to MP3, but no proceedings have ever been opened against any individual. Leon Schuster won the
Per capita, house music's biggest market is South Africa, with the love for the genre stemming from South Africa's jazz and kwaito history.
PERDEBY
Infographic: Mothusi Masibi Content: Shaun Sproule
Star Wars Celebration 2016 outlines the future of Star Wars
KOJO ESSAH
Star Wars Celebration is a three-day fan event that aims to celebrate everything Star Wars across all media platforms.
Star Wars Celebration 2016 took place at the ExCel London Exhibition Centre in London from 15-17 July.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is the first standalone Star Wars film and is set for release on 16 December 2016. Due to its close release date, a number of announcements were made regarding the film. A behind-the-scenes trailer was released revealing new droids and alien races. The film will also premiere a new planet called Scarif, which was featured on the new poster also unveiled at the conference. A publicly unreleased video was shown at the end of the Rogue One panel that showed major series villain Darth Vader, much to the excitement of the crowd.
A number of announcements about Star Wars Rebels , the Star
Wars animated series on Disney XD, were also made. Grand Admiral Thrawn, a villain in the Star Wars expanded universe, will premiere in season three of the series. It was also made known that future episodes of the series will intertwine with Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope . Darth Maul, a fan-favourite character, was also shown in great detail.
Star Wars Battlefront, the first person shooter game released in November 2015, also had a bit to show at the conference.
The third expansion for the game, titled Death Star , will feature hero Chewbacca and villain Bossk as playable characters. The fourth and final expansion for the game will revolve around Rogue One , tentatively set for release this holiday season.
Finally, progress has been made on the standalone film revolving around a young Han Solo. 26-year-old actor Alden Ehrenreich has been cast as the beloved Star Wars smugglerturned-rebel-general. The film is tentatively titled Han Solo: A Star Wars Story and is set for release on 25 May 2018.
Here We Go events: outings for Pokemon Go fans
Pokémon is once again the subject of attention with the release of the Pokémon Go app. Pokémon Go events, or Poképatrols, were organised all around South Africa and one such company, Here We Go Events, drew the most attention. Hosting one of the largest events at the Pretoria Zoo, we spoke to Reinhardt Kukkuk, the owner of Here We Go Events.
For those who don’t know, what is Here We Go Events? Here We Go Events is a small collaboration of organisers that are trying to put together as many quality Pokémon Go events as possible in order to just bolster the community … and we’re trying to get as many of the better event organisers together in order to ensure the best Pokémon Go events that we possibly can. What is the vision for Here We Go Events?
We’re still very new, so we’re not exactly sure where we’re going quite yet, but we’re trying to foster the kind of thing where we can both have a very casual market and a competitive scene. And we’re working on a number of smaller initiatives in order to make the competitive scene more realised, but at this moment we are still at what we like to call the “beta testing” phase. You’ve recently held your first event at the Pretoria Zoo. What made you choose the zoo?
Originally, when the game just came out, among the people [in] Pretoria it was already circulating that the zoo was a big hot spot for Pokéstops and gyms. Originally I just wanted to get some friends together to go with me to the zoo, and then the entire thing exploded into the event that we had.
What was your first thought when you saw the massive amount of people interested in your event?
Holy s**t. Honestly, when I woke up on Sunday morning after I posted it on Saturday and saw that we had over 200 people registered for the event I panicked because I had no idea what was going to happen.
What was the process like in organising everything?
So ridiculously hectic. There were nights where I was up until 04:00 and I would have to wake up at 08:00 to answer e-mails and take calls. Honestly, it was more hectic than finals week.
What was the most interesting or fun part of the event?
That was probably when I first started getting sponsors. I didn’t actually reach out for sponsors for the event. It was to be completely funded by me and be a very small competition just to get some people interested. It was very exciting seeing all the people just wanting to support the event.
Will Here We Go Events be holding other events in the near future?
We are already organising the first event with [the] Jo’burg Zoo, because we want to be able to include the people on that side of Gauteng as well. And then we’re looking at organising what we’re currently calling micro-events, which will be 15-30 people events, and that’s what the beta testing will be for as we [are] not exactly sure how that will work just yet.
How can Pokémon Go enthusiasts, or Pokémon trainers rather, stay up to date with news and events?
We’re constantly posting updates on the Facebook page Here We Go Events.
look at Krêkvars-Kopanong 2016
CAROLYN HUGHES
The annual Krêkvars-Kopanong Arts Festival, hosted by the Drama Department in collaboration with UP Arts and the University of Pretoria, opened with a bang this year. Palesa Matabane, newly appointed festival organiser for 2016, began proceedings by announcing in her opening address that as of 2017 Krêkvars-Kopanong will be continuing forward as the Kopanong Arts Festival in the interest of promoting transformation.
Following Matabane’s address, The Broken Whole was performed for those invited.
The Broken Whole, choreographed and directed by Luyanda Sidiya, was a good choice for an opening show. The physical theatre piece wowed the festival’s invited guests and left many with a new perspective on the recent language policy debates and the effect this has on English and non-English speakers.
The piece, starring Zelné Papenfus, Bianca Rudd, Themba Papu, Dean Christian, Palesa Olifant, Westley Smith and Max Breytenbach, was both emotive and tastefully performed.
The Broken Whole can be commended for its notably fair representation of varied angles of the effects of language debate on the different language speakers, and for dealing with a relatable and topical theme through the incorporation of impressive physical choreography.
The festival ran from 18-23 July and hosted shows of a variety of genres and topics. A
Lights Out
David F. Sandberg
SHAUN SPROULE
In 2013 David F. Sandberg directed a two-and-a-half minute short film that quickly went viral. He was able to scare audiences in a very short space of time, tapping into an almost primal fear of the dark. Three years later a relatively low budget Lights Out is set to scare the world with a skilled cast and clever script, with the help of Conjuring and Saw director James Wan as producer.
Rebecca (Teresa Palmer) is forced to face her fears when her younger brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) starts to experience the same phenomenon that tested Rebecca’s sanity when she was younger. She sets out to find the cause of the terror plaguing the family and solve the mystery behind the entity that has attached itself to her mother, Sophie (Maria Bello).
The film opens with a sequence mirroring Sandberg’s short film, setting the mood for the rest of the film and giving the audience a taste of what to expect. From the opening scene, a relatively simple story line unfolds with the focus on everyone’s childhood fear of the dark. The film avoids over-explaining events, leaving the audience in the dark and guessing at every turn. Unrelenting suspense and an outstanding performance by Palmer and Bateman create unsettling scenes that promise to keep viewers wide-eyed and scared. Wide camera angles and the film’s subtle score guide the audience through the film, rather than forcefully trying to scare viewers.
The script is well-written and simple and has an element of believability to it. This is marred somewhat by the involvement of Rebecca’s boyfriend, Bret (Alexander DiPersia), who comes across as too relaxed and accepting of a bizarre situation, given that he did not grow up with the strange happenings like Rebecca and her brother did. Like The Babadook (2014), the film makes bold statements about depression and its sufferers, which gets viewers thinking while also providing a thrilling scare. Overall, Lights Out is a promising and successful debut for Sandberg.
AAISHA KALLIER
Nusi Grobler. Photo: Shen Scott
Illustration: Asiphe Dlulani
The lovely young behind the unsea: a look at the 2016 Oppi theme
JULIA BAIN
How to rave and still behave
CAROLYN HUGHES
Amid the excitement and anticipation that always surrounds something like Oppikoppi, there are plenty of opportunities for sharpeyed and quick-fingered thieves to get their hands on what you have packed in your bag. However, staying safe at Oppi is definitely easier than getting the dust out of everything you own when you get back.
Secure your tent
This security measure is something as simple as locking up your tent with a small storebought padlock. This keeps people with sticky fingers out. If you lose the key, this will keep you out too, so be sure to bring a spare.
Lock your liquids
If you’re bringing along something to drink (alcoholic or not) make sure you’re drinking from a bottle with a screw-top lid. This keeps the dust out as well as anything anyone is trying to slip into it. The risk of being spiked
at Oppi is just as high as it is when out at a nightclub, so keep your drinks close and covered up at all times. Make sure to bring ample water along. The days get very hot, and when you’re too excited about the keyboard player in the band you waited all day to see you may not notice that you’re dehydrating. Water points are also likely to be a decent hike away from your camping spot, so be aware of your water levels.
Know your saviours
Be sure to familiarise yourself with the medics tent and the Red Frogs in case you find yourself in a panic because one of your friends or someone you know gets into trouble. These people are there to help and to make sure you live to rave another day.
Navigation is key
When night falls and you’re tired of electro music, it definitely helps to learn the name of your street. Stick something in a tree nearby or erect a flag of some kind that will tell you that you’ve arrived at your tent.
Mi Casa to celebrate women at Emmarentia Live
JESSICA NOGIEĆ
Local favourite Mi Casa has been touring Africa but will be making a stop-off in their home country for Emmarentia Live on 9 August. Perdeby had a chat to them about their tour and what to expect on the day.
You released your album Home Sweet Home last year. What has the reception been like? It’s been superb. I mean, four singles already and we are feeling so blessed. [The] only scary reality is how albums are becoming so scarce. People just release singles. But we have always felt proud to put out an album for the fans for them to enjoy our story. It’s something we will always strive to do.
Are there any tracks on the album that you particularly enjoy performing?
Oh yeah, so many. At the moment I’m loving “Don’t wanna be your friend”. People just love that tune. It’s crazy. It also depends a lot on where we are in the world – certain songs just work for certain areas. “Mumble in the jungle” in the hood is crazy!
You’re currently on your Unlock Africa Tour. What was the idea behind this tour?
Well, it’s been amazing. It’s our second Africa tour, but this one is so unique because what we [are] doing is leaving the fate of us performing in a certain African country up to that country itself. So if you want us to play in your country, you have to create sufficient social engagement to create the demand for us to come. Then the fans unlock our show, essentially.
You’ve recently performed in Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda and Kenya during your Unlock Tour. How did you experience these countries?
Man, we live on the best continent on planet Earth. That’s where I will leave it. What was your favourite city where you performed?
Kampala is one of my new favourite cities in the world. Nairobi is also my favourite city in the
world. I love the people so much. Every time we go we get blown away.
How would you describe performing with Kenyan band Sauti Sol in Nairobi?
Ahhh, I tell you those dudes are amazing. They [are] such great friends, so getting on the stage with them is a great moment.
How did your collaboration with them come about?
In an elevator ... honest truth. We met a few years back at a show. Then we started chatting [and] as we made our way to our rooms we found ourselves in the same lift and we started singing. It’s a moment I will cherish.
You’re set to play Emmarentia Live on Women’s Day. What can your fans look forward to at the performance?
Look, I saw the lineup. I wanna come early and chill too. It looks like it’s going to be a whole lot of fun. Since its Women’s Day, we [are] gonna work on making the women feel special. Emmarentia Live will a special way to celebrate Women’s Day. What do the women in your life mean to you?
[They are] the rocks, really. The people that make us and remind us who we really are. The people that support us and really love us unconditionally.
Perdeby has two tickets to give away to Emmarentia Live where you’ll be able to celebrate Women’s Day with Mi Casa, Good Luck, Gangs of Ballet, Freshly Ground and Mango Groove. All you have to do is answer this simple question: what was the most recent country Mi Casa visited on their Unlock Africa Tour? Send your answers to entertainment@perdeby.co.za by 4 August.
South Africa’s biggest music festival is around the corner and those with tickets are getting excited. There are many that wish to dress up to the theme, but this year’s The Unsea seems a bit abstract. Our interview with Hilltop Live, Oppikoppi’s organisers, will give festival lovers a greater insight into the inspiration and meaning behind 2016’s The Unsea. The inspiration behind the choice of theme for this year’s Oppi comes from a song by Gert Vlok Nel. Why was this particular song chosen?
We love Gert; he is a good friend of Oppikoppi and a regular contributor. It was time for one of his songs and shô, is it not one of the most mystical and magical songs written in South Africa?
Can you elaborate on the meaning behind Nel’s song?
The title of the song is “For those in peril on the sea”. The first verse includes all human beings: and for the lovely young taken to the sea for the first time / and for the unlovely unyoung taken to the sea for the last time / and for the unlovely young taken to the sea / and for the lovely young taken to the unsea.
It is written like a prayer. The empathy and care about loss and being lost in this world as we currently know it, written in such a gentle and whimsical style and obviously fun like one would have that is taken to the sea or the unsea for the first time.
For the photography art, how was Daniel Naude chosen to head up this work?
We like to represent many genres in our music line-up; the same goes for the artworks that get chosen. This year it was time for photography and we have always liked Daniel’s work. Maybe you know this but the Bull Terrier has always been an Oppikoppi mascot. It was time to bring him back.
How did the concept for Naude’s artwork come into being?
We asked a few of our friends in the Cape, where Daniel works, to audition their Bullies for the job and in the end we found a lovely white male to pose on the beach. He had quite a bit of biltong and snacks to do what Daniel wanted and in the end he got that great shot. What does The Unsea as a theme mean to Hilltop Live as the organisers and theme choosers for Oppikoppi?
The theme celebrates the young, but the rest of the song includes everybody, also the wiser older ones who have seen many things and will be “taken to the sea for the last time”. We like this whimsical sense of adventure. Oppikoppi is not an age thing, it’s mindset, always have been. Oppikoppi loves metaphors and word play, see and sea. [It’s about] having an open mind, having experience, etc. What is the most important thing that Oppikoppi goers should know about The Unsea?
To not think about it all so much.
Image provided
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Please complete and hand in at Perdeby offices (next to the Prospect Street entrance) or email to perdeby@up.ac.za before or on Friday 4 March 201 6 at 12:00
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If you are applying for a position as a journalist, please submit an article of approximately 400 words in English on any relevant topic (with reference to the particular portfolio you wish to apply for) with your application. If you are applying for a position as a photographer , videographer o r graphic artist , please attach a portfolio of at least 5 images , audio clips and/or videos with your application. If you are applying for a position as a layout artist , please expect an email regarding the work you need to supply.
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Pssst...
Second week of semester and the scandal is rolling in. Pssst... sees that apparently Katjiepiering and Olienhout have more in common than just consistently loitering in front of the Monate pie fridge. Pssst... hears that both residences have members that cannot hold their liquor during a pub crawl. Pssst… does, however, give credit to the Katte for keeping their after dark antics confined to the dance floor of Springboks and Tennessee. Pssst... is glad that this is instead of distressing the patrons of Oom-Gerts in the middle of the day unlike the mess that was the sleevelessvest-in-the-middle-of-winter clad Houte at this week’s res hockey.
Speaking of antics at Tennessee, Boekhout’s ‘Cirque du Lune’ culture event happened this last week and Pssst… isn’t surprised if you didn’t know about it until now. The line up of DJs meant the Ysters had to practically beg people to attend the event and even that wasn’t convincing enough for most.
Mr and Miss Curlitzia recovered the reputation of the Kloekies somewhat after their Around the World disaster. This event was just as bland but the lack of the watered down attempt at a punch had Pssst… breathing a sigh of relief.
Mopanie have been nowhere to be seen
lately but maybe that’s because they have taken to covering their rec hall windows in newspaper. Don’t worry Mopanie, Pssst… loves you too. Pssst... is sure that you will probably grab a spot in finals if Sonop withdraws like they did in Serrie.
About someone who also knows about pulling out last minute, the Taaibos clubhouse re-opened this weekend and Magrietjie regulars had everyone rolling their eyes at their over indulgence of the drinks specials menu. Pssst... thinks that maybe the ladies of Asterhof can teach them a thing or two about self control. The holiday away from the doorstep of Domino’s pizza seems to have granted a few favours them.
Serenade is fast approaching. Pssst... has been hearing some strange rumours of Sonop approaching random day students and offering to register them as members just to make quota. Pssst... thinks Sonop should try harder. Or better yet, realise that transformation isn’t as easy as the girls from Klaradyn and make a sincere effort.
‘Till next week (and don’t forget to send your tips to pssst@perdeby.co.za)!
Love, Pssst...
UP Ethics Hotline
Crossword
Report corruption, fraud, theft, unlawful and unethical behaviour using any of the following channels
Toll-free hotline: 0800 200 651 (from any Telkom line)
Toll-free fax number: 0800 200 796
Secure email: fraud@kpmg.co.za
Letter to freepost: BNT 371, PO Box 14671, Sinoville, 0129
Web address: https://goo.gl/corWMw
UP Internal Audit Unit: (012) 420 6541 wb.audit@up.ac.za
information on the Ethics hotline and the complete Whistle-blowers policy can be found at http://www.up.ac.za/ethicshotline
GET TO KNOW YOUR UP OLYMPIANS
The heart of an Olympic Champion: Cameron van der Burgh
THANDO CELE
DYLAN JACK
Road to Rio: Akani Simbine is currently the fastest man in South African history holding the national 100 m record of 9.89ls. Simbine, an informatics science student at UP, first came to prominence in 2012 when he broke the South African junior 100lm record as he clocked 10.19 s at the Zone XI games in Lusaka. In 2014 Simbine continued to impress as he set the second fastest 100 m time by a South African with a time of 10.02ls at the National Championships in Pretoria. Later that year he participated in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, reaching the semi-final stages of the 100 m and finishing fifth in the 200 m final. Simbine’s international debut came in June last year when he ran his first sub-10 seconds in Slovenia in a time of 9.99 s. This was the start of multiple sub-10 times to follow and at the World Students Games in South Korea a few weeks later he clocked a time of 9.97 s.
Latest PB’s and goals: Simbine broke the South African 100 m record on 18 July this year and earned a gold medal in Budapest Simbine did not only establish his 9.89 s record, but beat his sprinting hero Asafa Powell in the process. Werner Prinsloo, Simbine’s coach, spoke about the star’s Olympic hopes and said, “We are not thinking about winning any medal at the moment. All that matters is to ensure that [Simbine] qualifies for the final. Once he has done that, there will be time to set a new goal.”
Race days: Simbine will be sprinting in the 100 m heats on Saturday 13 August with the semi-finals and final scheduled to take place on Sunday 14 August.
Road to Rio: Born and bred in Pretoria, Cameron Van der Burgh took up swimming at a very young age. The 28-year old competitive swimmer took over the mantles of Ryk Neethling and Roeland Schoeman, competing in and representing South Africa at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics where he won the gold medal for the 100 m breaststroke in a new world record of 58.46 s. Van der Burgh has become one of the country’s medal hopefuls for Rio and the swimming team’s poster boy (along with Chad Le Clos) as Africa’s first home-trained world record holder and individual male Olympic Champion. He has won numerous World Championship medals since his debut in 2007 when he took a bronze medal in the 50 m breaststroke, and has twice won the FINA World Cup. Van der Burgh set his first long-course world record in the 50 m breaststroke in the semi-finals at South African Nationals in April 2009, with a time of 27.06 seconds. He then went on to win the world title in the same year at the Rome Championship, also in the 50 m breaststroke. He won the 50 m breaststroke at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, setting a new games record time of 27.18 s. Van der Burgh won the 100 m world title at the 2010 short course world championships, before one of the biggest moments of his career in his Olympic triumph in 2012. Van der Burgh trains with Dirk Lange, who he gives a lot of credit for his success to. Van der Burgh says that he is inspired by “people who strive to be the best version of themselves.”
Latest PB’s and goals: In 2015 he won the 100 m in every meet throughout the year at the FINA World Cup, which included
victory over swimming rival Adam Peaty as recently as November. Peaty overtook Van der Burgh’s 100 m breaststroke world record last year in a time of 57.92 seconds. When asked about defending his Olympic title, Van der Burgh said in an interview with Times Live, “I’ve got four years more training and four years more experience [since the last Olympics]. To win the Olympics now, you’re going to have to go 57-seconds, whether high or low. These Olympics will be fast. A lot of world records will go.”
Race days: Cameron Van der Burgh will be in action at the Rio Olympics on Saturday 6 August (for the heats) and Sunday 7 August (for the final) to defend his 2012 title in the 100m breaststroke.
TuksHigh running with the big names
ERIN SLINGERLAND
Road to Rio
Despite not being Clarence Munyai’s main focus, this year the young athlete and two time National Champion is will fulfil his dream of running in the Olympics. Munyai is in his final year of school at TuksHigh. TuksHigh allows talented athletes such as Munyai to complete school while helping them unlock their potential as athletes. He ran an Olympic qualifying time of 20.39 s in the 200 m on 18 March 2016. His coach, Hennie Kriel believes this is just the beginning for Munyai and that the athlete is capable of running even faster.
Latest personal bests and goals
Munyai’s personal best times this year, according to his IAAF profile, are 20.36 s for 200 m which he recorded in Germiston on 2 April this year, and 10.28 s for the 100 m which he recorded in Sasolburg a few days later. Munyai placed fourth at the IAAF u/20 World Championships in July in Poland this year with a time of 20.77 s. When asked about his prospective career and sudden Olympic opportunity Munyai replied, “My coach always tells me to keep my feet on the ground, and I always [remind myself] that if I am not humble, the world will humble [me].”
Race days Munyai will be sprinting in the 200 m heats on Tuesday 16 August with the semi-finals scheduled to take place on 17 August and the final on 18 August.
Akani Simbine: South Africa’s pocket rocket
Cameron van der Burgh. Image: EWN.
Akani Simbine.
Photo: Akani Simbine’s Facebook page.
Clarence Munyai. Image provided.
GET TO KNOW YOUR UP OLYMPIANS
Carina Horn can
TAY LETHULOE
Road to Rio
Carina Horn is currently the undisputed national 100 m sprint champion. She is considered one of the best 100 m women that the country has produced alongside names like Evette de Kerk and Geraldine Pillay. Horn achieved a personal best time of 11.06ls in the World Challenge Meeting in July last year in Madrid, equalling the 25-year old South African record. The 27year old Horn is experienced internationally and competed up to the semi-finals in the World Championships in Beijing last year. Last month her name stood out at the Diamond League in Monaco after she was the women with the fastest start and went on to achieve third place in a time of 11.14 s. Breakthrough came for the athlete five years ago when she decided to travel to Austria to work under the guidance of mentor and coach Rainer Schopf after which her 100 m sprinting time improved by 0.53 s. Latest personal bests and goals
This year she competed in the African Championships and achieved a silver medal for the women’s 100 m with a time of 11.07 s. She hopes to shave 0.02 s off this time to become the sole national record holder for the 100 m sprint. She has made it clear to the media that she prefers her Olympic goals to be seen in the way that she runs instead of what she says: “I would rather let my performances do the talking. I have goals to be an Olympic medallist, but talking to everyone won’t help me achieve it and I am just focused on doing everything that I possibly can.”
Race days: Horn will be competing in the 100m sprinting heats on Friday 12 August, with the semi-final and final scheduled to take place on 13 August.
Men’s rowing duo: John Smith and James Thompson
DYLAN JACK
Road to Rio: Both John Smith and James Thompson were part of the lightweight coxless men’s fours rowing team that won gold at the 2012 London Olympics, shocking favourites Great Britain and Denmark. This year South Africa has qualified a record 5 boats for the 2016 Rio Olympics. After the 2012 Olympics the team broke up and Smith and Thompson, both from UP’s High Performance Centre, teamed up to compete in the lightweight men’s double skulls and have successfully qualified for the 2016 Olympics in the category.
Smith attended St Alban’s College and had to switch sports from water polo to rowing after picking up an injury during a water polo match at age 16. Smith won his first gold medal at the under-23 World Championships in Belarus in 2010, which was South Africa’s first ever rowing gold medal at a World Championship. Along with his gold at the 2012 Olympics, Smith also won gold at the Senior World Championships in 2014.
Thompson attended St Andrew’s College in the Eastern Cape and made his international debut in 2003 where he won bronze in the coxed four at the World Rowing Junior Championships. Thompson went on to win two silvers at the under-23 World Championships in the lightweight pair division.
Latest PB’s and goals: After winning gold at the London Olympics, Thompson switched with Smith to the lightweight double division and won gold at the 2014 World
Championships. In a time of 6:05.36, they set the best result in history at the global event by a South African crew. In an interview with Sascoc Thompson said, “It’s fantastic to have been given the opportunity to race at the Games again. We have dedicated four years to preparing for Rio and are excited to get out
there and see what we can put together.” Race days: Thompson and Smith can be seen rowing in the Olympics in the heat rounds of the men’s lightweight double sculls on Sunday 7 August with the semi-finals taking place on Wednesday 10 August and the finals taking place on Friday 12 August.
Studeer aan die NWU. Raak deel van ‘n instelling met toonaangewende en internasionaal erkende navorsing. Ons bied volle akademiese ondersteuning. Woon ons Nagraadse Opedag by of besoek www.nwu.ac.za #MyNWU
John Smith and James Thompson in action. Photo: James Thompson Facebook page
GET TO KNOW YOUR UP OLYMPIANS
A man on a mission: LJ van Zyl
THANDO CELE
Road to Rio
Louis Jacobus van Zyl, also known as LJ, is a 31-year old 400 m hurdles and three-time African Champion. He has competed for his country at the 2008 and 2012 Olympic games in Beijing and London. Born in Bloemfontein, Van Zyl’s first international medal came at the 2001 World Youth Championships where he took the bronze with South Africa in the Swedish medley relay In 2002 the TuksSport athlete became the World Junior Champion over 400 m hurdles. His international breakthrough came at the World Athletics Final in 2005 where he finished third. By age 20 in 2005 he was challenging the world’s best, reaching the World Championships final in that same year. In 2006 he won gold medals at both the Commonwealth Games and African Championships and silver medals at the IAAF World Cup and IAAF World Athletics Final He became the All-Africa Games Champion in 2007, making a strong case to be considered for the 2008 Olympic team.
Latest personal bests and goals
Van Zyl has a personal best of 47.66 s and will attempt to improve his record at the Olympic Games. His best finish to date as an Olympian is 5th at the 2008 Olympic Final. Having returned to form and being pushed to succeed by his training partner’s (Leroux Hamman) recent success, he’ll be running for a podium spot in which could be his last chance at an Olympic Games.
Watch out for Wenda Nel
UP hurdler to feature at Rio Olympics
THORISO PHASHA
Road to Rio UP-Tuks HPC 400lm hurdles athlete, Wenda Nel, secured her spot on the South African Olympic team on 15 April this year when she impressed at the South African Senior Championships in Stellenbosch. This was Nel’s first competitive 400 m hurdles event of the season and she finished in a record time of 54.85ls, which was well within the Olympic qualifying time of 56.20 s. The 27-year old hurdler competed in the 100 m and 200 m events as a Junior Championship athlete, but has since established herself as a 400 m hurdles specialist. Nel was competing both locally and internationally in the prelude to the Olympics. She faced some challenges at. IAAF Diamond League Series in Rabat in May, but she managed a third place finish after losing some momentum in the final stretch with a time of 54.88 s. Nel was back in action at the Rome Diamond League in June when she scooped a silver medal with a time of 54.61 s in the women’s 400 m hurdles. A return to African soil saw Nel continue her winning momentum at the World Challenge event in Morocco to finish in a time of 55.36 s.
Latest personal bests and goals
Nel is a multiple African Championship gold medallist and is credited with a personal best time of 54.37 s that she set in 2015 at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing. “I hope for a sub-53. It’s in the plan and it’s the kind of time you need for a podium at the Olympics,” said Nel. On Friday 22 July Nel switched into high gear at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in London. Nel ran 54.47 s in the 400 m hurdles just three weeks away from the Olympics. This time was just a meagre 0.10 s slower than her personal best.
Race days: Nel will be sprinting in the 400 m heats on Monday 15 August with the semi-finals scheduled to take place on 16 August and the final on 18 August.
Bruintjies en route to Rio
Road to Rio: In July 2015 Henricho Bruintjies became the third South African in history to run sub 10 seconds in the 100 m following previous feats by Simon Makgakwe and fellow Tuks athlete Akani Simbine. Bruintjies smashed Makgakwe’s record with a time of 9.97 s at the Switzerland Resisprint International meeting. This was a record breaking week for South Africa in the 100 m sprint as Simbine had run a 9.99 s a few days prior to the 9.97 s by Bruintjies.
Bruintjies started athletics in primary school and went on to become Under-23 100 m national champion in 2013 with a time of 10.44 s. Bruintjies further competed in the National Senior Championships later that year in the 100 m to claim second place behind former National Champion and now banned Simon Makgakwe. He was part of the South African 4x100 m relay team that finished seventh at the 2013 Summer Universiade tournament Bruintjies continued his ascent as he marked his 2014 season with a new personal best of 10.17 s in the 100 m. He was also part of the record-breaking South African team that competed in the 4x100 m relay event at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. It was a race in which he ran the opening leg to set up the team for a national record time of 38.35 s.
Latest PB’s and goals: A sensational moment for the athlete was at this year’s ASA Senior Championships when he won the 100 m final at the Coetzenberg stadium in Stellenbosch. It was a race in which he caused a major upset by beating compatriot and training partner Akani Simbine in a time of 10.17 s. He also made headlines earlier in May when he ran a time of 9.89 s in the 100 m at the Gavardo meeting in Italy. This was a new national record as he became the first South African to run the 100 m in under 9.90 s. The time was not upheld according to athletic standards as the wind-speed was measured at 4.4 m/s, which was well above the acceptable limit of 2.0 m/s. Bruintjies later produced an Olympic qualifying time of 10.11 s at the Josef Odlozil Memorial Meeting in the Czech Republic in June shortly after his Italy performance. Race days: Bruintjies will be sprinting in the 100 m heats on Saturday 13 August with the semi-finals and final scheduled to take place on Sunday 14 August.
Judo champion Zack Piontek
Road to Rio
Zack Piontek is one of three representing TuksJudo at the Olympics this year, alongside Marlon August of Mozambique and Roderick Kunuku of the Congo. Piontek had a breakthrough in his judo career in April this year at the African Championship in Tunisia. He earned enough points in his category to achieve silver and automatically qualify for the Rio Olympics.
Piontek began his professional career in 2009, and by 2010 had already achieved a gold medal as a junior and two bronze medals as a senior at the Commonwealth Games. Piontek is not unfamiliar with international success and has been accumulating world ranking points in his 90-kg weight class. He was victorious in the 2013 and 2015 African Open in Mauritius, and
in March this year earned bronze at the Pan American Open tournament in Peru. Preparations have been well underway for Piontek, who spent a week in Croatia before competing in a tournament in Budapest where he finished 7th in his division. He considered this a useful experience to highlight points that need to be worked on.
Latest personal bests and goals: One of the greatest moments of the athlete’s career occurred in 2014 at the Commonwealth Games. Judo had been included in the programme at this event for the first time in 12 years, and Piontek made history as he achieved gold. After speaking to EastCoast Radio this year, Piontek made it clear that he has always dreamed of becoming an Olympian, “I want to be an Olympian, and to be the best you must train harder than the best.”
Performance days: 6-12 August.
TAY LETHULOE
LJ van Zyl. Photo: LJ van Zyl’s Facebook page
Zack Piontek. Image provided.
Wenda Nel. Photo: Wenda Nel’s Facebook page.
Race days Van Zyl will be sprinting in the 400 m heats on Monday 15 August with the semi-finals scheduled to take place on 16 August and the final on 18 August.
THORISO PHASHA
Flip through Perdeby online www.perdeby.co.za
TuksSport sends athletes to Rio de Janeiro
CARLI-ANN FURNO AND TAY
LETHULOE
TuksSport hosted a send-off event for UP Olympians on Thursday, 28 July. With the start of the Olympic Games in sight, athletes and coaches gathered to celebrate the “Road to Rio”
that has brought them to this point. There are 137 Olympians that will be representing South Africa at this year’s Games, 43 of which are TuksSport athletes, coaches and managers. This is the biggest contribution in history that UP has made to the Olympics. The event began with a speech from Kobus Van der Walt, head
of TuksSport, who addressed this achievement: “You have worked hard, endured challenges, made sacrifices and missed out on many aspects of life to become Olympians. Your dream has come true. We wish you the best performance of your life, and want you to know that your university is proud of you.”
While many of the athletes place the value of this event on the possibility of Olympic medals, 50 km race walker Marc Mundell shared a different perspective: “As I’ve grown older and come around to my second Olympics, I see things differently. I was the first male race walker to go to the 2012 Olympics in 52 years, and I had dream that it would never take that long again. There are three participants this year. This is testimony to what people learn here at Tuks: to help others achieve their dream by virtue of having achieved your own dream.”
Other athletes at the event included 400 m hurdles athlete Lindsey Hanekom who explained how the structure of TuksSport has enabled Olympic pursuit: “On a practical level, the HPC, the new track, the medical staff and the physiotherapists are the things that have allowed us to develop as athletes.” Mundell elaborated on the success of TuksSort and said, “You are constantly inspired by the people that surround you when training. Iron sharpens iron, and successful athletes make themselves vulnerable to that.”
TuksJudo Zack Piontek shared the importance of gaining Olympic experience and
said, “Judo is a sport that is passed down from people who have experienced it. My coach went to the Olympics as an athlete and many times as a coach. Now suddenly there is the reality of me being an Olympian. I am going to compete and gain experience too, and I will come back and pass that down to others.”
Paralympic swimmer Emily Gray beamed about the opportunity to represent her country: “A few months ago the Paralympics seemed like a dream. I can’t describe the relief of knowing that I am going to Rio. This is a sport that you have to put your whole heart into, and I hope others will see me do that and be inspired to do the same.”
Van der Walt spoke about the realistic hope of UP success in Rio. He explained that there are athletes going to their first Olympics, and how the experience of even a semi-final will do wonders for the development of their future. He then highlighted the group of athletes who have built up years of experience, like LJ van Zyl, who have the potential to achieve a medal. He emphasised the high expectations of UP rowers bringing a medal home, and the ability of UP track and field athletes to surprise onlookers with what they will achieve. Van der Walt made it clear, however, that medals are not his focus: “My reward is in the fact that they have made the Olympics. I know these athletes personally, and the dreams and challenges they have faced to get here. The cherry on the top will be the medals that come back home.”
Tuks Olympians at send-off event. Photo: Jaco Joubert.