Student 24/7 Vol 4 No 3 (2014)

Beauty Pageants Galore!

Vol 4 No 3

26 Apr 2014

Well Done Eric Ntumba!

Celebrating Freedom Day

Campus Sports Awards FB: NWU Vaal Student 24/7 studentenews@gmail.com eFundi: Student 24/7 Web: www.nwu.ac.za

Earth Hour on Campus

Are you ready for Graduation?

EDITOR’S LETTER

Work, Work, Work, Work. Sleep?

Kinga Siejek

I used to think that when I graduated, and started a normal job, that I would actually have normal sleeping hours, and weekends off.

Well, most of the time this is the case, BUT when you deal with students, it brings back the habits of when I was a student. Meaning working late nights, weekends, and forgetting that my dear old body needs a couple of hours of ZZZZs a night. Now some may think I am complaining; but contrary to that belief, I actually love it!

(Unless I ‘m sick of course) I love that I get to expirience these amazing events, with the amazing residences on a daily basis. Otherwise what would be the point of my job? Hehe.

And boy, have the residences kept me busy these last few weeks! With Mr and Miss NWU Vaal just around the corner, it can only mean one thing... Residence beauty pageants!

It has been one momentous beauty pageant after another! Each residence trying to live up to their reputation and surpass the others! While there may have been a few hiccups with some (I mean, what event ever really starts on time on our Campus, hehe), but putting that aside; I have to congratulate all the residences, especially their HKs for their organisational skills, and hospitality. They outdid themselves this year, and I especially can’t wait to see what other events they are planning for the rest of the year!

To the contestants; I must first say a big congrats to the winners of each residence! I know you will all make your respective residences proud, in the coming weeks. Now to all the other contestants, in my eyes, you are all winners. You signed up and participated in an event that many other wouldn’t even think about joining. You brought your game, and looked amazing. Congrats to all of you!

Between ALL the pageants that have been, and are yet to come, I have to brag a bit about someone I recently had the priviledge to meet. Our new Vice Chancellor, Prof Dan Kgwadi. I was invited to a dinner to meet him, with just a few other people from our awesome Campus. That was a great night. He is by far the most laid-back VC I have met in a while (though I haven’t met many yet). He is very passionate about his job, and loves students and wants only the best for them.

I managed to let him know abit about what I do, and brag about my members, and he seemed quite impressed. I am excited to see what changes he will bring to our University, and a breath of fresh air. I mean, look how well Mafikeng Campus is doing, while he was the Rector there!

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Now; I have to say my apologies to all of you who read our dear little magazine. As you may see, it has come out quite late this month. Trust me when I say, it was not planned. We here at Student 24/7, have had quite a bad month, technologically speaking, but no matter what we perservered and brought it out!

I do have to say a BIG thank you to my two new Editors, Bandile Mthembu and Relebohile Serobane. They have no idea how much they have been able to help me, even just with editing articles for the editions! You two have been lifesavers!

Now, as I try to edit about 3 000 photos from all the beauty pageants, so far, you should keep paging through our dear little magazine and have a bit of a read before you go back to studying for the Semester Exams.

Semester Exams?! Is it already getting sloce to that? Mr and Miss NWU Vaal on 9 May?! Well that’s around the corner. Open Day?! On 17 May, hmmm, still need to do planning for that.

I guess sleep will have to wait a few more days before we can be well acquainted again... Oh well... At least I know a little lack of sleep is worth it!

VUVU’S SOAPBOX

Vuvu’s Soapbox...

I feel like a kid in a candy store – QUACK! I mean, I literally cannot choose...

will be jam-packed with no less than two public holidays! So many hours, so much to do...

For starters – I can really see myself getting used to four-day work weeks!

Add to this the ridiculous amount of caramel centered chocolate eggs I have consumed during the past long-weekend and I am sold to the (utopian) idea of living the good life – or EGGstravaganza, as I like to call it! Just thinking about that heavenly combination of sugar, caramel, cocoa and caffeine ... oooooh, I can feel myself soaring in the open skies like an eagle! (The fact that I also – after completely overindulging, momentarily felt like a teary-eyed stuffed chicken, will remain our little secret...)

Whilst looking for some more Easter eggs at Building 13, I met up with (my very academically inclined) cousin, who told me the most interesting news. Apparently – although this sounds very far-fetched to this goose, a recent study showed that countries that eat the most chocolate also have the highest number of Nobel Prize winners per capita! Quack!

Forgetting about the sheer bliss of my recent eggstravaganza for a while, I want to jump for joy when the prospect of yet another long-weekend sets in. That’s right – next week

Apparently researchers say that a group of antioxidants known as “flavonoids” can improve one’s thinking ability... I tell you, if this is true I am in for one serious bout of overindulgence... I was not the brightest gosling in our biology class, but I understand that if research indicates the “flavonoids” can improve blood flow to the brain... it means that chocolate can make you remember more... and better!! Whoop! Whoop! I do have

one question for those smarty pants researchers though... and that is why my overindulgence goes straight to my hips and not my noggin as they suggest?

I have mauled this whole chocolatemakes-you-smart-research-finding over and over in my head – and I am beginning to think that my cousin is playing the fool with me... I mean, seriously? Being the proud goose I am (and being scared to death of being ridiculed in public – especially after the great April fool’s disaster of 2012 during which I believed that the dam behind Building 6 was home to a pre-historic-geese-munching-fish), I decided to just waddle away...

So please – if you can find any real proof that chocolate does indeed make you smarter, be so kind as to share your findings with me! In the meantime, I will savour my last Easter eggs and endure the cruelty of a minute on the beak... and an eternity on the hip!

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RECTOR’S OFFICE

D

ear Student

Have you noticed the slight bite in the breeze lately? Have you seen the majestic carpet of golden brown leaves down by the river? The season is changing, and as the days seem to get shorter and the nights colder, our beautiful campus is getting ready to welcome autumn in all its splendour.

While April may still hold a small amount of heat, the coming months will slowly ealcome winter. The month of May is, however, not only synonymous with the arrival of autumn but also with graduation.

Every graduation ceremony represents a red letter day for the Vaal Triangle Campus – and since the University is celebrating its 10th anniversary, the 2014 graduation ceremonies are set to be even more special and memorable. Did you know that during the past 10 years, the Vaal Triangle Campus’s graduation numbers increased exponentially?

In 2004 the Faculty of Humanities saw 597 students graduating, whilst more than 890 took to the stage in 2013. The Faculty of Economic Sciences and Information Technology saw 188 students graduating in 2004 and in 2013 they applauded 615 graduates. From these statistics it is very clear that the NWU – and more so the Vaal Triangle Campus, have enjoyed ten years of growth and academic performance.

Graduation ceremonies tend to create quite a stir on the Campus – and believe it or not, it is not only students that get excited and inspired during this period. Graduation represents the ultimate (academic) achievement and it encourages all of us to become actively involved in making our world a better place. For the graduates walking across the stage, the ceremonies beckon the way toward a new and exciting chapter in their lives. As their qualification is bestowed upon them, they epitomize the very ethos of coming to age since a graduation ceremony is – in its most basic form, a rite of passage (...such as birth, adulthood and marriage).

Being one of the most awaited events of every student, graduation celebration will always be a

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significant because of the deeper meaning that it exemplifies in the lives of graduates.

For those of us sitting in the audience – and on the stage, the immense sense of pride and shared joy tend to sweep over us like a comforting blanket.

And this is exactly what a graduation ceremony should be – a celebration of accomplishment and perseverance, but also the start of something new and exciting.

So, if you are privileged enough to walk across the stage in the coming weeks, or find yourself sitting in the audience, take pride in the ceremony and the symbolism it is entrenched in for it will leave a lasting impression on you.

Remember: Learning every day is the key to success! As a graduate you have the ability to create a beautiful world of tomorrow – congratulations and good luck!

CAMPUS NEWS

SCF presents a Music Concert!

Palesa Mosebi Student Christian Fellowship (SCF) presents a music concert on 26 April . There will be poetry, music performances and dance by different societies. Come and bring your friends along. The music concert aims to raise funds for students, so you will be supporting a good cause.

Venue: Building 6 GO2 Time: 10:00-16:00pm Entrance: R10 It will be fun and uplifting. Tickets are available now .For tickets; inbox Boitumelo Koaho or Rodricks Mashele on Facebook. You won’t regret it!

Sharing is caring with a dash of love SCF is also doing their part by helping those who are s truggling financially, especially with the NSFAS bursary funding problem. You can donate foodstuffs through SCF; it can be anything from tins of fish, noodles , whatever you have that you want to share or have a surplus .

If you have textbooks that you don’t want to sell, you can

borrow them to students without textbooks through SCF as well. YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF SCF TO BENEFIT OR CONTRIBUTE. Add/inbox the following people on Facebook : Nompumelelo Zwane (On campus) Given Siphelele Mpangeva (Long Fellow) Rose Morota (Faranani) E-mail naadiamoss@gmail.com for more information.

If there are enough contributions , there will be enough donations so let’s get that right.

You don’t have to wait for greatness to change the world, practice makes perfect, so start now

Faranani Face-off Palesa Mosebi As it is known, the Vaal Campus offers two Faculties, namely the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Economic Sciences and IT. A first of its kind, the Faculty Face-Off was held at Faranani Residence on 11 and 12 April. Students gathered for this exceptional event, and two teams were formed, each team representing each Faculty to prove or show which Faculty performs best in Mathematics and Debate.

On Friday, 11 April, students gathered at the Faranani Hall to take part in the Maths Quiz, which was out of 40 marks. Scripts were marked right after the quiz was taken and results were issued after marking. The Faculty of Economic Sciences and IT won the title for best performance in mathematics, as a majority of the students who passed the quiz well, were from that Faculty. As three par-

ticipants were interviewed, they all said it was a fair quiz, because it included both easy and hard math that required calculating and proving.

On Saturday, 12 April, students came in numbers to support the Debate component, which was also hosted in the Faranani Hall. Opening was conducted by the House Prim; Lehlohonolo Moheta, then the event became officially opened after singing the University’s Anthem. The podium was handed over to the program director, Lerato Rabolila, the founder of Faculty Face-Off and The Faranani Academics Officer. According to Rabolila, the idea came to him after he heard two students, each from one of the Faculties, arguing about which Faculty is best in performance. He then decided to make this idea come alive; this event was to showcase the potential of students from both Faculties and finally prove which side is best in performance. A

point had to be proven, to either party involved, the competitors, the whole residence and even to the campus as a whole.

There were a number of guest speakers who were invited, to motivate and encourage students, also to inform them about the workplace.

Guests Speakers included Ms Jacolette Kloppers (Subject Head Communication NWU Vaal), Ms Leigh Lehobo (FNB Branch Manager and NWU Graduate), Ms Nonki Motapi (HR Manager at ESA), unfortunately Dr Hayley Walker-Williams (Subject Head Psychology NWU Vaal) couldn’t make it but she sent someone to fill in for her. As these speakers came from different fields of work, they all had something different to say, yet one common saying they had was, “A degree on its own is not enough, you need to accumulate skills and gain qualities.”

Kloppers said, “Know what industry you are looking for and what the industry is looking for. Do research and read. Don’t waste time in University

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CAMPUS NEWS and make use of every opportunity.”

The second speaker, Lehobo said, “As a young person you must explore the workplace, because we are looking for different qualities.” The speaker in for Dr Walker-Williams said, “Be driven from the inside, motivated from within and be keen for personal growth.” The last consecutive speaker, Motapi said, “Never be scared to ask for help, especially when formulating a CV and never lie in your CV.” She pointed out how some Matric leavers and University leavers don’t know how to type their own CVs. As she works in the HR department, this is one of the problems she faces with when she has to hire young people.

A young man named T-Jazz recited a poem titled “It’s a Hustle”. After him, it was time for the main purpose of the day to commence. The main item of the day was the Debate component.

There were three members from each team representing each Faculty. Guest adjudicators were: Sydney Madibo (Chief Adjudicator), Njabulo Madonsela, Lefu Dlamini and Eric Mbuyazi (Former CSRC Academics Officer and motivational speaker).

The topic for the debate was, “Government’s lack of accountability causes youth not to vote during national democratic elections.” The proposition team was the Faculty of Economic Sciences and IT and the opposition party was the Faculty of Humanities. The proposition party had eloquent speakers, all three of them, while the opposition party only had two. The last speaker of the opposition party was a substitute for another candidate, when the actual speaker arrived to take his place (after attending to other priorities); he was refused the permission to do so by the adjudicators. The substitute disappointed everyone in the house, he proved to be shy and uninformed of what he was talking about, this even left some people laughing and others just giggling.

Both team argued the best way they could, the proposition party stated that the government acts only during the short period before the elections and makes never-ending promises afterwards, without providing action.

While the opposition party stated

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that government delivers according to its responsibilities, but it cannot force anyone to use the resources it provides. It is just people’s choice of ignorance and negligence. After the last speaker of the opposition team, the chief adjudicator took the podium. He pointed out some points that both teams left out in arguing their case, yet he said that they shall only be judged on what they said and the points they brought forward.

Before the results were released, Eric Mbuyazi took to the podium.

He was a charismatic speaker, who started by giving a small description of his background, which most of his motivation was based on. He outlined a number of points which I’m sure they left everyone in the house thinking, points such as:  Don’t let your problems determine your progress.  Believe in God.  Keep away from associating with wrong people and let go of friends.  Be different.  Don’t focus on “Have not’s”.  Someone is always looking.  What you do on a daily basis is what you become.  Sacrifice sleep and know when to act.  Appreciate what you have.

In closing he said, “Poverty may have the power to make you see life negatively, but it also says to you ‘stand up, you can do something good with your life.’”

The results were then issued and again, the team that won was the Faculty of Economic Sciences and IT by 151

points, while the Faculty of Humanities only got 105 points. At the end of the day, there had to be only one winner, and the title of the best performance in Debate went to the winning team.

At the very end of the event, certificates were handed to all the students who participated in the Faculty FaceOff, including the team that didn’t win. Then questionnaires were handed to the whole house, for everyone to share their thoughts, experience and any suggestions they may have regarding the whole event.

When interviewed, Rabolila said that the event was a success but it could have been better because it was mostly aimed at seniors because soon they are leaving for the workplace, yet there was a majority of first years and few seniors. He says he is hoping that next time, seniors will show in numbers, yet all in all he is grateful that all went well.

CAMPUS NEWS

NWU Vaal and ABSA work together Annette Willemse

The Vaal Triangle Campus (NWU Vaal) recently took hands with South Africa’s largest consumer bank, Absa, to provide all its first year students with financial skills training in an exciting project called the “Absa Empower Hour”. This initiative, coordinated jointly by the campus’ School of Behavioural Sciences and the Centre for Continuous Professional Development (CCPD), aimed to bolster the levels of financial literacy amongst all the first years that enrolled to commence with their studies on the campus as from 2014. Students were organised into sessions according to their subject disciplines and got engaged through a highly interactive and fun learning platform provided in training format by Absa.

Dr Elrie Botha, Director of the School of Behavioural Sciences, on the campus, commended the effort from Absa: “Your first year at university as a student is usually associated with new found freedom, also with regards to your finances. This initiative assists students to manage that freedom responsibly and understand the bigger picture pertaining to their long term financial well-being. As a university we are in the business of developing people, and this project enables such development.” The initiative also formed part of the community engagement portfolio of the

campus. “As a unit we pride ourselves on contributing to the knowledge, skills and expertise of our local communities, and what better place to start than right here within our own student fraternity”, said Me Mandi Wallace, head of the CCPD. Apart from the training, students received multimedia discs and information packages on financial planning.

For the Barclays Africa Group, empowering young people is very important: “Understanding finance and how it affects you is a critical life skill.

Financial literacy enables you to understand, and so benefit from, financial services and products offered

by various providers. As a leading financial services company, Absa is uniquely positioned to improve financial literacy levels in our society. We drive financial literacy through several consumer education programmes.

While people of all ages benefit from our training, we place special emphasis on the youth of our nation as a key part of our overall Citizenship commitment, highlighting the need to positively impact the youth in all the markets in which we operate”, said Martha Balyamujura, who heads up Consumer Education at Barclays Africa Group within the portfolio Citizenship.

Mr Ederick Stander, project manager, was excited about the possibilities of the initiative.

“This project reaffirms the NWU Vaal Triangle Campus’ focus on effectively linking with partners from industry as to create opportunities for synergy. We continuously look for ways to empower and develop people and we openly invite corporate enterprises to join us in this quest. Together we can create real value adding platforms.”

Talks are currently underway to see how the training could be rolled out to the senior NWU Vaal students as well as the other campuses of the NWU.

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CAMPUS NEWS

Fun Times @ Faranani Picnic Ismael Ramushu & Kinga Siejek What do you get when you add a picnic with the Faranani residence? A really good time!

On 22 March, the Faranani residence showed that there is more to University than just academics, when they they spent the whole Saturday having fun, from morning till night.

The first part of the day was spent at Fun Valley Lodge.

The House Committe (HK) of Faranani organised the picnic with the simple cause of giving students a chance to have peace of mind away from their books, and just some time to relax.

Students were able to go swimming, sing, dance and just have a great times.

But it did not stop there! After the picnic, students had some time to get ready for a night out on the town. That night, they all hopped on busses and made their way to Diwetse Lounge, where the HKs held a Masquerade Party.

A whole day spent relaxing and having fun with friends.

You can always count on Faranani to put smiles on the students faces. Well done, and we can’t wait for more!

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CAMPUS NEWS

A lot of residences down - more to go!

Kinga Siejek

A question on many students’ lips these last few weeks has been: “Who will be crowned Mr and Miss NWU Vaal 2014/2015?”

But; before anyone can speculate or vote, the residences first need nominees... That is where the residence beauty pageants come in!

If there is one month in the year that students can expect a lot of glitz and glam, it has to be April. This month we will see students from all the residences strutt their stuff, all in the hope of being a finalist for Mr and Miss NWU Vaal.

By the time you are probably reading this, many, if not all, the beauty pageants will have happened. You might know who the winners are, by walking around Campus and looking for the students with green sashes on.

own; know that the May edition will have info, the list of winners, and anything else you will need to know.

What I can tell you, is to be on the lookout for these contestants, get to know them, and remember to buy your tickets from them for the Mr and Miss NWU Vaal pageant on 9 May! May will see all the winners battle it out for the top crown!

For photos of all events, go check out and like NWU Vaal Student 24/7 on Facebook, or have a look soon on the Residence Facebook pages for photos as well!

See you at the Finals!

Now, this edition may not have all the info you need of all the pageants (as that might be just an edition on it’s

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CAMPUS NEWS

NWU Vaal Campus supports Earth Hour Kinga Siejek

Photos by: Sesethu Nyokana Earth Hour can mean many things to many people. To some it is a type of ‘electrical moment of silence’ for where they live, and the world to show their support; while to others it can just mean an hour of missing their favourite television programme, or missing out on studying. On 20 March 2014; the residences on the Vaal Campus, showed their support, in saving a little electricity that could, in the end, save the World.

While Earth Hour is originally on 29 March, when the students would be on recess; they all decided to come together to pledge their support while still on Campus. Therefore the whole day was seen as a way to bring the students together, educate them and to let them make their pledge for the event.

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The Green Campus Initiative, in cooperation with SEWT walked around Campus, with banners asking students to make their mark for Earth Hour. Students painted their names, a hand-print or message on the banners; while being informed on the meaning and message behind the activity. This message being, to turn off all lights during 20:30 and 21:30 on 29 March 2014. “The main focus was to propagate Earth hour which is a global event to raise awareness around the world about important environmental issue such as climate change and pollution,” explains Madeline Evert, an Environmental Manager with the Green Campus Initiative and SEWT on the Campus. The banners would then be situated at the Learning and Research Commons to honour the pledge. An exhibition of the Earth Hour will also be presented specifically in the Library section in the Learning and Research Commons from 14 April 2014.

The residence on Campus participated in a competition to show their support for Earth Hour as well. Each residence was asked to pick an hour on 20 March where they would switch off all their lights and non-essential electrical appliances. “During that hour they should do an activity to show their support for Earth Hour and the environment,” explains Evert.

While some residences may not have participated, those that did have left a healthier mark on the planet we all live on, and taught others that it does not take much to make a change; but rather that it all starts with the flip of a switch.

Acacia, Oryx, Jasmyn, Verries, Thuthuka and Longfellow all joined to celebrate Earth Hour in their own ways. Longfellow was the only offCampus residence that joined along in the fun. The residence went into complete darkness; but while this was done, the students stood around with candles to spell out 60 G, which for them stood for ‘60 minutes green’.

CAMPUS NEWS

Acacia and Oryx: Senior’s Braai

Kamogelo Madikwane

It was an evening filled with entertainment and energy for the ladies and gentlemen of Acacia and Oryx. The night started in low spirits, as party people were not exactly punctual.

The crowds started streaming in a few hours after 18:00, which is the initial start time.

The House Committes (HKs) of Acacia and Oryx not only partied, but also tried to party with a purpose. They took 15 minutes of their senior’s braai to show support towards the Earth Hour initiative that was taking place Campus-wide. In their support for Earth Hour, they lit candles in support of the World Wildlife Fund. Candles shaped in the letters WWF were also lit to show the support. The Hk’s sang to make the 15minutes more interesting and this proved to be an easy way of getting the crowd involved.

After the 15 minutes was up, it was

party ‘til you drop. From the braai stands to the entertainment, the lined up for the night was explosive. DJs Fantasy, Kendoller and Lady Inter (who was the only female DJ on the night) were part of the line-up. The crowd also enjoyed a dance performance from Liquid.

Student 24/7 managed to get a few minutes to talk to the Projects Officers of both the Oryx and Acacia residences Ms Manthodi Moopeloa (Acacia) had this to say, “The se-

niors braai is an introduction for first years to their seniors and a welcome back for the seniors.” and this is what Mr Fanele Tshabalala (Oryx) “My plan as a Projects Officer is to promote a ‘buzzing’ student life in terms of events and performances, and at the same time expose the talented artists we have on our campus”.

All in all it was a great night for everyone who was there. It was also a good way to start the year for Acacia and Oryx.

Jasmyn and Verries: Earth Hour

Hassena Saley

On 20 March 2014, Veregelen (Verries) and Jasmyn worked together for Earth Hour on Campus.

Their event began at 21:00, with both residences switching off their lights

in their respective residences; and each student that participated was given a candle to light.

While their first plan with the candles, to create a big lightbulb, didn’t work out too well; theie second plan

was met with cheers. The residents marched from verries Hall all the way to the main entrance at Building 1. From there theu walked back to Thuthuka residence and finally to Verries.

To add a bit of Verries and Jasmyn spice to the event, the students played music, sang and danced while marching along with their candles. At certain points on their little journey they would stop and form a circle and students would take turns to dance in the middle.

While the event may have only been for about an hour and a half, it can be seen as a successful event, where the students came together for the good of the Earth.

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CAMPUS NEWS

NWU Vaal welcomes Learning & Research Commons Annette Willemse

The Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU Vaal) recently opened the doors to its brand new, multi-million rand Learning and Research Commons.

This project – the biggest infrastructure project in the history of the campus, represents a R70 million full-service learning, research, and project space. The ultra-modern Learning and Research Commons is home to not only the Campus Library, but also other vital support services such as Academic Development and Support; Student Counseling and Development; Information Technology Support and Writing and Reading Centres. The facility also houses the newly established South African Water History Archival Repository (SAWHAR). The latter represents a unique collaboration between the NWU Vaal and the Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa.

In her address, Prof Linda du Plessis – Vice Rector of the NWU Vaal, explained that the boundaries of traditional academic libraries have begun to dissolve and therefore entities such as the Learning and Research Commons represents a holistic learning environment that combine research, technology and student services to stimulate seamless learning. She furthermore stated that the Learning and Research Commons boasts with modern amenities; dedicated spaces for group collaboration; individual study facilities; a 24 hour technology and study facilities and a dedicated wing for postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

“The new facility says to a student: here you have the tools, room to collaborate, equipment, advice, research options, and access to expert information.

Now it is up to you to build something worthwhile such as a paper, a presentation and ultimately an education”, says Prof Du Plessis.

According to the Campus Rector, Prof Thanyani Mariba, the dream of a multi-faceted facility such as the Learning and Research Commons, came into being in 2010.

After intensive planning and creative considerations the construction commenced in January 2012. In relating the logistics involved in such an endeavor, Prof Mariba mentioned the following statistics: a total of 460 000 bricks; 401km steel reinforcing, 3 200m3 concrete, 6 000m3 earth filling; 81 concrete pillars (9 meters deep) and a floor area of 9 800m2.

The Learning and Research Commons was formally opened by Dr Theuns Eloff (outgoing Vice Chancellor of the NWU).

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All in One Sesethu Nyokana The academic silence on the Thuthuka residence was broken by the echoing acapella voices, from the Thuthuka Hall. The Seventh Day Adventist Student Movement (SDASM) of the Vaal Campus had its official opening of 2014. The function is the first of many events for the year, with the purpose of the function being to officially welcome the first year members of the SDASM. In addition, all members were introduced to the new executive leaders of the structure.

Invitations were sent around our campus, and also Vaal University of Technology SDASM, the Potchefstroom

CAMPUS NEWS Campus SDASM and Boipatong Seventh Adventist Day Church. This was an all-day function held on 15 March divided into two sessions; the morning service from 09:00-12:45 and the afternoon from 14:00-17:00. For the main speaker for the morning service was the alumni of this institution Papi Mosiane. As for music, was rendered by acapella gospel groups such as; Ngenxa Yothando (because of love) from Wits, Entwined from Soweto, Eccentric of NWU Vaal SDASM and the soloist from Klerksdorp Refilwe Lethabo Pretorius all day.

Lunch (13:00-13:50) was catered for; the secretary of the NWU Vaal SDASM Zintle Mthombeni stated that “emonate hampe”.

For the afternoon service that was held in building 7-GO4 which field to over maximum capacity, were the main speaker was speaker Siphosenkosi Malimela also an alumnus of this university. The mission of the Seventh Day Adventist Church is found in Holy Bible Matthew 28:19 cite “Go ye therefore...”. NWU Vaal SDASM as structure their theme for the rest of the year is found in 1 Samuel 3:10 “Speak, Lord for your servant listening”. In which Zintle explains it by saying that for the year their going to do more than preaching as the Lord speaks to them.

“We have acknowledged that people perish because of lack of knowledge therefore as it has been revealed to us we want to make it a point that it reaches every ear” from Hosea 4:6. The chairperson the structure Thulani Ndlovu made vote of thanks to all the attendees, musical groups and the speakers. For those who are interested to be part of the structure are welcome to come on their weekly prayers on Wednesday at 17h00, Friday at 18:00 and on Sabbath (Saturday) at 09:00 and for more information visit their Facebook page (NWU Vaal Triangle Campus SDASM).

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CAMPUS NEWS

The Great Debate

Mpitse Pule

7 March 2014, the NWU Vaal Library held a debate, which was organized

by S. van Heerden, H. Pretorius and T. Tswaile, who are part of the library management. The debate took place in the NWU Vaal Learning and Research Commons, in the Honours Wing. The motion for the debate was e-books vs. books.

8 of the 10 NWU Vaal residences were eligible to participate in the debate, although only 5 residences managed to rise to the occasion.

With the above motion for all of them, the 5 were divided into two groups; those who are for the motion and those who are against it. The panel of judges comprised 2 SRC (Student Representative Council) and of Hk’s from the participation residences, with special selection towards members who held the office of Academic Officer.

Once in the hot seat, debaters argued their respective standpoints.

Affirming their respective points and rebuttals, with judges and the crowd, cheering them on.

The five present residences were all granted three rounds to debate their

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arguments and rebuttals. The first round residences had to knock each other out in order for them to advance to the next round. The second round was orchestrated quite like the first, except the next round would be the last.

The atmosphere was peaceful during the first round, although things soon got heated during the second and third rounds. The Hounors Wing became vibrant with applauses and cheers from the crowd, as verbal blows struck debaters like punches amongst each other. It was evident enough that all debaters had spent a lot of time preparing for the debate.

Their preparation, which was reflected through the statistical points of information, was a true reflection of how much they wanted to win.

Those who affirmed their position for being in favour of e-books, raised the following arguments: • e-books are part of the global transformation.

• e-books supports non-littering.

• Note taking is more convenient with e-books • According to the stats, the use of e-books is increasing significantly around the world.

Those who argued their affirmation points for hardcopy books, to mention a few, went as follows: • No expenses needed to access or obtain a certain book, all you need to do is borrow the book from the library and reference it.

• They are no known critical health problems associated with the use of books.

• Paper is recyclable.

The rebuttals for the above mentioned points were also enlightening and well thought through by the debaters.

The scores for the first round were as follows: • Faranani 207 • Longfellow 188 • Santrust 182 • Thuthuka 239 • Vergelegen 268 The scores for the second round were as follows: • Faranani 216 • Longfellow 259 • Thuthuka 251 • Vergelegen 230 The final round saw Longfellow and Thuthuka battling it out for the crown of the Great Debaters. Longfellow was victorious on the day, after a long round of battle.

Welcome Law Society!

CAMPUS NEWS

Kinga Siejek

We have many different types of Societies and Affiliated Bodies on Campus; what can hurt us from having one more?

On 10 April 2014, staff and students from the Law Department on Campus came together to vote on who will head their Law Society. Students went to Building 11B, and with a little help from the IEC, were able to cast their vote.

The lecturers of the Law Department, came together to count the ballots. Votes were counted over and over again, until everyone was happy with the outcome.

We can all look forward to what the Law Society has to offer. Watch this space for more info!

Law Society members: President: Mongezi Okker Deputy president: Kahleho Lamki Secretary: Molemo Maloma Deputy Secretary: Veronica Bhengu Treasurer: Andy Makaulule Constitutions Officer: Luyanda Mthimkhulu Public Relations Officer: Dion Mpabanga Academic Officer: Zukolwethu Marambana Development and Research officer: Tshegofatso Khutsoane

UARM brings new degree to Campus Annette Willemse The UARM Centre for Applied Risk Management of the Vaal Triangle Campus recently celebrated the launch of their exciting new Master’s Degree in Banking and Financial Risk Management. This new master’s programme, one of only a few known to be offered worldwide, has an applied qualitative risk focus, whereas most other post-graduate risk programmes focus on the quantitative aspects of risk.

This first contact session for the programme was held on 6-8 March at the UARM venue located at Quest Conference Estate in Vanderbijlpark.

Prof Linda du Plessis, Vice-Rector: Academic, Quality and Planning, and Prof Herman van der Merwe, Executive Dean: Faculty of Economic Sciences and IT attended the session and welcomed the first group of twelve students to the Vaal Triangle Campus.

This master’s degree is a part-time programme running over two years with regular contact sessions. The selected students are all senior risk stakeholders representing various sectors, including the public, financial and chemical sectors. This supports the aim of an applicable degree for senior risk stakeholders across different sectors.

In 2013, UARM welcomed Profs Michael Damm and Theo Kocken, two extraordinary professors from the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, the Netherlands to the team. Their master’s programme was built on a similar philosophy to the UARM master’s degree. This has strengthened our team, led by Prof Hermien Zaaiman.

The 2014 master’s group was selected after a rigorous selection assessment day in 2013 that also included psychometric testing. To be consid-

ered for the programme, applicants must be in possession of an Honours degree with at least two years of work experience, and currently hold a risk-related position.

Applications for enrolment in 2015 will open in June. For more information, please contact Henry Cockeran via email: henry.cockeran@nwu. ac.za UARM is awaiting accreditation for another of its programmes, the MCom in Applied Risk Management, which will further strengthen UARM’s postgraduate offering across sectors. More information about UARM can be found at www.nwu.ac.za/ uarm/home. *The UARM Centre for Applied Risk Management won two awards at the 2013 annual IRMSA awards ceremony.

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ADVERT

SA NEWS

R O e t o V ? o e T t o V o t not

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When it comes to the issue of voting, many young people find themselves not knowing where they stand, mainly because of the numerous issues that still need to be addressed, by political party.

What makes people, especially young people, of South Africa resistant and shy towards voting is that they are tired of hearing the government make the same empty promises. This leads the people to not have trust in the government, and this is a serious problem.

The people of South Africa find themselves faced with problems such as pot holes, high taxes, e-toll, poverty, unemployment, and the list is endless. These are some of the reasons

why people feel as though they don’t need to vote, because whoever they vote for, the lies are all the same.

A serious problem we have in South Africa is having young people who are politically illiterate. For instance, a lot of young people do not know or understand what democracy really means. Most will say it is “freedom” but this definition is wrong, as democracy is loosely defined as “the government of the people, by the people, for the people”. This is sad because young people are more excited about the idea of freedom, then they are about knowing the fundamentals of politics and leadership, which will often lead them to poor decision making when it comes to political matters.

A group of young people is starting to emerge. This group believes in the impossible. They believe in a South Africa where politicians keep and

fulfil the promises they make. These young people believe that no matter how bad the circumstance, there will forever be room for change and improvement.

If the youth, and people in general, of this country would not only change their mentality but also get up and take action , in a more positive manner, a lot of good can be seen in the future of this beautiful this country we call “home”.

With elections just around the corner, the decision to vote still lies in your hands. Mahatma Gandhi once said “Be the change you want to see in the world.”, and casting your vote, on Election Day, is the way to have your voice heard.

Remember to vote on 7 May 2014, and make that change.

Celebrating Freedom Day Malenyalo Molemane On 27 April 1994, for the first time in the history of South Africa, millions of black people queued to cast their votes as a non-racial democratic country.

This day is remarkable, because it officially cleared the end of apartheid and it was the beginning of the new era; a democratic state where the citizen of this country (South Africa) enjoy the same benefits, rights, opportunities and freedom.

Today we are a democratic country because of our struggle icons such as the late “Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Govan Mbeki� and many others, who made a significant contribution towards the oppressive system that was against black people having a right or say in what is happening in their country. As for this new democracy, we are all equal, irrespective of our differences, skin colour; we have freedom of speech and freedom to express ourselves.

Twenty years into democracy, more have being achieved and more needs to be done to achieve the country we

SA NEWS wish to have. A country with less social issues and a country that everyone wishes to live in; therefore it is our duty to make it a liberal democratic country. As youth/ students we need to keep fighting against issues such crime, unemployment, poverty, HIV/AIDS to make our country a better place to live in.

By celebrating this day with love, respect and dignity we are honouring our freedom fighters, history and remembering those who fought for our freedom.

SA NEWS

The Mzansi Cycle Tour Annette Willemse After a grueling 201 km, the longest stage of the Mzansi Tour, cyclists took a welcome break at the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU Vaal) after the third stage of this internationally recognised cycling race.

The spoils of the day went to Herman Fouche of the Bonitas Pro Cycling team, who won a dramatic bunch sprint to claim victory. Fouche beat Austrian, Jan Sokol (Synergy Baku team) and Nolan Hoffman (Abantu team) on the penultimate day of the five-day Mzansi Tour, which ended on Saturday in Midrand.

A hearty NWU Vaal congratulations Apart from hosting the prize giving event for the third stage of the race, a representative of the Vaal Triangle Campus Management – Mr Herman Steyn (Director: Finance), also had the privilege to share the stage with some of the winners. It was Steyn’s duty to hand over the Points Jersey – which is awarded to the rider with the most accumulated points at the end of each stage. This jersey is known

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as the Echelon Events Points Classification jersey.

More about the Mzansi Tour The Mzansi (a Zulu word meaning ‘the South’), is the only UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale)-graded road cycling race in South Africa. The aim of the event is to create a fair contest to showcase the strongest riders and smartest teams; an event at which the next generation of young riders – South African and international – and sponsors and fans, can participate.

The tour comprises of four stages of 140km; 159km; 201km and 79.5km respectively.

ALUMNI NEWS

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We all have those defining moments in our lives that carry with them the power to change our very destiny.

Eric (Bukasa) Ntumba’s defining moment came in the form of a letter bearing the distinctive seal of the presidency of the United States of America. This letter – sent to him from the U.S. Ambassador of The Democratic Republic of The Congo (Kinshasa) – James C Swan, informed Eric – a proud alumnus of the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University (NWU Vaal) and the current Corporate Manager of the Commercial Bank in Congo, of his acceptance to participate in the 2014 Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

ton Fellowship is to empower young African leaders to lead sub-Saharan Africa into a new age of prosperity as it takes its place on the world stage.

As a student and President of the Student Representative Council of the NWU Vaal, Eric found himself at the forefront of negotiations when the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education commenced with its merger process. He holds a BSc degree in Information Technology and a diploma and master’s degree in public administration from the prestigious French school of administration, ENA, where he also represented students on the administrative council. He also received the NWU Council’s award for outstanding leadership and services rendered to the Vaal Triangle Community and were one of the first three campus alumni to be awarded during the first NWU Alumni Awards in 2013.

The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a new flagship programme of President Barack Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). The programme – which is set to commence on June 14, will see Eric spend six weeks studying business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership and public management at a U.S. institution of higher education. During this time he will also hone his leadership skills and network with other young leaders from sub-Saharan Africa and the United States. The highlight of the programme is a three-day Washington Fellows Summit hosted by President Obama.

In Ambassador Swan’s congratulatory letter to Eric, he states that the selection panel was very impressed by Eric’s experience to date, his leadership capabilities and the plans he have for giving back to his community upon his return to the African continent. According to Ambassador Swan, President Obama’s vision for the Washing-

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INSPIRATION

Let’s go Easter egg Mildred Monageng For over many years now ever since we were growing up until this day, Easter meant nothing but fun, fun, fun .

Since childhood for most of us the mention of the Easter holiday gave arousal to thoughts of bunnies and Easter eggs. This was the only reason why we looked forward to this holiday and when it was here we enjoyed it like it was our last. Most excitingly about the Easter holiday were the hunts we would undergo, usually set by our elders . Oh how much we enjoyed searching for these delicious, tender and chocolate-covered sponges and eggs . We still witness this even today, it seems like a fun tradition that our elders aren’t planning to let go off.

However, is this exactly what Easter means ? Is this the idea that our fore coming children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren should have about Easter? Nope , indeed that is not all there is to Easter.

Meaning if you still believed Easter to be a fun Hunt in search of chocolate eggs and sweets, you have got it all wrong.

Yes, of course, Jesus, his death and resurrection have something to do with Easter, but what exactly about it?

Firstly although Easter is a yearly holiday, it does not however fall unto the same date each year. Interesting isn’t it? So each year you have to wait for the calendar to tell you when you will be egg hunting again. Now back to Easter, people should understand it for what it really is. In a nutshell Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ (the son of God) on the third day after he was crucified by the Jews in Calvary and died on the cross. It is celebrated in connection with the Jewish Passover.

More so Easter is the culmination of the passion of Christ, preceded by a fortyday period of fasting and prayer. It is during this time that churches prepare special Easter programmes about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

From a Christian perspective he died for peoples sins so that they may be saved and live a happier life. So for them it is because of Christ that they now live a free and better life.

“Jesus said… ‘I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26. ESV). Christians therefore strongly hold on to these words which they believe makes their faith in Jesus Christ their saviour even stronger.

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A third year BA Communication student Nomcebo Mncube said: “Jesus died and rose for me to be saved, I am here today because God sacrificed his sons life and let him shed blood and die for my sins to be cleansed and forgiven. I am here today because of Jesus Christ my saviour ; therefore I will praise him for as long as I live ” So now we all have it, Easter means Christ, his crucification and resurrection. Funny how we all grew up with the bunny idea of Easter, yet it’s a good thing because we are able to have fun on Easter as well rather than focusing all our attention on the resurrection of Christ. This upcoming Easter wake up early enough to go to church and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ our saviour , then later on you can go Easter egg hunting. Have a bunny-filled and egg-filled, Mmmmmm yummy Easter , Happy Easter Holiday !!!!!!

Cry me a river (or not) Palesa Mosebi

Have you ever thought about it?

Well, I have. I have an idea of the best place to cry on campus; by the river.

I mean, you cannot ignore the tranquillity of that place. When you’re at the river, you are able to think and just be at peace. No one can bother you there, unless you’re bothered by couples and the little animals. The worst thing you can do is to cry at busy places like the cafeteria. Unless it’s urgent and you’ve received a lifechanging phone call, please don’t cry at the cafeteria.

People are socialising and having their lunches, they’re there to unwind with their friends. If you’re there crying, they will notice and probably remember you as the sad girl/guy and they’ll probably be like: “I don’t want her life right now” then continue about their lives. Surely you don’t want every other person that sees you to ask why you’re crying, because then you have to explain and when you tell them why you’re crying, chances are you’ll end up crying even more.

Maybe you shouldn’t cry in the middle of Building 12, except in the privacy

The first 7 seconds...

Pearl Mavunda Did you know it takes a mere seven seconds to make a first impression? This should make you want to present the best possible version of yourself at all times. This has happened to everyone before: You’re in a lecture, meeting or social event.

You turn to the stranger next to you.

She/he turns to face you and within seconds, you have already decided whether you like him/her or not, and whether he/she is competent, confident and trustworthy, or not.

conscious choice about the attitude you would want to portray. Attitudes that attract people include friendly, receptive, patient, approachable, welcoming, helpful, and curious. Attitudes that are off-putting include angry, impatient, bored, arrogant, afraid, disheartened and suspicious.

Remember that you may not necessarily have any of these negative characteristics, but you could unintentionally present these in the way you carry and present yourself.

Your opinion may change once you get to know the person better, but the impression they made, when you first met, will constantly linger in the back of your mind.

STAND TALL Your body language is the reflection of your emotions, but it also influences your emotions. Without saying a single word, you can project confidence and creditability by standing up straight, pulling your shoulders back and holding your head high. Another advantage to this physical stance, you will begin to feel confident. If you walk and stand with slumped shoulders or a self-conscious stance, you are more likely be perceived as not being confident or strong in character.

In the same way you are consciously and subconsciously evaluating the people you meet, the same judgements are being passed about you.

Whilst you cannot stop people from making snap decisions of your character, based on a brief encounter, there are a few tips to help you ensure that every encounter works to your favour.

ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE People pick up your attitude instantly. Before you greet someone, think about the situation and make a

SMILE A smile is an invitation, a sign of welcome. It says, “I’m friendly and approachable”. Smiling directly influences how other people respond to

INSPIRATION of the bathrooms. Speaking of bathrooms; the ones situated in Building 6, just opposite bhive, are very quiet.

There is a quote that says you can cry but when you’re finished, never cry about the same thing again. That is how you should feel after crying. So, be normal and cry in a private place such as your room, the bathroom, by the river; just your own space and be relieved afterwards.

It’s your choice; cry in front of others and we’ll either hug you or cry with you; that’s also cute, but we will do that at a suitable place on campus. I could conclude this article by telling you to not cry at all, but things happen and it’s a part of life. Just know how to do it on campus. you. The human being brain prefers happy faces, and actually recognises them quickly than those with negative expressions. It is also a natural response for the other person to smile back at you, which means you are off to a good start (win-win situation).

MAKE EYE CONTACT Looking into someone’s eyes transmits energy and indicates interest and openness. A simple way to improve your eye contact, in those first seven seconds, is to look onto the persons eyes long enough to notice what colour they are. This a simple technique, that will dramatically increase your likeability factor and give off an aura of friendliness.

When someone diverts their eyes, it may appear as if they are evasive or scared to engage.

RAISE YOUR EYEBROWS Open your eyes slightly more than usual to stimulate the “eyebrow flash”. The “eyebrow flash” is the universal signal of recognition and acknowledgement. If your expression is too relaxed and not tuned in to the person in front of you, you will come across as being uninterested in their introduction to you.

First impression are everything and it takes just a few moments to make one, so take these five powerful tips and make your next first impression, the best one possible.

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STUDENT 911

Graduation 101 Kinga Siejek So the day is fast approaching. You have worked hard the last few years, with endless studying, assignments, and exams that made you feel like pulling your teeth out. BUT it is almost over; graduation is just around the corner.

Now while some of you who may be reading this, might want to go on to the next article, as you still have a year, or two, or even three left until that glorious day. KEEP READING. (It never hurts to be prepared).

Graduation is the day when you have a chance to share your accomplishements with your family and friends.

Your hard work has paid off, and now it is time to get that piece of paper that shows the world you are worthy.

But then come the questions (especially for the ladies) on what to do and what to wear!

If it is your first graduation, the feelings you get are like when entering the classroom for that exam you didn’t study well for. The little question pops into your head: “What do I do now?”

The Letter Firsly; read through your letter very carefully! Yes, just like when you get accepted to study, you get a letter telling you, you are going to graduate. That letter will tell you pretty much everything you need to know. From where to go to get your head checked (not to see if you are crazy or not), to giving you directions to where the graduation will be held (a usefull little map that is!).

DON’T lose that letter.

The Prep Work From what I have seen over the years (and being part of it myself), graduation is almost a form of beauty pageantry; for everyone involved, graduating or not. This is a day where you go to the shops, sometimes months in advance, trying to figure out what are you going to wear to impress everyone.

Now a small tip for all those ladies, and gents, out there.

While it does matter to look good on the day, you don’t have to break the bank. When you first get to the location, you will have a few minutes of showing off your outfit, but once it gets down to the letter; you have to put the graduation gown on, and it pretty much covers your entire body.

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Be practical in what you a wearing. Of course look amazing, but make sure it is something easy to walk in, and won’t get in the way of your graduation gown. You need to be able to move your arms, and bend (when the Rector ‘pats’ your head). The last thing you want is to hear a rip from a tight dress or pants on graduation day.

But here is some good news for the ladies, especially.

Go all out on your shoes! While those graduation gowns may cover your shimmering dress, it is short enough to show off those killer heels! Go colourful, go bold, go sparkly! But make sure you can walk up and down stairs with them as well! The last thing you want is a spraint ankle or broken body part due to not being used to those babies.

For the gents, make sure your shoes are polished to perfection, or be quirky with a pair of sneakers in a multitude of colours. It never hurts to be different...

Just like the dress, and shoes; so does your hair need to be thought about. Just like in those American movies you might watch, when graduating you have to wear a metaboard (the cap on your head). It is compulsory to wear this, to complete your outfit, so keep the big hair for another day. If you really want to have a fancy updo or rock the ‘fro, then just make sure you bring a few extra bobbypins along to secure the metaboard to your noggin’. You don’t want that falling off in the Rectors lap when you bow, now do you? (Though that would make for interesting talk later).

The Day BE EARLY. Remember, you are not the only one graduating that day; there are other students who need to be there as well. ALL of you want to take photos before the event, then you need to get your gown and metaboard and put them on, then take more photos, then help your parents find their place to sit, then probably a few more photos, then find your own place, then a few more selfies in between, and then the event will start. The earlier you are, the more time you have to get ready, and take enough photos to send each person in the world one.

After You Graduate On average, there are usually between two to three graduation ceremonies a day due to the amount of students. So when your time is up, be polite and give back the gown and metaboard as quick as you can, so someone else has enough time to get ready for their graduation.

Got it? Good. Now go shopping, and see you at graduation!

HEALTH

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FASHION

Ladies Talk: Dress for your body type Lebogang Masemula Women come in all different shapes and sizes. Often we as ladies tend to always pick the wrong clothing and end up looking “weird”. The key is to be comfortable and look good in everything we wear.

There are at least 4 different body types: 1.

Apple Body Type Apple shaped woman are often top heavy. Meaning bigger on their upper body and smaller on their lower body.

TIP: You want to emphasize your tight legs and butt.

Draw attention away from your waist and shoulders.

You look great in cowl necks and deep V-necks. Your legs are typically well-sculpted, so your instinct may be to show them off with fitted leggings and a long top.

2.

Athletic or Rectangular Body Type Rectangular body shapes are characterised by waist, hip and shoulder widths that are all similar sizes.

TIP: “Synch” your waist and exaggerate curves to avoid looking boyish. Look for scoop neck and sweetheart tops that help create curves .Go for ruffles and frills to add texture and volume. High-waist pants and wrap dresses look good on you.

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3.

Hourglass Body Type Bigger bust, slim waist and curvy hips make your figure the crème de la crème of feminine beauty. Simplicity is the key for you.

TIP: If you are one of the lucky few with this body type, dress to flatter your beautiful curves. Show off your feminine figure. Select dresses that emphasize your waistline. Pick a jacket that is seamed at the waist. A V-neck top will however accent your décolletage and draw the eye up toward your beautiful face.

4.

Pear Body Type You are bottom heavy, hips are significantly larger than bust.

TIP: Your fashion goal is to elongate your figure so that you look less bottom-heavy. Always wear something

GALS TALK darker and sliming on the bottom. As a pear you have great and sexy shoulders, so you want to direct attention to your tops. Fun colours, prints, or details at the neck all serve the purpose of drawing the eye away from the hip area.

yourself. She however , pointed out those ladies who pair leggings with t-shirts instead of longer tops are quite disturbing. She further states that you shouldn’t dress to be the number one best dressed student but rather to feel good and look your best in whatever you wear.

Ladies, let us avoid going for every piece of clothing that’s in the latest fashion trend. Not all of our bodies were designed for every fashion trend. The key is to know your body type and use fashion to accentuate your best features and “hide” everything else!

“I think that whatever size or shape body you have, it’s important to embrace it and get down! The female body is something that’s so beautiful.

I wish woman would be proud of their bodies and not diss other woman for being proud of theirs!” ~ Christina Aguilera ~ An anonymous second year student feels that women should dress for their body types and what they feel comfortable in. She said when you feel comfortable in what you wear, you will be confident thus believe in

Yellow_Bone Java Zwane

Yellow_bone, the term used to describe a girl who is very light or just light in complexion but would also have to have a body and height that goes along nicely with that. It is a sad yet true concept indeed. Ever since the invention of this word, girls find themselves wanting to be like other girls all in the name of being approved by society. It goes to show that yellow_bones are almost worshiped by guys in society. In a group full of girls with different complexions and personalities, the ones who are

very light in complexion always get first preference nowadays. The very sad part about this is that it is ruining the self-esteem and self-confidence of a lot of girls out there; especially the girls that are vulnerable and already insecure about the way they look.

It is not nice to be walking with your friend, as a girl, and know that just because she’ s lighter in complexion than you are, guys look at her before they even get to you. Same applies with this whole conspiracy of guys preferring tall and slender/skinny girls that almost look like professional models, forgetting that it is literally impossible for all girls to be like that.

Girls cannot, no matter how hard they try, all look the same and do things in the same way and the reason for this is simply because every girl is meant to be unique and beautiful in their own way. Hence you get things like guys having different tastes in girls because they admire different features in a girl.

To all the ladies out there, please do not ever look at the mirror and doubt your true beauty. Stop thinking about what other people say and think about you because believe it or not they are also going through their own troubles in life and are also bothered by their own insecurities; they just use that as a way to escape from their own problems and ignore their own insecurities.

Learn to love yourself from within; it is true that if you have a beautiful heart you won’t even need to work on your appearance because it is as though people can see through to your beautiful soul. You may not be a yellow_bone and will most definitely will never be, but remember...

“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”.

Not everyone will approve of you and like you but those who know your true self will always appreciate your presence in their lives. So as you put on your make-up and put on your outfit in the morning, remember that it’s not complete until you wear a smile :). Stay beautiful!

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GUYS TALK

Can I sleep with you first?

Ratanang Mogatusi

Men and women love to date. It is one of the traits that classify us as social beings. We pair up with others and cultivate bonds that are mutually beneficial, though this may not always be easy to accomplish.

Starting a successful relationship can take time, especially if it starts as an awkward one. Interested parties may find it difficult to get from the point of recognising their interest in each other; to a point where they are not only comfortable with each other but also trust one another.

In the early stages of a relationship, people tend to abstain from sex, in an attempt to build a deeper, more meaningful relationship; as opposed to one founded on sexual chemistry.

This doesn’t always work out well, as they may soon find themselves stuck in a relationship, or even marriage, with someone whose sexual chemistry does not match up with their own.

This can often spell disaster for the couple. Can you imagine how different the outcome would have been, had they had sex with each other, before getting to know each other?

Hypothetically speaking, in a world where men and women have sex as soon as they are aware of the mutual attraction between them, getting to know each other and determining whether or not the relationship is worth exploring, further would be a simpler task.

Whether it be a kiss or having sex, the thought of doing either for the first time at the end of a date, can be the looming elephant in the room. Wondering if someone finds their date genuinely enjoyable and progressively more appealing as the moment of truth approaches can be a very scary thing to live through. It can be troubling and even nerve wrecking, if you are truly invested in growing a passionate roaring fire from the sparks between the two of you.

This would not be the case between people who have already had sexual intercourse.

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Once two people have sex, the sexual tension between them is altered.

The fact that you have bared yourselves to each other both openly and intimately in the physical sense, makes it easier to open up to the other party, emotionally. Once the sexual tension is broken, the pair can determine whether or not they are compatible with each other in bed;

so as to be able to determine if their relationship will grow, or not. In most instances, if this formula is followed, a lot of time and heartbreak can be avoided.

Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and one cannot freely engage in sex on every first date without having to worry about pregnancy, STD’s/STI’s and heartbreak. In this life, one has to carefully choose your partners, build trust, and most importantly, always practice safe sex.

PROFILE

Sightless but Visionary Deliwe Msibi

An academic, alumni award nominee, instrumentalist, and a member of the Vaal Campus community. Hendrik Steyn gives us insight on his achievements and his tenth year at the Vaal Campus, which is a significant ten years as it is the University’s tenth anniversary. Hendrik is proud of the life he leads as a blind man, more so as a human being; and dreams of becoming the director of the newest Disability Unit in order to help make life easier for the disabled people around the campus.

Hendrik lets us in on what being an alumnus means. He believes it means, to still be in contact with the people one studied with and the lecturers that taught you, seeing the university grow to greater heights, to experience the developments of this university from first hand and becoming part of the bigger picture.

with no help from a domestic worker. They choose their own clothes to wear and if you, like me are wondering how, He says “when I go shopping, I chose clothes with colours that go together; and my wife happens to do the same”.

To other people living with a disability, He emphasises that they must take pride in their accomplishments and realise that what they might take for granted is not given to others. “You should make the best of your abilities and not stress about things you do not have any control over. Instead, you should be the best you can be and by doing so, change your world for the better,” says Hendrik.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HENDRIK STEYN • He plays any woodwind musical instrument • He likes to sharpen cutting objects e.g. knifes and scissors • He drives for fun, with a navigator • His favourite meal is ‘pap and vleis’- that is pap and some good meat.

• His motto in life- a man who learns from one person goes through life blind

Hendrik and NWU Vaal His journey with the Vaal Campus began in 2004, when he was a first year student; he claims to be the very first blind student of the Vaal Campus. “It has been 10 years since I have been part of this beautiful University; I lived in Thuthuka Residence until I finished my Honours in Language Practice in 2007 “ He says.

When asked what legacy he would like to leave behind, he says he would like to leave behind a legacy of trust, honesty and workmanship. “All for one and one for all” he says and further explains his statement by saying all for one means; everyone must do their part ion Campus, and see it develop and grow bigger every day. One for all means the Campus has a responsibility to the people working in it, to provide them with job security, freedom to grow in their career, as well as comfortable working environments.

History of Love He met his wife Jacky Steyn in school; they lost contact from each other after completing secondary school, and then met again in 2007. Their wedding anniversary is on 1 April. Jacky is currently a Psychology student at the North West-University Vaal Triangle Campus and is also blind.

When talking about his disability, this family man is calm and laughs about it. He says “I am blind yes, but in this life time, you have only one life to live”. With this, he implied that in that life you always have a choice; the only time you do not have one is when you choose not to have one.

Hendrik and Jacky do their own laundry and cleaning,

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PROFILE

Memberrrrrrr: Ivony ‘Scotch’ Lilane Moroke Bojosi

and I have since taken to it”.

We see them all on Campus; watching after our safety, but do we really know them? Here is a closer look into members of our security.

The future “I don’t see myself being a security officer forever, I have plans to further my education and elevate myself in one of the directorate positions in the security and policing sector” he declares about his future aspirations”.

Background Mr Ivony ‘Scotch’ Lilane was born in the historical Sharpeville Township and later grew up in the Small Farms, Evaton. ”I was raised by my grandmother most of my life, though both my mother and father were alive. I later moved in with my dad and stepmom, I was the second born child of six children that consists of three boys and three sisters” he says. He soon attended the Bulamali Boho Lower Primary school, Mukotedi Higher Primary school and completed his matric at Esokwazi Secondary school, under the then apartheid schooling system.

Occupation His first employment was as an assistant Receiving Clerk at EDCON, The warehouse of Edgar’s chain of stores, but his tenure came to an abrupt end due to misunderstandings. “This period was followed by three years of unemployment; remember at this time I had three children to look after, from a schooling point of view to basic needs, look as a father of the house I needed to contribute to the welfare of my family” he assures.

True to his word, he enrolled for a Security course and on completion of his qualification he was soon contracted by Stallion Security Company, where he has been working for the last eight years up to this day.

Having spent most of his career as a Security Officer at retail stores; Shoprite and Woolworths, he claims shoplifting was rife. The year 2013 was the biggest highlight in his career as he found himself working at the prestigious Emerald Casino. “The first few months I was a gate officer, but soon got a promotion to serve on the Casino’s CCTV technical committee, those were the best days of my career thus far” he interjects.

NWU Vaal Learning and Research Commons (L.A.R.C) This being his first occupation at an educational institution and as front desk officer in the new state of the art building 13 L.A.R.C centre, he glows and interjects “I love it here, the tranquillity of the place is fantastic the environment reminds me of an excursion to the zoo back in my younger days and to be able to see wild animals so up close has been captivating”. Mr Lilane values the respect and cooperation shown by the majority of the students who enter the L.A.R.C on a daily basis but is dissatisfied by the minority who supposedly forget their student cards for the access points. When asked about how he feels being called member (the nickname commonly given to all the security officers on campus) he replies calmly “ At first I was surprised, but as soon as I settled I knew it was a sign of appreciation

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Up close and personal On his days off from duty, this loving father spends quality time with his family; wife Makgotso, sons Thabiso (22) who is currently employed at Eskom, Themba (19) who is a matric student and daughters Relebohile (17) who is in grade 11 and one year, nine months last born Masentle.

He boldly states that he is a staunch Kaizer Chiefs supporter and dreams of driving the Volkswagen Golf 6.

Word of advice “Ladies and gentleman study hard and focus on your studies. Education is very pivotal in this day and age; always make use of your opportunities. No matter ones background or environment you find yourselves in, always show respect for the next person. As human beings we have it in ourselves to change the world, God bless you.

PROFILE

Beauty and brains

Deliwe Msibi

Hearing your name called out at the end of the sentence: and the award goes to... Is a feeling that most people struggle to explain. On the 26th of March 2014, the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North West University (NWU VTC) had a gala event to give recognition to the top academic achievers from the faculty of humanities in the year 2013.

Among the overall top academic achievers was Tasmin Towsen, an ambitious 22 year old beautiful girl who is a strong, independent, extremely dedicated and soft hearted young spirit.

This year marks Tasmin’s 1st invitation to receive an academic award in the NWU. “I take my studies seriously, and in all honesty most of the hard work was especially because I was working towards my honours, now I am working towards my masters” she says.

Tasmin’s motivation has always been the future, the opportunities that come with being a woman and the

idea of being an educated woman.

The world is becoming a platform where women rise up above the previous stereotypes; therefore the forthcoming is bright for women out there.

“The future is a beautiful place to view if you make the best of your presence, which is why I make it a point that I enjoy the present while trying to get to the future” Tasmin says.

When asked how she felt when her name was called out, she emphasised that it was a feeling that words cannot begin to explain, her heart was pumping so fast as a result of the joy she felt. Tasmin experienced one of the happiest moments of her life when she came to give a speech.

She holds a degree in Human Resource and Labour Relations, and is currently going for her honours in Labour Relations. To make it in this world, Tasmin believes that this world can change people, and if one person can live their lives without conforming to the standards to this world; then the person will lead a successful

life. “Achieve success as the person you are” she said.

Her two favourite quotes are “live by faith, not by sight” from the bible; and “nothing is impossible, even the word itself says I-M-POSSIBLE” by Audrey Hepburn. More than anything else, Tasmin says she will forever be grateful to the Vaal Triangle Campus of the NWU for accepting her as a student and for having a big impact in creating a well-rounded confident young woman in her.

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SPORT

Sport Awards as they happened Mangaliso Maduna The Vaal Campus (NWU Vaal) held its annual Sport Awards on 14 March 2014. The overall event was a great success although it got delayed due to last-minute venue change. Achieving the next level was the theme of the day. Among the dignitaries in attendance was VaalWeekblad Sports Editor Ettienne van Rensburg.

Most people usually have the wrong perception about awards (in particular sport). They are not necessarily aimed at honouring and highlighting sporting achievements but are also designed with the intention of restoring passion amongst individuals as sport plays a pivotal role in nation-building and national unity.

The event got to a flying start with words of inspiration and mixed metaphors from the campus Manager of the Sports Department, Sean McCallaghan. In his opening speech he first and fore-mostly welcomed everyone present despite their busy schedules. While addressing the audience he declared that 2013 had been a great sporting year for NWU Vaal. He also gave a special mention to both male soccer and bodybuilding teams for their heroic displays at the USSA Championships. The bodybuilding team came second at the championships and despite crashing out in the group stages the male

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soccer team is now ranked as the 16th best University team in the country. One of the notable omissions is the sport man of the year award, as the Sports Department felt that there were no ideal male candidates who did enough to impress in the last campaign.

His speech was later followed by the presentation of certificates to all athletes who had represented the university with pride as per their different sporting codes.

However the eagerly awaited accolades were none other than the special prizes because the recipients of this award are those individuals who have shown exceptional achievement in their respective sport. Their work ethics has been phenomenal throughout the year and have earned the respect of those around them.

Here is the full list of special prizes awards Chess player of the year: Kgotso Ratlhogo Bodybuilder of the year: lzaan Botha USSA Rugby player of the year: K. Holtzhouzen USSA 7’s player of the year: Danie Malan Male cricket player of the year: Dwayne Pocock Dancer of the year: Ofentse Phillips Netball player of the year: Vena Lubbe Hockey player of the year: Stephanie Muteba Male soccer of the year: Tshepiso Maimane Achievement of the year: Male soccer team Team of the year: Hockey Coach of the year: Sune van der Linde Sports woman of the year: Tsholofelo Cjabalala (Bodybuilding)

SPORT

USSA Games Wrap Up: UP vs NWU Vaal Johannes Masiteng

NWU Vaal kicked off their USSA campaign with losses in both their ladies and men’s football teams. Either NWU Vaal team could not find the back of the net in the double header that was played at UJ Bunting Road Sports Ground. The Ladies were thrashed 6-0 while the men’s team went down 1-0 later that night in a low scoring match.

Match 1 (Ladies): NWU Vaal 0-6 UP The University of Pretoria (UP) Ladies soccer team were in a rampant as they outplayed and outclassed their opponents. They dominated the match from the first minute to the last and the players showed athleticism with their excellent play.

UP won two early-corner kicks but were easily cleared by the NWU Vaal defence. Moments later, the NWU Vaal goalkeeper made an excellent double save to deny UP forward the opener. Just 10 minutes into the game, NWU Vaal defence were caught napping after a defensive mistake and UP forward Pretty Mo made no mistake and slipped the ball past the NWU Vaal goalkeeper.

UP doubled their lead Vaal Pukke moments later with a great strike from Midfielder Phila Chego from the edge of the 18-yard area. UP contin-

ued their dominance over NWU Vaal for the rest of the first half. Possession was mostly played in the middle of the park. NWU Vaal lost possession easily and could not break into UP’s final third.

In the second period of the game, UP continued to dominate their opponents and it was no surprise that UP player Vennesa Saikam made it 3-0 minutes after the start of the second half. Later, fellow teammate Gloria Thato also scored, making the score line 4-0. The NWU Vaal defence could not contain the UP attackers and in the later stages of the game Midfielder Mapotlakela Maserumele grabbed her brace, which extended the score line to 6-0. The referee signalled full time and the game ended 6-0 in favour of UP. Match 2 (Men’s ): NWU Vaal 0-1 UP Later in the chilled , cold night, NWU Vaal Men’s soccer team set to grab a win against UP Men’s Soccer team to cancel a disappointing earlier result and take a win home. It seemed possible in the early minutes of the game that NWU Vaal will grab a win. Either side were guilty of missing scoring opportunities.

UP, dubbed AmaTuks or Tuks, nearly obtained an early lead with a well taken free kick but NWU Vaal keeper

came out tops and parried the ball over the bar. A few minutes later NWU Vaal goal keeper made two crucial saves to deny a strong UP side an early lead. NWU Vaal had chances of finding the back of the net with two free kicks in the middle of the field, but Tuks goalkeeper had no problems and collected the ball from both free kicks comfortably . It was a tight first half as the teams were evenly matched on the field with scoring opportunities and possession.

Finnaly the UP broke the deadlock just a few minutes into the second half. Jerry Nkwana, UP forward made a run into the 18-yard area with the ball and took a lower curled shot which beats NWU Vaal goalkeeper.

NWU Vaal searched for an equaliser as they cannot settle for a lose , but unfortunately they found it hard to get in the Tuks’ final third and the 18yard area. UP defenders were quick to clear the ball from dangerous areas as NWU Vaal posed a threat.

Nkwana could have sealed the game and made himself a hero with a brace in the last 5 minutes, as his lower shot in a one on one position beats Vaal Pukke goalkeeper but hits the upright and NWU Vaal goalkeeper collects it. AmaTuks won the game with a 1-0 narrow score line, thanks to Nkwana’s goal.

The Boss has arrived! Meet Sello Mokoena Moroke Bojosi

Coaching Record Teams Coached: Tshwane University of Technology Ladies (1996-2000), Pretoria University (2000-2013), City Tigers (2004-2006), Tshwane Regional Team (19972008), Kings Academy (2007), USSA National Women’s Team (2006-current)

Mokoena was born in White City, Soweto, and is the first born of three boys and was raised by his mom and dad.

Later, he moved to Pimville Zone 4, and attended Saint Peter Clever Primary School; then moved on to Phefeni High School and matriculated at Trinity High School in

Qualifications: SAFA Level II License, KNVB Level I License, CAF B License.

Achievements: Coach of the Tournament Men sectionUSSA National Football Championships 2006, Coach of the Tournament Women section-USSA National Football Championships 2009.

Background

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SPORT Lenasia. He has a Sport Management Degree from Tshwane University of Technology.

the now senior side was still campaigning in the lower leagues is priceless.

What led you to football coaching?

Initially I was a rugby player, but due to the then political landscape in the country, I was forced to abandon the sport and whilst studying at Tshwane University of Technology, a group of friends and I decided to start a football team, due to my leadership skills and football acumen they decided I should be the coach and as they say the rest is history.

What will you miss most about TUKS? The camaraderie, from the grounds men to the administration the spirit of unity was superb. I remember how awesome the feeling was when we would meet at the start of each year and brainstorm. (Glows) I even got the opportunity to meet my role model Sir Alex Ferguson the legendary great former Manchester United manager.

How would you describe your coaching philosophy?

I call it risky football, which is attacking football. It compromises of quick transitions from defense to offense coupled with South African flair and tactical discipline.

Did it come as a surprise in University football circles when you left University of Pretoria for the Vaal Campus, why the decision?

Firstly, it was an opportunity to challenge myself especially coming from such a big institution. It was also a decision based on football development in South Africa, I mean TUKS are already a well oiled machine so I would like to see NWU Vaal also get to that standard or even surpass it.

How would you sum up your stay at TUKS? It was a beautiful 13 years, I was given an opportunity to experiment, develop and grow. I got a chance to work in all the divisions from the junior sides to the first team and I learnt a lot with it being a worthwhile experience. To have contributed in the development of players like Bafana Bafana player Lerato Chabangu, Robyn Johannes at Maritzburg United, Sibusiso Hadebe at Platinum Stars and new Kaizer Chiefs signing George Maluleka count as a highlight of my time there and of course to have been part of the team from day one when

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What are your short, medium and long term goals for NWU Vaal F.C? Firstly, I would like to guide the team to USSA National Football Championships qualification. If all goes well at the champs we should qualify for the Varsity Cup, which would present us with a lot of opportunities from a stadia point of view and the institutions relationship with the Vaal Triangle community. Lastly, I would like to see this team compete in either the National First Division or the Premier Soccer League.

What can we expect under your tutelage?

Definitely results, once the results are forthcoming you can expect good football, S.A flair; nutmegs, show me your numbers and walkovers, after all we are a product and the supporters (students) must enjoy.

Before we end off do you have any message to the supporters’ on campus?

Please come in numbers, support your fellow students in the quest to qualify for the USSA National Football Championships.

Quick one-twos Book: Alex Ferguson: My Autobiography.

Quote: ”We must stop believing in saying- I’ll do my best, just do what is required”.

Aspire to meet who for lunch: Ernst Middendorp coach of Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates coach Vladimir Vermezovic.

SPORT

Smith retires after a

glittering career

Mangaliso Maduna

3 March 2014 will go down as the day to remember in South African sporting history. It is on that day that the Proteas longest serving captain, Graeme Smith, stunned the whole cricket fraternity by announcing his retirement from both domestic and international cricket. His retirement comes in the wake of his best friend and senior Proteas team-mate Jacque Kallis’ retirement from Test cricket in December last year. Smith‘s decision brought the country to a standstill, as no one saw it coming.

Having made his debut at the age of 21, Smith succeeded Shaun Pollock as the skipper after the 2003 Cricket World cup. In his reign as the captain, Smith led the Proteas to the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup. He also led the Proteas to the top of the ICC World Rankings, as the no.

1 ranked test team in the world.

He was a true professional through and through. He had the tenacity to keep going, even when all odds were

against him. His influence on and off the field was greatly noted, and he was always quick to defend his team against type of criticism.

What he achieved in the 12 years his career spun over is nothing short of exceptional. In total, he managed to score 9265 runs, 27 tons and 38 half-centuries from a career of 117 test matches. In ODI (One Day international)’s, he achieved 10 centuries and 47 fifties as captain.

In a statement released by CSA (Cricket South Africa) Smith was quoted as saying, “This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life. It’s a decision that I have been considering since my ankle surgery in April last year. I have a young family to consider, and I felt that retiring at Newlands would be the best way to end it because I have called this place home since I was 18 years old.”

“I have always been someone who has left everything out there on the field for my team and for my country. I’m extremely honoured and proud to have had the privilege to lead so many wonderful players and to have been a part of building the Proteas culture to what it is today. It is a culture that every player can be, and is, immensely proud of.” he added.

Smith will undoubtly be missed. He cultivated a winning mentality within the team and had all the qualities and attributes of a complete leader. He had the passion, motivation, and most of all, he wore the green and gold with pride.

He will go down as one of the greatest cricketers to have ever don the Proteas jersey. Wishing him all the best in his future endeavors. Bon Voyage!!

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