The Wits Vuvuzela students and staff acknowledge this right to freedom of expression, a right that has been fought for long and hard and reflects the essence of what it means to be part of a democratic society.

Student journalists write the articles and the paper is freely distributed within the university as well as some surrounding areas in Braamfontein.“The Wits Vuvuzela welcomes criticism that is constructive and fair, that does not make outrageous claims or induce hate speech.”

Last week Wits Vuvuzela received some negative criticism from a few disgruntled readers who made profound claims about the journalistic ethics of the paper. These criticisms were in response to an opinion piece called “Slice of Life”. The student journalist who wrote the piece said the SRC was misleading students with their Right2Protest campaign.

It must be noted that opinion pieces are clearly indicated and appear weekly in our paper. This is the opinion of an individual journalism student and is written fairly and honestly according to her observations.

Furthermore, it should be understood that student journalists who write the articles abide by a specific journalistic codes and ethics.

As stated in the Codes of Conduct for the South African Press and Broadcasting Complaints Commission, journalists have the responsibility to expose crime and serious misdemeanour, expose antisocial conduct and protect the health and safety of the public.

They should also prevent the public from being misled by some statement or action of an individual or organisation.

The code of conduct provides the golden standard for how we work and what we are taught to follow as journalists – as students and in future.

Student journalists gather information and are taught to report in a manner that is accurate and truthful. Where errors occur the newspaper corrects these and apologises.

Journalism lecturers provide student journalists with a platform to express ourselves; a space where we can let our creativity soar and form our own opinions.

It must be made clear that lecturers do not force their ideas or beliefs onto their students. If anything, they encourage students to disagree with them and to use their academic skills to form well-constructed arguments.

Sometimes people forget that as students we are trying to learn, practice and hone a craft and a profession. In doing so, we strive for balance, fairness, impartiality and broader notions of objectivity.

Notions of impartiality are so embedded in our consciousness that most of us wouldn’t have to think twice before exposing their own mother if she had committed fraud.

The university supports Wits Vuvuzela and recognises  a free media is essential to academic freedom and democracy. It stimulates intellectual growth in a way that allows students and staff alike to grapple with various issues and effectively help stimulate a diverse market of ideas within the Wits community.

Just as we have the right to expression, so do our readers. The rights do also come with responsibilities. The Wits Vuvuzela welcomes criticism that is constructive and fair, that does not make outrageous claims or induce hate speech.

THE DEAD DON’T BITE: 5th year MBBCh students at the Johannesburg Mortuary                            Photo: Mfuneko Toyana

A sense of dread, of being in a mortuary, accompanies you when you enter the grey building wedged between Constitutional Hill and the Wits Esselen Residence.

What these experiences don’t prepare you for is the warmth and passion of the Wits medical students you find inside – there to fulfill the requirement that they learn to work with “fresh corpses”.

“A lot of these students see an autopsy for the first time and get turned off,” said Lawrence Hill, research student and entomologist at the Johannesburg Forensic Pathology Service (FPS) medico-legal mortuary in Braamfontein.

Hill explained how the small number of medical students who specialise in forensics end up working as pathologists. Most choose lucrative jobs as anatomical pathologists for private labs.

This leaves state pathologists working in one of the two main mortuaries in the province  Germiston and Johannesburg doing nothing less than 20 autopsies a week, almost double the weekly average.

Hill was frank about the difficulties of dealing with corpses on a daily basis and the kind of effect it can have on you.

“We see everything from [people who were] stabbed to death, jumped off of buildings, car accidents and burns victims who mostly came from informal settlements,” said Hill.

He said counselling was provided to students at the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital and they were encouraged to talk in groups about their experiences.

Scary reality

Fifth year MBBCh students, gathered at the mortuary on Wednesday morning for practical classes in dissecting corpses, had varying opinions of the experience:

A student called Trudie said the “scary reality didn’t really hit you” until you were faced with a recently deceased body.

“On Monday we saw a child who’d been hit by a car. It was terrible.” “I had never seen a dead body”

Asked how she coped with seeing death close up, she said: “As students we are not offered any debriefing. All you can do is go home and talk to your friends and family.”

Kirsten Morley-Jepherson said she was “really lucky to have a good support system at home”.

“Once you vent you really feel a lot better”.

Morley-Jepherson said although she had been fascinated by biology and the human body since her school days, she would not consider specialising in forensic pathology:

“I need something where I can have a life.”

Masello Phasha recalled how she was “literally shaking” when she faced a corpse for the first time.

“It was in our 2^nd year andI had never seen a dead body. The toes of the cadaver were sticking out and I kept as far away as I could.”

Phasha said Monday was “very different”.

“The child was still fully dressed and still had shoes on,” Phasha said.

Despite this, Phasha said she’d “surprisingly” had no nightmares and she hoped to go into trauma surgery but feared the always-on-call lifestyle would be “too demanding”.

Abigail Keane is a student whose entire family is in the medical field. She said, despite realising “how quickly things can go wrong and how many lives we lose”, it was the daily opportunity of helping people in a tangible way that made it all worth it.

The mortuary serves as the “academic seat” of the Wits division of forensic medicine and pathology. It provides forensic pathology services to the SA Police Service and the Department of Justice and families of the deceased.  This is over and above its teaching and research responsibilities at the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences.

Charges stay: SRC members Joy Phiri, Justice Nkomo and Tasneem Essop talk to incoming vice chancellor, Adam Habib, about charges against them and eight others being dropped. Photo: Mia Swart

THE WITS vice chancellor’s office has decided that charges against 11 students, including nine SRC members, will not be dropped.

Incoming vice chancellor, Adam Habib, made the statement after the SRC spent the past week promoting their “Right2Protest” campaign in various national media platforms. According to Habib, the case will be postponed from May13 to July 16 at the request of the charged students so they can concentrate on their exams.

The students were charged for a possible contravention of the university’s codes of conduct after they disrupted a concert by an Israeli pianist during a protest for Israel Apartheid Week in March.

SRC president Sibulele Mgudlwa said they were disappointed the “bogus” charges against them were not dropped but were still prepared to fight them.

“We are preparing a strong legal strategy to answer to the charges.”“Last year the students defended the workers. This year the workers will defend the students”,”

Mgudlwa said they were happy with the decision to postpone: “It will allow us to focus on exams and make our case stronger.”

Right2Protest campaign still on

Mgudlwa added that the Right2Protest campaign will not be cancelled despite Habib’s declaration that the charges would stand.

On Monday, the Wits workers solidarity committee (WWSC) organised a demonstration to pledge their support of the charged students and to the Right2Protest campaign:

“Last year the students defended the workers. This year the workers will defend the students,” said WWSC representative, Matthew Bodiba.

Mboyiseni Ndlozi, one of the charged students, addressed the workers at the demonstration and said:  “If they [Wits] do not drop the charges they are cowards.”

Habib said that the rest of the decision making would happen in the course of the disciplinary process that has been established.

Related articles:

• Wits Vuvuzela, March 13, 2013: Israeli-born pianist abandons performance after protest at Wits
• Wits Vuvuzela, April 19, 2013: SRC members face charges
• Wits Vuvuzela, May 3, 2013: Drop the charges

The alleged food poisoning happened on Sunday, May 5, when a first year law student of the University of Witwatersrand went to the main dining hall to have her lunch—a toasted chicken and mayonnaise sandwich.

After eating only half of the sandwich, she started experiencing body aches. Later that evening, she broke into a fever.

By Monday the student was unable to leave her bed.

She called Campus Control and was taken to hospital. The diagnosis: a stomach infection that had gone through to her blood stream and caused a blood infection.

According to the doctors, the most likely cause of the infection was an item of food she had eaten within the previous 24 hours.

“And the only thing I had eaten was from the dining hall,” she said.

A “ROYAL” LETDOWN: Students enjoy a meal in the main dining hall on East Campus.
Photo: Dineo Bendile

A representative from RoyalMnandi was unable to comment on the matter and referred the Wits Vuvuzela to the deputy head of services, Joanne Rowan, who was out of office.

The student spent Monday night in hospital on a drip line.  She was then released after her fever broke and went to stay with her family as she was still too weak to be on her own.

“I was supposed to be admitted, but I didn’t want to because I was scared. I have no immediate family here [Johannesburg], just distant cousins,” she said.

An ongoing problem

The student alleges that this was not the first time that food from the main dining hall had made her ill.

“When I moved here in the beginning of the year, I could barely stomach the food. It wasn’t because it was bad, it was because my system wasn’t used to the oil and things that they were using.”

But none of her prior experiences could compare to the seriousness of her recent ordeal.

The student claims that it took her approximately three days after the incident before she could stomach a full meal.

The student said she was having difficulties reaching the dining hall’s operations administrator to report her issue.

In April, the Wits Vuvuzela reported that a student had found a worm in a chicken burger patty from the main dining hall. Just a month before that, students wrote a letter to Vice Chancellor Adam Habib to address the issue of poor service by RoyalMnandi.

They threatened him with a knife and when they found that he had no cellphone, stabbed him in the back with a narrow blade, said head of Campus Control Rob Kemp.

The student managed to escape his attackers by running to the Raikes road security gate, where he entered campus before collapsing near the Chamber of Mines building.

BY THE BOOK: Security guard Harris Masuku patrols the crime “hot-spot” on Enoch Sontonga avenue                   Photo: Mfuneko Toyana

He was rushed to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital after being spotted by passing students who alerted Campus Control.Kemp said the student was released the following day after receiving emergency treatment.

Kemp said the area along Enoch Sontonga, from the Yale road entrance to Solomon street where Sturrock Park ends, has been declared a “crime hot-spot” due to the spate of muggings.

Kemp warned Witsies not to travel the area alone or after dark as they would be putting themselves at great risk.

Operations officer of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) in Braamfontein, Norman Maluleke, confirmed the incident but said he did not know any details. He did say there was a high incidence of cellphone robberies in the area and that it was a challenge for the patrol teams.

“Suspects are targeting students who walk and use their cellphones. The M.O [modus operandi] is that a car stops by the student, they jump out and snatch the cellphone. The registration number [of the car] is normally false,” said Maluleke.

In the last month, a security officer has been assigned by CPF and Campus Control to patrol the stretch between the Yale and Raikes road entrances on a 6am to 6pm shift. A security officer who patrols the area told Wits Vuvuzela: “Sure, I patrol from six to six, but when I leave the criminals come in.”

Wits Vuvuzela has reported in previous editions about Campus Control’s efforts to beef up security. The steps include a Safe Walk system where staff and students can call Campus Control and request a security officer to accompany them from one point to another.

The system applies only on campuses and residences not covered by the bus route.
Kemp stressed that Witsies needed to be more “streetwise” in a big city like Johannesburg.

SRC grievances officer Welcome Lishivha said that while Campus Control has a responsibility to protect students, “they [students] needed to take responsibility for their own safety as well”.

Related articles:

• Wits Vuvuzela, April 5, 2013 Lack of  trainnig for Campus Control

mfuneko@witsvuvuzela.com

The Wits student mining engineering society, dressed to the nines as they suited up and “heeld” up for Mine managers day this afternoon outside the Great hall, in order to celebrate the role of Mine Managers. The students celebrated, by dancing and singing a. Mining student Rafael Kulumba said the idea was to promote management, as they aspire to be like mine managers one day and too show everybody else that our faculty is “Still number one” .

NEW LOOK: Wits marketing are designing a new brand for the buses that will replace the “Witrs 90 Celebration” design. Photo: Mia Swart

By Caro Malherbe and Mia Swart.

The Wits marketing and communications department is changing the branding on Wits buses – but students feel the money would be better spent on maintenance and internal improvements.

Marketing manager at Wits, Ferna Clarkson said they were in the early stages of designing new branding for the outside of buses. The 90 Years of Celebration branding was outdated, but there had been no resources, such as time and manpower, until now.

Clarkson said that no repairs would be done to the interior of the buses at this stage. But many students feel that updating the exterior branding of buses seems insignificant compared to the repairs that need to be done.

Students told Wits Vuvuzela the condition of the buses was not bad but, if money was to be spent, they would prefer it to be spent on improving the interior of the buses. They complained mainly of breakdowns and broken seats.

Wits Vuvuzela caught a bus to the Wits Education Campus last week and reported that the hinges of both front seats were unclipped. These seats are meant for “disabled students and students with limited mobility”.

Mazvita Moyo, 1^st year Medicine, said the conditions were generally not that bad, except for peak times. “But in every bus, there’s a broken seat. If it’s a full bus, people are going to sit on the broken seats…if you want to get to class on time.”

Mtwakazi Bula, 2^nd year Medicine, said the bus timetables were “hard to read. Make it user-friendly and more accessible”.

Unclipped seats

According to Wits Operations Manager for Transport, Sue-Ann Reed: “The seats of the buses are checked every evening when the buses are cleaned and inspected. We have observed that the seats do at times unclip when the students stand up.”

The plastic clips under the seats were being replaced with steel brackets, which would prevent the seats from becoming unclipped.

Reed said the buses were serviced regularly. A safety inspection was done every 14 days and a brake test every 30 days. All the buses were sent for roadworthy tests every six months as required by legislation. Minor repairs and maintenance checks were done by the mechanics onsite when required.

Bus driver Freddy Mabasa said there were sometimes problems with the buses, but there were mechanics on standby to assist the drivers. If drivers experienced problems, spare buses were available.

Clarkson said the branding of the buses was paid for by Luxliner Coaches, as a service to Wits. But the artwork and design of the branding was decided and provided by Wits Marketing Department.

Luxliner have started to remove the old branding. Some buses have been spray-painted white in preparation for the new branding.

“We are hoping to receive the final artwork and design from Wits Marketing Department in time for the branding to be completed during the June/July vacation period, as fewer buses will be needed,” said Reed.

QUEER AS FUN: Wham! members enjoy a day of social rugby at Wits. Photo: Provided

WHAM! A queer social rugby club based at Wits was started this year by Witsie Gabriel Khan and a group of his friends.

“I love rugby and I love the queers, it was the natural thing to do!” said Khan, who works for the Gay and Lesbian Archives (GALA).

Wham! is made up of Wits students, some ex-Witsies as well as people who are linked to Activate, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Intersexual student society (LGBTI), as well as other GALA members.

“Wham! is about creating a healthy social space for queer people to meet and make friends, outside the usual scene of bars and clubs.”

“Although we have other queers who heard about rugby, and decided to join in as well, Activate has been great in supporting this initiative,” said Kahn. Khan said Wham! members come together every Saturday and play a game of rugby, usually followed by a drink and the vibe is “usually quite chilled.”

“There aren’t many safe spaces for queers to meet socially, and I thought sport is a healthy way to get out there and have a good time.”

Although Wham! started as a social game, the team are looking to become more competitive and hope to play against other teams such as the Cape Town based queer rugby team, Blight Rugby club. “We’d be keen to play against other Wits teams, just for the fun of it!” said Khan.

Anyone can join in the fun and players don’t necessarily need to be queer.

“We don’t discriminate against straight people. It’s mostly about having a good time and it’s also a great way to get fitter,” said Khan.

Khan said anyone who is interested can join the team on Saturday, even if it’s just to watch and support. Khan said Wham! has a Facebook page with information on practices and events.

Dr Lord Mawuko was placed on “special leave” pending an investigation about four weeks ago. Mawuko’s third year International Relations class has been merged with another class taught by Dr David Hornsby.

His former students have complained that Mawuko’s class is behind those of Hornsby’s, making it difficult for them to catch up.

Hornsby confirmed to Wits Vuvuzela that the classes have merged and acknowledged that Mawuko’s classes were a week behind. However, he said Mawuko’s class had a catch up session after the lecturer was put on special leave.

“With the departure of one lecturer the course hasn’t changed and the course is no different to how it has been run”

Student Concerns

Innocentia Kgaphola, 3^rd year International Relations, said the department is “having difficulties coordinating the class. Why aren’t they taking responsibility that the standards are not the same?”

The student’s biggest concern was that due to Mawuko’s special leave their work will be assessed by lecturers whom they have never interacted with and do not know.

Third year student Nqobile Radebe said: “They have been bringing different people to lecture us. We have not been fairly assessed. We don’t get the marks we deserve.”

Mawuko had also been responsible for receiving presentation topic submissions from the third year International Relations class. However, due to being placed on special leave he could not be present and assess the presentations.

Instead, the presentations were overseen by Dr Mopeli Moshoeshoe.

Third year International Relations student Luzi Maposa said in a letter to the department that Moshoeshoe told students that he was “merely there to observe”.  But Moshoeshoe wrote comments on their presentations and Hornsby, who is also the course co-ordinator, gave students their marks.

Maposa wrote in his letter that the student’s “main issue” was that while Hornsby marked their presentations, he did not see them first hand and “all but relied on bullet points which he requested from each group, which did not reflect the image of the presentation since they were merely assistance tools.”

“The stand-in lecturer [Moshoeshoe], who did not even ask what topic each group was presenting on, cannot paint a clear reflection of the quality that went into the presentation since it omits all that was elaborated through speech and illustrations on the board,” continued Maposa’s letter.

Kgaphola said the situation has left students feeling confused and unfairly treated by the department.

“Nobody explained what was happening. Nobody explained why Lord [Mavuko] was put on special leave. It’s just a mess, we don’t know what’s happening,” Kgaphola said.

Hornsby responds

However, Hornsby denies this and said students are not just assessed by their presentation; they still have essays, exam and a participatory mark. Hornsby said he had consulted with Mawuko about the students’ assessments.

Hornsby said that immediately after the presentations he and Moshoeshoe had a meeting and Moshoeshoe recommended marks.

Hornsby said he doesn’t understand why there is confusion amongst the students as there was a talk last week to discuss Mawuko’s absence and marks would be assessed.

Head of department Prof Gilbert Khadiagala said the students complaints have been addressed by the department.

“We told the students that we are going to have an impartial person to deal with the marks. We have done everything we can; the final person to deal with the marks will be the external examiner”.

Additional Resouces

Wits Vuvuzela April 26 2013: Oh my Lord, wenzeni?

Tokelo Nhlapo, SRC  vice president internal, swore and shouted at journalist Emelia Motsai before other students told him to back away.

Motsai covered the campaign on Friday for Wits Vuvuzela. She was approached by Nhlapo who showed her a copy of the Wits Vuvuzela  opinion article she had written.

“He shouted ‘Fuck the hell out of here’ and he shouted I must never take their pictures again”, she said.

According to Nhlapo, the reason for the outburst was an opinion piece written by Motsai that argued the SRC was using the students to further their own cause. Nhlapo said he was “taken aback”.

SRC secretary Tasneem Essop confirmed the outburst but said she didn’t think it was a gender-based incident. “It was an incident based out of anger based on a certain article,” she said.

Nhlapo admitted that he should have addressed his issues with Motsai better. “What was meant to be an attack on her views became an attack on her as a person,” he said.

“I acted out of frustration, anger and impulse. My act was foolish and I will apologise.”

Nhlapo said his outburst was personal and not in his capacity as SRC vice president. “It was me. I was hurt. I personally felt anger about the article.”

SRC president Sibulele Mgudlwa said the SRC denounced any form of assault, verbal or otherwise, on anyone.