by Caro Malherbe | Aug 16, 2013 | News
COLOURED SLOGANS: PYA candidate spray paints the tunnel. Photo: Caro Malherbe
THE PROGRESSIVE Youth Alliance (PYA) may have acted improperly when they painted the tunnel connecting East and West Campus as part of their SRC electoral campaign.
The PYA painted the tunnel on Monday with slogans urging students to vote for them. Lemese Abrahams, head of SRC Administration, told Wits Vuvuzela: “I would have to check if they asked for permission, but I was not aware the tunnel was painted. [pullquote]The tunnel should not be touched.[/pullquote]”
Abrahams said that the SRC and PYA have are only allowed to paint on the graffiti wall outside the Matrix “for freedom of expression purposes.” When told the tunnel had been painted with PYA slogans Abrahams said: “I will send someone immediately down to assess the situation. If that is the case, they will have to paint it over.” A representative from the PYA could not be reached for comment.
PYA member Nompendulo Mkatshcwa told Wits Vuvuzela on Monday during the event that the tunnel painting was done “to let students know that the PYA are still here.”
The PYA is made up of youth organisations such as, the South African Students Congress, Young Communist League, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and Muslim Student Association.
The tunnel was a canvas of vibrant, luminescent colours as members stood singing and spray painting the walls. “We are moving”, “Do Right!” and “Our Wits, Our PYA, Vote PYA”, were some of the things written in spray paint on the tunnel walls.
The candidates, some wearing various ANCYL and PYA T-shirts busted into song and dance while students walked through the tunnel, viewing the spectacle.
by Caro Malherbe | Aug 13, 2013 | News
PYA candidate spray painting the West Campus tunnel. Photo: Caro Malherbe
The Progressive Youth Alliance spray painted the West Campus tunnel today. With the SRC 2013/2014 elections which took place this month, the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) “wants to let students know that the PYA are still here,” said candidate Nompendulo Mkatshcwa.
The PYA is a party made up of youth organisations such as, the South African Students Congress (SASCO), Young Communist Party (YCL), the ANCYL and Muslim Student Association (MSA).
“Do right”, “Our Wits. Our PYA. Vote PYA.” Photo: Caro Malherbe
The tunnel was a canvas of vibrant, luminescent colours as members stood singing and spray painting the walls.
“We are moving”, “Do Right!” and “Our Wits, Our PYA, Vote PYA”, were some of the things written in spray paint on the tunnel walls. Mkatschwa said each year PYA wins 98/99% from the students who vote. Painting the tunnel is “to remind students that we are still the best youth organisation on campus.”
The candidates, some wearing various ANCYL and PYA T-shirts busted into song and dance while students walked through the tunnel, viewing the spectacle.
by Caro Malherbe | Aug 2, 2013 | Featured 1, News
BREAK FAST: Students from UJ and Wits get ready to break their fast together. Photo: Caro Malherbe
The Wits and UJ Muslim student associations broke their fast together at a Ramadan Iftar dinner at UJ on Tuesday.
The room was full of excitement as the students sat cross-legged on the floor, set with eating utensils.
Ramadan
Ramadan is a month of celebration for Muslims; it is the month the Qur’an was revealed to the prophet Muhammad, bestowed on him to spread the word of Islam. Muslims come together for worship and fast from sunrise to sunset every day for 30 days.
Zain Patel, chairperson of Wits Muslim Student Association (MSA), said: “Fasting means that we can’t eat or drink anything during that time. Not even water, basically nothing can pass our lips.”
Students praying before they break fast. Photo: Caro Malherbe
The Muslim men and women sat separately from one another, divided by a barricade of tables and screens.
Ibrahim Patel said the Dua is a prayer recited just before the sun sets. “It stresses the need for self-cleansing and purity of the soul. It is also to thank God for your blessings and to ask for forgiveness and to renew your personal relationship with Him.”
After the Dua was said, the Adhaan, or The Call, was done by Maseehullah Suleman. This signals that the fast may be broken, and people may eat.
The fast is traditionally broken with small sweet dates as that is what the prophet Mohammad ate when he broke fast. The MSA committee paid for a generous meal of chicken hot wings, sliders and pizza. Juice, soda and milkshakes were served.
The decision to combine Iftar with UJ was for Muslims from both universities to socialise with each other and gain spiritual support during Ramadan.
Iftar at UJ
Guest speaker, Ibrahim Fakude who opened the event, said there are many reasons why Muslims fast. Some fast to lose weight, some to please Allah and some just to cut bad habits, “but if you fast for these reasons, don’t expect to get the same fawaad [reward]”.
“The reason Muslims should fast is to change for the better. It is to practise self-restraint, to contribute to the welfare of society and to be charitable.
Fasting
Fasting during Ramadan is also a time to deepen one’s spiritual relationship with God and to strive to be the embodiment of Islam,” said Naadira Pahad, an MSA member.
“Nobody will know if you lock yourself in your room and eat when you are supposed to be fasting. Fasting is really something that is between yourself and God,” said Pahad.
Ramadan started on 9 July and will end on Wednesday, 7 August. To mark the end of Ramadan Muslim families will rejoice Eid ul-Fitr. Much like Christmas, Eid ul-Fitr is a time of great celebration and religious practices, where gifts are given and there is an abundance of food.
by Caro Malherbe | Jul 31, 2013 | Featured 1, News
Martin Moshal addresses executives to be a part of the Moshal Scholarship Program at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Photo: Caro Malherbe
The Moshal Scholarship Program invests in individuals who could end up mopping floors if they are not given opportunities.
The program that started in 2010, by Martin Moshal, seeks out exceptional individuals who have the potential to succeed.
“Potential is being wasted because they are too busy mopping up floors instead of mopping up the country,” said Moshal, when he addressed a group of executives at a conference at the Radisson Blu on Friday.
Selina Thebede is a UJ Business Science student. She majored in finance, economics, accounting and information-systems and is now a graduate of the Moshal Scholarship Program.
Before she was awarded the scholarship she found herself being uncertain of where she would end up. She did not think tertiary education was even an option.
Thebede overcame a lot in her life and now gives back to society by being actively involved in charities and using what she has learnt to be an example to others.
Like Thebede, 400 other students from Israel and South Africa have been given the opportunity to be properly educated because of the Moshal Scholarship Program.
“The way scholar selections take place is rather unique. Not only do we take academics into account, we also look for students with dogged determination to better themselves and their communities,” said Kate Kuper, Moshal president.
“In Jadish, the word for luck is ‘muzzle’,” said Moshal. .
“Most people who are successful got to where they are because of luck. This program is aimed at giving students from disadvantaged backgrounds a bit of ‘muzzle’ by creating opportunities for success”, he said.
The conference was to create corporate partnerships with top businesses in the country that will give Moshal students the opportunity to build networks, receive mentoring, internship possibilities and financial support.
Professor Jonathan Jansen from the University of the Free State spoke about the “graduate of the future”. His body language grabbed the audience’s attention, as he knocked over a bottle of water from the table while flinging his arms around in explanation.
Jansen said: “The pool of well-trained graduates will be small.” Receiving education is just half of what is needed to be successful. The other half is practical training in the working world, something that one does not get from at university.
The program is offered to students at all main South African universities, including Wits.
The conference room was made up of representatives from companies such as Investec, IQ Business, The National Treasury and a few major South African banks. As well as university and oil and mining companies such as Sasol and Anglo American delegates, just to name a few.
Corporate partners will follow students throughout their studies as potential future employees.
Gareth Cliff is one of the directors and partners of One on One Productions. This company has joined the program to train students in additional skills such as presentation, etiquette, body language and general dispositions- practical skills which are often overlooked as being necessary to find a job.
Jansen said he believed the program is beneficial because the time students spend getting a degree, being educated and training in the working world all “come together in a beautiful way”.
by Caro Malherbe | Jul 26, 2013 | News
Wits University was the first to try out the waterless urinal in South Africa.
In 1983 the Switzerland based company Addicom introduced the waterless urinal to South Africa during a time when the country was suffering from a major drought.
Statistics show that before waterless systems, urinals used over six litres of water to flush once. Low volume flush toilets and duel function flush toilets
The first waterless urinals allowed urine to be flushed down into the urinal and straight into the pipe line without the need of any water.
However, these initial models were not favoured as they needed constant maintenance and over time would cause a build up of sludge which gave off a bad odour.
The next model was one that allowed urine to pass through a layer of vegetable oil which would float on top of the waste and block any smells.
The oil may have suppressed the smell, but dirt and grime became an even bigger issue. Later an alternative sealant liquid was used to suppress smell. This still caused grime build up over time.
After extensive research and tests, a solution to the problem was finally found when Addicom introduced the new waterless urinal model in 2000.
The new system was patented the “EcoSmellstop” which used a system which sealed off odour and has self cleansing properties. This made maintenance far better than in the past.
The “EcoSmellstop” works with a drain that has a none-return valve, known as the “curtain valve”. This valve opens when a small amount of liquid is poured onto it and then closes again. Women might see this as being the valve, or flap seen in a porter-potty.
In this way no sealant liquid or water is needed to dispose of urine.
Wits University was the first to experiment the invention of the “curtain valve” which was introduced in 2003.
Within the first three years of its introduction, around 100 000 “EcoSmellstop” urinal, curtain-valve systems have been installed throughout South Africa. This allowed municipalities to also provide toilets in areas where it would otherwise be very expensive to do.
The waterless urinal was a success and now many public areas such as taxi ranks, schools and universities country wide, make use of this low maintenance, cost effective solution. Wits just happened to be one of the first.
by Caro Malherbe | Jul 26, 2013 | News
GOOGLE is creating future leaders in technology by targeting universities in sub-Saharan Africa and Wits is one of them.
Thanks to Witsies Jordan Stephanou and Jason Botha, Wits has been registered as one of the universities to participate in the annual Google Student Ambassador (GSA) summit. The summit is aimed at training future leaders in technology about Google and how it can better a university and the community at large.
Stephanou and Botha attended the three-day GSA summit this year in Kenya, Nairobi where they received training in leadership and using Google applications.
“It gave us the opportunity to interact with students from sub-Saharan universities and gain leadership skills,” said Botha.
GSA is an initiative that gives student ambassadors the resources to connect their university to Google. This will help boost Wits’ online presence as well as improve communication between students and the various faculties on campus.
Stephanou and Botha plan to register the GSA as an official Wits society and are urging students to come and join. After they register, they want to organise fun Google marketing events and training sessions that will provide students with the tools to make a difference in their environment.
“This is a localised initiative to spread the word of Google and its various products that can help improve websites in the online market,” said Botha.
“Any student can apply and join. You don’t need any IT experience.”
Ideally in the future this programme could help students by sharing internships at Google as well as help them with general marketing strategies.
The GSA summit is an annual event that takes place at the beginning of the year, so if you want to be a student ambassador in 2014, it is best to get involved as soon as possible.
To find out more, email witsgsa@gmail.com or follow @googleWits on Twitter.
by Caro Malherbe | Jul 20, 2013 | News
CELEBRATIONS broke out yesterday when students and workers of the university gathered on the Great Hall steps to commemorate Mandela’s 95th birthday.
Close to 1000 people of the university circled around the Bambanani Brass Band from Alexander, who played for the choir of people that sang happy birthday to our “Tata”, as South Africans lovingly call him.
The band consisted of ten members which entertained the crowd by playing trumpets and drums. The band also danced a choreographed pantsula piece to add to their performance. The Brass Band also sang a hymn and got the crowd involved through clapping their hands.
The Wits choir also made an appearance where they took centre stage a sang happy birthday to Madiba with the crowd. It was a nostalgic moment for some as seen on people’s faces when they wished the father of our nation, by closing their eyes.
Cleaners were in abundance and students could be seen among them singing and clapping their hands in joy as the band played vibrant sounds through their brass instruments.
Witsies celebrated this special day which is International Mandela day by joining in and participating in acknowledging the legacy that is Madiba.
People also seemed to be extra for filled by the celebrations that Mandela is still alive today, despite many days of anxiety around his health, people indulged celebrating his life as well.
by Caro Malherbe | Jul 19, 2013 | News
This Mandela Day will certainly be regarded as the most significant so far – but why do we need a Mandela Day at all?
On July 18, 2009, Mandela’s birthday, Mandela Day was declared an international day for peace and to celebrate his legacy. People pledge to give 67 minutes of their day to do good, a minute for each year Mandela gave to fight against the oppressive apartheid regime.
On the website, the reason for Mandela Day is given as: “To inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in doing so build a global movement for good.”
But it is this concept of doing 67 minutes of good that interests me most. Why do we need a specific day, time or place to do something good?
In doing 67 minutes of good on Mandela Day, people are joining together in an initiative they feel is worth being part of – clearly, or no-one would bother. A whole year has passed since the last, but people sit and wait for someone to tell them that this is the day they should start feeling charitable.
This is an example of how humans cross the species border and become sheep. It all stems from our need to be guided, to follow, in an attempt to be normal.
In Tribes, Seth Godin writes about humanity’s need to belong. He says all people want to be part of a tribe, a connection of people who are like-minded and share common beliefs. No matter how big or small, people need to be connected to a leader or an idea.
People look to leaders who have similar perspectives to their own. Everything that has been accomplished over time, including overcoming apartheid, was achieved by the actions of leaders. These leaders are people who take the initiative to vocalise their beliefs and make a change in one way or another.
We follow them because we see ourselves within these leaders. We share their innate morals and cultural outlook. A leader holds a mirror to our subconscious and helps us put into motion what we already knew we wanted to achieve.
Why is it, though, that all credit goes to that particular leader? Why do we attribute all the accomplishments achieved on behalf of our country to one man? Is it up to Mandela to hold us together? Or can we learn from him in the attempt to continue his leadership tasks, working consistently together to keep South Africa on the right path?
With all the greatness the country has achieved, South Africans should look to themselves and their own leadership qualities. If we didn’t share Mandela’s need for change, his forgiveness, his drive and heart, he would never have been able to achieve what he did.
It is now time to take our own virtues into consideration. We need to recognise our inner power and learn to do something with it.
The truth is, South Africa got where it is because we all have the ability to do good. We followed Mandela because we have his qualities and he shares ours.
With Mandela Day approaching, people are suddenly browsing the web for some charity or event to participate in for 67 minutes, do some good and just to be involved. But surely all this does is make us feel complacent; that we’ve done our bit for the year.
Is it not time that we as humans see ourselves as captains of our own ships, makers of our own destinies? The beauty of life is that we are all given choices, and it is up to us to be active in the choices we make.
Give yourself some credit as a South African, and realise that you don’t need a “Day” or a leader to show you the way or to make a change. We all have the ability to be the leaders that the rest of the world needs.
Instead of sitting around and waiting for Mandela Day, do what Seth Godin tells us: “Shine a light, build a tribe and make a difference” today.
by Caro Malherbe | Jul 19, 2013 | Featured 1
Helen Zille debates why SA is at a crossroads. Photo: Caro Malherbe
POLITICAL analyst and businessman, Moeletsi Mbeki said the ANC has merely “put a plaster over poverty” in the last 20 years.
Mbeki joined Democratic Alliance (DA) Premier, Helen Zille for a discussion with young professionals at the Crowne Plaza in Rosebank on Tuesday. The topic of the discussion was “Is South Africa at a Crossroads?”
Mbeki said that while South Africa is not at a crossroads, the ANC is.
“The ANC is a political party, South Africa is a country”, said the younger brother of former president Thabo Mbeki.
Mbeki said the past few weeks South Africa has seen the launch of new political parties, who have been breakaways from the ANC such as the Economic Freedom Fighters and SA First—which was founded by veterans of uMkhonto we Sizwe.
He said the reason for the breakaway parties was that the ANC has been in power for 20 years and hardly dented poverty. He made a comparison with China’s progress as they managed to get 20 million people out of poverty, within the last 20 years.
Zille addressed the 300-odd crowd by disagreeing with Mbeki’s argument and said: “South Africa is at a crossroads because the ANC’s politics are South Africa’s politics.”
She said if the ANC is at a crossroads then “willy nilly” South Africa is too.
However, she believes that South Africa now has a much better chance of overcoming these crossroads than 20 years ago.
She also touched on corruption when she said: “The ANC is still such a dominant presence in the state, in institutions that are supposed to be independent that are no longer and in business.”
Zille went on to agree with Mbeki and she said the core fault is that there is a “dividing line right through the middle of the ANC” which creates visceral crossroads for South Africa.
Mbeki and Zille both agreed that there is need for a strong competitive party to oppose the ANC. Zille said a party will only perform when they are scared of voters “firing” them. She said the ANC is not threatened because they are playing on race.
She said that it is up to voters to make a difference by voting out politicians who under perform. “South Africans get the government they vote for.”
by Caro Malherbe | Jul 16, 2013 | Featured 1, News
Police pull out the driver of a “blue light brigade” vehicle after it collided with another car on the corner of De Korte and Bertha streets. Photo: Mfuneko Toyana
A blue light BMW travelling in convoy through Braamfontein was involved in an accident today resulting in 2 casualties.
According to an eyewitness, the blue light vehicle skipped a red robot and crashed into a white Corolla. SAPS officers responded to the scene immediately and cordoned off the area with police tape.
An emergency vehicle arrived some minutes later and struggled to remove the driver of the BMW who was not visibly injured but stretched off nonetheless.
According to an EMS paramedic on the scene, the black BMW is “government owned.” The white Corolla belonged to the Department of Labour. The passenger of this vehicle, a middle-aged woman, was also loaded into the same ambulance.
According to eyewitnesses, the BMW spun out of control, destroyed a set of robots and hit the paper trolley of an informal recycler. The recycler ran off after the incident leaving his belongings behind.
In a related incident, a tow truck driver on his way to the accident scene, crashed into a white Honda Jazz.
Onlookers speaking to Wits Vuvuzela expressed their anger at the blue light vehicles which disregard the traffic rules.
A driver of a Blue Light vehicle is stretchered off after an accident in the CBD. Photo: Dinesh Balliah
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by Caro Malherbe | May 17, 2013 | News
Beautifully articulated and embedded within the South African Bill of Rights lies the right to freedom of expression by individuals and by the press.
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.[pullquote align=”right”]”The Wits Vuvuzela welcomes criticism that is constructive and fair, that does not make outrageous claims or induce hate speech.”[/pullquote]
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.
by Caro Malherbe | May 17, 2013 | News
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, 1st 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, 2nd 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.
