by Caro Malherbe | Apr 5, 2013 | News, Sport
Witsie David Okharedia is a favourite to win in the South African under-23 (U23) Championships this coming weekend at the Pilditch Stadium in Pretoria.
The Computer Science honours student will be running the 100m and 200m as well as the 4x100m relay.
Okharedia started running when he was in primary school but unfortunately had to stop when he reached high school as the school he attended decided to cancel all athletics. In his second year at Wits, however, he started running again for the Wits Athletics Club and soon realised his natural talent for the sport.
In order for him to take his running to the next level, he had to get a good coach and a very fast training group, Okharedia said.
His coach, Oom Johan, plays a vital role in his life, not only in training, but in keeping him up to date on which competitions to run in.
Former Wits athletics manager, Onkabetse Matlhaga, also helps in keeping Okharedia well-informed about what’s going on in athletics even though he is not working at the university anymore.
“This, of course, aids me in focusing on my studies,” he said.
After winning the Central Gauteng U23 Championships over 200m and the Senior Championship over 100m, Okharedia would definitely be sitting as a favourite to win gold this weekend.
As big as this race may be, his focus is on the SA Senior Championships, happening in Cape Town from the April 12 to 14.
“This weekend should serve as a good warm-up for next weekend,” he said.
Okharedia confides: “Call it superstition or whatever, but before every race I like to read three bible verses.”
He explains that the way he manages to balance his studies with his sport is that he believes “if you make something a priority in your life, then you will always have time!”
Okharedia said that while he plans on continuing to run in the short-term, his long-term plans in the sport were uncertain.
“Well today I run, tomorrow I run, but as to whether I will be running in the next five years, only time will tell.”
by Caro Malherbe | Apr 5, 2013 | News, Sport
Bidvest Wits will be fined R50,000, suspended for 12 months, following a verdict delivered by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) disciplinary committee on Wednesday.
The team as well as their former coach, Antonio Lopez Habas, have been fined for contriving the Premier Soccer League’s Media Manual when they failed to attend a post-match press conference after their match against Orlando Pirates on November 24, 2012.
This lead to a hearing with the PSL disciplinary committee for both the club and coach, however, since Habas was out of the country his part of the case has been postponed. In the mean time the Clever Boys have been left with a hefty fine to pay.
A statement from the PSL read: “The parties (Wits and Habas) were charged with contravening the Media Manual after Bidvest Wits’ then-coach Antonio Lopez [Habas] failed to honour the post-match press conference against Orlando Pirates on 24 November 2012.
“The matter against Lopez [Habas] was postponed due to his absence from South Africa.
“Bidvest Wits was found guilty and fined R50 000 – suspended for 12 months. They were ordered to pay the costs of the DC.”
by Caro Malherbe | Apr 1, 2013 | Featured 1, News
The Great Hall at Wits University, soon to have new support columns. Photo: File, 2010.
A controversial campaign to rebuild the support columns of the iconic Wits Great Hall to depict members of Wits University Counsel was approved by the Wits Senior Executive Team (SET), today.
The executive team at Wits who manage spatial planning and project development on campus have announced that the project will be undertaken by the construction and development committee to transform the columns of the Great Hall into sculptures depicting members of the University Counsel.
Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adam Habib said; “As new Vice Chancellor to the university I have hopped on board with the plans to rebuild the columns. I think the fact that members of counsel will be used as part of the structure represents a philosophic idea, as they hold up the heavy weight of the ceiling, they too, hold the heavy weight of governing the university and making sure its name is held high.”
The new project was inspired by the ancient Greek architecture of The Erechtheion, an temple in the north of Athens that was build roughly around 421 BC.
Project manager, Nigel Branken said: “The part of the temple we will be focusing on is ‘The Porch of the Caryatids’, meaning “Porch of Maidens.” The porch has six draped female figures as support columns for the roof of the temple. These six females are iconic impressions of the Greek deity, Athena, Goddess of war and tactics.”
The 8 columns of the Great Hall will depict Vice Chancellor Prof Adam Hibib; Vice Principle Prof Yunus Ballim; Professor P Fitzgerald; Dr Randall Carolissen; Dr John Kani; Dean of Faculties Professor Andrew Crouch; Dr S Moon and Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande, said executive team director, Emmannuel Prinsloo.
The university’s new construction project will be funded by a number of private funding sources as well as by the department of Higher Education and Training, where Minister Blade Nzimande agreed to the project under the condition that his figure would be one of those serving as supports for the Great Hall.
Cost manager, Sieberhagen Heynes says the project will cost approximately R68 million to complete and should be finished sometime around June 2014. Heynes emphasised that local artisans would be used.
The Wits SRC have openly opposed the project citing the ‘inappropriate expenditure of valuable resources.’ They encourage staff and students opposed to this project and April Fools’ jokes in general, to make their voices heard.
by Caro Malherbe | Mar 29, 2013 | News
Wits students dominated an annual competency test for accountants by obtaining 5 of the 10 highest results nationally.
The students participated in the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) ‘Initial Test of Competence” (ITC) on Wednesday.
The test is written yearly as a prerequisite for all prospective Chartered Accountants. SAICA is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading accounting institutes and provides support services to more that 34 000 members who are Chartered Accountants and hold positions as CEOs, MDs, board directors, business owners, chief financial officers, auditors and leaders in their spheres of business operation.
Mandi Olivier, SAICA’s Senior Executive: Professional Development said in a media release: “Most of these members operate in commerce and industry, and play a significant role in the nation’s highly dynamic business sector and economic development.”
This year the results show that 73% of the 3117 candidates who wrote the test passe, a score that has increased by 14% from last year.
Olivier said: “There continues to be a good growth in the number of African candidates writing the ITC with their proportion of the exam population increasing from 27% to 30% (933 candidates), the majority being first timers.
The Wits SRC caused some controversy on Thursday when they congratulated the top Wits students by tweeting: “#SAICABoardExams The top five are Wits students. Well done Witsies!!”
This tweet caused outrage amongst students as it was in fact incorrect. Although five students made it into the top ten, they were not all part of the top five.
The SRC later apologized for the error.
The top ten results are as follows:
1. Shaun Brett Croock; University of Johannesburg
2. Gordon Bradley; University of Witwatersrand
3. Jithen Vadival Pillay; University of Cape Town
4. Muhammed Munshi; University of Witwatersrand
5. Steven Marc Hurwitz; University of Witwatersrand
6. Gene Amor Samuels; University of Cape Town
7. Johann Steyn; university of Johannesburg
8. Christopher Eric Guattari- Stafford; University of Cape Town
9. Martin Lawrence Richman; University of Witwatersrand
10. Kishan Govan; University of Witwatersrand
by Caro Malherbe | Mar 15, 2013 | News
Seadimo Tlale, above, in the ‘One Day Leader’ reality show.
SEADIMO Tlale and Anele Nzimande, LLB Law students at Wits, are part of the final six contestants on the reality show, One Day Leader.
The show airs every Sunday at 6.30pm and sees young people tackling economic, social and political issues. They compete against each other in an effort find one future social leader for South Africa.
Wits Vuvuzela spoke to Tlale, a first year at Wits and the youngest in the competition. She explained how being on a TV show is not as glamorous as one would think.
“It’s more work than it is glamour. It’s that one hour on Sunday when you’re on TV, and three hours after that when your inbox is full because everybody’s texting you. That’s the glamorous side, then after that it’s just work, work, work,” Tlale said.
Despite the work, Tlale is thankful to have been given this opportunity to be on the show.
“I actually get to inspire a lot of people. So many people look up to me, I walk around on campus and people are like ‘Sea right? One Day Leader!’ and I’m like ‘what? Do people even watch the show?’.”
Tlale told Wits Vuvuzela that one of the major issues affecting students is that some of them express apathy towards politics and feel like political issues don’t concern them. They think someone else is dealing with the country’s challenges and they can remain ignorant of what is going on.
“I think politics is the one thing that brings us together, despite our differences as people. It’s the one platform where we can come together, be one and take a stand to actively shape our own future. To change our communities, to change everything that’s happening in our lives as students,” she said.
Tlale manages to balance her studies with being a TV star and accredits this to her passion and love for what she does.
“If you know what you want and keep focus, it’s easy to do everything and that’s how I do so much.” Tlale is part of the Wits debating team, the Black Lawyers Association, the ‘One Day Without Shoes’ initiative and a member of the model UN.
Anele Nzimande, also in ‘One Day Leader’
Wits Vuvuzela could not get in touch with Anele Nzimande. But on her One day Leader website profile, she said: “My gender, age, socio-economic status and accomplishments are secondary to my South African-ness. I am a South African first, and we have a history of revolutionary leaders who were unapologetic and uncompromising about their vision.
“There is no mathematical formula that exists when it comes to leadership but it is important to have a healthy balance of humility and fearlessness,’ Nzimande said.
Tlale explains that a leader is someone who stays relevant to what is needed within a community. Someone who is persistent but humble and someone who others feel inspired by.
Both girls want to use their influence to encourage change and give people access to opportunities and stress the importance of education.
To vote for Seadimo on One Day Leader, SMS: “Leader 2” to 34068. To vote for Anele, SMS: “Leader 4” to 34068
by Caro Malherbe | Mar 15, 2013 | News
Head of Department of Political Studies, Prof Daryl Glaser
POLITICAL Studies students have welcomed a letter from their department addressing sexual harassment allegations but worry the information is too little, too late.
Students who spoke to Wits Vuvuzela said that they are pleased the department has decided to speak out about sexual harassment allegations around former head of department Prof Rupert Taylor but are unhappy about being left in the dark for so long.
Pearl Pillay, a politics studies honours student, said: “I am glad about the letter; I am glad that the department has chosen to be open with the students. It’s sad that it is an ‘at least’ situation, but at least they are doing something.”
Many shared the feeling that the department only came forward because of outcry following allegations against senior Drama lecturer Tsepo wa Mamatu.
“The letter was just a reactionary response that they felt they had to do,” said third year politics student Lerato Machaba.
Muziwandile Sangweni, 3rd year politics, said that more speculation was created because no information was provided from the department.
“I think the department handled it badly by being hush-hush. If they explained to us then we could have understood what was going on.”
Machaba said that if the politics department was legally bound from releasing information, they still should have made students aware of sexual harassment within the department and made provision for any students who wanted to come forward and report on the matter.
“It could have been anonymous,” said Machaba.
The students were responding to an open letter released on Monday by the Political Studies department regarding their approach to sexual harassment.
The department wrote that they are “deeply disappointed” by the action taken by the Wits Legal Office following allegations of sexual harassment made by Wits Vuvuzela, last year.
Political Studies alleges that the reason no information was given to students about why Taylor stepped down as head of department because the Legal Office had advised them not to take action.
“When Prof Taylor stepped down, we were explicitly instructed not to say anything about why there was a new head of department. When we raised the prospect of discussing sexual harassment with our students, we were expressly forbidden from doing so, as it might compromise the investigation,” said the open letter.
The politics department said they were “frustrated” by the lack of action taken by the Legal Office and that their response “suggest a desire to avoid grappling with the full dimensions of this critical issue and feel that a general inquiry primarily focusing upon general policy and procedure is inadequate.”
“When our students wanted to hold a public meeting to exchange experiences and handling of sexual harassment on campus, they were informed that no persons or departments could be named, that it could only take the form of a protest,” the letter read.
by Caro Malherbe | Mar 15, 2013 | Featured 1, Sport
Witsie- Rinus Bothma making a break for it just before handing off the opposition lock. Photo by Caro Malherbe
THE WITS rugby side lost its match, 48-21, against Stellenbosch Maties in the FNB Varsity Cup at the Wits Rugby Stadium on Monday despite showing tremendous perseverance and playing their hearts out.
In what was arguably the best game Wits has played this season, the boys made it a very difficult win for the Stellenbosch team.
From the start of the game Maties came out strong, scoring a try within the first five minutes. Their smirks were short-lived as Wits managed to strike back with a try scored by left wing Riaan Arends, then a conversion from kicker Kyle Peyper evened the score at 8-8.
Maties had plenty of opportunity to score, having greater possession of the ball throughout the match, but Wits played a strong defensive game leaving Maties struggling through many scrums.
At half-time, the clearly frustrated Maties led the score by 32-8. Both teams came back eagerly as they entered the second half of the game. Maties captain Helmut Lehmann managed to score his third try of the game against Wits.
Although behind, the Witsies were not discouraged as scrumhalf Matthew Torrance re-instilled some faith by making it over the try line, putting the score at 32-13.
Managing to score again, Maties settled their score at 48 points.
A last minute try was achieved by Witsie Rius Bothma which ended the game at 48-21 to Maties. The crowd showed their massive support by continuously backing the boys in blue and yellow right to the end.
Despite being on the losing team, the match adjudicators recognised Wits’ Jason Frazer’s tremendous playing skills and fast-footed breakaways by naming him the Man of the Match
by Caro Malherbe | Mar 12, 2013 | Featured 1, News
The Political Studies (politics) department has written that it is “deeply disappointed” by the action taken by the Wits Legal Office following allegations of sexual harassment made by Wits Vuvuzela, last year. The department alleges that it was effectively “gagged” by the Wits Legal Office in its attempt to address the allegations against one of its staff members. A response written by the Head of Department, Professor Daryl Glaser, was widely circulated via email on Monday evening.
“Not long after the publication of this article, members of [the Politics] Department learnt that this report most probably concerned one of our colleagues,” said the open letter.
In an interview with Wits Vuvuzela last week, Glaser confirmed an investigation was underway against the former HOD, but stopped short of confirming the identity of the individual.
But in this latest letter Glaser did not shy away from naming Prof Rupert Taylor as the academic at the centre of the allegations.
“We have not been impressed with the way in which the university legal department has dealt with this issue”
According to Glaser, the department was informed “at a meeting with the legal office that they would set up an investigation into the rumours and allegations.” They were advised by the legal office “that actions taken by [the] department could potentially complicate any future investigation or other related initiatives.”
The politics department stated in their response: “While we appreciate that discretion and restraint are required here, we have not been impressed with the way in which the university legal department has dealt with this issue.”
Prof Rupert Taylor of the Political Studies department. Pic: Facebook.
“When Prof Taylor stepped down, we were explicitly instructed not to say anything about why there was a new head of department. When we raised the prospect of discussing sexual harassment with our students, we were expressly forbidden from doing so, as it might compromise the investigation,” said Glaser.
Dikeledi Selowa, a former politics first year class representative for 2012, told Wits Vuvuzela that no information was given to the students by the department and they weren’t provided with a platform to discuss the allegations.
The department’s response explained: “When our students wanted to hold a public meeting to exchange experiences and handling of sexual harassment on campus, they were informed that no persons or departments could be named, that it could only take the form of a protest.”
“No public comment of any sort was permissable”
Glaser told Wits Vuvuzela that that no students had come forward with official statements against Prof Taylor. But the department was also discouraged from asking students to come forward “because the act of asking them about sexual harassment would compromise anything that they reported in response.”
He continued by saying: “When we repeatedly pushed for a public statement from the university in response to the Vuvuzela article, nothing was forthcoming. No public comment of any sort was permissible.
“In our opinion, the extreme conservatism and lack of responsiveness of the legal department has been a major stumbling block in addressing this issue.”
The letter stated that until now the legal office has still not communicated with the politics department what happened to the investigation. But instead has “effectively gagged [the] department from making public statements or taking other public initiatives in the name of protecting an investigation.”
Wits Legal office refuses to comment
Wits Vuvuzela tried to contact the Legal Office for a response to the allegations made by the political studies department but they refused to comment.
Tasneem Wadvalla, a spokesperson for the legal office, responded by saying that because of the virtue of their (the legal office) position within the university, where they might have to act as legal representation for the Wits Vuvuzela, they cannot engage in answering questions about allegations or any other legal matters within the university.
According to Wits University spokesperson, Shirona Patel, there were two investigations on sexual harassment currently happening at the university. “The first, where an individual was named, was that of Tsepo wa Mamatu, while the second was a campus-wide inquiry where all people have been encouraged to come forward with allegations of sexual harassment.”
[pullquote]”There is scope for a more effective university response to sexual harassment and sexual violence on our campus.”[/pullquote]
The political department felt that “It is imperative that investigations prompted by the Vuvuzela article exceed the mandate of the announced inquiry” They said that the “conservative” approach to the issue “suggest a desire to avoid grappling with the full dimensions of this critical issue and feel that a general inquiry primarily focusing upon general policy and procedure is inadequate.”
The department said they were “frustrated” that this issue has gone on for so long without a strong public statement by the university, and that there is scope for a more “effective university response to sexual harassment and sexual violence on our campus.”
The open letter suggested that the approach of the legal department needs to be reviewed and “information needs to be constantly and immediately available for students and staff so that they are empowered to secure their own safety.”
“Students and staff need to be heard, involved and consulted in the process of battling sexual violence of all forms on this campus.”
by Caro Malherbe | Mar 11, 2013 | News
Incoming Vice Chancellor Prof Adam Habib has acknowledged the university needs “a new paradigm” for pursuing perpetrators of sexual harassment, he said in an interview with the Vuvuzela.
“The difficulty has therefore been sustaining the case against these individuals. I understand the difficulties of doing so. But this has been a challenge,” said Habib.
“Clearly we need a new paradigm for addressing these violations.”
Referring to students’ reluctance of coming forward, Habib said he understands the difficulties of doing so, but that this has been a challenge for the university.
Habib, who will be taking over as acting vice chancellor in May, shared his thoughts on the sexual harassment scandal that has invaded the Wits campus.
He told Vuvuzela via email on Wednesday that, “The University definitely has to throw the full force of the law at anyone who has been found to be guilty of sexual harassment.”
When asked about the difficulties in addressing sexual harassment within Wits, Habib said it was crucial for the university to create an environment where students feel safe to report and charge anyone who has violated their rights.
“If we cannot create a safe and enabling learning environment, then we have failed in our primary function at the university” he said.
“Clearly we need a new paradigm for addressing these violations,” he said.
Habib added that he hopes the new sexual harassment policy will be able to address this.
He is currently away in the United States with incumbent Vice Chancellor Loyiso Nongxa.
Habib said that while they were in being away in the US with the current VC, Prof Loyisa Nongxa. IN their absence, he has asked senior female university officials to meet with students.
“The VCO [vice-chancellor’s office] has asked its senior women executives to host a meeting with students to hear their challenges in this regard, and what else we can do as an institution.”
He also said that if needed he and Nongxa will host another meeting with women students and staff, upon their return.
“In the meantime, the senate is in the process of making a statement condemning lecturers who have been involved in this.
“What is imperative is that the safety of our learning environment must be enhanced, as must the trust relationships between our academics and our students,” Habib concluded.
by Caro Malherbe | Mar 11, 2013 | News
Shandukani Mulaudzi and Caro Malherbe
There has been some confusion regarding an investigation into Political Studies Prof Rupert Taylor. Pic: Facebook
It is unclear whether an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against the former head of the political studies department, Prof Rupert Taylor, has been undertaken following a report last year in the Wits Vuvuzela.
Prof Daryl Glaser, current Political Studies head of department, confirmed that an investigation is underway against the former head of department [HOD] but stopped short of confirming the identity of the individual.
Glaser did say that it was public knowledge that someone in the department had allegations of sexual harassment against them.
Dawn Taylor, Director of the Wits Legal office refused to speak with Wits Vuvuzela and Tasneem Wadvalla, a legal advisor at the same office, said they could not respond to questions about an investigation into Taylor.
According to Wits University spokesperson, Shirona Patel, there were two investigations on sexual harassment currently happening at the university. The first, where an individual was named, was that of Tsepo wa Mamatu, while the second was a campus-wide inquiry where all people have been encouraged to come forward with allegations of sexual harassment.
Glaser indicated that no students had come forward with official statements against Prof Taylor to “the best of my knowledge but once the issue was brought into the public domain, the department wanted to be seen as acting.”
“We have invited the person to step down as HOD despite his denial of allegations,” Glaser said.
Dikeledi Selowa, the former politics first year class representative for 2012, told Wits Vuvuzela that students were aware that Taylor stepped down as head of politics. Selowa said there had been “hearsay” amongst the students about Taylor. “We knew of his history and some students were warned about him,” she said.
She said that no information was given to the students by the department and they weren’t provided with a platform to discuss the allegations.
“It is not true to say that we were aware of issues of sexual harassment until Wits Vuvuzela broke the story. The article was a revelation to most staff,” Glaser said.
“Students have not been informed of the investigation. But we have drawn their attention to issues of sexual harassment,” said Glaser. He said that the students were not informed of the investigation due to legal reasons given to them by the University.
Shahid Vawda, Head of School of Social Sciences said, “No students have come forward. All I can say is the legal office report said they have investigators. It is difficult for us to comment once a legal process has commenced. It is in the hands of the Transformation office.”
In another development, an anonymous blog which is run by an unnamed group of Wits students and known as 11th Floor Senate House (11thfloorSenateHouse.tumblr.com) responded to last year’s Wits Vuvuzela article by posting: “everyone in the Political Studies department (students and staff) knew that it was Professor Rupert Taylor.” Despite numerous attempts to contact Prof Taylor, Wits Vuvuzela was unable to reach him for comment.
by Caro Malherbe | Mar 1, 2013 | News, Sport
THE WITS Tang Soo Do club won 28 medals at the SA Championships on Saturday in the Old Mutual Sports Hall.
The Wits students received 18 medals in the individual category and another 10 medals when competing in their teams.
This tournament is an important event for the club that happens every year. It acts as the main selector for students who could potentially go through to the World Championships held in Holland, later this year.
The art of Tang Soo Do lies in concentration, discipline, fitness and self-control. This fighting style originates from ancient Korean martial art forms is also useful in teaching practical self-defence.
Titus Masike, chairman of the club, said the white belts managed to achieve 13 medals, which was particularly impressive considering they only had three weeks of training before hand.
The Tang Soo Do contestants did free fighting, empty hand forms and weapons forms, as well as some team fighting at the tournament.
by Caro Malherbe | Mar 1, 2013 | News
A first year Wits student, who was mugged at gunpoint, was the latest victim in a series of iPhone robberies.
Ryan Deacon (18) was waiting to be picked up after class along Enoch Sontonga avenue when he was approached by a person he described as an Indian man, with a gold tooth in tattered clothing.
The man asked him for money for a homeless shelter, to which Deacon declined and the man left. Seconds later another man approached him, aggressively asking: “Did you see the Indian man?”
Deacon answered “yes”. The second man then forced the student’s hand against his stomach, where Deacon felt the handle of a gun tucked under his belt.
Deacon believes the first man was used to scout for something worth stealing as he was much smaller in stature.
The second man, described as being a coloured male in his early 30’s with no front teeth, instructed Deacon to run in the other direction towards the bridge over the De Villiers Graaff Motorway, otherwise he would shoot. Fearing for his life, Deacon did as told and the man got away with the phone.
Another Witsie reported almost being robbed by someone with a similar description as the Indian man.
Refilwe Molatlhiwa (@Fifi_Mo) tweeted on Wednesday: “A guy with a gold tooth just tried conning me of my phone. On campus. By Chamber of mines. Where is campus control?”
Robert Kemp, head of Campus Control, said three similar mugging incidents have been reported along Enoch Sontonga Avenue from two Wits students and one UJ student. In some incidents a knife was used to threaten students and in others the suspect indicated he had a gun.
In all cases, the students were robbed of their cell phones. None of the students were injured.
“It is probable that the criminals are hiding in the Braamfontein Cemetery or the nearby squatter camp. Students are advised to be alert along Enoch Sontonga avenue and avoid the area if possible,” said Kemp.
Kemp said that Campus Control is currently arranging to extend their Jorissen street patrol to cover the Enoch Sontonga gate area.
