by Emelia Motsai | Aug 6, 2013 | News
The Star newspaper released a poem dismissed lecturer Last Moyo wrote and gave to a colleague at Wits.
Moyo who was recently fired by Wits for sexual harassment told The Star that in July last year he had gone to the colleague’s office and they spoke about literature. She recited a poem for him and he promised to send her one of his own poems. According to The Star, Moyo said the poem was “innocent”.
This is the poem he wrote:
For You (My Dream)
A beautiful rose that exudes the sweet smell of love,
[pullquote align=”right”]”In her bosom my nectar resides, to lick while I spread the seed of life”[/pullquote]
Her petals flap like the wings of a faithful dove.
Her chest harbours the sweet tremors of my delight,
When will my hand fondle her sweet pointed hills?
That shine with love and simmer with romance,
Perhaps it is not very far.
For me to hold her hand and make her mine.
Yet it all remains just a dream.
Her lips carry a promise of an eternal kiss,
Her arms carry the promise of eternal warmth,
In her bosom my nectar resides,
To lick while I spread the seed of life.
Her eyes pierce my heart with a sweet pain.
Her smile symbolizes that final nail,
Killing me softly with admiring disdain.
She is a reward for the truth I feel inside,
That prays for her eternal embrace,
Cupid Heart when will you smile at me?
Letting me closer to feel your warm breath on my chest,
As we race consumed by eternal love.
Perhaps it’s not very far,
Yet for now it’s nothing but just a dream.
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by Emelia Motsai | Aug 2, 2013 | Featured 1
By Prelene Singh and Emelia Motsai
DR LAST Moyo and Tsepo wa Mamatu, who have been dismissed for sexual harassment, have spoken out about their sackings.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Wits Vice Chancellor Prof Adam Habib, two staff members were dismissed. Habib’s statement did not name the two staff members.
Habib apologised to all students who had been victimised by these lecturers and added that the university would not tolerate any future incidents of sexual harassment.
However, Wits Vuvuzela independently confirmed that Moyo and wa Mamatu are the two dismissed staff members.
When Wits Vuvuzela first contacted them, both Moyo and wa Mamatu said they were unaware that they had been dismissed. Wa Mamatu said he had already resigned and the university was attempting to claim “moral authority” by firing him.
[pullquote]“I resigned and if the university says that I have been fired, this is the university trying to claim moral authority,”[/pullquote]
“I resigned and if the university says that I have been fired, this is the university trying to claim moral authority,” wa Mamatu said.
Wa Mamatu said he resigned in May and was working until the end of July as part of his resignation. Wits drama department head Kennedy Chinyowa said he knew nothing about wa Mamatu’s resignation.
Wa Mamatu’s attorney David Mogaswa told Wits Vuvuzela that on Thursday morning he received an email from the university about the dismissal which went straight to junk mail. He still cannot read the contents of the email.
On Thursday morning, Moyo confirmed to Wits Vuvuzela that he had received news that he was dismissed and was disappointed by the outcome.
Moyo said that he didn’t expect any fairness from the hearings, and “institutions are like machines and I think the major thing at the moment for Wits is its reputation and all of its institutional energy is focused on that.”
“The idea behind legal justice is that punishment must correlate with offence, but I am not sure this applies in my case,” said Moyo.
[pullquote align=”right”]“I received the harshest punishment that one won’t get even in hell I think.”[/pullquote]
“I received the harshest punishment that one won’t get even in hell I think.”
Moyo said that while he was unhappy with the outcome, he still loves Wits, the School of Language and Literature Studies and the Faculty of Humanities. He is happy that he was able to give his side of the story during the hearings.
“What matters to me is that I got a chance to tell the truth at the hearing. Once I did that, I found relief and could sleep peacefully knowing that between me and my creator everything is sorted,” Moyo said.
Moyo speculated about whether the students who testified against him would also have peace and said they had been “unjust”.
“These things have a way of coming back to you if you treat a fellow human being unjustly, even at old age,” Moyo said.
Moyo said that he had been expecting a promotion that had been derailed by the sexual harassment allegations made against him.
[pullquote]”My promotion to associate professor could have been through in April, but instead in March I was accused of harassing students. That’s life.”[/pullquote]
“My promotion to associate professor could have been through in April, but instead in March I was accused of harassing students. That’s life.” Moyo said he did not know most of the women who levelled accusations against him.
Wits Vuvuzela first reported the accusations against Moyo in March, resulting in the investigation. Moyo said most of the women in the article did not participate in the hearings.
He also said he had nothing against Wits Vuvuzela and its articles on sexual harassment on campus. “You did a great job in some stories, but certainly not in all cases.”
Wits Vuvuzela spoke to some of the women who made complaints against Moyo. Refilwe Kumalo, who testified against Moyo, let out a big sigh when she heard about the dismissal from Wits Vuvuzela.
[pullquote align=”right”]“I am happy we won, I was able to stand up and protect my rights.”[/pullquote]
“I am happy we won, I was able to stand up and protect my rights.”
She said facing Moyo in the hearing was “disgusting and horrible”. Another student who also testified against Moyo said justice had been served: “Hopefully lecturers will learn how to conduct themselves.”
Moyo and wa Mamatu were two of four staff members under investigation for sexual harassment. The outcomes of those hearings are to be announced in the coming weeks.
Related articles:
Wits Vuvuzela. BREAKING: Fired sex pests named. July 31, 2013.
Wits Vuvuzela. ‘Sex pest’ hearings concluding. July 26, 2013.
Wits Vuvuzela. Kruger talks sexual harassment. July 12, 2013.
Wits Vuvuzela. EXCLUSIVE: Tsepo wa Mamatu speaks. May 31, 2013.
by Emelia Motsai | Aug 2, 2013 | Featured 1, News
Current SRC members Tasneem Essop, Katleho Sera and Sibulele Mgudlewa . The new SRC will start their term in November. Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi
THE SRC nomination process has begun and the two biggest political organisations at Wits will be among those facing off to lead the university’s students.
Nominations for new SRC members opened on July 30 and will close on August 6 at 3pm. Any student can be a candidate provided they get the required 25 signatures from fellow students who support their nomination. The signatures must then be taken to the Student Development and Leadership Unit offices in the Matrix.
SA Student Congress president (Sasco) Tshepo Lethea said the ANC Youth League, Muslim Student Association and Sasco will be running together under the banner of the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA). Democratic Alliance Student Organisation (Daso) president Luyolo Mphiti said his party would be competing strongly in the elections and he intended to become SRC president.
Students must apply for their candidacy and gather signatures as individuals. However, many students also run under the banner of larger political organisations following an internal nomination process by those parties.
Both PYA and Daso said their internal nomination processes were yet to begin. Mphiti said Daso’s electoral college for screening candidates had only just opened. He said they were under the assumption that the nomination season will be moved to September but they would still be ready by Tuesday deadline.
Lethea said they had not yet begun nominating PYA candidates: “We don’t have candidates as yet but by Tuesday we will be ready.”He said their development committee, which was still to be chosen, would be responsible for screening the members.According to Lethea the development committee is made up of “old and experienced” students who “know what they are talking about”.
Lethea said the committee will be looking for many things in their candidates including team chemistry: “We need to see if those comrades will be able to work together to complete the mandate given to them.”
Mphiti said the qualities Daso was looking for in its candidates were, among other things, “a set of principles consistent with DA policies”.
The elections will be held on August 27, 28 and 29.
by Emelia Motsai | Aug 2, 2013 | News
Habib said Wits cannot effort to “insource” its cleaners. Photo: Pheladi Sethusa
IT WOULD cost Wits University R150-million per year to hire its cleaners directly instead of contracting outside companies to supply the service.
This is the explanation Vice Chancellor Prof Adam Habib gave the workers regarding why the university could not “insource” them.
The workers had a meeting with Habib on Monday to discuss some of the grievances they have with their new contracts, especially their salaries.
“We are here because of the money; maybe the R2 000 that I earn is your child’s pocket money,” said a female worker in a choked voice.Habib said he understood and agreed with the cleaners’ grievances but there was nothing he could do.[pullquote align=”right”]”R2 000 that I earn is your child’s pocket money”[/pullquote]
“I don’t like outsourcing,” he said.
“If I was here and in a position of power in 2001, I would have fought against it.
“But now that it’s done I cannot undo it.”
Habib said Wits simply did not have that kind of money.
“I wish I did, but I don’t,” he said.
“If I start spending recklessly now, we will be in trouble and if we are in trouble, people will lose their jobs.” Habib said if Wits managed to increase its income in the next three years, then he would consider using some of that money for the workers.
One worker asked Habib why he didn’t give them the money he had saved from having cheaper cleaning services from the present contractors who charge less than previous ones. Habib said that money had been used to ensure that all the workers were hired by the current contractors.
There is still abuse
The workers also claimed that Impact, one of the cleaning companies contracted to Wits, was abusive.
“Last year we spoke about how abusive Impact was, but what you did is you gave Impact the contract,” said Girly Mosieleng, a member of the Workers Solidarity Committee. She said Impact had not even given its workers a notice for the meeting and that “there is still apartheid” in the company. Habib asked the cleaners for details of the alleged abuse so he could investigate it.
“Give me a case, an incident, a person, a date and I can do something.
“Without that there is nothing I can do, they will just deny it,” said Habib.
Habib promised to establish a committee that will investigate outsourcing and look at what other cleaners around the country earn to see if it is comparable with what Wits cleaners are earning.
At the request of the workers, Habib said he would speak to the contractors about increasing the workers’ salaries.
“But I am not necessarily hopeful; I’ve already signed the contract. They don’t have to listen to me.”
Related Stories
1. Wits Vuvuzela: Sign or forever hold your piece job. July 31, 2013
2. Wits Vuvuzela: Outsourced but not outsmarted. May 31, 2013
by Emelia Motsai | Aug 1, 2013 | Featured 1, News
The tweet that caused confusion. Image: Emelia Motsai
By Emelia Motsai and Dineo Bendile
The decision to allow international students to pay their fees in instalments has not been made, despite the Wits SRC saying so in a tweet.
The acting head of the Wits international office, Gita Patel said the matter was under discussion and had not yet been finalised.
[pullquote align=”right”]“We agree that we reported prematurely.”[/pullquote]
On July 26, the Wits SRC tweeted from their account, “MAJOR WIN from our fee negotiations meeting today: International Students will pay fees in instalments, no longer full amount at once!!!” Some students went to the international office to confirm but were confused when the international office told them they did not know about “such developments”.
Wits SRC president Sibulele Mgudlwa admitted that the SRC should not have sent out the tweet.
“We agree that we reported prematurely,” said Mgudlwa.
Mgudlwa said after a fees meeting on July 26 between the SRC and the University management meeting, the SRC felt confident because management had agreed that international students paying 100 percent of their fees upfront was a problem.
He said it was rare for them and management to agree on an issue, so they were confident it was a “done deal”.
Mgudlwa said the final decision would be taken at a FINCO (Finance Committe) meeting tomorrow and he will be representing the SRC there.
Pearl Pillay, the SRC international relations officer, said any decision taken at the meeting can be over turned by Senate and currently the SRC does not know what conditions will be if the proposal is passed.
Patel said international students have to pay their fees upfront as a security measure: “If an international student deregisters, we have no way of tracking those funds again.
by Emelia Motsai | Jul 26, 2013 | Featured 1, News
Beware: Tweeting or posting controversial or insensitive comments on Facebook could cost you your job.
Two FHM journalists recently fired because of a Facebook post where they made jokes about rape, demonstrates a lesson about social media every student should be taking note of.
Max Barashenkov, former FHM features editor, posted on his Facebook page: “I propose correctional rape and sterilisation for any white person who twerks.”
Some people took issue with Barashenkov’s comments on correctional rape. Editorial assistant Montle Moorosi responded to their complaints, joking: “I think rape can be quite fun if executed in a romantic manner. Like saying ‘I love you’ before you slip a roofie [a date rape drug] in her Earl Grey tea.”
Screengrabs of the Facebook posts were then taken by people upset by the comments, and circulated on twitter.
The two journalists were fired less than a week later.
This incident shows how easy it is for anyone to get into trouble for carelessness on social media.
“Once you’ve signed a contract, you’ve accepted the company’s terms of conduct – including online,” said Dinesh Balliah, a social media lecturer at Wits University.
Balliah said because social media was still at a point where it was largely unregulated, people did not pay enough attention to how they conducted themselves: “While people realise that there may be repercussions they still feel comfortable that what we put out there should not be held against us.”
You are what you tweet
According to Balliah, people need to realise that what they put online is shaping perceptions about themselves. Potential employers are likely to go online to gather information about them.
University students often fill their social media sites with pictures of themselves dead drunk or with other posts that would get potential employers to question their character. [pullquote align=”right”]”Nothing online is private or confidential”[/pullquote]
Balliah said that on social media one does not have the ability to provide context and justify oneself.
“In essence you are putting out an image of yourself.”
And don’t think privacy settings will help you. “Nothing online is private or confidential, even if it says so,” Balliah said.
The two journalists wrote an open letter to the public apologising for their comments.
There is no privacy online
In the letter they said people must take into consideration that the Facebook account was a private one.
“What is private today doesn’t mean it is private tomorrow. Whatever you are doing online you must do it knowing that even if it’s private today it may not be private tomorrow,” Balliah said.
Balliah said people should conduct themselves in a way that, if their grandmother or boss were to confront them, they would not be shy to talk about it or explain themselves.
“You don’t want, while you are at university, to be generating content that will be used against you in the future and form part of your online archive for the rest of your life,” she said.
by Emelia Motsai | Jul 26, 2013 | News
By Prelene Sigh and Emelia Motsai
ONE of the investigations into allegations of sexual harassment against Wits staff members has almost been completed.
“The first of the reports is expected in the week commencing August 5 2013,” Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel said.
Three Wits staff members were put on special leave pending an investigation into accusations of sexual harassment. Their accusers have been waiting for the outcome of these investigations.
A lecturer accused of sexual harassment, Dr Last Moyo, has pleaded not guilty to the accusations brought against him.
Refilwe Kumalo, 3rd year BA, testified against Moyo, a member of the media studies department, at a June 1 hearing where the lecturer said he was innocent of the accusations made against him. Kumalo said the hearing was “intense and it’s a big deal”.
[pullquote align=”right”]“The first of the reports is expected in the week commencing August 5 2013,”[/pullquote] Wits spokesperson Shirona Patel said.
Allegations against Moyo were first raised in an article published by Wits Vuvuzela in March. Several students, including Kumalo, came forward and said Moyo had behaved inappropriately towards them.
In addition to Moyo, Prof Rupert Taylor of the politics department and senior drama lecturer Tsepo wa Mamatu have been placed on special leave pending investigations.
Dr Lord Mawuko-Yevugah of the international relations department has also been placed on special leave pending an investigation. However, the nature of the complaint against him is not known.
Patel said all the cases were still being heard but would be wrapped up soon. She said the process was confidential and no information could be released at this time. The university would release a statement after the reports on the allegations were made, she said.
Drama department head Kennedy Chinyowa said he was interviewed during wa Mamatu’s hearing but had not received any further information on the investigation.
Chinyowa said, as far as he knew, all the interviews of witnesses related to wa Mamatu’s hearing were scheduled to be done by June 28.
[pullquote]“The hearings are actually under way; until now there has just been a promise but now they are actually under way,” [/pullquote]
In an interview with Wits Vuvuzela, wa Mamatu said he was not coming back to Wits. However, Chinyowa said he was not aware that wa Mamatu had resigned.
“I’m not aware of this. And I am the [head of department], and officially we do not have any information about him resigning,” Chinyowa said.
Prof Daryl Glaser, head of the politics department, said he was “hopeful” because some action on the accusations had been taken after a long delay. The accusations against Taylor were first made in Wits Vuvuzela last year.
“The hearings are actually under way; until now there has just been a promise but now they are actually under way,” Glaser said.
“I know some people have been called to give evidence. I can’t say anything about what I’ve heard has happened in the hearing itself.”
Glasser said a result in Taylor’s hearing had been delayed because of postponements.
“For legal reasons, I think the defence has called for postponements, so the whole thing has been stretched out as a result,” he said.
Meanwhile, the campus-wide inquiry by law firm Norton Rose Fulbright into sexual harassment policy at Wits is also under way and will be completed by the end of August.
Joe Mothibi, employment and labour lawyer director at Norton Rose Fulbright, said the inquiry is examining “how widespread sexual harassment is on campus across all borders” between lecturers and students.
Mothibi urged students to come forward and approach him about any experiences they have had or if they know of any sexual harassment cases as “the university is a microcosm of the country and everyone is stakeholders in this problem”.
All parties coming forward will be kept “strictly anonymous”, Mothibi said.
Related articles
Wits Vuvuzela. Kruger talks sexual harassment. July 12, 2013
Wits Vuvuzela. EXCLUSIVE: Tsepo wa Mamatu speaks. May 31, 2013
Wits Vuvuzela. Sexual lunch: No strings attached. May 31, 2013
by Emelia Motsai | Jul 26, 2013 | Featured 1, News
Award winning photo-journalist Greg Marinovich was inducted into the Golden Key Society as an honorary member on Monday at Wits University.
National Planning Commission, communication specialist Zamandlovu Ndlovu, strategist and thought leader Abdullah Verachia were also inducted.
The society welcomes members every year into its induction event.
Golden Key is the an internationally recognised honour society that is affiliated with universities in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Bahamas and the United States.
by Emelia Motsai | Jul 19, 2013 | News
By Nomatter Ndebele and Emelia Motsai
The 11 students facing a Wits disciplinary hearing have complained the presiding chairperson is prejudiced and “interrogating their evidence with negative hostility”.
The students were charged with contravening the university’s code of conduct after they disrupted a concert by an Israeli pianist during a protest for Israel Apartheid Week in March. The hearing began on Tuesday and was closed to the media.
Advocate Jennifer Woodward is chairperson.
“It’s clear we are already guilty,” said former SRC president Feziwe Ndwayana. SRC Treasurer, Justice Nkomo, said Woodward had “already concluded that the students are guilty, crushing all evidence without reason”.
Nkomo said all the students had pleaded not guilty, despite being advised by Wits legal representatives to plead guilty, in order to receive a suspended exclusion instead of suspended expulsion.
The Wits legal office said the hearing was closed to the public in order to protect the accused. But Tokelo Nhlapo, SRC deputy president, who is also facing charges, said: “I am disappointed that, as an elected member of the Wits Student Representative Council, my supporters, voters and others are being kicked out and prevented from being here.”
The students were represented pro bono by Mohammed Desai, of the Muslim Students’ Association. Some students said on twitter the university should be using resources to help students, not fight them. According to a lawyer from the Wits Law Clinic, Woodward was probably being paid R25 000 per day since she was a senior counsel.
As SRC president in 2009, Ndwayana faced disciplinary charges for her role in a protest against fee increases. Ndwayana was suspended and released from her SRC duties only weeks after her appointment.
In 2006 SRC President Mbali Hlope was also arrested and faced criminal charges after a protest against fee increases. The charges were dropped, but Hlope was later excluded academically.
“We are not backing down, we are going ahead full force because we didn’t do anything wrong,” said Nkomo.
The hearing continues.
by Emelia Motsai | 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 Emelia Motsai | Jul 4, 2013 | Featured 1, News
This article first appeared on Jocoza.
Peter Horung stressed the importance of investigative research for radio stations, at the opening day of the Radio Days Conference at Wits University yesterday.
Andy Carvin describes how NPR makes use of twitter. Photo: Prelene Singh
Radio can and should be creating news agendas and engaging in investigative research.
This is what NDR‘s Peter Hornung emphasised in a session about radio news at the fourth Joburg Radio Conference in Johannesburg. NDR is a German broadcaster and their team has won national awards for their investigative work.
Hornung said radio stations should invest in investigative research, especially because competition is getting harder, and there is a need for quality radio.
[pullquote]Investigative research on radio can be better than TV[/pullquote]
“Radio needs to be creating its own news agenda. Strengthening journalistic profiles, credibility and social relevance,” said Hornung.
“Investigative research on radio can be better than TV and better than newspapers and magazines,” said Hornung
In another room at the same time, former KayaFM station manger Charlene Deacon, shared her experiences about how she turned the ailing station around a few years ago.
Deacon became part of the station when it was only three years old but she was the ninth manager and it was already R25 million in debt. Now the station is one of the biggest talk radio stations in Johannesburg:”I knew my strategy was working when everyone said that KayaFM was a friendly station.”
Deacon also shared some leadership tips: “In running a station, say what you mean and mean what you say. Understand that the people are your power. While you’re being thick-skinned you need to be kind.” Deacon said that one of the challenges she faced was with the staff: Removing incompetent staff- recruiting the right quality … easier said than done.
Sam Cavanagh, producer of the Andy&Hamish show talks about social media and radio. Photo: Dinesh Balliah
Skills development in radio
Skills development and challenges around training is what Lanni Smith and Charlton Philiso addressed in yet another breakaway session. Smith is a Director of Development in the Asia-Pasific Audiovisuel Exterieur de la France while Philiso is a Senior Manager at MICT SETA (Media, Information and Communications Technology Sector Education and Training Authority.
MTN’S General Manager Peter Malebye of Ecosystem Development and Innovation talks social media devices. Photo: Prelene Singh
“Skills development is a key success factor in any business. The same applies for community radios,” said Philiso. He said that one of the challenges they face is retaining skilled people once they have been trained.
Smith spoke about some of the work Planet Radio does in terms of providing training to community radios and other parts of the world.
The conference continues today. Visit the conference site for regular updates or follow @jhbradiodays on Twitter.
by Emelia Motsai | Jun 22, 2013 | News
The young supporters, who came to the launch of Mamphela Ramphele’s new political party, hope she will help them find jobs.
“I have a degree; I’m struggling to get a job. I am hoping that she’ll help me get a job,” said Ndivhuwo Tshaduli, (24).
Agang was launched at the Pretoria show grounds today and attracted thousands of young South Africans clad in white t-shirts.
Another supporter Junior Mofomme said she’s been unemployed since 2005, “I have a tertiary qualification. I can’t get a real job”. Mofomme said she hope Ramphele will bring about change.
[pullquote align=”right”]“The leaders of this current government set an appalling example that others follow”[/pullquote]
In her speech Ramphele told the crowd “20 years is too long to wait for jobs,” and that “this government is destroying our economy and our society.”
“The failure of the education system is robbing young people of their futures and is handicapping the progress of our country”.
Matric student, Martin Mathebula (18) said he will vote for Agang because he wanted an “equal education”.
“Agang means let’s built South Africa, that means equal education. I am tired of waiting,” said Mathebula
Ramphele said she was inspired by a burning ambition to expect excellence in education: “If we upgrade the education system and get the economy moving we can start to tackle the poverty and despair that are at the heart of our social problems and are the root causes of crime.”
She said that corruption was at the heart of the problems South Africa is facing.
“The leaders of this current government set an appalling example that others follow,” said Ramphele.
“We deserve to have a President who knows that it is wrong to steal money meant for RDP houses to build himself a R206 million palace.”
Unemployed Huitsimang Sethunya (21), said she hoped Ramphele would finish the work the African National Congress (ANC) started but is failing to complete.
