by Hazel Meda | Apr 18, 2012 | News
Campus Control officers are frustrated about being denied promotion despite years of long service to the university.
The officers whom Vuvuzela interviewed had between 15 and 21 years of experience. They did not wish to be named, for fear of victimisation.
“If you use our names, we are gonna be targeted, you see. They don’t like us to talk to Vuvuzela. They are suppressing us,” said one officer.
Another officer also said they are afraid to express their grievances.
“Most people are afraid to speak out, even though it might be good for them,” he said.
The officers complained they had not been promoted despite serving the department for many years.
“I have more than 20 years in Campus Control. After six months they can give someone promotion, but they say you don’t deserve. They say we need young people,” said an officer who was patrolling outside Northwest Engineering Building.
He alleged that favouritism exists in the department and that officers who are related to Campus Control managers, and who are from certain provinces and ethnic backgrounds, are promoted.
“Meanwhile you are suited for the job,” he said. “Most of the people are worried, but there is nothing we can do.”
An officer posted at the Station Street gate gave the date when he started working for the department, almost 20 years ago.
“Several occasions I have applied. They said nothing. They can’t tell you what went wrong. You just see the new faces which are promoted,” he said.
He expressed discouragement at being repeatedly denied a promotion.
“I end up giving up already. I don’t think I will apply again.”
He was particularly frustrated because he believes he has performed his duties very well.
“I made a lot of arrests since I joined this university … But I have never been considered.”
He listed some of the arrests he had made, giving the locations and exact dates, going as far back as 1995. The officer also gave the models of the cars which the thieves had stolen or tried to steal.
An officer who has been working for Campus Control since the early 90s said he had groomed some of the current assistant managers.
“I showed them how to do the work and after that they were promoted, but not me.”
“Right now, there is a young boy who was promoted, and he doesn’t even have 10 years [of service]. It doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Like other officers, he lamented what he perceived as a lack of transparency in promotions.
“I applied to be promoted but I didn’t succeed. They don’t give you reasons.”
“We don’t know the criteria they are using. If someone can find out about the criteria they use …” he trailed off.
When asked what he felt about working at Wits he said: “It’s not the best. Wits is not the best.”
“I’m fed up. I’m just working to get my pension. Just doing it for the remaining years,” the officer said.
The officer said he thought he had about 10 years to go before he would be eligible to receive a pension.
Rob Kemp, head of Campus Control, said allegations of nepotism and favouritism were unfounded. He also said Campus Control follows the procedure as set down by the Human Resources Policy. Kemp said selection criteria were published with the job advertisement and were also available from the Campus Control or Human Resources offices.
Published in Vuvuzela Print Edition, 13 April 2012
by Hazel Meda | Apr 18, 2012 | News
- Photo caption: A family portrait of the cast of The Hypochondriac. Photo credit Sally Gaule
A hilarious comedy about doctors who exploit their patients opened to a responsive and appreciative audience at Wits Theatre last Thursday.
The Hypochondriac was written by Moliere, the French equivalent of Shakespeare, but the Wits drama students used an English translation by Charles Heron. Emilie Owen, 4th year BA dramatic arts, who is excellent in the lead female role of Toinette, a cheeky maid, said she had a lot of fun playing her character.
“I think people should come and watch for a good laugh,” she said.
“You see yourself on stage”
Director Jenni-lee Crewe said she wanted the characters in the play to be familiar to audiences “because that’s what makes satire work. You see yourself or someone you know on the stage.” She said the play would have been visually stunning if the actors had worn 17th century costumes instead of the modern costumes they wear in Wits performance. Crewe chose contemporary costumes to make the character more identifiable.
“… You want the audience to say ‘Oh, there’s the gold digger wife. There’s the uptight doctor. There’s the dodgy lawyer.’ You want them to be able to see those stereotypes. Then it’s funny,” Crewe said. The doctor’s son Thomas Diafoirus – played by Mark Hyde, 4th-year BA dramatic arts, – had the audience in stitches. Crewe said the Thomas character poked fun at the self-important attitude that some academics have.
“He’s a ridiculous character. He relies on book smarts and takes himself too seriously… I think it’s quite interesting to perform it at Wits. It’s good to laugh at ourselves. I think it’s kinda healthy in a way.”
“Learning and growing”
When Vuvuzela asked Crewe if the Thomas character was over-exaggerated and if he distracted the audience’s attention from the other actors on stage, she replied:
“Often what we have told them is that less is more and that sometimes stillness is more powerful than movement. It’s a very difficult style to do. It’s a learning process and they are still learning.”
Owen agreed. “It’s about learning and growing. As a cast, we’ve done exactly that.”
Photo caption: Neka Da Costa and James Cairns as Beryl and Argan, the hypochondriac. Photo credit: Sally Gaule
She said she had learnt a lot from James Cairns, who co-directed the play with Crewe. Cairns is a professional actor and also played the title role of the hypochondriac, Argan, opposite Owen. Owen said: “He comes with a lot of experience, how he approaches the character, his presence on stage, how he interacts with the cast… the energy he brings to the play. He is always present. He is always giving.” Lurdes Laice, 4th year BA dramatic arts, was cleverly cast as Beline, Argan’s sexy and scheming wife. Laice confessed that she was initially intimidated by working with Cairns.
“He’s a real professional. People pay to watch him. I feel very small.”
She said Cairns taught her about the reality of performing in South Africa.
“You’re not going to be coddled. It’s tough. And they want thinking actors.”
The Hypochondriac runs until April 21 at the Wits Theatre.
by Hazel Meda | Apr 13, 2012 | Featured 1
While parents worry about their children playing video games, most Wits students agree that gaming improves academic performance – but a Wits psychology lecturer says it’s all about balance.
Vuvuzela approached students after a recent Inspired Teachers Conference, in Johannesburg, at which Sizwe Nxumalo, economic science honours, told 300 teachers that playing video games could improve performance. According to The Star, he said gaming increased knowledge and provided a safe space for creative experimentation.
Ross Lelliot, masters in video animation, said the computer games he played as a child helped him develop his maths, English and typing skills.
Lelliot also said: “I didn’t have to do history in high school because I did Age of Empires.”
Hanli Geyser, a lecturer in the university’s new game design degree, said Age of Empires wasn’t accurate, because players could change the way history played out.
“If you play the game right, the Egyptians can beat the Romans…but you’ve already learnt about how Egyptian society worked,” she said.
Geyser cited Age of Empires and Civilization as good examples of games which enhance learning.
“Importantly, neither of those set out to be educational. They are just games that people enjoy playing.”
Strategic thinking
She said these games require players to “look at what you have and plan the possible future outcomes. It’s that strategic level of thinking, very much like chess, where you have to gauge the current situation…and be able to predict the possible outcomes, so that you can best prepare for them. And that’s learning.”
Geyser said even games like the cellphone game Bubble Breaker and shooting games develop learning skills.
“This is because of the way games work as a construct. For a game to be interesting to people, it’s got to be challenging at all times.”
She said the fun in a game comes from the feeling of achievement which comes with “beating the game” and getting a high score.
“What does all this have to do with education? It instils a culture of learning…and a need to process and implement.”
Photo by Jay Caboz follow him on @jaycaboz
Building skills
Tanyani Daku, a 3rd year media studies and English literature student, said gaming improves hand-eye coordination.
Shanice Lewis, a 1st year BA General student, said games teach the brain to work fast, since one has to respond quickly.
Geyser agreed.
“You see people who play really fast games. Eventually their hands move without them even thinking about it. That’s a twitch skill. It becomes muscle memory, like playing the piano. It becomes second nature.”
Geyser also said games like Bubble Breaker teach pattern recognition, which she identified as an essential skill in the sciences.
Registered educational psychologist and Wits lecturer Joseph Seabi said the instant feedback players get from video games has both advantages and disadvantages. He said that students learn that they get immediate gratification, which is not case in real life.
Everything in moderation
Seabi also said some students spend too much time playing video games, when they could be preparing for tests and lectures. He recommended limiting game playing to one or two hours a day.
Germanio Tjilunda agreed with Seabi.
“Seriously, I’ll be honest: video games don’t make you a better student. It takes all your focus, because you want to finish a particular mission,” said the 1st year commerce student, whose favourite game is FIFA.
“You spend four or five hours, and by the time you want to get to your work, it’s too late.”
Lelliot urged students to manage their gaming habit.
“You have to definitely have control over it. Don’t let it have control over you.”
Related links
“Serious games” gain popularity as learning tools in American university classrooms.
Video games gain legitimacy as learning tools.
Games may not hinder learning as previously thought.
Published in Vuvuzela Print Edition, 13 April 2012
by Hazel Meda | Apr 10, 2012 | Featured 1, Sport
“It’s really just a big party for everyone involved.”
That’s how Stevan Johnson of the Wits rowing club describes varsity regattas.
“You don’t row the whole day, so you socialize with other universities… Everybody is just chilled…And then they switch on as soon as they get on the water, they get serious…and they do their thing.”
The Wits rowers “did their thing” at the University Sports South Africa sprint regatta, which was held at the Vanderkloof Dam in the Northern Cape on April 23 and 24.
Five Witsies were picked for the blues and grudge crews, made up of the top 16 rowers in the competition. The blues crew is the elite group, and they are challenged to a race by the grudge crew, which is the next best group of rowers.
In the women’s section, Maxine Pinto, Claudia Hazelwood and Jen Brensted-Smith all made the grudge crew.
Pinto said she was honoured to have been chosen.
“Many incredibly talented rowers put in enormous amounts of effort and time to try and make the blues and grudge selections.”
Fun-loving Witsies Graham Rex (left) and Mike Marshall proved that they are among the best varsity rowers in South Africa.
Work hard, play hard
In the men’s section, Graham Rex was chosen for the blues crew.
“My first year, I wasn’t chosen for a top crew. My second year and third year, I made grudge, and this year I was chosen for blues. So I’m quite chuffed with myself.”
He rewarded himself after the regatta.
“We had a good party that night. We really celebrated!”
Selection for blues and grudge is based on results during the regatta, as well as a rower’s performance during the ergo rowing machine time trials held before the regatta. Mike Marshall, who will row for the grudge crew, said he had done very well in the trials at the University of Johannesburg earlier this year.
The blues and grudge race normally takes place at the end of the regatta, but it was postponed, due to failing light and stormy weather. The race will now be held at the South African championships in East London early next month.
Tough times
The Wits team competed against 10 universities – including UJ, UCT, UKZN, Rhodes, Stellenbosch and Tuks – in races in different divisions.
Overall, the men’s team came fifth. The women’s team came fourth, missing the third-place position by just two points.
The rowers Vuvuzela spoke to felt that they could have done better if they had had a coach.
“We can’t look for a full-time professional coach because we just don’t have enough money.”
The club hopes to have a coach soon, since a Johannesburg advocate has expressed interested in coaching them on a voluntary basis.
Links
Row SA
FISA, the international rowing federation
London Youth Rowing charity
by Hazel Meda | Mar 30, 2012 | Featured 1
Wits students Portia Monaheng and Dineo Mahlare work on a project in the architecture studio. Photo: Hazel Meda
ON the sports fields, Wits University and the University of Johannesburg (UJ) are arch rivals. But when it comes to construction, they’re on the same side.
First year students in the Wits School of Architecture and Planning and their UJ counterparts were challenged to design a cardboard box without using staples or glue. An egg would be placed inside the box, which would then be dropped from the top of a building. A well-designed box would protect the egg from breaking.
The twist in the challenge was that the respective teams would swap designs and then build one another’s boxes.
The joint project was organized by Wits Construction lecturer Gerald Chungu and Denver Hendricks of UJ.
Wits and UJ architecture students test their eggboxes by throwing them from the top of the John Moffat Building. Photo: Gerald Chungu
Communicating clearly
“We try to simulate what you do in construction: somebody designs and somebody else builds. Then we meet to see how successful the built object is,” Chungu said.
Student Aeron Stipanov said: “It was a learning curve for us. It showed us how the real world is; if your designs aren’t accurate, then your building will potentially kill people.”
Dineo Mahlare, a Wits student, commented on the different teaching style of each institution:
“The UJ drawings and designs were set up in a very professional way. They were neat and proper. We sort of did it in our own way. We did our own thing.”
She found the experience valuable and eye-opening.
“It shows you what you can work on to be a well-rounded architect. I learned how to present my work better just by looking at their drawings and their layout. It helped.”
Responding to questions about whether the eggboxes were successful, Chungu said: “Some were. Some broke on impact.”
Related articles
Wits architecture aces help Westbury community
Links
Wits School of Architecture and Planning
1st year architecture students prepare for the eggbox challenge. Photo: Gerald Chungu
by Hazel Meda | Mar 27, 2012 | Featured 1
It may look cool, but graffiti is costing Wits University tens of thousands of rands every year.
The removal of graffiti cost the university R88 000 in 2011, up from R38 000 the previous year.
According to Grounds Manager Andries Norval, American films glamorising graffiti have influenced Wits students.
Norval said it is easy to paint over graffiti on a white wall. But with a lot of Wits buildings, the colour is in the plaster, so painting doesn’t work and the patchwork can always be seen.
“You can sandblast if off… using sand that is sprayed under pressure…but if you do it on surfaces like wood and marble, you actually damage the building.”
Visible patchwork where painters have tried to cover unauthorised tags on the walls of the Umthombo Building. Photo: Hazel Meda
“Proper graffiti is a work of art.”
Norval made a distinction betweengraffiti and “the squiggles they call tagging”.
“Proper graffiti is a work of art. If it’s done with the proper permission and in the right places, I’ve got no problem with it.”
He pointed out that Wits has a few designated graffiti zones, such as the pedestrian tunnel between East and West Campus, where students can paint without consequences as long as the material is not offensive to anyone.
Clarifying what is and is not allowed, Norval said: “Definitely not political. Definitely not religious. And definitely not contentious.”
Vuvuzela asked Norval what he would say to taggers who argue that the university is curtailing their freedom of expression by restricting them to designated areas.
He replied: “Ask him: if I paint on his car that is parked in a public space…would he like that? Yes or no? And does he not think this money could be better spent on better teaching facilities or fixing lecture venues or even library books?”
Campus Control officer Aaron Ngcongolo agreed: “It’s not good, because this thing is making the place untidy.”
Sharni Hart, an honours marketing student, said: “It’s a campus and it should be kept neat and clean. You can express yourself in another way. You don’t need to write all over campus.”
Graffiti depicting President Jacob Zuma. The tunnel between East and West Campus is one of the designated graffiti zones at Wits. Photo: Hazel Meda
“A youthful feel”
Several students expressed their appreciation for the graffiti in the designated zones.
As he walked past the colourful murals in the pedestrian tunnel connecting East and West Campus, 1st year economic science student Tarrin Skeepers said: “This is one of my favourite spots at Wits. Period. Because I just love the artwork. I just love the creativity.”
Ngoni Goba, a 1st year LLB student said: “It gives the university a youthful feel.”
Norval could not speak about the situation at other universities in South Africa, except to say that he visited the Soweto Campus of the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and saw no graffiti there. The UJ officials he spoke to told them that they do not have a problem with graffiti.
Related articles
See more graffiti from the Braamfontein area of Johannesburg
by Hazel Meda | Mar 23, 2012 | News
In addition to their architecture studies at Wits University, Tarryn Michael and Yolandé Kluth run a company called Environment Experiment. They use recycled materials in their projects.
The two fell in love with architecture at an early age.
Tarryn says: “I’ve had an interest in architecture since I was a little girl, when I was still playing with Barbies. I would try to draw up the perfect Barbie home. I would make little models. They weren’t to scale or very accurate, but it was fun. I would make Barbie houses, Barbie swimming pools and Barbie gardens, out of cereal boxes. It wasn’t very good, but it was a start.”
Her father was instrumental in the development of her interest in the field.
“When he learned I was interested in architecture, he would always point out beautiful houses and buildings along the road.”
She mentioned her art teacher at Redham House in Bedfordview as another person who encouraged her.
Yolandé first became interested in architecture in Grade 9 when she had to build a model of a holiday home for a project at Afrikaanse Hoër Meisiesskool in Pretoria.
However, she believes that her creativity is innate.
“My creativity comes from my mum. When she was younger, she also wanted to study architecture. But in those days, in her family…coming from a conservative Afrikaans family…it wasn’t really a woman’s job. Her brothers and sister and everyone advised her against it, so she became a teacher. I think that’s influenced me a lot.”
by Hazel Meda | Mar 23, 2012 | News
Two warm-hearted Wits architecture students are using a novel idea to bring a local community in from the cold.
Yolandé Kluth and Tarry Michael will use recycled materials to build a temporary structure at the Living Trinity Church of God in the Johannesburg neighbourhood of Westbury.
The structure will serve as a church, soup kitchen and counselling centre.
“At the moment they operate out of a tent, which is difficult because water gets in. It gets very cold in winter and very hot in summer,” said Kluth.
“Our company, Experiment Environment , is focused on using alternative materials,” explained Michael. “We found a very cool solution, which is timber pallets. It’s alternative and it’s cheap, cheaper than bricks, and you find timber pallets lying around everywhere.”
Kluth and Michael got the idea of using pallets when they saw fellow Witsie, Thomas Chapman, using pallets to build a stage for an event in Westbury. They later discovered that pallets had been used successfully for buildings in the Netherlands, but the idea had never been tried in South Africa.
Michael said she and her partner will also use discarded tyres.
“So many tyres are thrown in the dumps…because South Africa doesn’t have the facilities or resources to break down the materials that a tyre consists of. We are going to use the tyres in an interesting way, as a foundation and as a wall system as well.”
She appealed to well-wishers to donate funds, as they need about R150 000 to build the church, weatherproof it and roof it properly. They also need to cover expenses such as printing and SMS costs and transport.
“We transported about 150 tyres to the site ourselves on two small Nissan bakkies,” Michael said.
“They [Kluth and Michael] really do put in a lot of effort, and you can see it really comes from their hearts…This project really means a lot to us and we are very excited,” said Elana Johannes, a member of the church board.
The two Witsies and their supporters in the student council of the School of Architecture and Planning will hold several fundraising events, including a ball for Wits students and staff on April 14.
Michael and Kluth laughed when Vuvuzela asked them if they had ever felt like giving up.
Michael replied: “We’d want to give up, but one of us would always encourage the other: ‘No, it’s gonna happen. It’s gonna get built. We can do this.’
“We’ve shed quite a few tears on this project,” Kluth said. “And fights. We’ve had a lot of fights” she added, smiling at her partner.
Read about how Tarryn and Yolandé fell in love with architecture.
Elana Johannes and her daughter Fallon Johannes in the tent currently used by Westbury’s Living Trinity Church of God. The tent will soon be replaced by a structure made of recycled timber and tyres. Photo: Hazel Meda
by Hazel Meda | Mar 12, 2012 | Featured 1
CELEBRATED singer Sibongile Khumalo took a group of Wits drama students to a spiritual place last Wednesday evening.
The former Witsie conducted a three-hour workshop for the cast of Paul Grootboom and Presley Chweneyagae’s Relativity – Township Stories.
The workshop was part of the company’s preparations for the Setkani/Encounter Festival in Brno, Czech Republic, in April. The play, directed by Wits School of Arts drama lecturer Tshepo Mamatu, was chosen to represent Africa in the international event.
Khumalo, who did her honours in music history at the University, began with the customary breathing exercises and vocal warm-ups.
FEELING THE SPIRIT: Zola Nombona sings a gospel song during the rehearsal of Relativity - Township stories at the Wits School of Arts on March 1.
When the aspiring actors began to sing one of the isiXhosa gospel songs from the play, she stopped them abruptly and encouraged them to sing with purpose.
Khumalo helped the actors to tap into painful experiences in their own lives so that they could play their roles effectively.
One member of the company hugged and rocked herself, while another discreetly dabbed away her tears. Another young woman burped repeatedly in the spirit. Others wept openly. A burly young man cried out, his arms reaching towards the heavens. Another wailed and was comforted by his colleagues.
“That is the life of a performer. Your soul is exposed all the time,” Khumalo said.
She urged them to remember the energy they had felt in that moment and use it to inspire their performances in a play which cast member Lerato Matolodi had earlier described as “an emotional ride” with “a rough opening scene”.
Khumalo reminded the group of the importance of spirituality in the life of a performer.
“There’s nothing else to keep you steadfast and centred. No amount of drugs, no amount of alcohol will do it…Remember that all the time.”
Continuing with her spiritual theme, Khumalo shared the secret for a strong cast: “Respect each other. Honour each other. Treasure each other. Love each other.”
3rd year student Bulelwa Ndaba appreciated Khumalo’s visit
“She is a goddess. She is so beautiful. We are being coached by a legend. It’s a great privilege.”
by Hazel Meda | Mar 6, 2012 | Featured 1, News
BLACK students have been urged to consider becoming donors during a five-day blood drive in Senate House this week. The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is on a publicity drive to reassure the black community that their donations are valued.
Nonny Vilakazi, a PhD student in palaeontology whose mother used to work for SANBS, said that some black people are reluctant to donate blood “because of the rumours three or four years back about black people’s blood being thrown away”.
SANBS Trainee Phlebotomist Zazi Thwala, whose own daughter needed a transfusion at the age of three months, said: “There are lots of accidents, especially taxis and buses and that increases demand for transfusions. We are the ones mostly who use public transport and we are the ones mostly in these accidents.”
Her colleague, Lazarus Ramolefo, confirmed the majority of donors are white. “There is a lack of education in the black community. But gradually black people have started coming, especially since the new blood donor centre opened at Maponya Mall. ”
Kentse Radebe, a 1st year industrial psychology student, first donated blood because “I just thought it would be cool to save a life”. She urged other students to become donors. “Your body produces more blood naturally, so it’s not like you are losing anything. It’s not costing you anything, so go out there and donate!”
While the students Vuvuzela spoke to recognised the benefits of donating blood, some still could not bring themselves to do it. “It’s a good cause and I would do it, but it freaks me out. I don’t like needles. If there was another way to do it, I would,” said Ashton Ray, a 3rd year speech and hearing therapy student who accompanied her friend who was donating blood on Tuesday morning.
SANBS had a daily target of 70 units. Each donor gives one unit of blood which is 500ml.
Students who have recently taken a course of antibiotics or had a tattoo done are encouraged to wait for seven days and six months respectively before applying to donate blood.
