by Mia Swart | Apr 19, 2013 | News
The discovery of a worm in a burger at the Wits main dining hall reported in Wits Vuvuzela last week was not a unique find, although the university claims incidents like this are rare.
There have been previous food scare alerts – about one every six to nine months. Last year, a worm was found on a piece of broccoli at Jubilee Hall, said Joanne Rowan, deputy director of Wits Catering and Retail.
However, Rowan said very few of these incidents happen.
Rowan was at the dining hall when the most recent worm was found and said the type of worm found was not associated with vegetables.
“It’s the first time that I see that type of worm.” [pullquote align=”right”]”It happened. We can’t deny it.”[/pullquote]
Rowan was speaking at the opening of the Convocation dining hall on West Campus on Tuesday.
Last week, Wits Vuvuzela reported that a student had discovered a worm in her chicken burger at the main dining hall.
An investigation to discover where the chicken burger came from has been launched. A food sample has been sent for testing.
Rowan said it was part of the catering business that a few incidents like this did occur. “It happened. We can’t deny it. It’s part of reality. We have to deal with it.”
She said that, of the reported incidents of food contamination at Wits so far, tests had shown the food samples were not dangerous.
[pullquote]“It is not possible that you can 100 percent not have an incident like that.”[/pullquote]Rowan defended food safety at Wits and said the university’s four dining halls were Hazardous Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certified, making Wits the only university in Africa to have the certification.
The certification means contamination in food served at Wits can be traced through the supply chain, all the way to a farmer.
Rowan said she expected to have a report on the recent food scare soon.
Prof Tawana Kupe, deputy vice chancellor (finance and operations), said the worm was “unfortunate”.
“It is not possible that you can 100% not have an incident like that,” Kupe said.
He said the university should take steps to ensure the problem was not commonplace and food quality standards were maintained.
Kupe said samples of food dished out in the dining halls were kept over a number of days so they could be tested for contamination.
The university does not make all the food, with some of it bought pre-prepared. Kupe said food providers should be asked whether they were supplying the university with fresh food and there should be an independent means of checking the quality.
by Mia Swart | Apr 19, 2013 | News
After graduation, Witsies are faced with many options: study another degree, look for a job, take a gap year. Some Wits graduates venture abroad and teach English to children in various countries.
South Korea and Japan are popular destinations for them and they pursue this option to earn money, make new friends and to learn more about the Asian culture.
“I wanted to learn the language and I wanted a different experience,” said Wits Vuvuzela staffer Leigh-Ann Carey who taught English in South Korea from 2009 to 2011.
For others, South Korea’ salary rates played a deciding role. “I wanted a change and I chose South Korea because they pay very well,” said another Wits Vuvuzela staffer Emelia Motsai.
South Korea is listed third in the top five countries to pay the best salaries for TEFL (Teach English as a Foreign Language), teachers with salaries ranging from R16 000 to R22 000. Japan forms part of the top ten destinations for these teachers, according to the website www.busyteacher.org.
[pullquote align=”right”]“The western media is just pumping it up for ratings.”[/pullquote]
But, recently North Korea’s missile launches and threats of nuclear war toward South Korea had escalated, causing increased concerns in the United States, United Kingdom and even South Africa.
With all the tensions Witsies have had mixed feelings about going abroad to teach in South Korea and Japan. Carey and Motsai said they would go back to South Korea and teach again.
Motsai said her friends in South Korea don’t pay much attention to international concerns: “It’s business as usual, nothing has changed.”
Witsies who are still considering the option had contrasting views. Sasuke Asanda (BA), said his decision to Japan would depend on whether there was an actual nuclear war at that time or there had been an attack on Japan and South Korea.
Witsie Tayla Prinsloo said she had thought of applying to go and teach abroad at the end of her studies. “There is no need for immediate alarm. That region is volatile but it’s only volatile from one side.”
Others feel that the tensions are escalating rapidly. Monique Bennett (BA), said she would not go, as she is fearful that she would be attacked for being a Westerner. “They will think I’m American or British. They won’t think I’m a South African.” Bennett added that she thought Kim Jong-Un knew that “to start nuclear war would be suicide”.
The view of South Africans currently in South Africa
South African teachers and young graduates currently teaching in South Korea do not seem too worried about the situation.
When asked about the threat of war, Mark Schulz said: “The western media is just pumping it up for ratings.” But he said he had seen few pieces of military equipment being moved north a few weeks ago and helicopters flying around last Saturday.
North West University graduate Bennie Fourie shared Schulz’s sentiments. “Personally I feel like the media is blowing up the story very badly and warning every second day that a missile would be fired.”
Fourie said the South Koreans and foreigners are relaxed as if nothing is happening. “No one is making urgent plans.” Fourie said it might be that citizens are too used to the same stories from the North that they don’t take it seriously.
The only steps the teachers and other foreigners have taken, was to register with their embassies. People register and give their personal contact details so the embassies can contact them in case of an emergency.
One specific complaint of the teachers was that with the threats the Korean money currency, the Won became weaker for a while which meant South Africans got fewer rands when they sent money back home.
“The North’s threats are stronger than before, but until a bomb falls, the people don’t worry too much,” said Fourie.
by Mia Swart | Apr 19, 2013 | News
The new dining hall can seat up to 450 people. Students can choose to sit at the bar-like area, at tables or on the new benches. Photo: Provided.
Convocation dining hall is the second dining hall on Wits campus that recently underwent a face-lift.
The dining hall has been refurbished in a more contemporary style with views of the surrounding grounds, and a wider variety of food.
After the final refurbishments have been completed, the renovations will amount to approximately R5,6 million of which half was funded by the South African government and the other half by Wits alumni. Catering provider RoyalMnandi invested a R1 million in equipment for the facility.
Part of having a good education is not only having excellent lecturers, lecturing facilities and good accommodation, but also having access to excellent catering facilities and extramural facilities, said Professor Tawana Kupe, deputy vice-chancellor of finance and operations, during the official opening of the hall.
“You can’t be an excellent student if you are not in good health. And you can’t be in good health if you don’t have a good nutrition. And you can’t have good nutrition in a terrible facility where you are looking at the back of a dilapidated building.”
Kupe said the refurbished dining hall is the kind of standard the university wants, with a nice, open environment, good architecture and good nutrition.
“What you eat and what you see is bon appetit.”
Director of Services, Theresa Main said the aim of the Wits service department is to create an “eat safe campus” and to ensure that a safe eating environment is monitored.
“We are enhancing the dining environment and simultaneously enhancing the food variety.”
The menu items at the dining hall now include pizzas, pastas, stirfry’s and a chicken rotisserie. The hall currently has a seating capacity of 450, but outdoor wooden decks will be built next to the hall to accommodate another 50 seats.
Free wi-fi has been installed and soon, big TV screens for students to watch what they please will follow said Joanne Rowan, deputy director of catering and retail. Students can also take their music and ask for it to be played in the hall.
Rowan said the dining hall has never had a food scare and emphasised that the standards in the dining halls are the same.
Rowan said she has received positive feedback from the students. “They enjoy the dining hall. They actually spend time sitting here. It’s inviting. Students can socialize with each other.”
Rowan said she hoped that the hall would be used for future student events. “I think it will become a popular place.”
Carl Msiza (BComm Honours in Development Economics), eats at the Convocation dining hall twice a day. Msiza said the new dining hall is “definitely better” than the main dining hall.
“It’s got an ambience.” When asked about the food he said: “ It’s better than most Royal Mnandi dining halls and the staff are extremely friendly.”
Vice chairperson of the David Webster Residence, Innocentia Kgaphola is happy with the change in food variety and said students are more social in the dining hall.
But she said some students believe the standards are not the same and have voiced concerns over the pricing.
“I still believe there’s always room for improvement.”
by Mia Swart | Apr 13, 2013 | News
Four cases of sexual harassment in Faculty of Humanities are among those that are the subject of an university-wide inquiry by the law firm of Bowman Gilfillan.
“There are a number of cases being investigated by Bowman, four cases in the Faculty of Humanities,” Prof Libby Meintjes, head of the School of Literature Language and Media.
The inquiry follows allegations of sexual harassment against Wits staff members including suspended senior drama lecturer Tsepo wa Mamatu, former head of the political studies department Prof Rupert Taylor and former head of the media studies department Dr Last Moyo.
Meintjes emphasised that Moyo was on “special leave” and not “suspension”. “Dr Moyo has been placed on special leave with no access to the campus pending the investigation,” she said. [pullquote align=”right”]“Students, feel free to speak out openly, without fear.”[/pullquote]
She said Moyo has not been suspended, as there have not been enough formal complaints made.
Director of employee relations Elaine Milton told Wits Vuvuzela it is better for a staff member who is the subject of an investigation to be off campus while such an investigation is taking place.
Milton said proceedings were at a “very delicate stage” and she could not disclose the names of staff members involved as this will prejudice the investigation.
She said that “special leave” is a leave of absence without the loss of benefits or remuneration in order for the university to be able to conduct an investigation in an “unfettered” and an unhindered” manner.
Milton added that Taylor, who stepped down as head of the political studies department last year following sexual harassment allegations, has not been formally placed on special leave.
Meintjes stressed that students should not fear to come forward with complaints about sexual harassment. “If they take [their complaints] to the correct sources, to the correct persons, there will be no backlash,” she said.“Students, feel free to speak out openly, without fear.”
Dr Mehita Iqani, acting head of the department of media studies, said: “There is a lack of trust in the institution. I don’t think anyone should HAVE TO work in an environment where there is a sense of fear…Students need to know that if they have a complaint against staff confidentiality will be absolutely protected.”
University Registrar Kirti Menon said the university is hoping to receive feedback from the Bowman Gilfillan attorneys by the end of next week.
Meintjes said: “We are hoping it will be concluded very soon.”
“I don’t think we’ve heard the end of this.”
While the investigation into the sexual harassment allegations is being conducted, a separate inquiry into the university’s procedures for the reporting of sexual harassment is also taking place.
The vice chancellor’s office has asked Norton Rose Attorneys and the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at the university to conduct the inquiry into the university’s policies and mechanisms dealing with sexual harassment. This inquiry is expected to be concluded by August.
RELATED STORIES
by Mia Swart | Apr 12, 2013 | News
SCAMMERS are using a Wits student email account for internet fraud, known as phishing.
In a recent scam, students’ university email accounts were used as addresses to send fraudulent tax reports to businesses in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni . In a grammatically incorrect email, “SARS” requested the companies check attached tax reports and “confirm is up to date”.
Phishing is “the act of acquiring private or sensitive data from personal computers for use in fraudulent activities”, according to the Business Dictionary. It usually involves sending emails that seem to come from a credible source, but are in no way affiliated with the actual source. [pullquote align=”right”]”CNS is aware of the problem”[/pullquote]
The emails trick users into entering personal data, like bank details and home addresses. Phishers also create websites that appear to be operated by government agencies.
According to the Google Online Security Blog, phishers use a popular method, called “domain spoofing” for email phishing. The address in the “From” line of the email seems legitimate, but is actually a fake address.
Computer and Network Services is aware of the problem and has referred it to a research team, according to a spokesperson.
The phishing was first drawn to the attention of Wits Vuvuzela by the engineering company Ideal Patternmakers and Tooling Ltd in Germiston.
“The first thing I thought was: why would I receive a SARS Receiver report from an academic institution?” said Pieter Swart, financial director of the company.
[pullquote]”why would I receive a SARS Receiver report from an academic institution?” [/pullquote]Other companies have confirmed that phishing is a regular problem. “We get about three phishing emails a week,” said Patricia Eales from Motrade 252 Ltd. Bronwyn Estman from Viking Foundry said they also received phishing emails asking for personal, banking and other details. The company immediately deleted such emails.
Suggested ways to avoid Phishing scams:
1.Guard against spam
2.Communicate personal information only via phone or secure websites
3.Do not click on links, download files or open attachments in emails from unknown senders
4.Never email personal or financial information even if you know the recipient very well
5.Beware of links in the emails that ask for personal information, even if the emails are from companies you do business with
6.Beware of pop-ups.
7.Protect your computer with anti-virus and anti-spyware, firewalls and spam filters
8.Check your online accounts and bank statements regularly to ensure no unauthorised transfers have been made. Source: identitytheftkiller.com
by Mia Swart | Mar 22, 2013 | Featured 1
Graphic: Mia Swart
by Mia Swart | Mar 15, 2013 | News
A WITS theatre piece destined for this year’s National Arts Festival in Grahamstown has no script yet and is to be played by a cast of non-drama students.
TABLEAU: Wits Non-drama students practise still scenes during the In/Sight call-back auditions last weekend.
In/Sight has been commissioned by the Student Development and Leadership Unit (SDLU), and the lack of drama students is deliberate.
“It is to forward people to attain different skills sets outside of what they are studying,” said the play’s co-director Tony Miyambo.
The SDLU commissions a theatre piece every year and Miyambo said it was part of their mandate to cast non-drama students. “It’s also to benefit the greater student population.”
The script still needs to be created, but it will deal with the concept of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).
People suffering from BDD are excessively concerned with body image and obsess over perceived physical flaws.
Co-director Raezeen Wentworth said the story would be constructed from whatever the cast brought to it.
Different styles, such as dance, movement, music, shadow, poetry and dialogue would be incorporated into the piece.
“It’s like putting a puzzle together. The students are the puzzle,” said Miyambo.
The final call-back auditions and workshops were held last weekend.
Miyambo said the auditions were an opportunity to see what the students could bring.
“We are really pushing hard to find narratives, images and ideas from them. The story could change and mould right up until the moment when it goes on stage.”
Wentworth said the benefit of non-drama students was that they had not gone through a training system.
They had no constructed view of what had to be done in the play.
“We have the opportunity to groom them from scratch and they bring completely raw talent.”
Bridget Mtshali, 1st year LLB, took part in the auditions and described herself as “naturally curious”.
This had led her to learn a few dance styles.
She did not see drama as a career, but as her “own world”, or an escape.
“I can vent, brainstorm in this small world of mine. It does not matter what other people and society think of me. It’s one of the spaces where you feel free to let out.”
Sabelo Chuene, formerly an Accounting, but now a B Mus Foundation student, was part of last year’s cast who performed in Grahamstown.
“It was life-changing. A ctually, from that experience, I made the decision to change my studies. Today I’m very shocked that I wanted to be an accountant.”
Wentworth, who studied Directing at the Wits School of Arts, originally produced a 15-minute, two-person play on Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) for a class project.
In/Sight will feature a cast of eight students and will be an hour long.
mia@witsvuvuzela.com
by Mia Swart | Mar 1, 2013 | Featured 1, News
Infographic
• A can of beer will go up by almost 8 cents.
• A bottle of wine will go up by 15 cents.
• Bottles of ciders and alcoholic fruit beverages will go up by 7.3 cents.
• A packet of 20 cigarettes goes up by 60 cents.
• Petrol to increase by 15 cents per litre.
IF YOU smoke or drink, you will have to dig deeper in your pockets to pay “sin taxes” this year.
The price of alcohol and tobacco will increase by up to ten percent, said Minister for Finance Pravin Gordhan at the annual national budget speech on Wednesday.
A can of beer will go up by almost eight cents.
A 750ml bottle of wine will go up by 15 cents. Bottles of ciders and alcoholic fruit beverages will go up by 7.3 cents.
For those that smoke, a packet of 20 cigarettes will go up by 60 cents.
Students who drive to campus will also feel the pinch with the general fuel levy going up by 15 cents per litre.
Buyers of digital goods, such as e-books and music online, will face extra charges. International sellers of these goods will have to register as VAT vendors, which mean these companies will have to add VAT to their prices.
Education and other “social wages” will receive the biggest chunk of about R233 billion of the budget,
“In this budget we continue to invest in education, health, housing, public transport and social development – components of the social wage which add up to about 60 per cent of public expenditure,” Gordhan said.
Gordhan said further education would continue to be extended and improved. He anticipated that the number of total students enrolled in higher education institutions will increase from 910 000 to 990 000 in 2015.
He stressed that South Africa’s young people would need more help as they start their lives.
“A million young people leave school every year, and we need a package of reforms that will improve education, training and work opportunities for young people,” Gordhan said.
Higher education’s share of the budget will increase by more than R4 billion, to R24.6 billion from R20.4 billion.
New universities will be built in the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga to accommodate more students.
Gordhan also mentioned that youth employment incentives to support young work seekers and special economic zones would be proposed and considered.
Gordhan said he had received a special tip from a young man, Benedict Mongalo, for how to solve the nation’s problems of unemployment, poverty and inequality.
“We will not eradicate this problem overnight..This is like manually moving a mountain and the only way to do it, is to move one rock aside and the next generation, or next government, will do the same until this mountain is moved,” Gordhan recounted.
by Mia Swart | Mar 1, 2013 | News
Two SRC members in the past weeks have resorted to sleeping in the council offices because of outstanding study fees and lack of accommodation.
President of the SRC Sibulele Mgudlwa confirmed that two members had been living in the offices since the end of O-week until last week.
Five SRC members, himself included, had trouble with accommodation and registering for study courses.
Mgudlwa said that varying reasons, such as personal and financial troubles, have led to the SRC members’ predicament.
The SRC president himself faced problems with registering for courses and finding accommodation. Mgudlwa confirmed that the Dean of Students Prem Coopoo and a registrar partially assisted him with his study fees and registration.
Mgudlwa said the lack of a place to stay, proper sleep and the right kind of food affect the SRC’s work and studies. “You are not on your optimum levels of efficiency,” he said.
Dean of Students Prem Coopoo confirmed that certain students approach her office for financial support. Coopoo explained that they have sourced funds for students who are “needy and academically sound”. She confirmed that she assisted the SRC president, “in his capacity as a student and not because he is a student leader- as I do for any other student.”
Mgudlwa said that the university does not provide funds to assist students with their finances and accommodation. Students are dependent on study loans from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme of South Africa (NSFAS) and bank loans.
“You really are alone,” he said.
According to Mgudlwa, the problems experienced by the SRC concerned a greater issue.
“This is indicative of a larger problem in that the university does not have a fund to assist students,” he said.
SRC international student affairs officer Pearl Pillay said she had only received confirmation of her financial aid last week and could only register then. She was able to find accommodation, but still has to source funds for it.
Mgudlwa said that SRC members must be afforded the opportunity to be assisted when need be.
“We are not asking for special treatment but because of the service given to university students it [the help] will be appreciated,” Mgudlwa said.
The SRC has a humanitarian fund, which assists students with financial and other needs, but the SRC members exclude themselves from this fund.
“As a principle we cannot benefit,” Mgudlwa said.
