by Michelle Gumede | May 22, 2015 | Sport
Here is some information on the Netball action in the university.
As the Wits Internal Netball League (WINL) takes a breather at the end of the term, the Wits Netball Club gets ready to participate in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) tournament next month.
The club is going to be participating in the upcoming USSA National Institutional Netball Championship from June 29 to July 3, hosted by the University of Johannesburg. Wits came second in the B-Section last year.
Ofentse Moropa, Wits Netball Club Vice Chairperson, said: “This year we are hoping to win Gold so that we can be promoted to the A section”.
The netball club is also planning to have the Quad Series later in the year that will feature four other tertiary institutions in Gauteng. The best two teams from each institution will play against one another.
The club is the main team that represents the university against other institutions. The WINL is an internal league that allows any school, residence or club within Wits to join.
“The idea is to get people that are interested in netball to form their own parties and participate in the league,” says Eunice Montso, WINL vice-chairperson.
The best players of the league get a chance to participate in the main team that represents Wits against other teams. Each team is made up of seven players and one male player per team is allowed.
The league began in March and now takes a mid-league break to give participants a chance to study for exams.
Of the 15 teams, the Brainwashers and the Medics are topping the league. The Brainwashers have shown excellent form in the last few weeks winning all eight of their matches. Reigning champions the Medics are left in second place with one game in hand.
Braamfontein Centre, Esselen, Girton Hall and Zenith are teams at the bottom of the log. They have respectively played between six and seven games and have struggled to gain points in as many games.
The league starts again in July with Jubilee taking on Girton Hall at 6pm sharp at the Diggs Fields on the university’s West Campus. League games will run until 17 September.
by Michelle Gumede | May 18, 2015 | Featured 1, News
GENERATION EARTH: Felix Donkor (Phd APES) shows the Mondeor Primary the ropes on sustainable gardening. Photo: Michelle Gumede
Large tyres filled with leaves, torn newspaper and vermicast soil are some of the ways Wits society Generation Earth is helping to spread the word on environmentally friendly living.
Generation Earth visited Mondeor primary school last Thursday to teach primary school learners how to start sustainable vegetable gardens.
“We have to share our knowledge on sustainable gardening with the school kids because they are the future of this country,” said Felix Donkor, an Animal Plant and Environmental Sciences (APES) PhD student and executive committee member of Generation Earth.
Founder of Generation Earth and teacher at Mondeor primary school, Ella Bella Elaine Constantinides, said the school had previously attempted to plant a vegetable garden but it was unsuccessful and fell apart with most of the vegetation dying.
“Now Wits Generation Earth is teaching us how to sustainably plant, grow and take of our garden,” said Constantinides.
Eleven-year-old Madison Bailey told Wits Vuvuzela that she and her sister chose to join Generation Earth because “we love the plants and flowers.”
A third-year Fine Art student and Miss Earth semi finalist, Jessica Janse Van Rensburg, attended the historic event as she has a fierce passion for the environment.
“Joburg is a beautiful city and we need to teach the young guys how to take care of it for their sake as well,” said Janse Van Rensburg. She told Wits Vuvuzela that she feels young people need someone to look up to, someone to act and inspire them to do the right thing.
Glenanda primary school head prefects were also there in solidarity with the greening initiative. Deputy head girl, Keisha Ras, said that she feels it is important to have more trees and go green. “It’s an honor for us to do this especially with a Miss Earth finalist,” she said.
Local community builder and leader, Robert Winter, said “these kids absorb information and they go on to do it themselves at home, sustainable living becomes a part of who they are.”
Winter is more than happy to teach the children about gardening, soil types, plant uses and everything to do with green living. With over 100 plant cuttings in his garden and two water tanks, he has much experience on environmental sustainability.
by Michelle Gumede | May 13, 2015 | News, Sport
Wits Students and staff should get their running shoes ready to participate in the Vowfm Day Run in support of charity.
Wits University’s campus radio station, Vowfm, in collaboration with the Wits Sports Council, is hosting a ‘Winter Day Run’ on main campus today between 1pm- 2pm. The aim of the event is to collect warm winter clothing for needy students and for some charities. The station has launched its fourth annual “Winter Collection Drive,” and the run forms part of this initiative.
“This is a fun way of getting people to give back,” said station marketing manager, Lucky Mdaweni.
The 4km running course starts and ends at the cricket and hockey fields on east campus on a route that passes the Wits Great Hall.
“Any person jogging could take about 20- 30 minutes to finish the course,” said Vow FM DJ and marketing intern Timothy ‘TMO’ Abrahams.
The winner of the race will walk away with a six month gym contract and the runner up will get a three month contract.
The Wits Citizenship and Community Outreach (WCCO) will be distributing the collected clothes to Wits students and other charities.
Drop boxes have been placed all over campus and at residences for the Wits community to donate clothes at any time.
by Michelle Gumede | May 12, 2015 | Featured 1, Lifestyle
EMPOWERING THE YOUTH: Speakers (from right to left) Jamal Nxedlana, Wandile Zondo & Khaya ‘Bhubhesi’ Sibiya speak on the future of fashion in South Africa hosted by VOWfm DJ, Sifiso’Deep Ancestral’ Gcabashe (left). Photo: Provided
This months RHTC Online conference on the business of fashion focused on urban street wear and retail.
RHTC Online hosted its second fashion development conference at the Live Magazine Space in Braamfontein on Saturday.
Mpumelelo ‘Frypan’ Mfula, Wits graduate and founder of RHTC Online says that, there are not enough local contributors to the fashion industry, and this is the purpose of the conference.
Mfula believes that there is a gap in the market for creative ideas, and young people are the ones with ideas. “Very few platforms are available for young people during the growth and development processes,” he said.
“The conference is a creative alternative to mainstream, hence all our speakers are pioneers in their own right” said ,Mfula. .
Speakers at the conference included Wandile Zondo of popular township fashion brand ‘Thesis’, Khaya ‘Bhubesi’ Sibiya co-owner of ‘Punk & Ivy’ and Jamal Nxedlana the founder of the ‘Missshape’ fashion label.
Zondo started ‘Thesis’ 10 years ago in Mofolo, Soweto with his former business partner. Their business model is molded around “developing the face of Soweto” he said.
“There is money ekasi that our people are spending in the city centers like Rosebank,” said Zondo.
Mobility of the store gives ‘Punk & Ivy’ an edge over most other fashion businesses. Nine meters long and three meters high, their mobile boutique allows them to reach their customers with convenience.
“You have to invest in yourself,” says Sibiya, who runs his business with his wife, Bianca.
The Missshape brand caters for fuller figured women. Nxedlana studied fashion design. His mother, who was also in the fashion industry, gave him a kick-start and she included him in her fashion business.
“My mother had the factory but no brand vision,” said Nxedlana.
He used his knowledge and his mother’s infrastructure to breathe life into ‘Misss shape’.
Budding fashionista Kamohelo Matalingoane (18) hustles transport money to attend the RHTC Online conference monthly.
“I love street wear Mfwethu (brother),” he told WitsVuvuzela. Having just completed his matric last year, he says engaging with fashion keeps him away from alcohol and drugs, “especially nyaope” which is ravaging youth in Snakepark where he is from.
RHTC Online welcomes all local designers who want to showcase their creations on their website platform. “We want to integrate various cultures into everyday fashion.” Said Mfula.
BUDDING FASHIONISTA’S: Young people engage with pioneers in the fashion industry. Photo: Provided
by Michelle Gumede | May 8, 2015 | Featured 1
The Wits university grounds are home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. An extraordinary group of these animals are well-known and loved by students, staff and even visitors alike. Meet the cool and calm Iguana, the close-knit family of ducks, the vibrant bands of Koi fish and the gangs of feral cats on campus.
CAMPUS PETS: Wits is home to a variety of wildlife. Photo: Michelle Gumede
Behind the Oppenheimer Life Sciences (OLS) building lies a large cage decorated with shrubbery and logs. It is home to Kermit the Iguana. He’s a slow-moving reptile that enjoys eating spinach and insects almost as much as he enjoys lazing in the sun.
The dam on West Campus is home to a curious swarm of ducks. The three young ducks waddle and follow their mother all day in and around the water foraging for food, while their father watches from a distance.
One of the students who feeds the ducks bread rolls on a weekly basis, said she had never seen the ducks being fed by anyone official.
“I took it upon myself to feed them,” said the MA student who comes by three times weekly.
The ducks coexist with the students who said they enjoyed having the ducks around.
The cool and colourful Koi fish at Med school campus are celebrity performers who aren’t afraid of any paparazzi.
Rochelle Keene of the Adler museum was delighted at the effect the fish have in creating a “relaxed and ecofriendly ambiance” in a concrete space like Med school.
Keene said on cooler afternoons the fish come to the surface and backflip out of the water.
“Students, staff and visitors love to watch them, a tranquil treat at the end of a tough day for anybody”.
The fish were certainly not shy of the Vuvuzela camera and surfaced for close-up shots.
Since 2006, the Adler museum staff have taken responsibility for the school of fish. Starting with only three the pond now hosts over 30 fish.
Staff David Sekgwele and Gilbert Singo feed the fish during the week, while the security guards do so during the weekends.
Sekgwele told Vuvuzela of a cat that was reported to be terrorising the Med school pond at the beginning of the year. The cat was reported to come in the evening and wait for the fish to start with their out-of-water theatrics to catch them.
“The cat is clever,” said Sekgwele but it has not been spotted for over a month now.
On the other hand, the proud packs of feral cats of main campus lackadaisically roam across the terrain stalking rats and insects. Although they look furry and cute, it is not advisable to approach them as they are wild and hiss hysterically when they feel threatened.
“The cats only let me touch them when I’m pouring the pellets into their bowls, after that – forget it!” said Constant Volschenk, interim manager of the Wits planetarium, who gladly feeds three every morning at 6h30 sharp.
The staff have been feeding the cats for six months now and say they have seen an improvement in solving the rat problem. Feeding the cats was a “health and safety issue” for the planetarium . The staff and primary school learners who would come to visit the planetarium would come into close contact with the rats”.
Wits Vuvuzela first reported on rats plaguing campus in 2012.
CAMPUS PETS: Koi fish at Med School create a tranquil vibe. Photo: Michelle Gumede
Volschneck says they feed the cats a small portion so they can still go out and hunt the rodents. But after soccer matches at the Bidvest Wits stadium, the cats don’t come for breakfast for up to three days. And, as the saying goes, when the cats are away, the rats come out play.
Whether domesticated or not, Wits animals have a special role to play in the micro ecosystem of Wits and an important social role for humans too.
by Michelle Gumede | Apr 24, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Wits Music students hosted a free concert at the Great Hall, singing against the recent spate of violence that has erupted across South Africa.
“Our country is going in the direction it is because our nation needs healing” said lead vocalist Kamohelo who performed all six songs performed at the concert.
“Music has the power to transcend boundaries and we need to stand together to heal our people.”
The group of musicians other than Kamohelo included saxophonist, Joshua Turnbull (BMus II), guitarist Edre van As (BMUSIII), pianist, Siphephelo Ndlovu (BMUSIII), Nhlanhla Ngqaqu (BMUSIII) on bass and Max Liebenburg (BMUSII) on drums.
Kamohelo sang Ti Nailo with the production cast of Yerma. A production running at the Wits theatre, directed by Rajesh Gopie.
Ti Nailo is arranged by Wits music student, Jermaine George. “The piece signifies a cry of pain and a yearning for something” said George.
According to Kamohelo, performing with the cast of Yerma was important for symbolising unity. “Music has the power to transcend boundaries and we need to stand together to heal our people.”
The lunch-time concerts are hosted for free every Wednesday by Wits music school. The next concert will be on April 29th where Josh Turnbull (BMus II) will be playing a smooth saxophone. Bass guitarist Nhlanhla Ngqaqu (BMUS II) will play on May 6.
WITS MUSIC & THEATRE: A free concert at the Great Hall took place in support of the victims of violence and abuse in South Africa. Photo: Michelle Gumede
by Michelle Gumede | Apr 24, 2015 | Featured 1, News
Wits international students have been afraid to attend lectures and even leave their residences this week due to fear of xenophobic attacks.
One African-American student who lives at a residence on main campus she has been terrified of leaving the university ground.
“I stayed in my room the whole weekend until Monday,” she said.
Although no mass violence has broken out in Braamfontein, many foreign students have said they are afraid of walking the streets.
“Particularly students travelling from Kempton Park and Germiston.”
A Congolese student, who did not want to be named, told Wits Vuvuzela that he pretended to be sick and stayed home for the week.
“Luckily, the vice chancellor made a call that students can and should be excused for leaving lectures early, coming late and for missing class [due to xenophobia],” the student said.
The Congolese student stays in Kensington and uses taxis to commute to Wits. He did not want to go to Noord taxi rank or any place where there were groups of people.
“I was scared that they’d just attack me,” he said.
Wits Vuvuzela reported earlier this week on an attack on a Zimbabwean Wits PhD student who was brutally assaulted and robbed in a taxi on the way to Cresta Mall.
“There have not been any other attacks on Wits students but foreign members of the Wits community are scared,” said president of the Congolese Student Society Cedrick Tshizainga.
“Particularly students travelling from Kempton Park and Germiston.”
A University of Johannesburg lecturer, who’s a Zimbabwean national, was also allegedly attacked last Monday at his home in Mondeor. He has since fled to Zimbabwe with his wife and children.
Since the beginning of this month, violence against foreign nationals has left seven people dead and thousands more displaced to refugee camps. The psychological effects of the threat of violence seems to be permeating deeper than the literal physical violence.
According to IOL, many immigrants say they feel safer in refugee camps the website reported.
AGAINST XENOPHOBIA: Wits students protest against xenophobia at the ‘Peoples march’ on Thursday. Photo: Reuven Blignault
by Michelle Gumede | Apr 17, 2015 | Featured 1
SOUTH AFRICAN SIGN LANGUAGE ALPHABET: Wits is proposing sign language as an official language on campus. Photo: Provided
South African Sign Language (SASL) is being tabled as a mainstream language in the much debated about Wits language policy. Postgraduate courses in SASL at the university are now available for Deaf students.
In 2014, Wits became the first South African university to introduce the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanism for Deaf students. The RPL mechanism allows Deaf students who have a matric to register as occasional students for SASL third year courses.
Deaf students who register through RPL start their undergraduate studies at third year level; majoring in linguistics, poetry and literature and socio linguistics in SASL. If a student’s average is 65% or more they have the option of doing postgraduate studies in their own language.
“If more hearing people are able to sign, Deaf people would not be so marginalised”
Simphiwe Mkhize and Atiyah Asmal are two such students who registered with the SASL Department in the School of Literature, Language and Media (SLLM). They are now doing their Honours degrees respectively while working full time jobs.
Very few Deaf students register at Wits annually, “We would love to have a larger number of Deaf students here, but society often creates the barrier that marginalises Deaf people,” says South African Sign Language lecturer Naomi Janse Van Vuuren. “If more hearing people are able to sign, Deaf people would not be so marginalised” Van Vuuren said.
Wits and the University of the Free State were the first to introduce SASL in academia. In 2013, the SASL Department at Wits introduced an Honours programme with five students. Then in 2014 Masters by dissertation was introduced with four students, one of which is Deaf.
Rhodes University currently has a SASL division within their linguistics department, while North West University recently entered into a licence agreement with Wits to use the curricula and materials developed by the SASL Department. This is for purposes of phasing in SASL as part of their undergraduate curriculum.
Since 2003, SASL has been a mandatory subject for Speech and Pathology students, but this has not been ratified into the larger Wits community.
Currently nine graduates from the SASL Department at are staff members at St. Vincent School for Deaf learners in Rosebank, Eight are teachers and one is a psychologist. The national interpreter at the Deaf Federation of South Africa (DeafSA) is also a Wits graduate who majored in SASL. Furthermore, three Wits graduates are currently doing a (Post Graduate Certificate in Education) PGCE which would enable them to teach SASL as a school subject. This year South African Sign Language is being implemented as a school subject, meaning that Deaf children are able to have their own language as a school subject, instead of English and / or Afrikaans.
The first language of Deaf South Africans is South African Sign Language, which may have different varieties (‘dialects’) depending on where they went to school. These varieties in SASL are mutually intelligible, which means that Deaf people can understand each other’s varieties of SASL.
Exclusion, inadequate schools and untrained educators are some of the issues plaguing Deaf students in South Africa.
According to a DeafSA memorandum handed over to provincial and national education departments in 2003, “Deaf learners can only have equal access, equal opportunities and equal rights within an inclusive educational system if their SASL needs are addressed. This means (a) being taught through medium of SASL by (b) teachers who are fluent or at least competent in SASL, (c) being able to take SASL as one of their languages of choice and (d) have more Deaf teachers who are natural Sign Language users”.
Pura Mgolombane of the Wits transformation and employment equity office says, “iIn the spirit of multilingualism, we are encouraging both hearing and Deaf students and staff to engage in all forms of communication.” Mgolobane says code switching in class will make the learning process smoother for all.
Hearing loss usually results in difficulties learning a spoken language, following verbal instructions, making friends in the neighborhood, behavioral problems due to frustration, accidents because warning signs were not heard according to the UN Pocket Guide to Disability Equity for Leaders of Persons with Disabilities.
In 1994 the Central Statistics Service estimated that a number of 1 609 386 South Africans use SASL. However, the national Census 2011 reported that approximately only 234 000 South Africans use SASL. It would be interesting to find out how so many signing Deaf people ‘disappeared’ between 1994 and 2011. “The majority of Deaf children have hearing parents.” said Van Vuuren. Only a small number of Deaf kids have Deaf parents.
Mgolobane says, “the reference group that has been involved in the drafting of the Wits language policy, have sent a proposal to management to reserve funds out of the R90 million donation to produce opportunities that will create the space and resources for more progress with regards to implementation of the newly proposed, vibrant Wits language policy”.
The talksign campaign is one nationwide movement that promotes the use of SASL and supports it becoming the 12th official language of our country.
South African Deputy Minister of Bantu Education, Punt Janson said in 1974: “I have not consulted the African people on the language issue and I’m not going to. An African might find that ‘the big boss’ only spoke Afrikaans or only spoke English. It would be to his advantage to know both languages.” In the context of this particular quotation, the question remains whether Wits will follow mainstream practices (i.e. ‘Deaf people must accommodate hearing people by trying to speak) or whether our university will support linguistic diversity by enabling hearing students and staff to communicate with Deaf students and staff in SASL.
by Michelle Gumede | Apr 17, 2015 | Featured 1, Lifestyle
Security guards who works for Wits University at the Sunnyside Residence for girls, are using their creative skills to bridge the income gap many South Africans are facing.
CRAFT INTO CASH: Wits Security guards make jewellery to supplement their incomes. Photo: Michelle Gumede
Ethel Ncube is a 60-year-old security guard who makes ear-rings, bangles, neckpieces and baby booties.
“I use shells, plant matter, beads and wool to make accessories,” she says
“Ma’E”, as she is affectionately known , started working at Wits University in 1988 but has been making jewellery for a longer time. Her grandmother taught her the art of crocheting when she was still a little girl in Soweto and she’s continued with the skill until now.
Ma’E has always had a passion for fashion and looking good herself. Through her craft she’s been able to share her passion and talent with other people.
Ma’E says: “I sometimes give students my work for free because I have a great love for crocheting.”
In 2012, Ma’E helped some drama students out who lived in Sunnyside res by supplying them with props like hats, belts and jewellery for their final end-of-year student production.
“I know students don’t have money, so I sell mainly to people in my neighbourhood of Soweto plus workers are not allowed to trade on campus,” she says.
Income tax has gone up this year and the petrol price has recently dramatically risen. All South Africans will feel this increase in areas such as food and transport among other services.
“The cost of living is high,” says Ma’E. She has grandchildren at home so she has to try to find ways to support them. Making less than R1,000 monthly from her products helps her cover things like transport to get to work.
Leather repair service
The night-time security guard also uses his creative talents to make extra money. Welcome Ngcobo, “Bab’ Ngcobo”, as he is respectfully known, repairs leather shoes, belts and bags. It’s something he says he enjoys doing because it relaxes him when he is stressed and allows him to express his creativity while making extra money.
“Isimo somnotho sib’cayi,” (times are economically tough), says Bab’ Ngcobo.
According to Bab’ Ngcobo, the extra money he makes allows him to pay subsidies and provide for his children.
All the young people from his village learnt different skills like beading, gardening, sewing and herding livestock. He chose to specialise in arts and crafts as he loves creative work.
Living in South Africa is not cheap at the moment. WitsVuvuzela would like to hear how you are beating the economic blues this winter. Write to us at editor@witsvuvuzela.co.za.
by Michelle Gumede | Apr 16, 2015 | News
WINTER COLLECTION FOR CHARITY: Vowfm will give a free breakfast to students and staff who donate clothing to the drive. Photo: Provided
Campus radio station VowFM kicks off its annual Winter Collection drive with a free breakfast next Wednesday.
Lucky Mdaweni, the station’s marketing manager says, “This is our fourth year running the Winter Collection and we want to encourage the Wits community to give to those less fortunate”.
“People are in need out there… some of us take for granted the four pairs of sneakers we have,”
Students are encouraged to bring two or more items of clothes that are in good condition in order to receive a cup of coffee or tea together with a muffin or croissant courtesy of supermarket chain Pick n’ Pay.
“The currency is clothes,” says VowFM DJ and marketing intern Timothy ‘TMO’ Abrahams.
The Free Breakfast morning will be hosted outside the Great Hall on April 22 from 9am- 12pm while an outdoor broadcast of the show, ‘Mugging Beats’, will be airing live from the venue.
“People are in need out there … some of us take for granted the four pairs of sneakers we have,” says TMO. The station realises that not having good gear to wear can cause alienation among students and wants to give back to the Wits community and their listeners this winter.
According to intern Delisiwe Msibi, the winter clothing will be distributed to Wits students first then the rest will be donated to charities in Braamfontein.
The Wits Citizenship and Community Outreach (WCCO) Food Bank will be responsible for the safe keeping and distribution of the collected clothing items.
Boxes have been placed all over campus so that the Wits community can donate clothes at any time. The boxes will be placed at all Wits residences and at Brammfontein residences.
by Michelle Gumede | Apr 10, 2015 | News
Read this article in English
Inyuvesi i-WITWATRESRAND ihlela umgomo wokukhulunywa kwezilimi ezahlukahlukene. Lo mgomo uzohlanganisa isiZulu, isiSuthu kanye nesingisi (English) kube izilimi ezikhulunywa emagumbini okufundela nangaphandle kwamagumbi.
Inyuvesi i-WITWATRESRAND ihlela umgomo wokukhulunywa kwezilimi ezahlukahlukene. Lo mgomo uzohlanganisa isiZulu, isiSuthu kanye nesingisi (English) kube izilimi ezikhulunywa emagumbini okufundela nangaphandle kwamagumbi.
Lo mgomo ubuye uphakamise nokubandakanywa kolimi lwezandla lwase Ningizimu Afrika. Ukuphakanyiswa kwalo mgomo kusukela ekunconyweni yi-STRATEGIC PLANNING DIVISION eyaqhuba umklamo nokuhlolwa kwabafundi, ongweti, abefundisi, abezosekelo kannye namanye amalunga enyuvesi mayelana nalelisu.
Imiphumela yalolu chwaningo yaveza ukuthi abantu abakhuluma isisZulu nabakhuluma isiSuthu kulenyuvesi bachishe balingane ngokwenani.
“Loku kufunzelele ukugudluka emgomeni wokukhulunywa kwezilimi ezimbili kwaya emgomeni wokukhulunywa kwezilimi eziningi ezahlukahlukene, lezi zilimi azincintisani kodwa-nje zisetshenziswa abazikhulumayo ngezindlela ezahlukene.” kubeka uMilani.
“Sidinga ukuboniswa ngokundlalekile emphakathini ngezilimi zethu njengomphakathi ezindaweni ezifana nama-LOGOS.”
Umgomo owendlule waphakanyiswa ngo-2003 lapho inyuvesi ithembisa ukuthuthukisa ulimi lwesiSuthu ilenze lube elokufundisa nalo kanye nesingisi. Lokhu kwakusho ukucwaningwa nokuthuthukiswa kwezi nsizakufunda, ubuchule bezolimi kubafundisi, ubuchuli bezolimi kongcweti kanye nakubafundi.
Ukushintshwa kolimi emibhalweni eqavile nasemithethweni yesikole, ukutolikwa emacaleni okuziphatha kabi kanye nokusetshenziswa kwezilimi namasiko ahlukahlukene emicimbini enjenge yokuthweswa kweziqu eminye yemithetho eyasungulwa ngaphansi kwalo mgomo.
Nokho, phezu kwawo wonke lama cebo inyuvesi ayizange iwamukele lo mugomo.
“Isidingo sasibonakala sona kodwa kukonke-nje, akubanga namizamo eyenziwa ndawonye.” Kubeka isekela shansela lezemfundo (deputy vice chancellor for academics) uAndrew Crouch.
Ungcweti oyilunga lwezolimi uTommaso Milani uthe umgomo owendlule wawu “umgomo owuphawu”, kanye nokuthi akukho nqubekela phambili eyenziwa ukuthuthukisa nokuqalisa isiSuthu la enyuvesi. Uqhube wathi lo mgomo wawu ngumbhalo nje oveza “ukuzenza kahle” kwenyuvesi maqondana nokusetshenziswa kwezilimi ezahlukene kodwa awuzange uguqulelwe ekwenzakaleni okubonakalayo.
Ngokuka Milani, ukunganda izikhubazo ezenzeke emgomeni owendlule inyuvesi kumele yabe imali yokuqaliswa komgomo omusha. Noma imuphi umgomo uyohlala “uwuphawu” uma kungekho noma kwentuleka inkece ebekelwe ukuba uqalwe, kusho uMilani.
UCrouch uvumile ukuthi inhloso yokwenza inyuvesi i-WITS isebenzise izilimi ezahlukahlukene kuzomele ibekelwe imali eyanele ukuze iphumelele.
“Akudingeki ukulahlekelwa isiko ngenxa yolwandle lwezeminotho.”kubeka uCrouch.
Izinkulumo ngalo mugomo omusha zizoqhubeka kuze kube uMandulo (August). Abafundi nabasebenzi benyuvesi bayagqugquzelwa ukuba babeke umbono wabo nabo. UMilani uthe uyathemba lo mgomo uzo “sekela ukulingana ngendlela eyiqiniso”
Ukusetshenziswa kwezilimi ezahlukahlukene sekuvele kuqalile kuyingxenye yezinhlelo zezifundo esikoleni sobudokotela (Wits Medical School) lapho abafundi kumele benze uhlelo lwezemfundo (a course) ngamalimi ajwayelekile aseNingizimu Afrika ngaphambi kokuba bathole iziqu zabo.
Ngokuka Karabo Ramugondo, ongungweti kwezamalimi aseAfrika nakwezolimi jikelele, uthe lo mgomo uzo “qiniseka ukusetshenziswa kwamalimi ahlukahlukene ezikhungweni lapho ezingaphezu kwelilodwa izilimi zingasetshenziselwa ukuloba, ukudla amathambo engqondo kanye nokuvundisa ulwazi.”
“siphila emiphakathini enamalimi namasiko athe chithi saka ahlukahlukene kanti lo mgomo wamukela ukuthuthukiswa kwamalimi aseAfrika ngaphandle kokuba asetshenziselwe ukuxhumana-nje emakhaya”kubeka uRamugondo.
Translated by: Mpilo Khumalo
Read this article in English
by Michelle Gumede | Apr 10, 2015 | News
Read this article in isiZulu
Wits University is tabling a multilingual policy that will incorporate Sesotho and isiZulu as co-languages, along with English as an official part of campus life, in and outside the classroom.
The policy also proposes that SA Sign Language be included. The new policy proposal comes as a recommendation from the Strategic Planning Division which conducted a surveyed study of Wits students, academic staff, professional and support services staff and employees in outsourced services.
The study indicates that the number of Sesotho and IsiZulu speaking members of the Wits community are more or less equal.
“This has prompted the shift from a bilingual to a multilingual policy, the languages don’t compete, they are just used by speakers differently,” said Milani.
“We need broader visibility in the public space of our local languages in places like logos for instance.”
The previous language policy was adopted in 2003 where the university commited to developing Sesotho as a medium of instruction together with English. This meant researching and developing teaching resources along with developing the linguistic abilities of staff and students alike.
The translation of key documents such as application forms and rules, translation services in disciplinary hearings as well as multilingual and multicultural practices at ceremonies like graduations were some of the measures planned under the policy.
However, despite the plans the Sesotho language policy was never implemented by Wits.
“The need was identified but on the whole, no real concerted efforts were made,” said Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academics Prof Andrew Crouch.
Associate Professor of Linguistics Tommaso Milani said the previous policy was a ‘symbolic policy’, and no real progress was made on the ground to develop and implement Sesotho on campus. He said the policy was a document that indicated the university’s “good intentions” in relation to multilingualism but was never translated into real actions.
According to Milani, to avoid the pitfalls that struck the previous language policy, the university would have to make sure financial resources were allocated for the implementation of the new language policy. Any policy would remain “symbolic” if no or too little money is set aside for its implementation, said Milani.
Crouch agreed the project to make Wits multilingual would have to be budgeted for if it was to be successful.
“You don’t have to lose culture in the sea of economics,” Crouch said.
Talks on this multilingual language policy will continue until August and students and staff are encouraged to voice their opinion. Milani said that he hopes the policy will “espouse equality in a truly genuine way.”
Multilingualism is already part of the curriculum for Wits Medical School were students have to complete a local language course for them to graduate.
According to Karabo Ramugondo, MA African languages and Linguistics, said the new policy would “ensure a multilingual institution where more than one language can be used for conceptualisation, thought and knowledge production.”
“We live in a multilingual and multicultural environment and this shift in policy allows for the development of the African languages beyond them being used as languages of communication at home,” said Ramugondo.
Read this article in isiZulu
