by Natalia Ribeiro | Jul 29, 2011 | Featured 1, News
Fake products being sold on campus are not a big issue for students and vendors who say they benefit from the flea market at Wits.
The flea market, set up around the library lawns on Main Campus at the beginning of each term, is organised by the SRC with the assistance of the Student Development and Leadership Unit (SDLU).
According to Siddeeq Omar, SRC entrepreneurship and skills development portfolio holder, students have a chance to buy whatever they need and like at the market. “It’s up to the willing buyer to decide whether to buy knockoffs (due to freedom of enterprise). This is South Africa, you can’t put constraints,” he says.
Omar says the market encourages entrepreneurship within arts and crafts, jewellery and winter apparel. He claims it’s a beneficial event as it generates SRC funds and income for the vendors. “It enhances the social activity and creates a culturally diverse atmosphere.”
George Maina, one of the store holders who often shops at China Mall and China City Wholesale Market behind Ellis Park, sees no wrong in selling fake goods.
“At the end of the day, it’s just money,” Maina says. But the vendors claim they don’t attempt to deceive the consumers into thinking they are purchasing legitimate items.
Maina and his 23-year-old colleague, both from Kenya, say the products are more expensive at shopping malls “just because of the label”, but they are “the same quality, the same stuff” as products sold on campus.
Besides, shop owners have to pay for rent, electricity and staff, they say. They claim shops often buy goods from the same place as street vendors.
Students interviewed said they were aware that the products were not legitimate but didn’t think this was a bad thing. Third year construction management student Phendla Phendla says the market on campus “makes life easier because I don’t have to go all the way downtown” to shop.
Caroline Mahani, 1st year law, says: “I love fake stuff, because it’s much cheaper and more affordable.”
by Natalia Ribeiro | May 27, 2011 | News
Cellphones aren’t just popular for their innovative functions, built-in cameras and pretty looks but also because they make Witsies who are “armed” with them feel safer and more connected to the world.
Aside from offering the function of making and receiving calls, cellphones have many innovative functions such as texting, Bluetooth and internet; mobiles are now also seen as a safety feature.
“I got on the wrong bus once and it dropped me off in the middle of nowhere. If I do get lost I always have a backup because I have my cellphone on me,” says 1st year computer science student Madeeha Laher.
Many university students have had a cellphone since 10 years of age and say they would often turn back to get their cellphone once they realised they had left it behind.
“I do run back to get my cellphone if I forget it,” says Laher.
Second year electrical engineering student Sabelo Thiyane feels carrying a cell phone is “like a tradition”. “My mum was pregnant [in labour] and wanted me to call the ambulance,” Thiyane says.
Many of the students felt the reason they felt safer was that it kept them connected in case there was an emergency. “If you collapse or something and they need to look for your mother’s phone number, at least you’ll have your cell phone with you,” says 2nd year BA student Lerato Mufamadi.
British paramedic Bob Brotchie created the ICE (in case of emergency) programme in 2005 which enables first responders, such as paramedics and police officers, to identify victims and contact their next of kin to learn important medical information.
The programme encourages people to enter emergency contacts in their mobile contact list under the name “ICE”.
Thiyane and friends say that even though they felt safer with their mobiles on them, in “high risk” places such as Bree Street taxi rank and places with lots of people they didn’t feel as safe.
“If someone comes up to me and wanted my cellphone I’d give my cheaper one,” says Thiyane. Carrying a cheaper second cell phone was a common habit among the circle of friends.
by Natalia Ribeiro | May 27, 2011 | News
An adaptation of The Amazing Race show was held on campus in support of the Palestinian cause on Saturday May 21.
The Amazing Race Palestine was organized by the Muslim Students Association (MSA) together with the Al – Quds Foundation SA. The event was aimed at educating participants about Palestine and showing support to the Cape to Gaza convoy.
MSA executive member Zaakir Mayet, who came up with the idea, said the Palestinian issue is very unique. “The Palestinian cause is a continuous cause. It has continued for 63 years. That is why we thought we needed to raise awareness.”
Humairaa Mahomed, who acted on behalf of Al – Quds, said: “Hopefully, everyone that came will go home knowing more about Palestine.”
Each team (of two) had to complete challenges related to the Palestinian history, culture, people and current situation.
One of the participants Atiya Mosam, an ex Witsie medical doctor, described the event as an “interactive way of learning”.
Said Elnamrouti, a PhD public and development management student who is from the Gaza Strip, came to watch the event and support the cause.
“Our people deserve to be free”, he said, adding he was happy to see such activities happening at Wits.
“The 1994 conciliation [in South Africa] gave the Palestinians motivation. The occupation will be over some day. We can continue to struggle,” he said.
Organizers waited with the clues at each of the 15 stations around Main Campus and JCE, and the race went on for about three hours.
“The occupation of Palestine resonates with the South African experience of apartheid. Palestinians are forced to carry and produce their identity cards to any Israeli official … You must now get your id book signed at the SRC office in the Matrix,” said clue number two.
The winners, who got a laptop each, were Mohamed Moolla, a 2nd year dentistry student, and Nabeelah Madhi, a 2nd year BSc student.
It was “tiring and very fun”, they said, also emphasising the informative aspect. Madhi said she would read the clues again carefully when she got home.
According to the organizers, 19 tickets (R50 per team) were sold. They weren’t expecting that many participants, but Mayet said: “The Palestinian cause doesn’t depend on numbers, it depends on motivation.”
by Natalia Ribeiro | May 27, 2011 | News
Wits is investigating a case of alleged rape at Ernest Oppenheimer Hall of Residence.
The case was reported by residence security on records dated May 14 at about 4am. The investigation involves a male resident of EOH and a female student at Wits.
According to the security record, the male student had two female friends visiting his room. They allegedly consumed alcohol after watching movies and fell asleep.
A neighbouring resident was alerted by the girl’s “screaming and shouting in the courtyard area,” said Nazime Randera, assistant registrar of the Parktown residences.
“I was called on Saturday morning at 7:05 by the hall co-ordinator who was informed by a neighbouring student,” he said. Randera added the student who reported it to the hall co-ordinator is part of the residence house committee.
The complainant was accompanied to Milpark Hospital and advised to see the head of Campus Health. “We’ve arranged the proper support and counselling,” said Randera. “We won’t sweep this under the carpet.”
The accused was allegedly arrested but has since been released. Only one of the female students has laid a complaint.
“The proper instruction was given to him [the accused], so he won’t speak to the complainant.” The male student is currently not allowed to have any form of communication – verbal or electronic -with the girl.
“I’m not at liberty to suspend the student from residence until a formal hearing has been held,” Randera said.
“We view allegations of this nature in a very serious light. We’re not trying to wash our hands of this matter. All the relevant parties [Campus Control, legal office and the dean of students] have been notified.”
Director of Campus Control, Robert Kemp, said: “There is a set protocol in place for dealing with an incident of this nature, Campus Control followed this protocol.” Kemp said the matter is being addressed by the legal office.
According to residence rules, overnight visitors are not allowed. “We’re also looking at this infringement of the residence rules,” Randera said.
Bongani Machabe, chairman of the EOH house committee, said he was not made aware of the incident.
“I heard people talking in passing at res. We’re planning to meet with Nazime this week to talk about it,” he said.
The Counselling and Careers Development Unit (CCDU) held a series of seminars last week at residences as part of their annual awareness campaign on sexual harassment. Students at EOH received an email which encouraged them to attend the workshop, “due to a number of unpleasant incidents which were recently reported in the residences”.
by Natalia Ribeiro | May 19, 2011 | News
Youngsters are losing faith in South African politics, the Youth Trax research has revealed.
The study, carried out by the Youth Dynamix (YDx) reaserch group, revealed that 64% of youngsters between 16 and 29 years old believe politics is not important.
Among the same age group, it was also found that 89% think the South African government has failed to keep its promises.
Boitumelo Mhlongo, a 2nd year BA student, said she is “not into South African politics” and wouldn’t vote in Wednesday’s municipal elections because “it’s stupid” and “they do nothing for no one”.
“They always make promises and nothing ever gets done. All you see is pretty people saying things to you and then you vote. That is money in their pockets and you are left hungry, poor and with no water for a whole month,” she said.
She added that it doesn’t matter which party is in power because “none of these people have done anything”.
The study measured attitudes towards politics and the government, and 1800 respondents between 13 and 29 years old were polled.
Nqobizitha Ngulube, a 1st year BA law student, said: “Now it’s all about revenge [in South African politics], not about the development of the country.”
High levels of unemployment was one of the main reasons for the “loss of hope” in the country, according to the research.
The Quarterly Labour Force Survey, a study published at the beginning of the month by Statistics South Africa, showed that “among those who were unemployed [between January and March 2011], approximately 1.9-million were new entrants into the labour market, which is 43,4% of the unemployed”.
Compared to a year ago, “the number of [unemployed] new entrants increased by 81000”. This number of people could almost fill FNB Stadium (Soccer City).
Dropping education standards and escalating crime were other reasons mentioned by youngsters in the YDx study.
The research also revealed that 40% of young people between 16 and 29 years old intend leaving the country, although they claimed to be “proudly South African”.
First year civil engineering student Muhammad Chothia said he is “definitely proud of being South African”.
“I intend to work overseas but come back and settle down here”. He said he is part of the youngsters who still have faith in the government.
by Natalia Ribeiro | May 11, 2011 | News
The drinking and driving law could get a lot tougher as the government contemplates a zero alcohol limit proposal.
John Motsatsing, chief director of road regulation in the department of transport, said the government is seriously considering imposing a total alcohol ban for drivers.
“Irrespective of how many drinks you’ve had, you cannot judge if you are over the alcohol limit because you are not an expert,” he said. “So why can we not say no drinking at all if you are driving?”
Micah Reddy, a history honours student interviewed while having a drink at the PiG – the Postgraduate Club on East Campus – said: “The state shouldn’t be a nanny state. Let reasonable people be reasonable.”
Given the massive death rate on roads, Reddy sees the need for tight regulations in the interest of public safety. “But it’s reasonable to have a limit, not a total ban,” he said. He added that the government should “rather spend the money on enforcement than tighten up the regulation”.
The limit in South Africa is 0,05g of alcohol per 100ml of blood, according to the National Road Traffic Act. This roughly means that for a person weighing 70kg, the legal limit can be reached by consuming two cans of beer.
One of the staff members at the PiG said their business may be affected if the proposal is approved.
Lowering the limit is not a solution, according to ecology masters student Don Tie. “I don’t think the problem is the current limit. The problem is if you are exceeding the limit.” Like many students, Tie has been stopped at a roadblock, but he wasn’t breathalysed.
The blood alcohol content calculations depend on other factors such as weight and the amount of alcohol in a drink. Reddy says a zero limit would be “more democratic” in that sense because everyone would be held to the same standard.
Some countries such as Norway and China adopt a 0,02g/ml blood alcohol content limit, which allows a margin for measurement errors to avoid criminalising people for having medicines or products that contain low levels of alcohol like chocolate liquor.
by Natalia Ribeiro | Apr 15, 2011 | News
THE Youth Communist League (YCL) has accused the DA Youth’s financial aid campaign, launched on campus on Wednesday, of being a “contemptible stunt”.
In preparation for the upcoming municipal elections, the Democratic Alliance Students’ Organisation (Daso) released the “Make Financial Aid Work” campaign on April 13 to address students’ financial aid crisis.
Daso’s campaign contains five key proposals to reform the National Student Financial Aid Scheme of South Africa (NSFAS).
The YCL national office said the DA campaign is an “electioneering and publicity stunt” as the proposals are already in processes of being implemented.
The proposals include the conversion of loans into bursaries for students who perform better in their final years, reforms in the way interest is charged and the implementation of socio-economic status rather than race as criteria for NSFAS allocations.
According to the YCL, the suggested reforms “are either in the minister’s action plan or have already been recommended by the NSFAS review report, and are being implemented”.
Nazley Sharif, chairperson of Daso Wits, responded to the critiques saying: “Many of the draft proposals currently on the table, including that loans be converted to bursaries at a rate linked to academic performance, are unique.
“There has been no prior undertaking by the minister to implement them, hence the report by the ministerial review committee on NSFAS that has essentially dubbed the system a massive failure.”
The DA Youth claimed that protests by students on campuses have gone on for too many years without a satisfactory improvement in the financial aid situation.
The campaign is therefore designed to give students a “constructive alternative platform through which to voice their concerns”, said Sharif.
After consultation with students, who are encouraged to share their financial aid stories on the campaign’s Facebook page, a memorandum document will be presented to the minister of higher education and training, Blade Nzimande, by the DA Youth leader, Makashule Gana, on May 12.
Daso, which is campaigning on all campuses, plans to host the DA’s mayoral candidate Mmusi Maimane in the second week of next term to address Wits students and discuss the financial crisis. The event will be open to the public.
by Natalia Ribeiro | Apr 14, 2011 | News
AFTER 2 years Barnato students are still complaining about pigeons breeding in the residence roof.
Branato’s roof makes a perfect nesting site and apparently the floor by the entrance area is constantly stained with pigeons’ droppings. Residents say the birds are dirty and annoying.
On Monday March 14, Thato Kolobe, a Barnato resident, said she saw a dead pigeon near the entrance. By the following morning the dead bird had not yet been removed.
Lindokhule Mthombeni, another resident at Barnato, claims the cleaning team waste a lot of water every morning washing the stains away, but by lunch time the floor is dirty all over again and it stinks. She would rather not have the pigeons around but she doesn’t believe she has a choice.
Barnato’s house committee is not planning on solving the problem. Chairperson Kwaku Adzatia said “it’s a wild life issue” and the pigeons can’t be blamed, so “people must try and be careful”.
Adzatia has been there since 2009 and, according to him, the accommodation office has tried to come up with solutions but nothing has worked because the birds just moved to another part of the residence.
According to Robert Sharman, head of residence life, there has been a recent proposal involving the installation of fine netting under the trusses upon which the pigeons roost at night. This should prevent the birds from nesting at the site.
Dr Craig Symes, whose research at Wits school of animal, plant and environmental sciences covers ornithological topics, said pigeons on campus don’t pose a health hazard. However, “in areas where faeces may accumulate beneath roosts it may become unhygienic”.
According to Miriam Buthelezi, team leader of Caravone Cleaning Services, the company in charge of cleaning the residence, the stained floor is hose washed four times a week.
Gina Arena, a masters student at Wits avian physiological ecology lab, said pigeons might carry diseases but not at a level that should worry students.
Symes said screens can be put around buildings to restrict pigeons’ access and architects can be taught how to design buildings unfriendly to birds.
by Natalia Ribeiro | Apr 8, 2011 | News
E-mail campaigns are calling on South Africans to take action against the latest increase in petrol prices.
The petrol price was increased by 54 cents a litre on Wednesday, April 6. Gauteng motorists are now paying R9,96 per litre for 95 octane petrol and R9,48 per litre for diesel.
As fuel prices increase, e-mail and Facebook campaigns urging consumers to boycott the “two biggest overseas oil companies”, namely BP and Shell, have started to circulate, targeting young people.
First year accounting science students, Sasha Zimmirmann and Gladys Kubae, say putting pressure on overseas companies could work because “if less people demand it, then they would have to drop the prices”.
Their classmate Naeem Vawda disagrees. He says petrol is a necessity and people want it, so only a few consumers would join the campaign. “It wouldn’t have much effect on the prices,” he says.
The internet messages invite consumers to “join the resistance” by supporting “local is lekker” brands, such as Engen, Sasol and Excel.
Dewandre Lawrence, a 2nd year BA student who buys petrol from Shell because that is the closest garage to his house, says: “South Africa relies on overseas fuel. Supply is not going to be enough for all of us [if consumers boycott overseas companies],” so the resistance is not a good idea. He also says he doesn’t want to use public transport.
A month ago Vuvuzela reported on how the rising petrol prices have adversely affected students’ lunch budgets.
The Middle East political turmoil has been pushing up the fuel price but the increase in crude oil prices, still under recovery, is not only to blame.
The department of energy says the other reasons for the 54c hike are a 10c fuel levy, an 8c levy for the Road Accident Fund and a 7c increase in inland transport costs, due to tariff adjustments in the replacement of the Johannesburg-Durban petroleum pipeline.
The latest hike is the biggest single increase in two years.
by Natalia Ribeiro | Mar 31, 2011 | News
OMG, LOL, BFF and “♥ to heart” can now be found in the Oxford English Dictionary.
The latest set of online updates in the dictionary (OED) was released last week, generating controversy.
The inclusion of texting and internet-inspired initialisms – abbreviations consisting of the initial letters of expressions, such as “oh my God” and “laughing out loud” – has caused mixed reactions.
English professor at Wits school of literature and language studies, Victor Houliston, said: “The underlying question is: ‘what is a dictionary for?’ Is it to prescribe how words should be used, or is it merely a guide to the way words are actually used?”
According to him, most people instinctively tend to be “uneasy about the inclusion of words with dubious legitimacy”. His view was backed by students’ responses.
Lufefe Boss, a 2nd year BA African literature student, said: “I do not think that including such vocabulary in an acclaimed dictionary such as the Oxford will serve the purpose of why people consult dictionaries.”
“What next will we have? Smiley faces and refresh buttons part of the dictionary?” said Nandi Ganda, a 2nd year BA linguistics student who thinks the use of this “cyber slang” is limited to very few environments.
Kelly Harris, Kayleigh Rabie and Daniella Sleigh, 3rd year BEd students and teachers in training, think that the OED’s update might give students the right to use slang in academic writings, making it harder for essays to be taken seriously.
“The Oxford Dictionary is seen as a high academic ‘resource’ and by having OMG, LOL etc. in the dictionary, it takes away the high standard that it carries with it,” they said.
Associate professor of sociolinguistics Tommaso Milani disagrees with his colleague’s point of view that “we should try to stick to plain English and accepted rules of grammar”.
Milani said the update is very positive in a way that it acknowledges the importance of internet language in contemporary society.
“I like the fact that there is diversity in the language and I’m happy that authoritative sources, like dictionaries, mirror that diversity rather than suppressing it,” he said.
The latest update revised more than 1900 entries. The OED publishes four updates each year and the next one is in June.
by Natalia Ribeiro | Mar 28, 2011 | News
The majority of students at Wits see close relatives, especially parents, as role models.
On Tuesday, Vuvuzela asked Witsies on Main Campus who their role models are. Although the results demonstrate a wide variety, including political leaders and celebrities, mothers top the list.
Amnesty International Wits co-deputy chairperson and treasurer Pearl Pillay said if she were to choose one person that she admires it would be her mother.
“She embodies the qualities of a strong, independent woman, but she also manages to balance that by being that nurturing, motherly figure,” she said.
The second most common answer was “myself”. Pillay said she is a firm believer in the power of the individual.
According to her, “we, too often, look outside, to Hollywood and other aspects of pop culture. If we have enough belief in our own potential, then we wouldn’t need to look to someone else to find what is actually latent in us all”.
SRC president Mukovhe Masutha said his role model is his aunty. “She made me realise the importance of education and turned me from a boy herding cattle to the president of the SRC.”
The survey also made clear that media plays a large role in setting trends. Many students said they are inspired by celebrities, such as musicians, TV presenters and businessmen, for example DJ Kent, Nonhle Themba, Patrice Motsepe, Steve Kardynal and Donald Trump.
Athletes were also a common answer. Wits sports council chairperson Brendan von Essen said his role model is Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar, “because he walked”.
Von Essen was referring to India’s match against the West Indies on Sunday, March 20. Tendulkar walked back to the pavilion as he nicked fast bowler Ravi Rampaul’s delivery, although he could have benefited from the umpire’s decision, who ruled him not out.
Traditional role models – Mandela, Gandhi, Jesus and Mohammed – were not left out. However, some students gave unexpected replies.
Njabulo Mhlungu, a BSc mining postgraduate student, said Hitler was his role model because he revolutionised Germany and rewrote history. “I think he was a genius in the way that he made people believe that what he was doing was right,” he said.
by Natalia Ribeiro | Mar 18, 2011 | News
I SAY Mexico, you say tequila. I say Jamaica, you say reggae. I say Australia, you say kangaroo. I say Iceland, you say brrr. I say Brazil, you say…
It’s funny how a country’s cultural diversity can be reduced to a simple word. I have been in South Africa for a month now and every time I meet someone new and tell them I’m Brazilian I get the same stereotypical reaction: “Aww! Brazil?! Soccer, Carnival, beaches!”
It’s even worse when I get the “checking-you-out stare” because most people expect Brazilian women to be drop-dead gorgeous, to say the least.
Well I’m more of a countryside person, I don’t like the Carnival fuss, I actually cried when Brazil was knocked out of the World Cup and I’m definitely no Adriana Lima. But I guess 1 out of 4 doesn’t make me less Brazilian.
I’m not saying nationality stereotypes are always very far from the truth. Most Brazilians are indeed crazy about Carnival. A week ago, after Carnival, my Facebook news feed page was flooded with “hangover after partying like crazy 4 days straight” status updates.
Carnival is a festival traditionally held in Catholic countries that takes place 40 days before Easter, marking the beginning of Lent. Every year, four days before Ash Wednesday, Brazil nearly stops to hold its most popular – after the World Cup, of course – event.
But to make things clear, what you see on TV is the Samba Parade, which is a competition among samba schools, so people literally dress to impress.
As absurd as it may sound, I have had to explain to a few South Africans that I don’t dance around wearing nothing but feathers and heels. Cape Town’s Carnival is tomorrow, and I doubt I will see any varsity students parading along Long Street wearing a tiny bikini and body paint.
I suppose South Africans feel the same about misleading stereotypes when foreigners think they will come here and find monkeys running around the streets of Joburg.
What I like the most about South Africa is this mixture of people with such different backgrounds, and I refuse to shorten this richness into one word.
Now if I say Ireland, you will hopefully tell me a long story about how you spent St. Patrick’s Day yesterday.
Fake products being sold on campus are not a big issue for students and vendors who say they benefit from the flea market at Wits.
