by Pheladi Sethusa | Apr 24, 2013 | Featured 1, News
Earlier this year Gauteng City Region Observatory (GCRO) launched a photography competition, which ended with an exhibition of 62 of the most powerful photo’s received.
Entrants were asked to send through photographs of theirs which depicted their perceptions of the Gauteng City Region, said finalist and Witsie Thato Nkoane. Nkoane came in 4th place for her photo called ‘Johannesburg My City’, which was entered under the politics and governance sub topic.
“There were about 600 entries,” said Nkoane. The ecompetition was made open to students and staff af all university;s in the Gauteng region. The prizes offered were to the value of R15 000. Of wich Nkoane won R1000 and would like to use that money to buy herself a Lomography camera.
The final event came in the form of an exhibition at the FADA Gallery at UJ. There were over 250 people in attandance at the launch of the exhibition last week.
The judges were two photographers, Jodi Bieber and Roger Ballen. The third judge was Khwezi Gule who is the chief curator of the HectorPieterson Museum.
Potsiso Phasha, from GCRO said that “The exhibition, entitled ‘Portraits of a City-Region’, is an illustration of the Gauteng City-Region as a place we interact with with a strong ‘personality’ of its own and one with which we are constantly engaged in building relationships with.
GCRO ran the competition andexhibition in partnership with FADA Gallery at UJ. The GCRO is a partnership between the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of Johannesburg and Gauteng Provincial Government.
The top five winning images where taken by the following people (and appear below):
- Blaq Smith
- Jenna-Lee Ferrer
- Irene Lambrianos
- Thato Nkoane
- Martin Bolton
Winning photo, ‘Sunday Morning’ by UJ student Blaq Smith.
In second place, ‘F-CK’ by UJ student Jenna-Lee Ferrer.
Third place went to Irene Lambrianos from the Design School South Africa. Her photography is titled ‘City’.
In fourth place representing Wits, “My City” by Thato Nkoane.
In fifth place ‘The Asphalt’ by UJ winner, Martin Bolton.
by Pheladi Sethusa | Apr 24, 2013 | Featured 1
The Silent Protest at Wits happened last Friday, April 19.
by Pheladi Sethusa | Apr 19, 2013 | Featured 1
The chill in the air over the past weeks signals the onset of winter – and also the start of the annual Voice of Wits Winter Collection drive.
VoW aims to collect clothing and anything else that will keep people warm in winter. These items will be donated to those in need, according to marketing manager Lucky Mdaweni.
The organisers would be grateful for anything, from scarves and hats to blankets, he said. But they were particularly looking for clothing in good condition. “We don’t want any torn and tattered clothes.”
He asked that people wash their clothing before dropping them in one of the branded boxes placed around campus. Boxes can be found in various strategic spots, including residences.
DROP HERE: Vow FM has placed these collection boxes for winter clothing all over campus. Photo: Pheladi Sethusa
“We will distribute the items we collect to people in the Braamfontein area, as it is the community that supports the radio station,” said Mdaweni.
Wits Students in need would also benefit from the drive. VoW had a partnership with the Wits Volunteer Programme, which would distribute clothing to students on an anonymous basis, said Mdaweni.
The drive will run through the months of April and May and Vow will host on-campus promotions for the campaign.
by Pheladi Sethusa | Apr 19, 2013 | Featured 1
BAREFOOT BEAUTIES: From left to right, Nelisa Ngcobo, 2nd year BA, Mungi Llale, 4th year Dramatic Arts and Ziyanda Ngcobo, 3rd year BA. Photo: Pheladi Sethusa
Witsies braved stale urine, glass and camel droppings on April 16 when they came to campus barefoot in support of the One Day Without Shoes initiative.
The Wits Volunteer Programme (WVP) hosted an event to raise awareness for the drive, which aims to collect shoes for underprivileged children. Witsies attended the event barefoot to show their support and donated shoes.
A “path without shoes” was created on library lawns, from sand, dried grass, rocks and bits of Lego. The barefoot students were encouraged to walk across it to make them aware of how tough it could be to walk across these kinds of surfaces.
SHOES FOR WHO?: Students take on the “Path Without Shoes” to understand what it is like to live without shoes. Photo: Pheladi Sethusa
But perhaps a normal walk across campus provided the greatest challenge. Besides camels offering rides, and depositing droppings, on Library Lawns, Wits Vuvuzela caught the scent of urine in corners and saw broken glass on pathways.
“We take shoes for granted…in some developing countries some kids are not allowed to go to school if they don’t have shoes,” said Joanne Tomlinson, 2nd year BA and co-founder of the initiative at Wits.
Some kids were denied the opportunity to get an education, simply because they did not have shoes.Children also get cuts on their feet, which turn septic over time, she said. They caught diseases which were completely preventable.
One Day Without Shoes is an initiative that was originally started by the American shoe company TOMS. “For every pair of shoes they [TOMS] sell they give one away… They have actually handed out some in Diepsloot. They take each individual pair and fit it onto a kid’s feet. They don’t just drop the shoes off,” said Tomlinson.
Asked by Wits Vuvuzela how she had survived her day without shoes, Vivien Teijlingem, 1st year Fine Arts, said: “It’s nice for us to get to experience how tough it is walking without shoes, so we can care and understand what people go through.”
BSC student Khosa Solly,added: “We can feel the pain that they [children who go to school without shoes] feel today, which will raise awareness.”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l74rPUS-lA&w=560&h=315]
Tomlinson said she was grateful for the support the initiative had received from the WVP. Karuna Singh of the WVP attended the event barefoot.
Those who missed out on Tuesday can still donate shoes at the WVP offices in Senate House, Tomlinson said the shoes collected on campus would be given to the Bryanston Bible Church, who run a number of community outreach initiatives.
by Pheladi Sethusa | Apr 18, 2013 | Featured 1
ASSISTANTS: Pergan Naicker (left) and Victor Sithole (right) from the Wits Volunteer Programme tutoring in Alexandra.
Photo: Provided by Assist
Underprivileged children in Alexandra are scoring with some assistance from a non-governmental organisation, the African Sports and Scholastic Initiative for Students in Townships (Assist).
Harvard graduates started Assist last September to aid underprivileged children in Alexandra.
The name of the initiative is a clever play on a basketball term, which means helping someone score a goal. In this case, the assistance comes in the form of a mentorship system to tutor children in their school subjects.
Harvard graduates from the class of 2012 Dennis Zheng, Patrick Li and Ian Choe started the initiative in September 2012. This came after Zheng and Li had visited South Africa in 2011 to volunteer as basketball coaches at the Special Olympics South Africa.
On this 2011 visit they had the opportunity to work at different schools in Alexandra township with intellectually disabled children. Zheng said: “We then became connected with Harry Nakeng, a local community leader of the Alexandra Basketball Association (ABA), and began coaching basketball with township youth every afternoon.
“What Patrick and I discovered was a testament to the power of athletics; each day after school, 50 players of varying ages took to dusty courts in bare feet or their school shoes to learn the sport,” said Zheng.
The children made such an impact on Li and Zheng that they could not stop thinking about them. They decided to return to Johannesburg with their classmate Choe to found Assist. Zheng said: “The programme aims to leverage Alexandra township youth’s excitement about the emerging sport of basketball in order to catalyze students’ success in the classroom and ultimately improve their lives.”
The founders believe it is important to have a balance between sports and academics. Assist incorporates basketball to encourage physical, emotional and mental health, Zheng added. Sports also promotes a sense of camaraderie and helps to develop traits like discipline, he said.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LB2M1U2gwk?feature=player_embeddeThe initiative has teamed up with the Wits Volunteer Programme (WVP) to outsource tutors. “Forty five Wits students are tutors for the ASSIST project now,” said Karuna Singh who heads the WVP.
These students tutor on Monday to Thursday afternoons and on Saturdays. Assist provides the tutors with transport to Alexandra. They help with subjects like Maths and English, Singh explained.
Zheng agreed: “Their consistent mentorship leads to not only better marks from term to term but also empowers each child to develop and reach his or her life goals.”
The initiative continues to seek funding, Zheng: “We initially funded the first year of the programme through the generosity of supportive friends and family, but we are currently exploring local options for financial support while preparing for another world-wide fundraising campaign.”
Up until now, by April 2013, close to 60 learners have benefited from the initiative. If you wish to assist, and help children, then find out more about the initiative and go to:
theassist.org. You can also visit the WVP at Senate House, Ground Floor.
by Pheladi Sethusa | Apr 9, 2013 | Featured 1
Wits Vuvuzela journalist Pheladi Sethusa participated in a photo walk hosted by the Lomography Embassy store in Braamfontein this past weekend.
The idea behind the walk is for participants to hire out a lomography camera for R180, then go out and take photo’s. When you hire a camera you get to keep your film. You could bring your own camera and only pay R150 for the walk.
These are Pheladi’s images as she followed other enthused photographers as they roamed the quiet inner city that morning.
by Pheladi Sethusa | Apr 7, 2013 | Featured 1
Wits Vuvuzela journalist Pheladi Sethusa attended the Holi One festival in Johannesburg this weekend. She recounts the experience below.
RAINBOW OF COLOURS: What it looked like when we threw the colours at the end of a countdown. Photo: Pheladi Sethusa
‘Never in my life did I think I would have this much fun at an event that emanated from a religious practice.
I had wanted to attend from the minute I heard that Holi One (which later changed to We Are One) was coming to Johannesburg this year.
I had seen the Hindu colour festival on TV before and knew I had to do it at least once in my life.
I dragged my feet on getting tickets, which did not serve me well when they were sold out a few weeks before the event.
Luckily for me I know someone who knows someone and managed to get a ticket the day before.
Within in the first five minutes of walking into the venue some over eager festival go-er decided to throw some colour on me robbing me of the before picture I wanted to take.
15 000 people had bought tickets and those same 15 000 were on the grounds of Emmarentia Dam.
I imagined it would be chaotic but it really wasn’t. There were enough bars, food stalls and toilets to cater to everyone’s needs.
There was also ample space for people to move around. I never felt uncomfortable in the crowds.
AFTERMATH: Moments after the countdown colour throw – torturous to the lungs. Photo: Pheadi Sethusa
The highlight of the day for me, were the colour throws that happened every hour. Being in the crowd when they happened was the reason we were all there in the first place.
When you threw your colour up into the air it felt like a New Year’s countdown. Then it felt like you were in the midst of a dessert battlefield as all the colours came down and their residue hung in the air.
The music was great throughout the day. Various DJ’s made our bodies move to their sounds. Goodluck were the headline act and ushered us into the night beautifully.
They also announced that due to the support this festival had received, the band would be travelling to Germany for a Holi One festival later this year.
The festivities started at 11am and were due to end at 8pm. By the time 7pm came around, my feet and legs were done in for.
Towards the same time, none of us looked colourful anymore, just dirty.
It took me a full 40 minute shower to scrub myself clean and an additional 20 minutes to clean all the contents of my handbag. By which time I was exhausted from the day’s events.
WE WERE ONE: From left to right, Megan Hamilton-Hall, Paige Fenenga, Pheladi Sethusa and Kayleigh Pierce. Photo: Tracey Hamilton-Hall
I only began to understand the “we are one” title by the end of the day, when we all looked the same.
Even though we were all covered in a rainbow of colours, we all looked the same and indeed were the same.’
by Pheladi Sethusa | Apr 5, 2013 | News
Photo: Prelene Singh
*self-gratifying sigh*
Here I am. Fifteen years later. This is THE DAY it’s all been about.
The day I get a piece of very expensive paper that says: this girl is smart. This girl knows stuff and she deserves a shot at making that paper. This girl is finally a cog in the machine.
Okay, that is not where I was going with this but what the heck I’ll just roll with it. While I am super excited about this so called milestone, it is the beginning of the end isn’t it?
I have been in professional day-care for fifteen years and guess what? I just signed myself up for more. Because a degree isn’t enough anymore – I could very well work in sales for the rest of my life. Bleak prospect.
So I’m bumping myself up a bit, to get that deluxe you-deserve-a-job-ticket. I have decided to do this through the one thing I am good at, writing. Well two things I’m good at – writing and probing. But I fear that after I have completed my Honours in Journalism degree. It might not be enough, then what do I do?
Many qualified graduates in South Africa are left either jobless or stuck in less than desirable jobs once they have graduated. (This information comes courtesy of a Stats module I did.) I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
This piece is about the day that commemorates how far I have come. Somehow all the naps in lectures, Mike Ross-like skim reading and verbosity in essays have paid off.
Okay, let me stop being self-deprecating (holla to English Literature for that one). I actually did work my way through my undergraduate degree. Probably not as consistently as I would have liked, but I’m here.
I am very thankful for having indulgent parents who let me sign up for things that took my interest. They could have easily forced me to do something more “stable” that would make me a shit load of money. But they didn’t and I will always be thankful for that.
They let me have debates about Biko, the evils of capitalism and the origins of man. They let my young self, already keenly literary, truly bask in a plethora of works I would otherwise have never engaged with.
What I studied is directly proportional to the person I have become.
*drops mike and walks off stage*
by Pheladi Sethusa | Apr 5, 2013 | News
A GROUP of students are going to enter their very own solar car into the Sasol Solar Challenge in 2014.
Bradley Rautenbach, 4th year Mechanical Engineering, said the new Wits Solar Car will cost about R3 million to build if the team is to stand a chance of winning.
The core team members consist of three engineers and an accountant. They have 25 other people assisting them.
Chase Mitchel, 3rd year Mechanical Engineering, said that it was great that they have so many people on board at the moment but said he was certain that at least half of those people “will bail” along the way.
“We really need other people from different faculties whose different specialities will help the team,” said Kabelo Ngwenya, 3rd year Mechanical Engineering. Those specialists include Nick von Rovetz, 3rd year Accounting, who joined the team to help out with the financial side of things.
WITS SOLAR CAR: Bradley Rautenbach in the driving seat of last year’s solar car.
Photo: Provided
Last year, the team entered the same biannual competition and their solar car came in fourth place in their category.
The team was unanimous in their claim that funding was one of their biggest stumbling blocks. They simply did not have enough money to build a car that could compete with the winning car which had a $20 million budget.
“The new solar car will feature a semi-monocoque carbon fibre chassis bringing the total weight of the car to 150 kg where as the last car weighed 339 kg” said Bradley. Carbon fibre is most commonly used in Formula One racing cars.
“The materials needed this time around cost a lot more but will ultimately make for a better quality car,” said Ngwenya.
The design concept for the solar car drawn by Rautenbach can be seen on their posters all over campus.
The solar car will be named “Parhelion” which is the name of an atmospheric phenomenon, much like the one last year when there was a halo around the sun.
by Pheladi Sethusa | Mar 22, 2013 | Featured 1, News
SEXUAL HARASMENT COMMITTEE: Prof Pumla Gqola, Prof Tomasso Milani, Dr Mehita Iqani and Dr Colette Gordon. Photo: Pheladi Sethusa
Only a handful of students attended the open meeting held by the School of Literature, Languages and Media (SLLM) this past Monday.
The school has formed a sexual harassment committee consisting of school staff members Dr Mehita Iqani, Prof Pumla Gqola, Dr Colette Gordon and Prof Tommaso Milani.
At the meeting the committee members handed out their personal contact details so that students could feel free to speak to them discretely about sexual harassment. In addition the committee handed out pamphlets which included the information of relevent university structures dealing with sexual harassment issues.
Dr Iqani got the meeting going by saying that the committee were available to answer questions and give advice to students on sexual harassment issues. “We want to hear students’ views and opinions,” she added.The idea behind the meeting was to get students from the school to come together in a safe environment, so that they would feel free to talk about sexual harassment.
There were concerns about the impact of student views and opinions around the issue of sexual harassment. Prof Gqola reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to engage with students. “We want you to have a say – a direct one,” answered Gqola. The committee guaranteed that testimonies would be confidential and that no student would be punished for ever coming forward with information.
Some of the suggestions made by the students include:
- That both parties in any sexual harassment allegation need to be represented equally. The committee indicated that this can never be guaranteed because a reply from an alleged harasser for example is a matter of choice.
- Another student suggested that the school should look into creating a student council so that victims could talk to people they feel very comfortable with. The response to this suggestion stated that such a committee was already under construction.
- A running commentary from the floor was that the school had indeed taken a very positive step towards the sexual harassment issue by forming this committee.
A code of conduct is being drawn up by the school as a way of ensuring that everyone in the school knows what their rights and responsibilities are.
To close off the meeting the committee reiterated that they are in no position to action against perpetrators. Dr Gordon said: “It’s not about removing people, it’s about removing behaviours.”
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by Pheladi Sethusa | Mar 15, 2013 | Featured 1, News
The Student Affairs division at Senate House has started a drive to collect food and toiletries for students who are most in need of these items.
Ashina Sarawan, Projects Officer for Student Affairs said their mandate was to offer “social support” to students. This support cannot be monetary but they do aim to meet some of their immediate needs.
Some of the things students need support with are things like food, clothes and toiletries. There are a number of drives and campaigns that are run by the division and also through student initiatives through the Wits Volunteer Programme which supply the above-mentioned items for students.
At present a toiletry drive has been launched. The drive works on a donation basis whereby students and staff donate whatever toiletries they can and these are then distributed to students in need. The toiletry packs are gender specific, said Sarawan.
The food drive is a new project that the division started running towards the end of February. They are looking for small quantities of food and items like rice, beans, tinned food and maize meal.
DONATIONS: This is what has been donated thus far.
Photo: Pheladi Sethusa
When all the food is collected, the division will put together food packs. Sarawan said this block would be the collection phase of the groceries. During second block the groceries would be handed out.
To get access to some of the donated packs students need to go to the Student Affairs offices to explain their situation. It is a very transparent system that doesn’t discriminate against any student who comes forward.
“We understand that it is very hard for students to approach us, so we trust that no one would claim packs if they don’t need them,” stated Sarawan.
by Pheladi Sethusa | Mar 15, 2013 | News
DR LAST Moyo has stepped down as head of the Media Studies department pending an official investigation following allegations of sexual harassment published in the Wits Vuvuzela.
The paper reported that several former students are accusing Moyo of improper conduct and said ordinary encounters with him took on “sexual” overtones.
School of Literature, Language and Media head Libby Meintjes said the first she heard of these allegations was in the newspaper.
Meintjes said that she encourages those with allegations to make formal complaints for the official investigation.
As Wits Vuvuzela went to press, two of the alleged victims contacted the paper and said they had laid formal complaints against Moyo.
Separate from the official investigation, Meintjes said a sexual harassment committee is being put in place by the School to assist their students with sexual harassment issues.
The committee is made up of staff who volunteered and others chosen by Meintjes. It is different than the campus-wide inquiry currently taking place.
Wits Vuvuzela contacted some of Moyo’s alleged victims for comment on the recent developments.
They said they were pleased with the direction things were headed. They think the measures that are being taken will help them if they decide to formalise their complaints but weren’t sure if they would in take the matter further.
“I’m not sure I want to go any further than I have, I just want to move on. I do hope the investigation is taken seriously and deals with the matter,” said one of the accusers who asked for anonymity.
While an official investigation has been launched, Meintjies took issue with the way Wits Vuvuzela reported the story.
She said journalist Dineo Bendile should not have reported the story as she too had complained of Moyo’s behaviour.
Meintjes believes Bendile might be viewed as biased.
In addition to leaving his position as head of department, Moyo has also stepped down as assistant dean of Internationalisation and Partnerships.
The sexual harassment committee’s first order of business will be to hold a public meeting on March 18 at 1.15pm at SH6.
Its purpose is to inform students on what constitutes sexual harassment, how to deal with it and where they should go to report any incidences. Meintjes said that they hoped to facilitate discussion through their meeting.
