by Sisa Canca | Sep 17, 2016 | Opinion
I’m sorry to say that the views you’re about to read can be extremely abhorrent and borderline unsophisticated. I am an exception in a world where beauty and advancement in women is gauged by the quality of nails, hair, eye lashes and the powder put on their faces. Instead, I appreciate exquisite beauty and I love simplicity.
It’s in my constitution to treat every woman with respect and tact. And despite my views on this particular topic, I don’t and will never treat women as subjects of my indecent judgement. I don’t think anyone should look good “for someone else” but as a human being I just happen to find a thrill when I see unblemished natural beauty. When I can’t see any of that around, I fret, which I guess is the reason for me to talk about this.
I love my African sisters. They are amazing in so many ways. Most of them have luscious lips, appetizing eyes and drop-dead fine faces. But I think most often that glamor is defaced by all these cosmetics.
I am not expecting ladies in 2016 to be backward dinosaurs but I always feel a burr in my chest when pure allure is buried beneath some insipid make-up, creepy lipstick, excessively weird nails and a weave.
We are being starved of black beauty by our black sisters who seem to have adopted in their minds an epitome of how a woman should look in contrast of true attributes of natural black women.
It’s basic common sense that you don’t tinker with something that needs no fix. I’m left wondering why you’re tampering with such beauty with your makeup. Part of the reason, I think, we were talking about draconian rules on black hair in former Model C schools two weeks ago is because whites have gotten so used to black people wearing weaves that it almost feels eccentric when a black girl embraces her uniqueness.
Those rules were wrong on at least two counts. One, they’re racist and secondly that they throttle nature and uniqueness. Dare I say that in my life I see only a few dozen black women with their natural hair. For many the experience of having “black hair” has become foreign.
In my opinion, genuine beauty is such a rare jewel. When I spot a beautiful, natural black woman, I don’t think twice about a compliment. Sometimes I compliment originality because originality nowadays is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.
There is a television commercial that speaks about character and to a broader extent genuineness. Towards the end of this advert, there is an important question that goes “take away his award, his car, his girlfriend. What does he have left?” and that’s the question I wish to ask every woman with bogus stuff all over her body. If you take away your artificial nails, hair, eye lashes, and lipstick. What do you have left?
I believe that perfection is when there is nothing to take away yet you almost feel like there is nothing more to add. Being beautiful is being yourself.
by Sisa Canca | Sep 17, 2016 | News
Batho Bothong, an NGO by Wits students is helping a group of children at Malaika Orphanage with schoolwork, food, clothes, sanitary towels and other necessities.
A GROUP of Wits students is offering aid to an orphanage in Hillbrow through their community outreach project, Batho Bothong.
The project helps 75 children, between the ages of two and eighteen from Malaika Orphanage Home with schoolwork through tutorial sessions twice a week and with items such as food, clothes, sanitary towels and stationary.
Batho Bothong volunteers tutor the children in Physical Sciences, Maths, Maths Literacy, Biology and English. The initiator of the Batho Bothong programme, Khutjo Maganyele, said they also help with homework and other assessments for other modules when the children need assistance.
Malaika orphanage founder Juma Sebichuwu said they have seen great improvement in academic performances of the children ever since Batho Bothong came on board in 2014.
“The results of what they [Batho Bothong] have been doing here are visible to us, to guardians of these children and to them as well. Their grades have improved a lot,” said Sebichuwu.
Malaika orphan Nondumiso Mlambo, 18, is starting the first of year of her law degree at the University of Johannesburg. She said if it wasn’t for Batho Bothong, she would not have achieved the grades that secured her a place at university.
“The programme really helped us. We were a group of three girls (doing matric) and we all passed. If it wasn’t for the project we wouldn’t be where we are right now,” said Mlambo.
They also organise motivational seminars for the children to motivate them. Maganyele said it is necessary to instil positivity on children who are determined about their education and goals in life. “The kids are passionate about where they want to go in future. And they are such a bunch of kids, full of joy and potential,” said Maganyele.
Maganyele said he took a conscious decision to start the project as a result of the struggles he faced when he was in his first year at university as someone from a poor background.
“In my first year, I struggled with my self-image. I had like three trousers and a few tops to wear. And I chose to focus on people who are worse off than me,” said Magabyele. He said he chose Malaika because of the “appalling conditions” he saw at the place.
The project was formed by Maganyele and seven of his Wits friends in 2014 with 15 volunteers at the time. They started with few kids and he says the number has grown ever since.
by Sisa Canca | Sep 5, 2016 | News
Students walk out of a round table discussion about student movements at the Jozi Book Fair.
(more…)
by Sisa Canca | Aug 22, 2016 | News
A second-year mechanical engineering UJ student who has been missing for weeks has been found in Cape Town.
University of Johannesburg (UJ) student, Ronewa Mamburu, who has been missing for over two weeks was found last Thursday in “a place of safety”, in Cape Town, according to his uncle. Justice Mamburu said he personally followed a lead to Cape Town and found Mamburu without the assistance of South Africa Police Service (SAPS) officials.
“I did my own investigation without any assistance from the police or anybody else”, Ronewa’s uncle.
According to the family, Mamburu, 19, was unharmed when he was found. Justice Mamburu said the family are allowing him time to settle down but he will be examined by a psychologist to check on his mental state.
Mamburu’s mother, Mkhumeleni Mamburu, said she is happy and relieved that her son has been found him safe. “I am very happy that we found him. I spoke to him over the phone yesterday and he sounds alright”, she said.
Mamburu is currently with his uncle in Welkom and the family say they have no explanation for his disappearance. “I didn’t want to ask him a lot of things at this point. I think he will speak when he’s ready and tell us what led him to leave without saying anything”, said Mkhumeleni Mamburu.
Mamburu, a second year mechanical engineering student, went missing on his way from his home in Limpopo to UJ’s Robin Crest residence at the Doornfontein Campus during the weekend of July 30.
by Sisa Canca | Aug 14, 2016 | Featured 1
2016 elections have come and gone, but how have parties fared in the student-centric area of Braamfontein. (more…)
by Sisa Canca | Aug 10, 2016 | Sport
Wits University’s two ladies’ basketball teams got off to a flying start in this year’s Wits Lady Bucks tournament winning all their matches against visiting teams from around southern Africa.
Playing at home, Wits Buck Ladies (WBL) opened their account with a close 27-20 victory over The Glen High School in court A. The Bucks then brushed aside neighbours Deutsche Schule Johannesburg (DSJ), 45-22.
A second Wits team, the Wits Lady Bucks (WLB) followed suit with another impressive start defeating Soweto Raptors 54-32 in the opening game. They will play their second game tomorrow evening.
21 matches were scheduled on Women’s Day but only 20 took place as the Mozambique versus Phoenix Flames game was postponed to Saturday, August 13.
The tournament, held in honour of women’s month, includes teams from different parts of the southern Africa including Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Swaziland along with local campus teams.
FULL RESULTS: 9 AUGUST
- ATown Ladies 56-14 Deutsche Schule Johannesburg (DSJ)
- Jozi Nuggets 34-40 North-West University (Vaal Campus)
- Griffinz 36-30 Katlehong Pelicans
- Michael Mount Waldorf 65-22 Monash SA
- Deutsche Internationa le Schule 30-49 Lakers Basketball Club Jnr
- ATown Ladies 53-31 The Glen High School
- Chisz Basketball Team 21-24 Katlehong Pelicans
- Katlehong Pelicans 49-11 Monash SA
- Lakers Basketball Club Snr 41-49 VandJ Women’s Basketball
- North-West University 23-30 VandJ Women’s Basketball
- Jozi Nuggets 43-47 Lakers Basketball Club Snr
by Sisa Canca | Aug 9, 2016 | Featured 1
A second year UJ student had been missing for more than a week now, and his family are still no closer to finding him.
A collage of images of missing UJ student Ronewa Mamburu. Photo: Facebook.
The mother of missing University of Johannesburg (UJ) student, Ronewa Mamburu says she is devastated by her 19-year-old son’s disappearance. Speaking to Wits Vuvuzela earlier today, Mkhumeleni Mamburu says ongoing rumours about the case are makes things worse. “I can’t explain how I am feeling … I didn’t even wake up today, something I am not used to”, says Mkhumeleni.
Mamburu, a second year mechanical engineering student, went missing on his way from his home in Limpopo to UJ’s Robin Crest residence at the Doornfontein campus during the weekend of July 30. He was last seen near the Gautrain train station in Johannesburg soon after disembarking the bus he was travelling in. According to reports given to the family, Mamburu apparently waited at the station for a friend while other passengers dispersed.
Mamburu’s uncle, Justice Mamburu, says the investigating officer has now received the relevant authorisation to access Mamburu’s phone and banking records to allow police to widen their investigation. Justice says he called Mamburu on July 30 and 31, but found that the missing man’s phone was off. “I called his mom to double-check if indeed he left home on Saturday. They told me he did and they couldn’t get him on his phone,” said Justice.
The family say they also followed up information from one of Mamburu’s friends that the young man had travelled to Pretoria to visit a friend. According to his uncle, Mamburu never visited his girlfriend and the friend later confessed to lying.
The case is being handled by the Hillbrow Police Station and the investigation into the phone and bank records, according to Justice Mamburu, is expected to last about a week.
by Sisa Canca | Aug 6, 2016 | Sport
Rio 2016 Olympics are finally underway. We recap on the opening ceremony and also take a look at South Africans taking part in different sporting codes this weekend.
With the scene beautifully set at the renowned Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro this morning, the opening ceremony signalled the official start of an intense excitement of 42 Olympic sport disciplines in one place.
The vivid ceremony celebrated not only Brazil’s multi-ethnic history, but global diversity as well. Samba music, with a bit of cat walk by supermodel Gisele set the scene before fireworks were shot from the Olympics rings.
Carlos Nuzman, president of the Rio 2016 Committee welcomed the world to the city. “I am talking to the whole planet. We welcome you to Rio, the Olympic city. We stand to deliver history. The Olympic dream is now a wonderful reality” said Nuzman in his address.
The South African team was led by the sprinter, Wayde van Niekerk, as the flag bearer for the first time. Our team stood out because they were wearing tracksuits whereas many other athletes turned out in formal wear. This received a mixed reaction back home, but Fox Sports gave the South African outfit top marks.
However, the mood is one of adrenaline-filled anticipation. South Africa has sent 137 athletes to carry the country’s flag in the Olympics for the 19th time in the history of the games. The country has 76 medals, of which 23 are gold, 26 silver and 27 bronze.
These records may not speak well for a country of South Africa’s standard in resources, yet in Wayde van Niekerk, Caster Simenya, Daryl Impey, SA Sevens, Banyana Banyana, Amaglug-glug, and many others, the country has all it takes to achieve the 10 medal target and upset the best-laid plans of countries who have dominated the Olympics over the years.
South African schedule of athletes who will be participating this weekend till Monday is as follows:
| Date |
Event |
Participants |
| Sat, 06 August
(2:30PM) |
Cycling
(Men’s Road Race) |
Daryl Impey and Louis Meintjes |
| Sat, 06 August
(3:30PM) |
Rowing
(Men’s coxless pair) |
Shaun Keeling and Lawrence Brittain |
| Sat, 06 August |
Swimming
(400m individual medley) |
Michael Julian Meyer (heat 2) and Sebastian Rousseau (heat 4) |
| Sat, 06 August
(6:02PM) |
Swimming
(400m freestyle) |
Myles Brown (heat 5) |
| Sat, 06 August
(8:04PM) |
Swimming
(100m breaststroke) |
Cameron van der Burgh (heat 5) |
| Sun, 07 August
(12:00AM) |
Football
(Women’s tournament) |
Banyana Banyana vs China |
| Sun, 07 August
(3:10PM) |
Rowing
(Women’s coxless pair) |
Lee-Ann Persse and Kate Christowitz |
| Sun, 07 August
(3:40PM) |
Rowing
(Women’s lightweight double sculls) |
Ursula Grobler and Kirsten McCann |
| Sun, 07 August
(4:20PM) |
Rowing
(Men’s lightweight double sculls) |
James Thompson and John Smith |
| Sun, 07 August
(5:00PM) |
Rowing
(Men’s coxless four) |
SA four |
| Sun, 07 August
(6:19PM) |
Swimming
(Men’s 200m freestyle) |
Chad le Clos (heat 5) and Myles Brown (heat 5) |
| Sun, 07 August
(7:16PM) |
Swimming
(Men’s 100m backstroke) |
Christopher Reid (heat 4) |
| Mon, 08 August
(12:00AM) |
Football
(Men’s u/23 tournament) |
SA under 23 vs Denmark |
| Mon, 08 August
(6:34PM) |
Swimming
(Men’s 200m butterfly) |
Chad le Clos (heat 2) and Sebastian Rousseau (heat 4) |
Please note: Gymnastics are not included because for the first few days it will only be qualifying.
Related articles:
Wits Vuvuzela; SA aims for 10-medal haul in Rio, 5 August 2016
Wits Vuvuzela; Olympic dreams for 2016, 27 July 2012
Wits Vuvuzela; The Olympics in numbers, 27 July 2012
by Sisa Canca | Aug 5, 2016 | News
Special votes took place two days prior the actual voting date of August, 3. We have one special voter telling us about his tedious journey on the day his voting, 1st of August.
BOX TICKED: Shaun in his workplace a day after he voted at Parkhurst. Photo: Sisa Canca
Putting a cross in a ballot box may seem like the easiest thing for most people, but Shaun* is one of those individuals who need assistance to make his mark. He cannot make a cross in a box owing to his physical disability which sees him confined to a wheelchair with little use of his arms and legs. At election time, he needs someone else to help him through the process.
Shaun is a 53-year-old white South African man who believes in the power of the ballot box. He’s been voting religiously since 1994 despite his inability to write on his own or even hold a pen with his hand. For him voting is a daunting process that involves being pushed around in his wheelchair and waiting in a queue. He says he hates the process but also feels that he needs to play a role in deciding on the governance of the country.
This past Monday, August 1, Shaun woke up early, as he usually does, to cast his special vote at the Parkhust Primary School in Randburg. Arriving at the voting station with his helper, Zodwa, Shaun asked one of the IEC officials to make a cross on his behalf but without giving any reason the official refused.
“No IEC representative could make a cross for me”, said Shaun. Zodwa came to his rescue, making the mark on his behalf. Shaun says it was the first time he had had someone from IEC decline to assist him which made him feel as if the voting process is not accommodating of people with disabilities.
His says he is not happy with various issues facing the country like the corruption, lack of jobs and the contracting economy. Shaun says he wants to be part of driving change in South Africa. “We need change, the corruption and all these other things are becoming impossible to bear now. Without our collective votes, that change will never come,” Shaun said.
Shaun was among a record 700 000 registered special voters for this year’s municipal elections. Those are the people who, by law, applied for special voting because they couldn’t travel to the voting station on Election Day for a variety of reasons including disability or pregnancy. Others registered because they couldn’t be in their respective regions on the day and thus voted on predetermined special voting days, August 1 and 2.
Related articles
Wits Vuvuzela; The 2016 elections so far, 3 August 2016
Wits Vuvuzela; Parties wrap up elections campaigns, 1 August 2016
Wits Vuvuzela; Elections leave LGBTI voters feeling voiceless, 2 August 2016
by Sisa Canca | Aug 5, 2016 | Sport
With football action already under, the Olympics will make an official headway this weekend beginning with the opening ceremony at the iconic Maracana Stadium today. The South African team has 137 athletes who will be trying to meet the 10 medal target.
When the Rio Olympics 2016 kick off officially on Friday, August 5, South Africa will be represented by a 137-member squad, 12 more than the team sent to the London Olympics in 2012.
Among the squad, are the likes of 800m star Caster Semenya, swimming sensations Chad Le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh and cyclist Daryl Impey.
South Africa also has a new crop of athletes on whom the nation’s hopes rest. These include track and fielders Wayde van Nikerk and Anaso Jobodwana, Juan de Jongh (sevens rugby) and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (cycling).
Other codes in which the country will participate include judo, rowing, golf, and men’s and women’s football.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee has set a target of 10 medals for the team. The 2012 team secured six medals, three of which were gold, two silver and one bronze.
Football games got underway on Wednesday, two days before the Olympic games officially opened. In the first round robin games in the women’s tournament, Banyana Banyana took on Sweden, playing to a UPDATE HERE BEFORE PUBLICATION result.
The so-called ‘Day minus 2’ (commencement of football action two days before the official opening) is the result of the number of games that need to be played within the 16-day event. With 16 men’s and 12 women’s teams, there are 58 matches to get through.
South Africa has two football teams, the under 23s (Amaglug glug) and Banyana. Amaglug glug are in group A with Brazil, Iraq and Denmark, whereas Banyana feature in Group E with Brazil, China and Sweden.
Related articles
Wits Vuvuzela; The Olympics in numbers, 27 July 2012
Wits Vuvuzela; Semenya seals the silver medal, 12 August 2012
Wits Vuvuzela; Olympic dreams for 2016, 27 July 2012
by Sisa Canca | Aug 2, 2016 | News
We are one day away from local government elections. Here’s a glimpse of what you should know and how the voting process works.
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by Sisa Canca | Aug 1, 2016 | Featured 2, Sport
The selection of three Wits FC players for the National University team has led to the postponement of their third round match with North-West University. (more…)
