by Staff Reporter | Apr 16, 2014 | News
The Wits Great Debate is a series of four debates happening in the run-up to the national elections. Graphic: Wits Communications.
This week’s Great Debate will feature Fikile Mbalula (ANC) vs Mbali Ntuli (DA) vs Floyd Shivambu (EFF).
The debate takes place in the Wits Great Hall, Thursday, March 17 at 8pm.
Wits Vuvuzela has been advised that no more tickets are available for the event.
Visit the Wits University site for more detailed information.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 16, 2014 | News
UPDATE: Read our interview with the Head of the School of Law, Prof Vinodh Jaichand, where he says that current students will not be affected by the scrapping of the LLB.
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ORIGINAL STORY:
Wits University has endorsed a decision of the Wits School of Law to only offer the LLB degree at postgraduate level from 2015. The decision means that the four-year LLB degree will no longer be offered.
See the full statement below:
“WITS SCHOOL OF LAW TO DISCONTINUE THE UNDERGRADUATE LLB DEGREE IN 2015
The University of the Witwatersrand has approved the plan of the School of Law to discontinue the undergraduate Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) and to introduce the LLB postgraduate programme.
Following extensive discussions with members of the profession and academic colleagues, the Wits School of Law has decided to discontinue the undergraduate four-year LLB at the end of 2014. From 2015 all students with an interest in law will have to enrol in the postgraduate LLB programme which may take an additional two years for those who have completed the BA Laws or BCom Law. This is informed by the following reasons:
- Response from the legal profession: In meetings with law firms and members of the Bar, one assessment was uniformly received – the four-year undergraduate LLB does not adequately prepare students for the legal profession. This was further confirmed at the Society of Law Teachers of Southern Africa Conference held at the Wits School of Law in January 2014. Many point to the lack of maturity or awareness of the graduates to be given stewardship of clients’ affairs. Some firms of attorneys, who regularly recruit our graduates, employ them on the proviso that they complete additional academic qualifications, like such as the Bachelor of Laws Master degree. The proposed postgraduate LLB degree will enhance opportunities for the Wits School of Law graduates.
- Completion rate: Our statistics point to the fact that only 30% (higher than the national average of 25%) of students enrolled in the School of Law complete the undergraduate degree in four years. Therefore a significant number take five or more years to complete the degree while a proportion is excluded for failing too many courses. Consequently, the throughput of law graduates is reduced. The proposed postgraduate LLB will ensure that at least one degree is obtained at the university level as students will only be admitted to the School of Law if they are in possession of a prior degree.
- Entering the legal profession: It is estimated that about 50% of law graduates do enter the legal profession, if they are successful in securing a position as a candidate attorney. Some are compelled by financial hardship to go to the Bar immediately after graduation and find the learning curve to be too steep. Others enter allied areas such as civil society, international organisations, corporations and academe, to mention a few. The proposed postgraduate LLB degree will enhance opportunities for the Wits School of Law graduates.
“The rationale for the strategy is that a prior degree would already have prepared a prospective law student on the expectations of university education with some level of literacy, numeracy and exposure to the wider issues in South Africa and beyond, that are material in their understanding of law,” expands Professor Vinodh Jaichand, Head of the Wits School of Law.
This would mitigate the risk of exclusions from the study of law with the exposure to new areas of study.
“In addition there are many incomplete discussions on the future of the undergraduate LLB and the reform of legal education. It will be some time before reform takes place,” continues Jaichand.
“In the meanwhile, Wits cannot be a bystander to the challenges faced by law graduates, the legal profession and society,” he says.
The proposed postgraduate LLB will include additional courses in ethics legal research and writing course.
“A course in ethics will assist future lawyers to make the right decision in morally complex issues. While every lawyer is trained in the same way, issues of ethics have been assumed. Indeed, this is an issue of governance in our country today.”
The subject of ethics has also been identified by the Law Society of South Africa as a much needed subject in the law school curriculum.
“Furthermore, our discussions with the profession have identified the need for stronger research and writing skills. The postgraduate LLB will cater for this deficit,” explains Jaichand.
For queries contact Professor Vinodh Jaichand, Head of the Wits School of Law, on 073 959 2690 or email Vinodh.Jaichand@wits.ac.za”
by Staff Reporter | Apr 15, 2014 | News
This information is taken from the Wits News newsletter – for more information contact: wits.news@wits.ac.za
The Marikana Commission of Inquiry Phase 2 is hosting a number of public panel discussions at Wits University on the Underlying Causes of the Violence.
Panel Discussion 3: Violence and Industrial Relations
Date: 16 April 2014
Time: 14:00 – 17:00
Venue: Wits Club, Braamfontein Campus West
by Staff Reporter | Apr 2, 2014 | Featured 1
by Staff Reporter | Apr 1, 2014 | News
The medical benefits of marijuana have long been debated. Does it help to curb pain? Can chronic weed smoking make you crazy? Can smoking weed become an addiction?
This week’s episode of The Science Inside examines the science of smoking weed. The prospect of weed being made legal in South Africa, the medicinal benefits, its impact on mental illness and how addiction works in the brain are discussed with a number of medical professionals, including psychiatrist Yusef Moosa.
Listen to the full podcast here.
by Staff Reporter | Mar 27, 2014 | News
Being broke is a staple of student life. The diet of energy bars and two-minute-noodles is practically mandatory for anyone getting a degree.
But what is the craziest thing you would do to get your hands on some cash? Wits Vuvuzela asked Witsies around campus.
by Staff Reporter | Mar 26, 2014 | News
Given the controversial findings of the Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s Nkandla Report late last week, the media has been abuzz with possible implications of the report.
Some political parties have said the enough evidence in the report to have President Jacob Zuma impeached.
Wits Vuvuzela found out what some Witsies have to say about this. You can also view our gallery on Facebook.
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by Staff Reporter | Mar 26, 2014 | News
The following letter to the editor was received from Ms Gita Pather, Director of the Wits Theatre in response to a recent article: No sign of love for ‘deaf’ play.
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“I need to express my dismay at your article titled “No sign of love for deaf” play”. It may have been your intention to shed light on a perceived disgruntlement about a play that includes a deaf role played by an hearing person in this case a Drama student enrolled within the WSOA but is rather shoddy journalism that should have addressed the issues in a balanced and informed manner especially since the focus of attention is a young, sensitive female student with the very best of intentions.
The journalist is obviously a student as well who should be guided a little more and that is why this letter is addressed to you as the editor.
It’s sensationalistic and ignores some of the very fundamental stances related to artistic freedom and in fact the freedom of speech and expression (surely located at the heart of journalism?). A more valuable approach for your readers would have been to tease out those very issues: the rights of the deaf community in relation to artistic freedom/freedom of expression and the arts as a profession.
[pullquote align=”right”]”Dr Kaneko is entitled to her views but the study of drama and performance is really quite specific”[/pullquote]
You have attempted to capture the sentiments of “members of the Wits Community” and they are referred to as such … vague and completely disregarding the fact that this university is as diverse as the society it is sited within. There is no “wits community” and to state it as such is to assume that we all share the same values, backgrounds, ideologies and that is plainly not true.
In your view, who are these members? Do they include students and staff on this campus who are actually studying/teaching drama and who prize and would defend the right to artistic freedom as strongly as any other lobby? ?
Would that not have been more balanced reporting since you saw fit to include rather strong emotive statement from Dr Michiko Kaneko? Dr Kaneko is entitled to her views but the study of drama and performance is really quite specific and actually requires an understanding of the totality of what the curriculum involves including the sanctity of the creative and artistic vision.
“The deaf community on campus and related stakeholders are entitled to their views”
The Deaf community on campus and related stakeholders are entitled to their views but it needs to be balanced against the rights of artistes to practice their craft without pandering to every viewpoint.
The theatre is an arena of constant contestation: it is about educating, inspiring, provoking, making statements about life in all its complexities . But as importantly it is absolutely personal , a sum total of a particular artistic viewpoint on a subject, the world, our community Actors are called actors because they “act”.
[pullquote]”The play has not been staged yet so exactly what is at issue here?”[/pullquote]
That is the nature of performance and we are all engaged in teaching our Drama and performance students about that art and it is an art. To presuppose that just anyone can “act” is ridiculous and rubbishes a art form that is actually one of the oldest professions in the world.
What is even more dismaying is that the play has not been staged yet so exactly what is at issue here … the fact that there is a hearing person playing the role of a deaf person? Amy de Wet is a student studying performance and how to be an actor. She is the director and has the final say on the play. In the creative industries, it is always the director’s prerogative.
It may turn out to be a stinker of a play or it may be fabulous. The Wits Theatre upholds the rights of all students and artistic practitioners to fail because performance, directing and acting is not about absolutes, it is about process. This is even more important because Amy is a student here and has the same rights as any other member of the Wits “community”.
I think you need to revisit the issue in a more balanced and informed way.
Regards,
Gita Pather
Director, Wits Theatre
by Staff Reporter | Mar 25, 2014 | News
What is the state of South Africa’s science education? This week’s episode of The Science Inside followed a trip to SciFest Africa in Grahamstown (a science event geared toward inspiring school children with science) to answer this question.
Along the way stories from the festival, including one about robots, another on the future of hydrogen and rocket-powered cars, idols for scientists, and a couple of marine biologists who work with fishing communities to make sure they can keep their businesses afloat.
Listen to the full podcast here.
by Staff Reporter | Mar 24, 2014 | News
Last week, Wits was a hot bed of student action during Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW). Scores of students took to the library lawns and media platforms to fight for their cause. This fight was, for many, a fight for human rights.
One cannot deny the legitimacy of this cause. No matter what side people are on, we understand the contestation and the need to bring issues of human rights to light.
The principle of human rights activism, as we interpret it, is to stand against the violation of human rights in any and all situations. But why is it that human rights violations on our doorstep fade in the shadow of international causes?
Last week, Wits Vuvuzela published a story about the torture of homeless people by police outside the Methodist church in Braamfontein. This without a doubt is a gross violation of human rights, but the reaction was muted. No questions were asked and no support was shown for the victims.
[pullquote]Activism should not be something that happens in shifts, there should be no “off” days for activists. [/pullquote]
Yet some Witsies were quick to take to the Twitter streets to complain about “misleading” IAW coverage in Wits Vuvuzela.
Activism should not be something that happens in shifts, there should be no “off” days for activists. While it is inevitable that people will feel closer to certain causes, it is problematic to ignore or hold in a lesser regard other issues of human rights violations, particularly those that are happening on our doorstep.
Where were our human rights activists when the Marikana miners were gunned down? Better yet, where were our human rights activists when our students were being sexually harassed?
Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “Our lives begin to end the day we keep quiet about things that matter”. When the people who should say something say nothing, humanity slowly whittles away and before we know it, it’s “okay” to disregard certain rights and certain people as being less important.
[pullquote align=”right”]When we can, we must make some noise, raise our voices above oppression and ultimately be the change that we want to see in the world.[/pullquote]
If all human rights are fundamentally equal and important, then the homeless people brutalised by the police in Braamfontein should garner the same support and raise the same level of passion between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian activists on campus.
Wits has always been a site of activism. The likes of Nelson Mandela and Ruth First paved the road to democracy on this very ground. They fought for us all, none more important than the other. If it had not been for them, we would not be here today.
We owe it to them, ourselves and future generations to ensure that human rights are afforded to everyone. When we can, we must make some noise, raise our voices above oppression and ultimately be the change that we want to see in the world.
by Staff Reporter | Mar 14, 2014 | News
by Palesa Monaleng
On 30th July 2013 the Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Act was signed into law by the president of South Africa. Finally, torture is a crime in South Africa. According to the act, “torture means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person” for purposes including obtaining information or a confession; for punishment; or intimidation or coercion to prevent someone from doing something; or “for any reason based on discrimination of any kind.”
Wits Justice Project attorney Megan Geldenhuys confirmed that the attacks on the homeless on Johannesburg’s Rissik street amounts to torture within the definitions of the act.
With the historical lack of legislative provisions, torture has been carried out with impunity for far too long. And now that it has been criminalized, it is necessary to ensure that its provisions and safeguards are speedily communicated to every law-enforcement official and member of the judiciary.
How will the desk-sergeant in a rural police station in Mpumalanga know the difference between acceptable and excessive use of force? Training, sensitisation and human rights education is crucial at this stage of South Africa’s history.
Monaleng is a researcher at the Wits Justice Project. They can be contacted on: (011) 717 4686 or visit:witsjusticeproject.com
by Staff Reporter | Mar 14, 2014 | News
Ariela Carno is the national chairperson of the South African Union of Jewish Students. Photo: Provided
THE LANGUAGE we use and the way in which we frame a situation defines our everyday reality.
If we frame something in the positive as opposed to the negative, it is very likely to change the outcome of the situation. That, in principle, is one of the underlying issues that I have with the week known as “Israeli Apartheid Week”.
Putting aside the fact that the claim that Israel is analogous to apartheid South Africa is an insult to the very real struggle the South African people underwent during apartheid (in addition to being utterly false) the very title “Israeli Apartheid Week” presents a foregone conclusion that completely excludes the dialogue it claims to support.
[pullquote]”It merely incites more hatred and violence and the cycle continues.”[/pullquote]
This week, rather than promoting a constructive dialogue regarding how a constructive solution can be reached in the Middle East, incites hatred, violence and anti-semitism.
Now don’t misunderstand me: I am not saying there are no issues in the Middle East nor that differences of opinion are not desirable.
However, creating a week of hate doesn’t solve any problems. It merely incites more hatred and violence and the cycle continues.
Every year on campus many students dread this infamous week because during it they feel that it provides a platform where criticisms evolve into discrimination. Hence, this year, the South African Union of Jewish Students (SAUJS) is running a campaign called “Give peace wings”.
In the spirit of constructive dialogue we implore all students not to fall prey to the myth that hating those with a different opinion to yours is the only way to solve a conflict.
In the words of Nelson Mandela: “If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy, then he becomes your partner.”
So, don’t fall prey to the rhetoric. Rather join SAUJS Wits in giving peace wings.
Ariela Carno is the national chairperson of the South African Union of Jewish Students.
