by Tendai Dube | Mar 24, 2014 | News
PLANET JAZZ: Jazz great, double bass legend, Herbie Tsoaeli rehearses for his performance at The Orbit. The new Braamfontein hotspot is the perfect night out for jazz music lovers. Photo: Tendai Dube
THE ORBIT, a sleek new jazz club and bistro, stands out with its frosted glass and bright green wall from the surrounding concrete and face-brick of the neighbouring Braamfontein buildings.
As you approach The Orbit’s transparent doors, you are lured in by the out-of-place music amidst the sound of midday traffic.
[pullquote]”The Orbit is devoted to contributing to the development and refurbishment of the performing arts.”[/pullquote]
Three lovers of jazz music conceived the concept of a jazz club in the middle of the city. Aymeric Péguillan, Dan Sermand and Kevin Naidoo said they wanted to create a platform for creative expression for jazz musicians in Johannesburg.
The Orbit is devoted to contributing to the development and refurbishment of the performing arts in Johannesburg and has entered a partnership with the University of Witwaterand’s music department.
The collaboration will see Wits music students being invited to perform during lunchtime sessions every day. “The Orbit is not just about showcasing professional established musicians. It’s also about giving a chance to young artists to display their talents in a proper professional environment,” Péguillan said. Wits music students will be performing everyday during lunchtime. ‘Jam Sessions’ hosted on Tuesday nights at the club with an entrance fee of R40 is part of The Orbit’s plan to appeal to students.
“We loved the idea of jazz in the city. [Jazz] draws its influences from the pulse of the city,” Péguillan said explaining the choice of Braamfontein as their location. “It has this very interesting mix of people.” The Orbit hopes to reestablish the concept of a permanent venue for people to listen to jazz music instead of waiting for events.
As you cross the threshold and enter the club, you are engulfed in the romance and warmth of the wood, leather and glass-themed venue. True lovers of the genre surround the stage and absorb the instrumentals in a room with the ambience of a family room with a fireplace.
The Orbit is located on 81 De Korte street, the former venue of the Puma Social Club, and is open from 11.30am from Tuesday to Sunday. The venue can seat about 200 people in the theatre upstairs, and 100 in the restaurant downstairs where the live lunchtime performances will take place.
by Tendai Dube | Mar 24, 2014 | News
BOWL ME OVER: Bowls at Zoo Lake caters for the student wallet with affordable food and drink. Enjoy an entertaining environment with friends. Photo: Tendai Dube
WE AT Wits Vuvuzela feel it is our civic duty to make sure students new to Wits and the Braamfontein area do not blow their allowances or hard-earned cash before you try out the treasure known as “Bowls”.
The Zoo Lake Bowling Club has an inviting and casual setup experienced by many Braamfontein students.
Ask anyone why you should go there and the answer is the same: Bowls is affordable, convenient and relaxed.
Except for Friday nights when the resident DJ performs or on Mondays when a local band is on stage.
[pullquote]”Ask anyone why you should go there and the answer is the same: Bowls is affordable, convenient and relaxed.”[/pullquote]
The menu covers a wide variety of pub food, from a large portion of ribs for R80 to slap chips for R15 and a burger or prego roll for R40. You can expect to pay R18.50 for a beer and R22 for a draft, while ciders are R16 and shots are between R15 and R18.
Founded in 1932, Bowls is one of the oldest sports clubs of its kind in South Africa, located just off Jan Smuts avenue on Prince of Wales Drive, inside Zoo Lake.
It is a members-only spot, so for a once-off fee of R20 you receive a card that grants you free entrance for the year.
Order their popular pizza and do yourself a favour: ask for a serving of their famous (and free) chilli sauce. You will not regret it.
A R35 pizza, two R22 drafts and a R16 shot (just to be social) all amounts to R95.
Play a game of pool with your R5 change and it will have been R100 well spent.
by Tendai Dube | Mar 14, 2014 | News
Pearl Pillay is a former SRC member, she is currently studying towards her masters in politics. Photo: Provided
OVER the next few weeks, activists on our campus and indeed on campuses around the world will rally together to commemorate Israeli Apartheid Week 2014 (IAW). Much has been said about this week of global activism, however, very little has been said about how you, an ordinary citizen, fit into this global picture. Why should you care about people on the other side of the world?
IAW is an annual series of events aimed at educating people about the nature of Israel as an apartheid state.
It will take place in over 250 cities around the world and has been endorsed by hundreds of organisations.
[pullquote]”If you were asking why get involved, maybe you should rather be asking why not?”[/pullquote]
This week is crucial in raising awareness and providing information about Zionism, the Palestinian struggle for liberation and, more importantly for us, how their struggle has distinct parallels with ours as South Africans.
You may be wondering what exactly we mean when we say “Israeli Apartheid”.
In the most basic terms, this refers to the deliberate policy of racial or ethnic segregation perpetuated by the state of Israel. Under this system, millions of Palestinians live in conditions which are very similar to that of apartheid South Africa.
No right of free speech, arrest and imprisonment without trial or charge, torture and no right to vote for the government which controls their lives are but a few of the conditions that govern the day-to-day lives of Palestinians.
It is unnecessary to reiterate the long history of oppression which apartheid brought to the people of our country. What is important, however, is highlighting the fact that during our struggle, people around the world mobilised against apartheid South Africa.
Today, more than an opportunity, it becomes our duty to do our part for a people who continue to struggle against Israeli apartheid.
Apartheid is unacceptable – regardless of where you’re from.
We aren’t saying that you should stand on a picket line in the Gaza Strip, but we are asking that you consider the plight of the Palestinian people whilst you enjoy your freedoms. IAW, and indeed the Palestinian solidarity movement, is becoming increasingly fashionable; this is your chance to get involved in a global campaign, to use your Wits experience and contribute to something way beyond Jorrisen street and Empire road.
If you were asking why get involved, maybe you should rather be asking why not?
Pearl Pillay is a former SRC member, she is currently studying towards her masters in politics.
by Tendai Dube | Mar 7, 2014 | Sport
- REIGNING BEAUTIES: The Miss Wits Varsity Cup 2014 Top five finalists were announced at the Nelson Mandela Municipal University (NMMU) and Witsies rugby game Monday evening.
Joining them, dressed in her Wits 2013 sash, was Sasha Lee Olivier, the previous winner of Miss Wits Varsity Cup.
The top five beauty queens were Callie Shepherd, Nqobile Mahlambi, Lizar Madhomu, Jessica Tovey and Nthabiseng Makgabo. The ladies braved the rain and mud when they strutted in their heels onto the field during half time.
The five lucky ladies who were chosen will be continuing to compete for Miss Wits Varsity Cup. The winner will represent Wits against other universities when she goes into the running of being crowned Miss Varsity Cup 2014, later in the year. Photo: Luke Matthews.
