by Valerie Robinson | Aug 17, 2015 | Lifestyle
Tweak playing on the main stage at Oppi Koppi. Photo: Valerie Robinson
This past weekend saw over 20 000 people rediscovering the true meaning of roughing it. Oppikoppi 2015 saw the rise of new bands, some have never even been heard of, and the return of old time favourites.
One that really stood out of course was Tweak. Many of us will remember this band from our teenage years for singing songs about Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears in a hot tub, which really rocked the festival.
Oppikoppi was the stage for their big 10 year reunion. “When we realised it had been 10 years since Tweak ended we started throwing around ideas. We chatted to the guys from Oppikoppi and they we’re super keen for us to play the festival. It really just snowballed from there and now we are doing a whole tour!” according to the guys.
They confessed that “To be honest, we were terrified no one would care. When Oppikoppi made the announcement on social media the response was crazy! Everyone was genuinely excited.”
They said that the acts they enjoyed watching most was Scottish band Twin Atlantic and Johnny Clegg.Their favourite part of Oppi was, “Showering the crowd with 100 000 confetti dicks! haha! And hearing everyone scream the lyrics of the tracks back at us.”
Tweak is one of those bands that don’t take themselves too seriously and even admit to making the biggest blunders live. “We’ve made them all. The great thing about Tweak is that we never pretended to be shredding, awesome musicians. It’s about having fun and connecting with the crowd.”
Looking to the future and present not many people know that Crash Car Burn found its origins in Tweak. “Tweak was us being teenagers. We were young and stupid and it was a shit load of fun. CrashCarBurn is Garth and I growing up” said drummer Brendan Barnes referring to his brother and the lead singer for both bands.
They will be performing in Joburg again tonight the 14th of August at Rumours Lounge, for those who could not make Oppi or even for those that just want to relive the experience.The band joked that people can expect “All the hits, a healthy dose of nostalgia and a hangover.”
by Valerie Robinson | Aug 16, 2015 | News
Valerie Robinson
The silent protest will take place on August 19 at the Flower Hall. Photo: Provided
Next weekWits will host its third Silent Protest. The University has been hosting the event which takes a stand against rape, sexual abuse and any type gender based violence since 2013.
“Overall in South Africa, such a shocking number of rapes go unreported. And the ones that do get reported aren’t actually picked up by police, you know the kind of victim blaming” saysBertrand Leopeng, one of the event organisers and an intern phycologist working at the CCDU.
The creators of the initiative at Rhodes University held their version of the protest this past weekend, showing their solidarity over a three day period. It has since spread to other universities such as UKZN and UCT.
2013 was a shocking year at Wits University; multiplelecturers at the university were accused of sexual harassment. This as one of the reasons students at Wits decided to host this initiative according to Leopeng.
“Those are only some of the reported cases. Thankfully action was taken and our VC moved pretty quickly to make sure Wits is declared a safe zone” saidLeopeng.
“Coming into women’s month, it’s a good time to highlight these types of things. Because you know women’s day it’s kind of a day that is supposed to be about the celebration of women’s rights and things like that, but these things take place year round and we are just trying to amplify it.”
Wits’ silent protest is also taking place over three days. Next week Wednesday is the most active and visible of them all.
“Anybody who wants to participate in the protest can click on the link on the wits silent protest Facebook page. From there they will be asked to choose from a selection of three shirts that will be available on the day” said Leopeng.
Thesign up is free of charge, and allows you to choose a shirt saying either “solidarity”, “survivor” or “silenced.” Members that want to have their mouths taped can also take part in the taping ceremony. According to Leopengthis “symbolizes the silencing that takes place every day when it comes to rape survivors. They can also come to the CCDU, we have our own sign ups there.”
On the day sign-ups are also welcome but there is no guarantee of shirts.
Knowing the true mission behind the initiative is also key, said Leopeng. “Often people get confused and they think that a silent protest is about reporting rape and sexual violence but the thing is if you are going to be reporting it to police who are going to be shaming you”.
by Valerie Robinson | Aug 7, 2015 | News, Opinion
August is women’s month, but for some reason women can’t help but tear each other down.
Sreaming in silence: Women tear each other down behind closed doors for their own benefit. Photo Reuven Blignault.
Women have often been referred to as ‘cows’. This is not because of our lovely curves but mainly for our behaviour towards others.
Most woman in today’s society are very quick to stand up for women’s rights in the face of chauvinism, but those on social media and the world around us still think its ok for women to drag each other down.
History is riddled with women being demeaned in many ways, and slowly we fought back to receive the respect we deserve. Why is it then that women criticize other women or even participate in the phenomenon of slut shaming?
Maybe degrading women has become a disease in our society. On more than one occasion I have heard of two women fighting and degrading each other, because they are involved with the same man. Yet the man who is in the middle of this, and is the one who two-timed both women, sneaks by and looks ‘innocent’.
I walked around campus this week and asked 20 female Wits students questions about the subject. All the girls I spoke to admitted to having previously mocked and judged other women. The most popular responses when I asked what they mock them about were their style, how they behave, or even being ‘too confident’.
Too confident? When did it become ok for us to want women to take a back seat? Confidence is usually a trait that is celebrated but for some reason we don’t want our fellow women to own the pride that the many women before us fought for. But we should ask ourselves if the same confidence in a man would be reacted to in the same way.
By criticizing each other we are giving men permission to do the same. Why should they respect us when we cannot even respect each other?
I know I am very guilty of this crime, and it is my belief that everyone is. But why do we do it? Is our self-images so fragile that we have to drag others down to make us feel better about ourselves?
This month is Women’s Month. Perhaps instead of dragging other women down we should try and use our energy to celebrate and uplift each other.
What does it matter if we don’t like to buy the same clothes or that some women have the confidence to go out and get what they want? History has proven time and time again, we are a stronger force united rather than divided.
by Valerie Robinson | Jul 24, 2015 | News
Your drink can be spiked in a matter of seconds, but don’t be quick to assume you’re not a target.
NO DRINK IS SAFE: Any drink can get spiked in seconds.
Photo: Valerie Robinson
It’s a casual night out with friends sitting around the bonfire. Around 8pm and after only a drink or two, you go to the bar. That is the last thing you remember before waking up at 3am, on the floor in your garage with no memory of how you got there.
In the past drink spiking was usually known for date rape, but it has now become an easy way to commit robbery. The targets have also shifted as guys have now become victims of the act according to Campus Health counsellor Nicole Barnes.
Often guys get spiked with the use of eye drops that can be bought over the counter. After they are drugged, they are confronted in the bathrooms where their belongings are taken, including their car keys which the thieves use to drive off with the victim’s vehicle.
She went on to say that “this is a common occurrence amongst young people.”
Reiner Runge, chairperson of Wits’ local social club Silly Buggers said people have been spiked at events on campus in the past.
“I know there have been incidences, where two students accused us of spiking their drinks, they were two girls and one guy,” said Runge. This particular incident that he was referring to took place two years ago.
“We completely rejected the claim … There are thousands of students and we can’t control what people are doing with their drinks, obviously from our side we don’t endorse spiking anyone’s drink.”
Runge has also worked in as a bartender in Greenside, and accounts how he has witnessed students being spiked there. “We had cases in Greenside where students would come in and they would order a drink … They would get completely smashed, they would throw up and be really sick but it wasn’t an account of having too much alcohol, it was something else at play.”
George Hunter, the head bartender at Braam’s Anti Est., also said he is aware that spiking does happen but has never witnessed it first-hand.
The effects of being spiked can be varied based on many factors like your size, weight and the effects of other substance that you have ingested.
Spotting if you or a friend has been spiked is difficult because the drugs used often can’t be tasted, seen or smelled.
Some symptoms of drink spiking include feeling sick or sleepy, dizzy or faint, feeling really drunk or confused even if you have only had a little alcohol to drink, passing out, waking up feeling uncomfortable and disorientated, or having blank spots in your memory.
Runge recommends wary students go in pairs to go get a drink and always being vigilant.
“It’s very easy to put something in someone’s drink … Watch what the bartender is doing with his hands, if there is anything fizzy in your drink apart from the froth of a beer for example, hand it over and do not leave your drink unattended.”
If you think your drink might have been spiked it is important to see a doctor. Either a urine or blood test can be used within 24 hours to detect traces of certain drugs.
by Valerie Robinson | Jun 23, 2015 | News
Cast: Blake Lively, Harrison Ford, Michiel Huisman, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker
Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Vuvu Rating: 8/10
The Age of Adaline, directed by Lee Toland Krieger, tells the story of a woman who was born at the turn of the 20th century but ceases to age once she reaches 29 due to an accident.
“Film full of beautiful visuals and amazing performances. “
Adaline Bowman spends the rest of her existence guarding her secret agelessness and spends much of her life on the run as she tries to escape capture for medical experimentation.
Her secret is easily kept until she meets a romantic interest, Ellis Jones, played by Dutch actor and singer Michiel Huisman.
The story is told with a mixture of scenes from the present, flashbacks from Adaline’s life and documentary -style narration explaining her condition.
Blake Lively delivers a wonderful performance as the protagonist, never overplaying the dramatic and emotional moments. She perfectly embodies the agelessness and grace of Bowman.
Both Huisman, and Harrison Ford as his father, bring interesting dynamics to the story as Bowman’s male counterparts. If you have ever wondered if Harrison Ford still has the acting chops to amaze, this film will prove that he is just as strong as ever.
Veteran actress Ellen Burstyn also gives a strong performance as Adaline’s aging daughter, Flemming. The plot does move at a slower pace than might be desired, but it allows for the complicated history of Adaline to be understood.
Overall this is film full of beautiful visuals and gripping performances but its stength comes from a great concept that has been translated into a ‘nice easy watching’ film.
by Valerie Robinson | May 26, 2015 | Lifestyle, News
These are some of the top student tours available for 6 continents. The tours are chosen based on value for money as well as excitement for the ultimate memory making holiday.
Everyone always says that the time to travel and see the world is now! As ‘young adults’ we have very little tiring us down, BUT because we just starting out in life we usually don’t have much moola.
Grab your passport. Here are 6 traveling ideas that take offer you great adventure for your buck.
Graphic: Valerie Robinson
Graphic: Valerie Robinson
Graphic: Valerie Robinson
Graphic: Valerie Robinson
Graphic: Valerie Robinson
Graphic: Valerie Robinson
by Valerie Robinson | May 23, 2015 | News
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, Alexis Knapp, Chrissie Fit
Director: Elizabeth Banks
Wits Vuvuzela Rating: 8/10
Whether the pitch will be perfect again, is what everyone was wondering going into the opening weekend of the highly anticipated Pitch Prefect 2.
Admittedly, I went into the cinema expecting to be disappointed because sequels often do not live up to expectations. But this one was different.
“Fat Amy makes her entrance in the film with an impressive rendition of Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking ball, whilst doing acrobatics in a skin tight suit”
The film starts off about 2 years from where the first version ended. The Bellas a Capella group that the film revolves around have now won 3 consecutive national championships and are at the top of their game.
Everyone’s favourite, Fat Amy makes her entrance in the film with an impressive rendition of Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking ball, whilst doing acrobatics in a skin tight suit.
This begins the sequence of events that go horribly wrong for the Bellas.
As a result, the Bellas have to win the world championships against a very impressive German group called ‘Das Sound Machine’.
The film sees, group lead, Beca’s dreams of becoming a music producer reach within her grasp, and many new, interesting and hilarious love plots emerge. The comedy is just as good as the first one, but is not to everyone’s taste – so be warned – if you did not enjoy the first one then this movie is not for you.
One of the aspects of the film that stand out is the hysterical a Capella commentators, John and Gail, played by Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins.
The sequel sees the return of all the characters we loved in the first movie with a few new additions to spice things up. The movie did well at the the box office too, beating out Mad Max: Fury Road that premiered on the same weekend.
In the United States, Pitch Perfect 2 grossed $70.3 million on opening weekend. While Mad Max made an impressive, but considerably less $44.4 million.
Pitch Perfect 2 has made more in the opening weekend than what the first movie made in its entire run in theatres, it can definitely be seen as a success.
Guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, Barack and Michelle Obama are also some of the familiar faces that you can expect to see in the film.
by Valerie Robinson | May 14, 2015 | News
There seems to be confusion around crossing intersections on campus. Who ‘thinks’ they have the right of way and who really does?
RUSH HOUR: Students and cars both thinking they have the right of way on campus. Photo Valerie Robinson.
The robot connecting east and west campus for many students has become an area of confusion following the university painting a pedestrian crossing in the middle of the intersection.
Most of the student who spoke to Wits Vuvuzela admitted that they thought the pedestrian crossing gave right of way to the students, but at the same time the robot gave the cars the right of way.
“Opting for safety in numbers.”
Tshephang Ntsoane, a BCom student is opting for safety in numbers. He said if the robot is green for the cars, the right of way “depends on how many students there are, so if there are a number of students crossing then the cars have to stop”.
This view is shared by other students saying “sometimes you would find even when the robot is green for the cars people are crossing and then cars will have to stop,” according to 3rd year international relations student Mpho Thahale.
An official from the Department of Parking who is stationed at the intersection said that the cars “actually they have to focus they have to be on the lookout”. But he did go on to say the “rule of the road is the rule of the robot, the sequence of the robot.”
The answer according to Arrive Alive is that when there is a pedestrian crossing with a traffic signal, “a pedestrian shall not enter such crossing except in accordance with the indications of such traffic signal.”
by Valerie Robinson | May 8, 2015 | News
Wits SRC president, Mcebo Dlamini during his speech at a IAW rally. Photo: Reuven Blignault.
by Valerie Robinson & Queenin Masuabi
The Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) is planning to fight back against university management to get dismissed SRC President Mcebo Dlamini reinstated.
The PYA plans to form an adhoc committee to investigate Dlamini’s expulsion according to one of its leaders, Wits South African Student’s Congress Secretary (Sasco) Phindile Maphanga. The committee is going to focus on the legalities concerning Dlamini’s dismissal. In particular they are going to examine the accusation of misconduct because they believe that the charge is too broad and undermines student leadership.
“The university is anti-black.”
Maphanga said that Sasco has not yet mobilised students as the organisation is still deciding on what to do. On Wednseday evening, the PYA held a meeting that lasted more than six hours to discuss the way forward.
Maphanga said that there will be consequences if Dlamini is not reinstated. “We will not take it lightly.”
Dlamini was dismissed from his position as SRC president on Monday for charges of misconduct. Vice Chancellor Adam Habib has denied the dismissal is related to Dlamini’s recent comments praising the leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler.
Secretary of the Wits Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Mbe Mbhele told Wits Vuvuzela that his organisation would also protest the decision to remove Dlamini but he is not at liberty at this stage to state exactly what action will be taken. However, he did say forms of protest such as marches will not be used. Rather “more creative methods of protest” will be utilised to make their point.
Mbhele said the Wits EFF “is not in the business of defending an individual. The EFF wants to take a stand against the university being able to suppress voices of the black community.” “The university is anti-black,” he said.
Dlamini has been advised by the PYA to avoid public engagements, including media interviews. The PYA will be speaking on his behalf in the meantime, according to Maphanga.
In February 2015, Dlamini was found guilty of misconduct by a disciplinary panel and given a sentence of one year suspended exclusion in respect of each charge against him. According to Habib, he was given a period in which to appeal but did not do so. After handing in a motivation letter requesting an extension from Habib which was granted.
However, Habib said Dlamini did not hand in the relevant documents to the legal office in the allocated time. In a statement, Habib says that this was a “delaying tactic” that Dlamini intended to use to stay in his position as SRC president until the end of his tenure. Habib then announced he was withdrawing his decision to allow Dlamini to stay in office.
Dlamini courted controversy last week when he posted the statement “I love Adolf Hitler” in a comment thread below a graphic comparing modern Israel to Nazi Germany.
When contacted about his comments by Wits Vuvuzela, Dlamini restated his admiration of the fascist leader of Nazi Germany. “What I love about Hitler is his charisma and his capabilities to organise people. We need more leaders of such calibre. I love Adolf Hitler,” Dlamini said.
In the same comment thread, Dlamini wrote that every white person has “an element of Adolf Hitler”.
Dlamini later defended and reinstated his comments on Hitler in several media interviews including eNCA, 702 and ANN7.
Habib criticised Dlamini’s comments regarding Hitler, saying he had “single-handedly” damaged the reputation of Wits.
“I believe that Mr Dlamini has single-handedly wrought more damage on its reputation than any other person who I can think of in at least the last two decades. This damage has the potential to impact on the credibility of our degrees, and therefore on the employment prospects of all of our students and graduates.”
by Valerie Robinson | May 4, 2015 | News
A VowFM producer and journalist, Paul McNally, made waves globally when he won over R500 000 in an international innovation competition.
CHANGE IN PROGRESS: Paul McNally at the VowFM studios. Photo Valerie Robinson.
VowFM producer and journalist Paul McNally won over R500 000 in a global innovation competition to start up a project he calls The Citizen Justice Network (CJN).
McNally, who also works for the Wits Justice Project, conceptualised the CJN which was named as one of the top five projects at the 2015 Global Innovation Competition run by Making All Voices Count.
The competition aimed to find innovative ideas to promote transparency, fight corruption, and empower marginalised groups across the world.
The Citizen Justice Network
McNally’s project intends to “use community radio in order to get people to report on their own criminal justice problems, so it is to train activists that are in certain areas”. The project aims to find an activist who already works in justice issues, and then train them to become a radio journalist so they can produce their own stories and then flight it, on their local radio stations.
“Bringing together traditional media and technology and the idea that they wanted something innovative worried me,” McNally said of the competition. But it turned out the competition did not want everyone to be building apps, spending thousands on building new apps that no one will use. Using infrastructure that already exists and is accessible like sms’s is what ultimately counted in McNally’s favour.
Starting up the project
McNally says that because he has never run or organised a non-profit initiative. The next step will be all about “diligence, to the money, to what will work, to what won’t, to sourcing people and all the nitty gritty things to hopefully actually producing the content.”
The journey to the award
The journey to the final pot of money was an extensive one. McNally says that the process started when one of his colleagues at The Wits Justice Project told him about the competition. The initial lot of entries was narrowed down initially to 241 projects. “Then that went on social media, so the process was, you know, sort of whoring yourself out to everyone on your Facebook page and all that kind of thing.”
After the social media-driven voting process, the entries were then brought down to 50 after which another round of questions and proposals took place reducing the number to 30.
Skype interviews were then done with all remaining projects until the final 10 were chosen and flown to Indonesia for the final part of the competition.
by Valerie Robinson | May 2, 2015 | News
With one of the most anticipated boxing events in history only hours away we take a look at all the facts of the fight including who Wits boxers are backing.
Photo: oDOTkrown
In the early hours of tomorrow morning what has been said to be the fight of the century will be taking place.
Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are set to face each other in what will be the richest match in the history of boxing.
Even though views on who will win is pretty split, most bookmakers are placing the odds in Mayweather’s favour.
After speaking to some members of the Wits Boxing Club the general consensus is the same as those who are setting the odds, saying that Mayweather will win the fight.
“He has a lot more to lose and will push more.”
Mayweather, who is 38 years old, has never been defeated in his professional boxing career, winning 47 matches of which 26 have been knockouts. On the other hand Pacquiao at the age of 36 has won 57 matches, 38 times by knockout, but has lost 5 times and drawn twice.
Chairperson of the Wits Boxing club, Letsoalo Monokoane says he believes Mayweather will win because “he has a lot more to lose and will push more.”
All members of the boxing club that spoke to the Wits Vuvuzela said they will be awake in the early hours of tomorrow morning to be able to witness the historic fight take place.
The fight is taking place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Hotel which is known as one of the most famous boxing venues in the industry. The fight will be aired at 3:00 am tomorrow morning, South African time, and will feature a few pre-match fights before the curtain rises on the main event.
by Valerie Robinson | Apr 28, 2015 | News
Witsies have their say about the SRC president Mcebo Dlamini’s comments he made over the weekend when he said “I love Adolf Hilter”.
What is your view on the Mcebo Dlamini saying that that he loves Hitler, comparing him to Benjamin Netanyahu and saying that there is an element of Hitler in every white person?
Santeal Ramsaroop, 2nd year engineering student. Photo Valerie Robinson.
“I thought that it was pretty offensive to white people in general but especially Jews, Jewish people.”
How do you feel about the fact that it is the SRC president saying these things?
“I don’t know I just thought it was irresponsible coming from a leader he shouldn’t have said something like that. I mean Adolf Hitler was a terrible person and to say there is a bit of Adolf in every white person is very racist, it’s generalising and it’s wrong” said Santeal Ramsaroop, 2nd year engineering student.
3rd year Civil Engineering student. Photo Valerie Robinson
What is your view on the Mcebo Dlamini saying that that he loves Hitler, comparing him to Benjamin Netanyahu and saying that there is an element of Hitler in every white person?
“He wasn’t wrong but it was a bad choice of words because we see Hitler as this bad guy who killed a whole lot of people you don’t have to go anywhere to learn about Hitler we just know that Hitler was bad he did this, he did this. And saying white people are like Adolf Hitler is something else because we have white people everywhere you know they are our brothers and our sisters. I think he was basically discriminating.”
How do you feel about the fact that it is the SRC president saying these things?
“I’m not into deep politics but he shouldn’t have said it, because he has a huge influence in Witsies having seen people follow what he does and he’s famous to everyone he shouldn’t have said that with the position he has and the face he has to everyone.” 3rd year Civil Engineering student.
Tumelo Maleka , 2nd year Actuarial Sciences student. Photo Valerie Robinson.
What is your view on the Mcebo Dlamini saying that that he loves Hitler, comparing him to Benjamin Netanyahu and saying that there is an element of Hitler in every white person?
“Look it was a very careless remark, the thing is what you should understand when you are in a position of leadership you cannot say certain things to the media like you would with your friend you can get away with a lot of things when you talk to your friend but you shouldn’t take those comments and utter them in public. Some of the stuff he said made a lot of sense for example drawing comparison between what is happening in Israel and Palestine with what Hitler did that’s a fair comparison but then after laying out that premise to go further and say that he admires Hitler’s leadership skills after he had the premise of comparing Palestine and Hitler that was a bit stupid if I may say so.
How do you feel about the fact that it is the SRC president saying these things?
If you have a position of leadership you can’t have a conversation with media like you would with your friends.” Tumelo Maleka, 2nd year Actuarial Sciences student.
Ariella Gimpel, 1st year Architecture student. Photo Valerie Robinson.
How do you feel about the fact that it is the SRC president saying these things?
“I thought that as the kind of head figure of an institution it was kinda inappropriate I mean it is ok to admire someone as a leader but when you say you love someone who kinda did some really awful things it’s not so cool.” Ariella Gimpel, 1st year Architecture student.
