Performer uses magic to disprove the existence of the supernatural

Performer uses magic to disprove the existence of the supernatural

Adrian van Vactor is an award-winning illusionist travelling the world to entertain and to educate with his show ‘The Secrets of the Supernatural Exposed’, which he performed at Wits University this week. Photo: Luke Mathews

Adrian van Vactor is an award-winning illusionist travelling the world to entertain and to educate with his show ‘The Secrets of the Supernatural Exposed’, which he performed at Wits University this week.

Van Vactor uses the art of illusion to entertain and to tell the story of how he has travelled the world searching for proof of the existence of magic.

His show looks at the claims made about supernatural phenomena and scrutinizes the claims made by practitioners of these acts. Van Vactor says that his show exposes these acts as fake. “I want students to have the ability to separate superstition from truth,” van Vactor said to the audience attending his lunch time show on the Wits campus.

He explained that the paranormal phenomena people believe to be true, like psychics, are fake. Van Vactor told the crowed he became fascinated with magic when his mother took him to see a psychic.

He explained that psychics do ‘cold reading’ where they guess their predictions. “I saw it was fake, and that’s when I became interested in why people are so fascinated with superstition,” van Vactor said.

Dylan Barry, a first year BSc student, attended the show and was part of an illusion . He said, “I thought it was very nice and got better as it went along.”

Sumayya Mayet, a first year BA student, was part of the same illusion as Barry and said, “It was very interesting and perplexing.”

 

 

 

SLICE OF LIFE: ‘I don’t like your christians’

Right off the bat I want it to be known that I’m a Christian. I grew up in the church, at first not by choice. My dad’s a priest and this gave me access to various churches and all kinds of Christians.

I’ve seen big churches, small churches, rich churches and poor churches. I’ve even been in churches that served as nuclear plants in the past. You name it, I’ve worshipped in it.

With these different churches came different people – people who worship differently to me. But some things stay the same. The teachings of Jesus Christ are always relevant. These are the basics of our faith, but we somehow forget them in our daily dealings with one another.

That’s why I made a list of the four fundamentals we Christians have forgotten. This is not an attack on Christ or Christians. I am not a perfect Christian, I am just an observer.Slice Luke

Number one: “To err is human, to forgive divine.” This is something we all forget. In traditional churches we have a segment in the service called “the peace”, when members of the congregation turn to each other, and forgive.

We greet each other as Jesus greeted his disciples after he was crucified. He greeted them in peace, because he wanted to show that he forgave them for deserting him. We hold grudges way too easily nowadays. We are too quick to say: “I will forgive, but I will not forget.”

Bra, to forgive means to forget. We must forgive in order to see the splendour of God’s kingdom around us.
Number two: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In short, don’t mess with me and I won’t mess with you. We are too competitive, too confrontational with one another. We hurt each other.

We’re like crabs in a bucket, pulling each other down when we see someone rising above us. Haters are everywhere. They’re in your work place, in your class, on your social media. Let them be. I’ve seen too many upstanding members of the Christian community (even priests) messing with each other just for the sake of it.
Number three: “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”. What this means is that God wants you, not your money. In George, my hometown, there’s a church whose congregation would give their last two cents to the church solely because the pastor convinced them that God wants them to give all they have to the church.

Now don’t get me wrong, the church needs resources to function properly, but there are people running churches like businesses. Money rules everything and the danger is we forget to listen to the voice of God. He wants you. The church wants your money, there’s a difference.

Number four: “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” Try this: walk straight, but look everywhere but in front of you. See how difficult it is to focus on moving forward if you keep looking at what others are doing?

This is what happens when you judge other people. If Jezebel wants to “twerk for real niggas”, let the woman twerk. You don’t have to do it. Live your life. Keep at your hustle. It’s hard enough out here, so focus on your life.

Well not all of us are perfect. “Let he who has no sin cast the first stone.”

In conclusion, the purpose of this list was not to convert people to Christianity. It’s not a warning for sinners to repent and it’s not a call for all of us to hold hands and sing: “We are the world”.
This is just my observation. And I hope it will make people think.

PHOTO ESSAY: Thembelihle – the fight for electricity

Past the costly E-toll gantreys on the Golden Highway, just 500 metres beyond the bright lights of the MacDonald’s and the Woolworths, lie the dark streets of Thembelihle.

Packs of dogs scramble for food scraps among the empty bottles and tin cans that litter the dirt roads. Smoke carries the odour of burnt plastic and cooking fires, as people prepare for their day.

SURROUNDINGS: Smoke,dust and rubbish border the houses of the people living in the informal settlement. Photo: Luke Matthews

SURROUNDINGS: Smoke, dust and rubbish line the streets outside the houses of people living in the informal settlement. Photo: Luke Matthews

Figures appeared on doorsteps with brooms, sweeping the dusty entrances to their houses. Despite the poverty, their pride of ownership is evident.

PRIDE IN THEMSELVES: Two Thembelihle men on their way to sell their home made brooms on the street. Photo: Luke Matthews

PRIDE IN THEMSELVES: Two men on their way to sell their home made brooms on the street, any job will do as unemployment is a real problem in the community. Photo: Luke Matthews

The people of Thembelihle have never been provided with legal electricity or running water. They pooled their money to buy a tap for each yard. Portable toilets have been brought in, but they leak sewage into the streets, where children play.

Sewerage: a little girl sits on the dusty roads with waste that has leaked from the toilets laying in front of her. Photo: Luca Kotton

SEWERAGE: A little girl sits on the dusty roads with waste that has leaked from the toilets laying in front of her. Photo: Luca Kotton

A stone’s throw from this informal settlement which lacks all infrastructure, lies the built-up suburb of Lenasia, with fully equipped schools, sports facilities, shopping centres and private healthcare.

Tembelihle has been waging a decade-long battle with local government over the implementation of electricity. Recent protests have turned violent. Electricity boxes in surrounding suburbs were burnt down. Only a few days later, new boxes were installed. Yet still, Tembelihle remains without.

DESPERATION: Live wires running electricity from neighbouring suburbs run through fields and outside homes. Photo: Luca Kotton

DESPERATION: Live wires running electricity from neighbouring suburbs run through fields and past homes. Photo: Luca Kotton

“We are not wanted here,” said a community leader and member of the Thembelihle Crisis Committee, who asked not to be named. “There’s an undertone of racism from the people of the suburbs.”

Desperation has caused the community to run power illegally from electricity boxes in the outer areas. The wires run across fields and past houses to provide the community with sparse light from sporadic lamps and outside lights.

The children wear gumboots at the slightest sign of rain. Everyone knows the story of the small boy who was electrocuted during a summer downfall.

BROTHERS: The children of Thembelilhle face the challenge of being electrocuted on a daily basis, enough of a fear to scare any parent. Photo: Luca Kotton

BROTHERS: The children face the challenge of being electrocuted on a daily basis, enough of a fear to scare any parent. Photo: Luca Kotton

Along the row of houses, a young child with an infectious laugh appears. Bright, named by the people of Thembelihle is only two, but can speak in perfect sentences and run errands for his mother.

BRIGHT: a child of Thembelihle. Photo: Luca Kotton

BRIGHT: A child of Thembelihle. Photo: Luca Kotton

Given a few coins, Bright ran to the shop to buy himself sweets. Bright represents the future of his community, a future they hope will provide him and the other children with opportunities – the kind of opportunities that come with electricity and an effective infrastructure.

LIFE GOES ON: Bright is to youmg to understand the problems but hopefully one day will not have to fight the same fight for electricity. Photo: Luca Kotton

LIFE GOES ON: Bright is too young to understand the problems that exist in Thembelihle, the smile and energy he portrays is not echoed through the older generation. Photo: Luca Kotton

 

Pulitzer prize-winner speaks at Wits Journalism

Doug Frantz, a former journalist of 35 years speaks to the Wits journalism department .Photo: Luke Matthews

Doug Frantz, a former journalist of 35 years speaks to the Wits journalism department .Photo: Luke Matthews

“A few people can make a difference in journalism,” according to Doug Frantz, assistant secretary of state for public affairs in the USA.

Frantz, who previously worked for former Senator John Kerry, spoke to the Wits Journalism department in Johannesburg today, as part of his visit to South Africa.

Addressing staff and students, the former journalist reflected on his 35 year long career where he worked at the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and New York Times.

[pullquote]“If your mother says she loves you, check it out.” This is at the core value of what democracy asks of you as a journalist.[/pullquote]

Describing his current position in government in relation to his previous work as journalist, Frantz said. “I’m the guy who comes in when there are nasty, controversial or important stories to be heard, when I use my credibility [as a former journalist].”

He said that he simultaneously serves the state department and administration and the journalists themselves, because “there is nothing worse than getting your facts wrong”.  Frantz said one of the first things he learnt as a journalist is: “If your mother says she loves you, check it out. This is at the core value of what democracy asks of you as a journalist.”

One thing he encouraged young journalists in training to do is “retain the ability for the sources you deal with to trust you”. At the same time, he expects politicians to “never lie to the press.” It is a relationship that can survive only on trust.

He admitted to sometimes wishing he was still a journalist and values the years he spent as a reporter in particular. “If you pick a job you love,” he said, “you’ll never work a day in your life.” Frantz

When asked to compare South African and American media he said: “South Africa has a vigorous and largely free press. In the US we’ve been at it a little longer and it is embedded in our DNA to push a little harder.”

Our job as journalists is to put forward facts, not without judgement but without bias, Frantz said. “It’s the coolest job in the world.”

In 2002, Frantz was part of the The New York Times team who won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy.

Red tape still a bind for students

Against all odds: Jeffrey Choma pictured outside CNS, is one of the few students successfully registered for Wits  WiFi services.              Photo: Luke Matthews

AGAINST ALL ODDS: Jeffrey Choma pictured outside CNS, is one of the few students successfully registered for Wits WiFi services.
Photo: Luke Matthews

By Lameez Omarjee and Rofhiwa Madzena

Despite the introduction of online registration to make the experience “more convenient”, Witsies still complain that administrative processes are tedious and discouraging.

Claiming back money

Sinoxolo Msomi, 3rd year BEconSci, said claiming money back from Wits “just took too long”. It took a month to resolve her issue with the fees office.“Everyone I would talk to would refer me to someone else.  They first told me I could claim back money via telephone and just give my bank details but then I found out I had to fill in a form.” She speculated that the cause of the delay was due to the fact that the sum of money was large. 

To claim money back, students are required to get a stamped bank statement and verification from their parents or the person or entity that paid their fees, as well as certified copies of their IDs. Students say this means a great deal of running around. 

Lengthy waiting periods

Students also complained about the time it took for their cell phones and tablets to be registered for WiFi access on campus.  Rosina Mabapa, 3rd year BA, said: “I don’t think it’s amazing, [and] it could be better”. Xolani Hadebe, acting director at Computer and  Network Services (CNS) said: “I’m aware that the process of registering online for WiFi access is a tedious one so we are phasing that out.”  Students will in future be able to gain access to WiFi using their login details.

Carol Crosley, deputy registrar of enrolment, acknowledged that students are often sent from “pillar to post” because staff did  not feel empowered to address issues or make decisions about problems that did not fall within their capacity.  But she said staff referred students to people who were better able to solve their problems.

The registration process

Online registration was introduced as a pilot project this year, in order to give students the “freedom and flexibility to register from home”, said Crosley.  Some students found it a great improvement.

Bambi Stewart, 3rd year BA, said, “I feel that it’s [online registration] much better now, especially the registration process for BA students because I felt it was the most tedious process ever. I managed to do it in two hours whereas in first year it took me two days, but everything is a bit better now.”

[pullquote]”although online registration was effective in reducing queues, it would not always be possible to remove human interaction entirely.”[/pullquote]

But other students still complained about having to come to campus to reregister manually because their subject choices did not show when they registered online.

Crosley said that, although online registration was effective in reducing queues, it would not always be possible to remove human interaction entirely.  Many students still needed career guidance and help with subject choices.    

Service survey facilities

Electronic survey facilities are available to measure service delivery at admin points like the Student Enrolment Centre, the Fees Office and some faculties. However, only a small number of students fill in these surveys, according to Crosley. 

The majority of students approached by Wits Vuvuzela were either unaware of the survey facilities or were unsure about what they were when they saw them on campus.

International students’ registration

International students have also complained about the services at the Wits International Office.Manager Gita Patel said the process became lengthy when documents had to be sent through to Home Affairs for verification. She added that, because students had to wait for Home Affairs, the office “allows students to register with acknowledgement of receipt [from Home Affairs]”.

Patel also said that it was up to students to follow up with the office to make sure their registration was on track.

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GALLERY: Israeli Apartheid Week 2014

The annual, and usually controversial, Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) kicked off at Wits University this Monday. The event was unusually subdued but certainly more colourful than those in recent years.

Witsies drowned out by the Madibaz

LINE OUT: Witsies try their best to gain possession of the ball during their match against NMMU on Monday night. Photo: Luke Matthews

LINE OUT: Witsies try their best to gain possession of the ball during their match against NMMU on Monday night. Photo: Luke Matthews

by Luke Matthews

The rain and gloom of Johannesburg’s weather matched Wits’ performance in their match against Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU).

The Wits rugby team were defeated 18-12 in a Varsity Cup match on their home turf.

Hopes were high when Wits scored the first try of the game, giving them a 4-0 lead. Although the rain may have steered away some supporters, the stands still roared with excitement.

NMMU hits back

With increased  pressure on the visiting side, The Madibaz as the NMMU team is known, quickly recovered when flank Chris Cloete scored a try putting them 5-4 in the lead.

LADIES MEN: Pupils from Parktown Boys dressed in drag as part of their initiation attended the match to show their support for Wits. Photo: Luke Matthews

LADIES MEN: Pupils from Parktown Boys dressed in drag as part of their initiation attended the match to show their support for Wits. Photo: Luke Matthews

The rain and wet weather conditions also made for a challenging game as the forwards were constantly put to the test.

The Wits side suffered another setback when lock Rinus Botha was sent to the sin bin for stepping on another player’s head.

In the second half the boys in blue  had an abysmal start when the NMMU side extending their lead to 13-8.

But not all faith was lost. During the final ten minutes of the game Wits pushed back with a try from Brent Crossley. This was however, too little too late when the Madibaz scrumhalf, Enrico Acker secured the victory for NMMU with a final try leaving Wits defeated at 18-12.

Varsity Cup festivities heat up the stands

Although Wits has taken a few knocks in this seasons Varsity Cup, the close score against NMMU shows some improvement.

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