by Nokuthula Manyathi | Aug 2, 2013 | News
SMOKE AND MIRRORS: No bacon and eggs for Witsies after a long walk. Photo: Dinesh Balliah
THE SMELL of bacon, eggs and boerewors welcomed participants at Sunday’s Discovery 702 Walk the Talk, but Wits walkers were disappointed when they received only fruit and cool drinks to satisfy their appetite.
More than 360 Witsies participated in the annual Walk the Talk challenge. They proudly wore Wits t-shirts with Wits branding and hoped to receive a hero’s welcome—and breakfast—but the hospitality suite had only three umbrellas, five blankets, soft drinks and a box of fruit.
I looked for the Wits marquee but I couldn’t find it
The suite was so underwhelming, many could not find it. “I looked for the Wits marquee but I couldn’t find it. I was told by another participant that the Wits stand was a couple of umbrellas and some towels on the floor,” said Wits staffer Modise Makhetha.
This is in contrast to other companies hospitality suites that were marked by white picket fences and round tables with umbrellas. Companies such as Media24 and DStv had special caterers who braaied meat and chicken kebabs and served fresh rolls and salads. Vivienne Rowland, Marketing and Communications Office spokesperson, acknowledged that there were aspects of Wits’ participation in the event that needed improvement in the future. Rowland said the university did not have funds available to cater for their walkers.
[pullquote]I was told by another participant that the Wits stand was a couple of umbrellas and some towels on the floor[/pullquote]
We did not have these funds available
“We did not have these funds available and—even if we did—we believe that they could be better spent for academics or other purposes,” she said. Wits walkers had been promised a shuttle service from Wits that would operate from 5am to 4pm, but walkers waited for more than 30 minutes for the first bus to arrive.
TEAM SPIRIT: A team Wits banner that some of the walker carried
Photo: Dinesh Balliah
Makhetha said after he finished his 15km walk, he and other Witsies waited more than an hour for the bus to arrive.
We apologise to all Witsies
Rowland apologised for the bus delays and blamed them on traffic and routes. “The traffic congestion also played a role in delaying the buses. We apologise to all Witsies for the inconvenience and it is definitely a matter that we will address in our debriefing meeting,” she said.
This was the first time Wits formally entered a group into Walk the Talk. Rowland said she considered the event a success.
“It went extremely well for an initial attempt at improving staff morale and wellness, and doing our bit for charity,” she said. This year more than 50 000 people woke up early on Sunday morning, to the starting lines at Marks Park Sports Club near Randburg.
Kgalema Motlanthe
Participants had a choice of taking part in the 30km, 15km, 8km or 5km route. Dogs, toddlers, young and old enjoyed the walk through routes in Greenside, Emmarentia and Parktown. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe said he joined in the fun because he wanted to promote healthy living.
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jul 26, 2013 | News
LETS TALK ABOUT TESTS BABY: Members of the SRC get tested for HIV during HIV Awareness Week. The table was especially set up for them on Wednesday on the library lawns.. For the full story see page 8. From left: Sister Bongiwe Sithole, Pearl Pillay , Sibulele Mgudlwa and Tasneem Essop.
Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi
HIV Awareness Week at Wits started on Tuesday with banners, condom demonstrations and testing centres on the East campus library lawns.
One in every 20 adults is living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 69% of people of living with the disease worldwide according to the World Health Organisation. On Wednesday during lunch Tokelo Nhlapo, vice president of the SRC, said all SRC members would arrive at the testing centres to be checked and declare their statuses.
They will declare their status to the public
“Today [Wednesday] all SRC members will be tested and they will declare their status to the public,” Nhlapo told Wits Vuvuzela. However, when it came time to for the SRC members to take their tests, five members of the SRC arrived but Nhlapo was not one of them.
SRC secretary Tasneem Essop, one of the tested, said Nhlapo could no longer make the appointment because he had to sort out some issues with his faculty. The SRC members present also disagreed with Nhlapo’s announcement that they would be declaring their HIV statuses.
Condomise
Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi
Pearl Pillay, SRC international student affairs officer, said that a person’s HIV status was private that there was no agreement that all SRC members would declare their HIV statuses. “Your HIV status is a very personal thing. I think if people wish to declare their status it’s good on them but no one is forced,” said Pillay.
No one is forced to declare their status
President of the SRC, Sibulele Mgudlwa, agreed with Pillay and said the SRC wanted to set an example to students about being health conscious. “We are not planning on declaring our statuses. No one is forced to declare their status. We are here to promote a healthy life,” said Mgudlwa.
Mgudlwa said Nhlapo’s announcement was the SRC vice president’s “own view”. Mgudlwa said that people’s privacy needed to be respected. The SRC members were among dozens of Witsies who got tested as part of HIV Awareness Week.
Sister Bongiwe Sithole, from the Campus Health and Wellness Centre said she was very impressed with the turnout so far.
“I was very surprised by the number of people who arrived to get tested.
The demand was overwhelming
The demand was overwhelming,” said Sithole. Students on the lawns said they were eager to get tested but a few were discouraged because of the long queues.Some of the students had been standing for more than 40 minutes.
HIGH DEMAND: Students were in queues for more than 40 minutes
Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi
Even though the queues were long, Sithole encouraged students to get tested as it would give them “a chance to make changes to their lives.” Essop said it was important to know your status as it “helps you to keep safe whether you are negative or positive”.
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jul 26, 2013 | News
ABOUT R40-million was spent to create the popular Wits Arts Museum (WAM) located on the ground floor of University Corner, but burst toilet pipes, power cuts and malfunctioning lifts plague the building’s other occupants.
A pipe in the female toilets burst
WATER WORLD: University Corner cleaners mopping the stairway after a pipe in the female toilets burst.
Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi
On Tuesday afternoon, University Corner cleaning staff noticed gushing water from the sixth floor as they were getting ready to leave work. A pipe in the female toilets burst and water spilled down from the stairway to the basement floor.
Six cleaning staff members spent more than 40 minutes walking down eight flights of stairs with mops and buckets drying the drenched staircases.
The cleaning staff only finished cleaning up at 4.30pm which was long after their ‘knock off’ time.
Eddy Kekana, technical supervisor for the Property and Infrastructure Management Division (PIMD), said that he was not sure what caused the pipe to burst. “We did not establish any foul play. It could have been due to the age of the pipe. The building is very old,” said Kekana.
Lights Out
On Monday, the building, situated on the corner of Jorissen and Bertha streets, experienced a power outage from 2pm until 7pm. The 21-story building is home to many academic departments and programmes affiliated with Wits. The building also houses the Wits Vuvuzela offices and a studio for international news network Al-Jazeera English. The long power outage left people unable to work.
[pullquote align=”right”]We did not establish any foul play[/pullquote]
Mike Smurthwaite, station manager at Voice of Wits which broadcasts from the ninth floor, said the station had to broadcast from East campus due to the power cuts. “The electricity went out at 2pm until 7.30pm. We have no generator in the building so we had to move to East campus so that we could carry on with broadcasting,” said Smurthwaite.
Lift problems
Kekana confirmed that the building did not have a generator but could not provide a reason why there was no back-up electricity source. Last month Wits Vuvuzela Online reported that faulty lifts in the building were leaving students, staff and tenants frustrated. Tenants complained about lifts that would go rapidly up and down the various floors without stopping at the selected floors.
Kekana said the lifts were in the process of being fixed. However, the lifts could only be fixed one at a time.
“They are fixing one lift at the moment which will be done in December or January. The other two will be done next year sometime,” said Kekana.
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jul 19, 2013 | News
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jul 19, 2013 | News
More than a dozen Witsies triumphed over 1200 nominees to be honoured as the Mail & Guardian’s most interesting and talented youth in South Africa.
It’s about time that I get noticed
Earlier this month, the M&G announced its list of top 200 young South Africans. Witsies soared in almost all 11 categories. Atandwa Kani, son of famous actor John Kani, was honoured for his contribution to the arts. Kani said being honoured was long overdue. “It’s about time that I get noticed,” he said.
Kani, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts from the Wits School of Arts, said he was happy with this year’s list because the people on the list “worked hard to be the best”. He said it was great to be honoured and selected but he wasn’t excited about the recognition. “I made it happen, so I’m not that excited,” said Kani.
Arts, business, law, civil society, education, health and sports
This is the eighth year that M&G has released a special print edition that profiles young people who are praised for excellence in their various fields. The 200 selected young South Africans are recognised in categories such as arts, business, law, civil society, education, health and sports. [pullquote align=”right”]I feel so honoured. It was so unexpected[/pullquote]
Each year M&G finds 200 young people aged 35 years and under who are either born in SA or have made a home here. These individuals must display incredible passion, drive and talent. Yusuf Talia has a Bachelor of Accounting Science degree and is in the final year of his second degree, a BSc in Psychology and Physiology.
We can do anything we put our minds to
Talia says he was humbled by the recognition.“I feel so honoured. It was so unexpected,” he said. At an early age Talia was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which left him wheelchair-bound. As the president of the Union of Muslim Students’ Association of South Africa, a member of the Disabled Students’ Movement and a former member of the Wits SRC, Talia said he is committed to making a change in the community.
“The youth need to adopt an attitude of helping those in need in their societies. We can do anything we put our minds to,” he said.
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jul 19, 2013 | News
Tumelo Mothotoane listens intently as Zamantungwa Khumalo speaks balancing academics and work.
Photo: Shandukani Mulaudzi
By Nokuthula Manyathi and Shandukani Mulaudzi
Media women on the move, Zamantungwa Khumalo and Tumelo Mothotoane met up with Wits Vuvuzela to discuss the challenges they face and lessons they have learnt as students in the working world.
There is no such thing as balance
Khumalo, 3rd year International Relations and Politics, is a producer on new talk radio station Power FM. Mothotoane is the anchor for SABC 1’s Sunday Live current affairs television show. “There is no such thing as balance. Balance is a lie. You do what you can at the moment,” said a passionate Khumalo. The two under 25s are juggling their Wits studies and their media careers.
Community start
Mothotoane and Khumalo said they built their careers from community stations and platforms even though community media is frequently regarded as inferior to better known commercial media. Mothotoane, 3rd year Media Studies and Psychology, started as a presenter on Soweto TV and was there for three years having worked on a show called SISTAS.
I work really hard, sometimes I feel like I’m 92-years old
[pullquote]It’s amazing that we are able to have these opportunities[/pullquote] Khumalo said her roots in radio were at VoW FM where she worked for about two years, anchoring a current affairs show in her final year with the station. Khumalo said a great advantage of working at these community stations was being able to learn many skills at once. Mothotoane said she had made many sacrifices in order to achieve what she has at such a young age. As a result she has had to mature more rapidly compared to some of her peers. “I work really hard, sometimes I feel like I’m 92-years old and not 22,” said Mothotoane. Khumalo echoed these sentiments.
I don’t have much of a social life
“I don’t have much of a social life. If I’m not at school then I’m at work,” said a bubbly Khumalo.
Khumalo said she often felt overwhelmed by the thought that two decades ago the opportunities she and Mothotoane had received would not have been available to a young black woman. “It’s amazing that we are able to have these opportunities,” said Khumalo. Being in the media can also come with pressure from the industry to behave in a certain manner that could lead these young women to lose themselves. However, Khumalo and Mothotoane said they had not fallen into this trap.
Humility
Mothotoane said she was able to remain humble because of her upbringing. “I am a good example of the saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. People have always been there whether it be family members or friends to help me along this journey.” Mothotoane said the influence of so many people in her life acts as her “humility checkers”. “I never forget where I come from,” said Mothotoane.
The two agreed that young people are often intimidated when they step into the working world. Khumalo said she realised that in order to be taken seriously in the work place, you have to be more assertive. “Knowing how to stand your ground is important. Being able to say: yes, you may be twice my age but you are still wrong,” said Khumalo.[pullquote align=”right”]You may be twice my age but you are still wrong[/pullquote]
Social Media
Both Khumalo and Mothotoane said university does not prepare students enough for the working environment.
Things like taxes, negotiating your salary and general office behaviour are things they said they learnt on the job. Mothotoane nodded in agreement and added that students needed to pay more attention to social media etiquette.
“Students don’t realise that prospective employers actually go through your social media profiles to see what you’re about and to see what kind of person they are hiring,” said Mothotoane. Khumalo added: “If you would not say it to your boss, don’t put it on social media.”
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jul 19, 2013 | News
CONNED: Segun at the ATM trying to find his card
Photo:Nokuthula Manyathi
On Monday evening, a Southdale man stopped off at the Braamfontein Centre to draw R50 for taxi fare. As he put his card into the machine, two men approached and told him the ATM didn’t work.
They are not smart. I am just a big fool
One of them told him to key in his cellphone number to make the machine work. “All of a sudden one of the two men was pressing buttons on the ATM, I turned around and they were quickly walking away.” Segun, who would not give his surname, tried to eject his card but nothing happened. Minutes later he received an SMS saying R1 620 had been withdrawn and that his available balance was R6.
“They are not smart. I am just a big fool,” he said, as he dialled a friend’s number with shaking hands. “All my money is gone. How am I going to get home? I am stranded.”He said he had decided to use the First National Bank ATM at Braamfontein Centre because he thought it would be safer than using the ATM on the street.
Ask us the securities, we won’t rob you.
Abigail Dube, a security guard at Braamfontein Centre, said people should stop asking for and accepting help from strangers. “Don’t talk to strangers…Ask us the securities, we won’t rob you.” Dube said students never asked for their help, but were “quick to cry ‘security’ when they were ripped- off. She said she could only help those who asked for help. “Money is confidential. We can only help if people ask us.”Ncane Bogosi, another security guard at Braamfontein Centre, said a few weeks ago a man lost more than R4 000 because he let a stranger “help” him. “They think we don’t know how to operate an ATM,” said Bogosi.
Other danger zones
Braamfontein Centre is not the only place where students should be alert. Shandukani Mulaudzi, a Wits Vuvuzela journalist, almost lost her money when she tried to withdraw money at the Standard Bank ATM just in front of The Grove in Melle Street. Mulaudzi arrived at the ATM to find a man “who looked like he just withdrew money”. He told her to stop saying the ATM wasn’t working. He grabbed the card from her hand.
“I kept watching his hands and it looked like he wanted to put it in his sleeve.” Mulaudzi confronted the man: “Hayibo, wenzani ?”A security guard then approached and the man got nervous. He gave her back her card and quickly walked away. Mulaudzi said students should be very alert and not accept help. “Don’t ever let anyone help you. Always trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe, don’t use the ATM.”
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jul 4, 2013 | News
Central Johannesburg has become the hub of the African hair industry. Dreadlocks, weaves and braids have taken over these street corners. We discover what it takes succeed…
Film Team:
Editor/Reporter
Nokuthula Manyathi
Asst. Editor/Cameraman
Jacob Carstens
Producer/Voiceover
Thuletho Zwane
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jul 2, 2013 | Featured 1, News
A roaring crowd of supporters sang “Shosholoza, Shosholoza, Ku lezontaba, Stimela si qhamuka e South Africa” as they waited impatiently for President Barack Obama to enter the University of Johannesburg’s auditorium in Soweto.
President Barack Obama addresses the gathering in Soweto on Saturday. Photo: Thuletho Zwane
No you can’t, Obama
Outside the venue more students were singing, but a different tune: “No you can’t, Obama, no you can’t” shouted members of the ‘No You Can’t Coalition’. On their official twitter page the anti-Obama protesters said the US President would face “the mother of all protests” when he arrived in Soweto.
These vastly contrasting reactions to Obama’s visit have dominated the news headlines since the visit was officially announced more than a month ago.
Obama, on his first tour of Africa as President of the United States addressed an invited audience of young Africans, a number of whom were part of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). There was not an anti-Obama person to be found in the auditorium.
Rubber bullets were fired
Outside the campus though, anti-Obama protesters clashed with the police. City Press reported that permission had been granted for a maximum of 120 protesters permission to assemble at the gates to the campus until 2pm. The protests soon turned violent with police firing rubber bullets at the protesters.[pullquote align=”right”]The USA under his leadership has escalated its assault on human rights.[/pullquote]
Brigadier Sally de Beer, spokesperson for the police’s Joint Operations Centre, told City Press the protesters “refused to disperse when asked to do so” and thus rubber bullets were fired.
Protesters outside the University of Johannesburg Campus clashed with police while the US President addressed an invited audience on the campus. Photo: Connie Nagiah
The ‘No You Can’t Coalition’ was organized by South Africa’s largest trade union confederation COSATU, the South African Communist Party (SACP), the South African Muslim Students Association (MSA) and Boycott Divestment Sanctions against Israel in South Africa (BDS South Africa).
In an official statement, BDS South Africa, a Palestinian non-governmental organization said they rejected Obama’s visit based on the USA’s arrogant, selfish and oppressive foreign policies.
“The USA under his leadership has escalated its assault on human rights, militarization of international relations and continuing guzzling of world resources at the expense of the environment and oppressed peoples of the world,” said BDS South Africa.
Hello, everybody! Yebo Mzansi!
Inside the auditorium invited guests were happily chatting, taking pictures and looking at their watches in anticipation. “Hello, everybody! Yebo Mzansi!” said Obama as he took to the podium to address some burning African questions.
Obama said he was passionate about African growth and that although Africa faced great challenges these should not be ignored.
Guests enthusiastically photographing themselves inside the auditorium where Obama was speaking. Photo: Dinesh Balliah.
“I’m making this trip to Africa because I believe this is a region on the move. Even as this continent faces great challenges — and they are great, and we can’t paper over them or pretend that those challenges don’t exist.”
Obama placed great emphasis on the youth being the key to a stronger African continent and pledged his commitment to youth development. He said this was the reason behind him launching the Young African Leaders Initiative.
Yes, we can
“That’s why three years ago, I launched a new effort to make sure we’re tapping those qualities of youth — the imagination, the courage, the “yes, we can” attitude of young Africans like you.”
Protesters were eventually dispersed with rubber bullets. Photo: Connie Nagiah.
He stressed his commitment to skills development in Africa and announced a new initiative to further cultivate youth skills. He said YALI would be expanded to introduce a new program called the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.
The Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders will focus on civic leadership and public administration and business and entrepreneurship. He said these skills were important to nurture as they would help serve communities, start and grow businesses.
This programme will give young Africans the opportunity to go to the United States and develop their skills at American colleges and universities.
“I believe in you, and I intend to make this a lasting part of our engagement with Africa beyond my presidency, for years to come.”
During his address Obama gave special recognition Lebo Bogapan, Jacob Jabari, Khadija Patel(@khadijapatel) and Fred Swaniker for their contributions to building better futures for their respective communities.
It will not be easy
“So building the future that you seek, realizing the vision that you have, not just for your own countries but for the world — it will not be easy. It will not be easy.”
Before the question and answer session Obama closed his speech off by encouraging the young audience to never lose faith, imagination, optimism and idealism.
[pullquote]young people are gonna be determining the future of the continent[/pullquote]
“Because the future of this continent is in your hands, and if you keep your head pointed towards the sun and you keep your feet moving forward, I promise you will have no better friend and partner than the United States of America.”
Robben Island
Before addressing young people at the University of Capetown (UCT),on Sunday, Obama along with his family visited the historical jail Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years.
SABC news reported that after touring the former prison, Obama and his wife Michelle signed a guest book in which Obama wrote:
“On behalf of our family we’re deeply humbled to stand where men of such courage faced down injustice and refused to yield. The world is grateful for the heroes of Robben Island, who remind us that no shackles or cells can match the strength of the human spirit.”
More protests
At UCT more protest actions from the ‘No You Can’t Coalition’ were underway. A noisy group of anti-US protesters chanted while , brandishing placards reading “Obama Zionist Puppet” and “Obama Mass Killer,”reported Eyewitness News.
$7 billion
Obama said America needed to “step up their game” when it came to Africa and he planned to bring together more American and African business leaders to deepen engagements. “We’re going to start by investing $7 billion in U.S. government resources.”
He said a strong partnership between America and Africa was an America vision which could empower people on the African continent.
“So this is America’s vision: a partnership with Africa that unleashes growth, and the potential of every citizen, not just a few at the very top.”
Mandela, Kennedy and Gandhi
During his address,Obama also encouraged young leaders to draw inspiration from Nelson Mandela, Robert Kennedy and Mahatma Gandhi’s life. Obama said these icons stood as a challenge for him and for the younger generation.
“You get to decide where the future lies.Over 60 % of Africans are under 35 year old. Demographics mean young people are gonna be determining the future of the continent and this country. You’ve got the time and numbers on your side.”
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jul 2, 2013 | Featured 1, News
WE LOVE YOU TATA: Candles light up an image of Nelson Mandela as the world prays for the icon’s speedy recovery.
Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi
Yesterday, Nelson Mandela spent his 24th day at the Mediclinic Heart Hospital in Pretoria following a lung infection. Crowds of people have been arriving outside the hospital to show their love for the former South African president.
For the last three weeks, the world has been unified in prayer for a South African hero whose condition is described as critical but stable.
Jana Basson, a 13 year old school girl, took time during her school holiday to pay tribute to a man she calls her role model. “I love Madiba. He is my role model and a symbol of peace,” she said. [pullquote align=”right”]He is like a dad – he shouldn’t die.[/pullquote]
Wall of Wishes
Visitors from across the world have continued to show their support by writing messages on the now famous Wall of Wishes – a wall outside the hospital that people have used to post messages and leave gifts for Mandela.
Molatudu Zinde a member of the Mamelodi SOS Village Grannies said they had come to sing for Mandela because he was an icon of the world and the father of the nation.
“Madiba is an icon of the world. He is like a dad – he shouldn’t die,” she said
Zinde said she was saddened by news that the Mandela’s were in the centre of a court case about the Mandela family gravesite. She hoped they would stop fighting and find more amicable ways to solve their differences,
“The ill health of Mandela should make them come together. They must stop fighting and just advise each other in amicable way. Once they stop fighting Mandela will heal,” said Zinde
No one is as loved as Madiba
Popular South African praise poet Mzwakhe Mbuli also arrived in Pretoria yesterday to show his support by performing a poem in front of the Wall of Wishes. Mbuli said Madiba was a unifier and a reconciler. “No one can be compared to Madiba. No one is as loved as Madiba,” he said. [pullquote align=”right”]This man is intelligent, a fighter, a true leader[/pullquote]
Mbuli, who was arrested in 1999 for armed robbery and possession of a hand grenade said that during his incarnation Mandela had visited him in jail and brought him some food.
Throughout the day people from all across came to the world stopped by the Wall of Wishes to show their supports. Members of the Nigerian Students Union from the University of Pretoria approached the Wall of Wishes in song.
The believer
“Mandela is an Ubuntu icon,” said Cyril Njoku the president of the union. He said Mandela was able to create peaceful co-existence between people of different races and backgrounds.
Wilson Isebor, also a member of the Nigerian student Union, said Mandela taught him to never give up and to always have faith in your dreams.
“He didn’t give up even after going to jail for very long time. He still came out and fought for what he believed,” said Isebor
A fighter, a true leader
As the sun set, candles were light by new arrivals to emulate the Wall of Wishes. Journalists camping outside the hospital for the last 24 days erected a white screen where they played videos and images of Mandela.
And slowly a small group of people starts to gather in front of the screen. “This man was intelligent, a fighter, a true leader,” says a passerby.
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jun 29, 2013 | News
Jimmy Mathebula is a 34 year old Computer Scientist at Wits University. His marriage has broken down. His business is in trouble. So as a last resort, Jimmy has decided to visit a traditional healer for the first tine in his life – to get advice from his ancestors. Will Jimmy find answers or will he be left with more questions?
Film Team:
Producer/Editor
Nokuthula Manyathi
Camera/Voicerover
Jacob Carstens
Reporter/Script
Thuletho Zwane
by Nokuthula Manyathi | Jun 26, 2013 | Featured 1, News
MAN OF STEEL: Kevin Davie tells Wits Vuvuzela about cycling 600km in 63 hours on only 2.5 hours of sleep
Photo: Nokuthula Manyathi
Kevin Davie only needed two and a half hours of sleep to cycle 600km in 63 hours last week. The average person needs at least eight hours.
Davie, who lectures financial journalism at Wits University and works as a financial journalist at the Mail and Guardian, has shown incredible endurance by cycling from Johannesburg to Sodwana Bay in KwaZulu Natal.
I have never done that before
Davie said he had never done a challenge like this before but was always interested undertaking an endurance sport with little sleep.
“I have never done that before. The first night I didn’t sleep at all and that next morning I did need to sleep for like half an hour,” said Davie.
Davie has had a passion for adventure sports for over three decades; completing 10 Comrade’s marathons and 24 Dusi canoe marathons. For Davie adventure sports are a way of life and a way of keeping fit.
[pullquote]“Get your bike and get out there and just explore”[/pullquote]
The Freedom Challenge
During his 30 years as an off-road cyclist, Davie has cycled a total of 10 000 km. He was the 24th person to ever complete the Freedom Challenge; a 2300 km mountain bike ride between Pietermaritzburg and Cape Town.
“Well I’ve always liked adventure sports…it’s a way to stay fit. It’s a way of getting to explore a country and meet people on a quiet a basic level. You are not arriving in a 4X4 but on a bicycle and people relate to that”.
The most amazing thing
Davie said he was amazed at how his body was able to complete such a challenge on very little sleep.
“The most amazing thing was that twice I was really tired and completely finished. Both times what I did was I took a short sleep one was ten minutes and the other was 20 minutes. And after those sleeps I was back as fresh as I had started,”
Support from friends and family
Davie was able to complete the bike ride with the assistance of his friends who rode along with him at different points of the off road challenge. He said his family and friends were surprised and amazed when he finished the “impossible” non-stop 600 km bike ride.
Davie said preparing for the challenge was difficult. He had to follow a strict low carbohydrate and high protein diet.
“It’s a kind of way of life…in my mind it’s just a healthy way to live that you build experience and a good diet to your life.”
Freedom Rider
Davie recently published a book “Freedom Rider, 10 000 km by mountain bike across South Africa” which tells the story of Davie’s mountain bike adventures which lead him discover some of South Africa’s most beautiful hidden corners.
Davie said he had future plans to do more rides and explore more parts of the country. He said biking was a good way to explore and to be with one’s thoughts, he encouraged cyclists to just do it.
“Get your bike and get out there and just explore”
