Edition 2, 5 March 2008
water and maintain World Health
99 bottles of tea on the wall
Robyn McCormick & Daneel Knoetze
R
afsoc, a society infamous for
drinking, was the first society up
for scrutiny as part of the Dean
of Students’ campaign to promote the
responsible use of alcohol on campus.
Rafsoc, longstanding as one of the
most popular societies at Rhodes, has
seen massive success in fundraising
through their parties in the past. These
parties invariably involved the circula-
tion of alcoholic punch (lots of it) to
the guests. In a recent meeting between
the Rafsoc Committee and the Dean
of Students Dr Vivian de Klerk, new
ground rules were outlined, specifically
aimed at altering the focus of the parties
to conform to the Responsible Alcohol
Use Policy which, according to Dr de
Klerk, does not introduce new policies
but is rather a summary of pre-existing
rules. The meeting ended with Rafsoc re-
luctantly agreeing to restrict the alcohol
available at their parties to four drinks
per person, as well as promising to have
food and non-alcoholic punch available
alongside the alcohol.
The Committee felt that they had
been “slapped in the face” with restric-
tions that they feel are unreasonable.
Christine Pearson, the Rafsoc treasurer,
is confident that a better compromise
can be reached. Rafsoc plans to focus
their efforts on creating a safe environ-
ment for students to have fun as part of
their attempts to reform Rafsoc’s former
image.
Dr de Klerk has responded with ap-
proval: “I welcome the efforts of Rafsoc
in providing parties and entertainment
for our students, and I also applaud their
decision to adopt a more responsible ap-
proach to alcohol consumption at these
events”.
It is precisely this change in image
that Neal Howarth, Chairman of Rafsoc,
fears will lead to a drop in member-
ship this year. More than 600 students
signed up for Rafsoc, largely under the
assumption that the society’s parties
would be conducted as in the past. Now
Howarth fears that the new regulations
will disappoint students, causing them to
demand refunds, which would have huge
financial consequences for the society.
The society has never been in finan-
cial trouble before, and even went so
far as to donate R20,000 to the SRC at
the end of 2007 to help fund this year’s
O-week events. Dale van der Lingen,
the SRC treasurer, said that the SRC was
grateful for the donation: “The money
was very much appreciated, and the
extra funds were ploughed back into the
societies counsel so that other societies
could also benefit from the donation.”
Rafsoc representatives also helped at the
O-week carnival and the business extrav-
aganza by handing out free soft drinks
and water to students as an alternative to
the alcohol on sale.
These efforts to ‘clean up’ Rafsoc’s
image follow a tumultuous year in the
society. Last year, Rafsoc was under
scrutiny from the Dean of Students office
as bad reports concerning the society
escalated. The party held in the third
term was linked to cases of sexual assault
and the proceeds from the fourth term
party were reportedly stolen from the
then-chairman’s car after the party. This
led to speculations about if the society
is, as it claims, a society aiming to raise
awareness and funds.
Although Dr de Klerk commends
Rafsoc for “genuinely ‘raising awareness’
about pressing social issues among their
members, it is these reports of “high
levels of binge drinking and excessive al-
cohol consumption” at last year’s parties
that have encouraged her to take action.
Rafsoc’s relationship with the Centre
for Social Development (CSD) used to
be beneficial, with Rafsoc donating over
R20,000 and a bakkie of clothes towards
the end of last year. However, since the
CSD’s relationship with their chosen
project, Ikhaya Losizo, finished at the
end of third term last year, there have
been no further donations. A spokes-
person from the CSD said that there had
been problems between the centre and
Rafsoc as it was felt that Rafsoc, despite
giving substantial financial donations,
had not been physically involved in any
community development schemes. This
lack of involvement, coupled with the
concerns about the means by which Raf-
soc raised their money, led to strained
relationships between Rafsoc and the
university, says Dani Marais, student vol-
unteer co-ordinator. “Though the CSD
benefits from such donations, taking
the money condones alcohol abuse and
we are therefore partially liable for the
dangers posed to students who choose
to become heavily intoxicated,” she
said.
Howarth says that this year will be
different. The society is willing to con-
form to the new alcohol restrictions, and
move its parties to a venue on campus
for greater safety, although Pearson says
that this will not happen “if we are being
second-guessed all the time”. Pearson
and Howarth resent their donations
being regarded as ‘dirty money’ and plan
to direct their efforts towards supporting
the Galela Amanzi project, an initiative
which provides water tanks to schools.
Harriet Mclea
Following last year’s water crisis,
problems surrounding the quality
of Grahamstown’s water persist. An
increasing number of Rhodes students
have resorted to buying bottled water
instead of drinking water from their
taps.
First year student, Russel Cavé said
that sometimes the water goes brown
or has “little white particles in it.” Aazil
Nazarali, a second year student, said that
he buys bottled water every day adding
up to nine litres each week. Mcebisi
Heleni, manager of the Kaif said that
more water is sold than any cool drinks
and he restocks the fridge with 20 cases
of water per day.
Jessica Watermeyer, an Oppidan, said
that all the students in her digs either
buy bottled water or filter the water they
drink. She said that when they arrived
in Grahamstown all of them felt sick and
they blamed it on the water. However,
pharmacists at Grahamstown Pharmacy
and Dr Nikite Muller of the Insitute for
Water Research at Rhodes University,
both question whether it is fair to
make a direct link between the water
quality concerns and a large number of
complaints of diarrhoea.
Muller said that it was the
municipality’s responsibility to test
New posters have recently appeared on
trees around Grahamstown advertising
quick, safe and painless abortions.
It’s unclear whether this is last year’s
Dr Mike (featured in the “One-day
Abortion. 100% Pain-Free” article) in
disguise or a new “doctor” offering the
same unreliable services.
If you find yourself in the position
of needing an abortion, Dr Bull is the
Organisation and South African water
quality standards: “Whether there is the
competency to continue meeting these
standards (lack of trained and competent
staff) is an issue which requires urgent
attention”. Muller said that the water
may be brown due to sediment, either
entering the reticulation system from
burst pipes or from the reservoirs.
Attempts by The Oppidan Press to get
comment from the municipality proved
unsuccessful.
According to a pamphlet released
by the Department of Water Affairs
and Foresty (DWAF), water is not a
sustainable solution for South Africa:
“A litre of bottled water purchased at a
supermarket costs about R10. To fill a
one litre bottled from your kitchen tap
costs less than one cent – a 1000 fold
difference!”
The DWAF recommends the
following if you do not have access to
clean drinking water: Filter the water
through a cloth to remove suspended
material; boil water (for at least ten
minutes) to destroy micro-organisms
that may cause disease, adding bleach
to remove micro-organisms (one tsp
per 25 litres and allow to stand for two
hours protected from sunlight, adding
chlorine granules one tsp per 200 litres
of water) and allow to stand for two
hours protected from sunlight.
one to go see. Located at the medical
practice not so far from where this
picture was taken, at 120 High Street,
she is the only doctor in town qualified
to perform abortions. She is available
for consultations at her practice and
performs abortions at Settlers Hospital.
Although Dr Bull is likely more
expensive than what may be a cheaper
option advertised here, the safety
provided by the former is priceless. Her
phone number is 046 636 2063.
2 The Oppidan Press 05.03.08
Recently Rhodes has been plagued by
the noticeable influx of cars, which have
been piled into parking spaces, side-
walks, pavement, and anywhere else with
a length of over two metres. Leaving for
a lecture 15 minutes earlier than usual to
find a parking space? Not ideal.
Staff are also not exempt from park-
ing problems. They are often forced to
drive around looking for parking spaces
when their own demarcated spots have
been taken by students.
Oppidans are complaining that most
of the cars taking up parking spaces
belong to students in residence who do
not need to drive to lectures.
But what is Rhodes doing to remedy
this problem? “There’s not much we
can do,” says Larissa Klazinga, Rhodes
Student Services Officer. “At Rhodes
students are encouraged to walk to try
and decrease the amount of traffic on
central campus.” Klazinga also said
that the majority of students on central
campus are in residence, and that there
is no real need for residents to drive to
lectures. However, she feels that staff
and Oppidans, who live further away
and generally stay on campus for longer
We would like to take this
opportunity to apologise for not
launching our website on time. Due
to unforeseen circumstances, we had
to design our website from scratch
and it’s officially being launched
(again!) today. So check out the cool
things that you missed last edition:
Ricci Pillay’s resignation speech,
a YouTube video of the Kenyan
election violence, toe wrestling AND
all our new multimedia content to
complement this week’s print edition!
www.TheOppidanPress.com
hours, “ought to be given priority over
the space available for parking”.
Lucy Kruger, a first year from Nelson
Mandela Hall, says that she enjoys hav-
ing her car on campus because “although
they say Rhodes is easy to walk around,
life is much easier with a car”.
Klazinga feels that some students
have unreasonable expectations of the
university in terms of parking availabili-
ty. “Rhodes used to have a policy like the
ones now in place at Tuks where no first
years were allowed to bring cars to cam-
pus. We don’t want to go back to that.”
She confirms that there are no plans in
place to create more parking spaces on
campus. “We promise people accommo-
dation, we don’t promise them
TriVarsity is considered by many as
being the most important event on the
Rhodes calendar. Some have argued
it’s all about the sporting competition,
others believe that it’s about showing
your true Rhodent patriotism, but
what ever purple position you may
take we can all agree that this event has
got a little bit heavy-handed and out of
control. Agree, disagree, listen up and
tune into our first ever podcast of who
said what and what went down at the
‘Save TriVarsity’ debate.
www.TheOppidanPress.com/news
Pic: Geoff Wakefield
parking,” she said.
But what about those who have
not been given accommodation in
residence? Parking spaces are available,
says Klazinga, and the university boasts
a parking lot outside the Barratt lecture
theatre on central campus with space
to accommodate 240 cars. Klazinga
expressed annoyance that students seem
“unwilling to walk the 200 metres to
their lectures,” but prefer to park directly
outside their lecture venues, often
occupying staff parking spaces.
Thanks to Christie Jacobs, a fourth
year photojournalism student, we
have a stunning picture slide show of
a day in the life of Sean Haydock and
his quest for water conservation. Join
him and his son as they spend a day
harvesting succulents for their garden.
www.TheOppidanPress.com/features
A video created by students of the
University of the Free State (UFS)
depicting UFS employees kneeling and
eating food that had been urinated on
shocked the public on Tuesday last week.
According to News24.com, the video
was a brazen response to the university’s
newly adopted policies to integrate
student residences which, up until that
point, had been racially segregated.
On 24 February, a rally was held by the
main opposition party in Zimbabwe,
the Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC), to drum up support for the
29 March elections taking place in the
country.
The rally was held outside the
Cathedral and was poorly attended
despite the many posters around town
and on campus. Despite this, the 20
people who did attend were enthusiastic,
and repeatedly chanted “Mugabe must
go!” and other such slogans.
Roderick Chimombe, the Eastern
Cape District Chairman for the MDC,
and Ringrose Moyake, Secretary of
International Affairs for the MDC,
A handful of people attended the
Zimbabwean opposition party
(MDC) rally two weeks ago. The
speakers encouraged students
to travel back to Zimbabwe and
exercise their right to vote in the
up-coming elections. Check out a
video of the rally and experience first
hand as our writers begin to become
multi-skilled multimedia journalists.
www.TheOppidanPress.com/politics
The video has been strongly
condemned by members of the
community across the country, including
Rhodes SRC President Xolani Nyali who
called the video unconstitutional: “No
true South African - white or black -
would accept or tolerate the behaviour
that these UFS students have shown, and
we need to make this clear.”
were both present as guest speakers.
Chimombe said that a presence in
Grahamstown was important because
the MDC is “setting up structures in
every corner of South Africa in order to
make sure that all Zimbabwean citizens
have enough information and are able to
register and vote”.
Moyake was emphatic about the
importance of voting in his speech,
saying “We will not allow Mugabe to
steal our elections again. Rise up and
vote!”
Turn to the Politics Section for a
more in-depth analysis.
Nolulamo Matutu
Last year the Dean of Students’ office, in
conjunction with the Rhodes Web Unit,
organised an alcohol survey based on
the World Health Organisation’s Alcohol
Use Disorders Identification test to
assess whether or not there is a drinking
problem at Rhodes.
A third of the student body par-
ticipated and of 2,049 students, it was
discovered that ten percent of students
at Rhodes are alcohol dependant, 33
percent are in the hazardous range, nine
percent are in the harmful range and 49
percent are in the safe range.
These results informed part of the
training programme for residence
house committees and are included
as a suggested point of discussion in a
booklet for first year students.
“The results are useful in that they
give us a way of understanding the
problem…for us what’s more important
is to use them as a gauge for the problem
and to try and come up with useful in-
terventions based on that information,”
commented Larissa Klazinga, Rhodes
Student Services Officer.
While many of you were spending
the weekend doing what students
do best, Rhodes Athletics Club, the
Health Suite and RMR held a 24
hour marathon to raise funds for
cancer. If you were not there (or
even if you were), check out our
photo slideshow of this event and
enjoy the fun, laughter and exercise
for yourself and watch how students
raised awareness around cancer.
www.TheOppidanPress.com/sport
 The Oppidan Press 05.03.08 3

stressed the value of TriVarsity and

After ten years of being held elsewhere,
TriVarsity will be returning to the Fort
Hare campus this year. Dean of Students
Dr Vivian de Klerk explained that Fort
Hare is able to host TriVarsity due to
their newly upgraded sports facilities,
which include resurfaced courts and a
“stunning” indoor sports centre.
The TriVarsity sporting events will
be split between East London and Alice.
Rowing, hockey, tennis, athletics and
waterpolo will take place on the Friday
afternoon in East London. The other
events will take place on Saturday at Fort
Hare.
Fort Hare has recently enclosed
their campus and will have 24 hour
security at the entrance to address the
safety concerns of students. Surveillance
cameras have also been installed
throughout the campus, with a central
control room where all campus activities
can be monitored. An 18 page safety and
security plan has been drafted.
Rhodes University will attempt to make
TriVarsity a safe and fun event this
year. Aside from the intensive ‘Alcohol
Awareness Week’ and ‘Save TriVarsity’
campaign, there will be stricter measures
in place during the TriVarsity weekend
to control alcohol consumption: a beer
tent will be set up and no alcohol will
be allowed to leave the designated area;
the police and traffic authorities will
be working with the universities and
there will be road blocks to stop drunk
driving. Four 60-seater buses have
already been booked and the fee for a
return trip has been estimated at R80.
Students driving their own cars are
encouraged to drive in convoy.
De Klerk recommends driving back
on Saturday although she said that they
could arrange limited accommodation
for Rhodes students on the Fort Hare
campus. Ample information will be
provided closer to the time about how to
get to Fort Hare.
“Fort Hare has been waiting for ten
years for their turn to host the event and
we owe them the courtesy of travelling
to their campus for a change, and giving
them a chance to prove that they can rise
to the occasion. I feel confident that they
will,” she said.
The threat of TriVarsity being cancelled
saw members of the student body riled
up and ready to battle it out at last week’s
‘Save TriVarsity’ debate. Many students
see TriVarsity as one of, if not the most,
important sporting and social events on
the Rhodes calendar.
The debate was held during ‘Alcohol
Awareness Week’, a campaign promoting
responsible drinking and highlighting
the prominent drinking culture at
Rhodes University. Members of staff,
the SRC and students were encouraged
to attend the debate in order to share
opinions on the issues of safety, alcohol
abuse and Rhodes’ participation in
the annual TriVarsity event. Speakers
included Vice Chancellor Dr Saleem
Badat, Dean of Students Dr Vivian de
Klerk, Sports Officer Kerr Rodgers and
SRC President Xolani Nyali. All of the
speakers made it clear that they did not
want to abolish TriVarsity but insisted
that changes needed to be made so that
Rhodes can continue to participate in
the annual event. Although student
views would be considered, Dr Badat
stressed that it was not only up to the
students to decide, saying that the
ultimate decision would be made by the
Senate.
In light of past drunken and
disorderly behaviour by Rhodes
students, the decision of the university’s
future may not even be made here:
Fort Hare and the Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan University (NMMU) could
opt to have Rhodes excluded from the
event.
According to Dr Badat and Dr de
Klerk, the participation of Rhodes has
been jeopardised by the unacceptable
behaviour of a small portion of students
which has brought the university’s
reputation into disrepute. In addition
to bad behaviour, TriVarsity events
have also been the scene of numerous
rapes, beatings, drunk driving accidents
and physical violence which have led
members of the university to question
whether TriVarsity should be allowed to
continue.
Dr de Klerk believes it will take the
determination of both staff and students
to change the mindless destructive
behaviour indulged by a few. She
has promoted responsible drinking,
encouraged students to focus on sport
and competition rather than excessive
drinking. When asked to propose
possible solutions to ‘Save TriVarsity’,
students suggested workshops be
held before the event and security be
increased to ease safety concerns and
keep the “few” problematic students in
check if needed.
Nyali stated that the SRC supported
the continuation of TriVarsity but did
not want to tarnish the name of Rhodes.
He said that students do not need to be
“nannyed” and that we should know
how to behave. He also commented on
the rising alcoholism at Rhodes and the
need to shift our institutional culture
so that irresponsible drinking is not
promoted.
While this event did provide a platform
for debate, many students felt that the
SRC was not being representative of
their views and needs. Paul-Michael
Keichel, a fourth year student, likened
the doing away with TriVarsity to doing
away with the 2010 Soccer World Cup
in fear of inevitable soccer hooliganism.
TriVarsity was described as a unifying
event where all ethnicities united under
the umbrella of Rhodes for a common
cause and should be supported to this
end.
Dr Badat stated that “it would be
a great pity if TriVarsity had to be
stopped”. He suggested that as the
problem has resulted from the behaviour
of only a few students, it was up to
the SRC, administration and students
to beware of those whose behaviour
was bringing Rhodes into disrepute.
Dr Badat recognised that the kinds of
behavioural problems we are dealing
with are not exclusively related to
TriVarsity, and therefore banning
TriVarsity would not solve the problem.
He made it clear that students needed to
drink responsibly and play an active role
in the elimination of offensive behaviour
if TriVarsity is to continue not only this
year, but in the years to come.

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Opposite Buddy’s Liquor on New Street
4 The Oppidan Press 05.03.08
A lot of people see Eskom as a “Lord
of the Rings” style villain sitting in a
power station of evil, unleashing hordes
of blackouts. Well, at least I did. Sadly
the truth is more boring, but somehow
more terrifying.
After the 1994 election, Eskom
was given the mandate of providing
electricity to millions of black
South Africans who were denied
infrastructure under the apartheid
regime. Eskom was therefore faced
with two fundamental problems:
rectifying the injustices of the past
while also building new infrastructure
to accommodate a rapidly growing
country.
As stressed by reports like the 1998
White Paper on energy, its main
priority would be to build new power
plants in order to prevent a massive
electricity shortage in, say, 2007! You
would think that as a power utility,
Eskom would love to build new
stations but that’s not how it rolls.
Eskom ignored this because it’s board
of directors, and ultimately our own
government, was too busy trying to
privatise our electricity and thus escape
from the responsibilities of public
service. But the money never came and
the situation got progressively worse at
the plants which keep our lights on.
Eskom workers have become
demoralised under the constant threat
of being laid off and I imagine many
have just stopped caring. Goodbye
safety protocols. At the same time
Eskom failed to challenge the biggest
and most wasteful users of electricity:
heavy industry, particularly the mines.
They use over half of South Africa’s
electricity and pay virtually nothing
for it. Indeed, Eskom prides itself on
providing the cheapest electricity in the
world. Cheap if you’re a giant industrial
complex, that is.
Although the company has
connected millions of users since
1994, it has subsequently disconnected
thousands who cannot pay due to
crippling poverty. But apart from
helping to impede social and economic
justice it does have one substantive
achievement which cannot be taken
away. Thanks to the constant and
unchecked use of coal, recent studies
show that the Eskom is the second
highest polluting power company in
the world, producing over 214 million
tons of CO2 a year. That’s only 78
million tons behind China’s notoriously
dirty Huaneng Power International.
This is totally impressive when you
consider that China has one and a half
billion people and is the most rapidly
industrialising country in the world.
Take a bow
Eskom,
you have
overcome
the odds
and shown
us what it
means to
be proudly
South African.
Most of the time, when US President
George Bush comes up in conversation
the topic turns immediately to war and
the fact that his is a presidency that the
global community cannot wait to see
come to an end. But for many Africans
this is not the case.
While the President will leave behind
a legacy dominated by war and irrational
decisions, Africa is being described as
one of the Bush administration’s great-
est successes. In 2003, President Bush
established the President’s Emergency
Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), a $15
billion initiative that aimed to provide
treatment and care to 19 million people
and permitted Africa and other develop-
ing countries to override patents on
imported medication for tuberculosis,
HIV/Aids and malaria. In Rwanda alone,
Pepfar has played a significant role in
increasing ARV distribution to the point
where more than 70 percent of those
who need ARVs are receiving them.
In a recent proposal to Congress,
Bush asked that Pepfar be renewed for
the next five years, for $30 billion: dou-
South Africa was disgusted last week
with the release of a racist video. Not
only has the South African public been
repulsed by this, but the international
community has also responded to the
degrading material. Read below for local
and international media reactions:
“I can deny that there were any human
rights abuses at all. The whole thing is a
farce…This was supposed to have been
shown at a ‘cultural evening’ a satire in
which a multi-racial audience would
have laughed at themselves. It was a
Leon Schuster move gone wrong.” –
Nico Naude, Attorney representing the
perpetrators, Cape Argus, South Africa.
ble the previous initiative. On his visit to
Africa last month, Bush was welcomed
to Benin, Liberia, Tanzania and Rwanda,
with supporters lining the streets waving
US flags. In Tanzania, Bush visited the
Aids treatment facility that was financed
mainly by Pepfar funds and stated that
it was possibly the best display of the
programme’s success in Africa, and
reason enough to extend it beyond his
presidency.
Pepfar is based on the ‘network mod-
el’ of implementation, making use of
various centres to distribute medication
and education. While it currently sup-
plies 1.4 million HIV/Aids patients with
ARVs, the programme’s specifications do
not stop there. Pepfar has had significant
effects on healthcare spheres in Africa,
providing training and equipment to the
impoverished countries, thereby creating
an environment conducive to sustainable
HIV/Aids programmes.
CHF International, an American
group committed to social change,
reports that Pepfar funding has drasti-
cally reformed HIV/Aids treatment
and prevention and is also funding the
education of 39,000 pupils in Rwanda
alone. Thanks to such funding, 6.7 mil-
lion people are being cared for and over
152,000 infants have been protected
from pre-natal HIV/Aids infection
through the use of anti-retrovirals.
But while some describe Pepfar as a
“revolution”, there are critics who believe
Bush’s actions are consistent with what
can only be an extended ‘scramble for
Africa’. Others say that in the ABC of
Aids prevention, Bush’s programme fa-
vours Abstinence and Being Faithful far
more than the trusty Condomise motto.
Either way, Bush is pushing Congress
to put more than $30 billion into a pro-
gramme to fight poverty and disease in
Africa which, we are sure you will agree,
places at least an inch of shiny white
light on the man usually associated with
darkness.
“This is the real South Africa. That is
what has shocked people about what
happened here. The tragedy is that these
white boys don’t even think they have
done anything wrong.”
- The Times Online, United Kingdom.
“South Africans across the spectrum
have been unanimous in their rejection
of the racist video as former president
F.W. de Klerk said the actions of the
students were “despicable” for the
overwhelming majority of white South
Africans and Afrikaners who shared in
the understandable rage of black South
Africans over the incident.”
- Thaindian News, Thailand.
“The riots that broke out in South Africa
in protest of racial abuse on Wednesday,
Living in a relatively tolerant society like
South Africa, one often tends to take for
granted certain rights ordained by our
Constitution. This was made extremely
clear when Egyptian police recently
began arresting men suspected of being
homosexual or HIV positive. Any man
who tested positive for the disease or
who failed an extremely invasive medi-
cal examination was beaten, jailed and
charged with “habitual debauchery”.
These acts are just the latest in a long-
standing ‘war’ against the ‘sin’ of homo-
sexuality in the Middle East. In fact, in
some Islamic countries, like the United
Arab Emirates, the rape of a man is
considered a crime of “forced homosex-
uality”. Therefore, the victim is treated
as a homosexual, will be convicted for
“criminal homosexual activity”, and
sentenced to anything from jail-time,
whipping or (if he is lucky) only a hefty
fine. Homosexuals and male victims of
rape are being punished for supposedly
disrespecting Islamic laws and morals,
and in some countries, such as Saudi
Arabia or Iran, this offence can cost you
your life.
The Egyptian atrocities first started
in May 2001, when Egyptian police went
on a witch hunt, raiding a “gay hang-
out” - the Queen Boat - and arresting
52 men who were charged for “habitual
debauchery” and “obscene behaviour”.
They were beaten and tortured for days.
Some were acquitted and the others were
sentenced to five years of prison and
hard labour. Following that episode of
the now infamous “Cairo 52”, last year
almost 16 years to the day that Nelson
Mandela walked free from prison, have
revealed just how distant the former
president [Nelson Mandela]’s dream of a
Rainbow Nation remains from reality.”
- TIME magazine, USA.
“Watch over the next few days as the
victims get blamed. For being the
“collateral damage” of “racial tensions”
on the campus, or the result of too much
integration of the university’s residences
by “pushy” black students. There will be
calls for the situation to calm down so
we can get things back to normal.”
- The Guardian, United Kingdom.
“In our view, these students ought not
simply be suspended by the University
of the Free State; instead they should be
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eight men, accused of prostitution, were
arrested and tested for HIV against their
will. The two men whose results came
out positive were subsequently tortured.
These “purges” by the government
have led to the stigmatisation of Aids
as being a disease that affects solely
homosexuals and, consequently, there is
a belief that heterosexuals are safe from
infection, thus misleading the popula-
tion about the dangers of Aids. In Egypt,
those who have contracted the virus
are spurned as though they were lepers,
and treatment is a long lost dream for
the majority of anyone HIV positive.
Indeed, some Egyptians even believe
that the government has a right to arrest
these men because they are breaking the
religious laws of the country. They also
feel that it is a good solution to cease
the spreading of the disease by forcing
homosexuals to take HIV tests and jail-
ing them, rather than treat those who are
infected.
This treatment and discrimination is
clearly unacceptable, but South Africa
should be wary of beginning to tread a
similar path. Despite skyrocketing HIV
rates in the country, Dr Colin Pfaff, a
doctor in KwaZulu Natal, was recently
dismissed for rolling out dual treatment
therapy on infected pregnant women
and newborns. The KwaZulu Natal
MEC of Health, Ms Peggy Nkonyeni
even went so far as to call antiretrovirals
“toxic” and called the decision by some
rural doctors to treat Aids with them
regrettable, particularly in the case of Dr
Pfaff. While this is clearly not on a par
with torturing and jailing Aids patients,
these types of actions fulfil almost the
same function as the death sentence they
provide to the patients who are denied
treatment.
So, instead of sitting and criticis-
ing Egypt, perhaps it’s time that South
Africans started making a plan to deal
with their own issues which may have
comparable consequences.
permanently excluded. Furthermore,
we call on the University of Free State
to write to all Vice Chancellors and
Registrars of Universities and ask them
to not accept these students should they
seek to register there, nor accept their
credits.”
- Rhodes University Student
Representative Council, South Africa.
And last but by no means least:
“…………………”
- Rhodes University Administration,
who have so far refused to comment
on these heinous actions due to their
respect for “institutional autonomy”.
Collated on 29 February 2008

As one of South Africa’s most histori-
cally degrading words, the K-word still
has the power to cause great controversy
14 years after apartheid. The word was
recently uttered by none other than Irvin
Khoza, Chairperson of the local organis-
ing committee of the 2010 Soccer World
Cup, when he lashed out at a journalist
over the phone and told him to “stop
thinking like a k*****”.
To add insult to injury, he then
proceeded to repeat the word several
times at a press conference while
attempting to explain why he had used
it. Interestingly, the use of the derogatory
term has received mixed reactions. Some
black intellectuals have defended the use
of the term, reasoning that coming from
a black man the term did not have the
same colonial or racial connotations as it
once did. Indeed, some have even argued
that the use of the term by a black
person is a form of empowerment.
Fikile-Ntsikelelo Moya of the Mail
& Guardian had similar sentiments.
He argued that there was a difference
between being a k***** and behaving
like one. According to Moya, since
Khoza used the word to describe
someone behaving in a manner which
perpetuates black stereotypes, it was
permissible. However, such a defence
does not come with high regard in a
country that is working to abolish such
stereotypes.
Despite these arguments in defence
of Khoza, he has received much criticism
This week’s oddest theory is an idea popular
in the Arab world. Apparently, the US mili-
tary purposely caused the Indian Ocean Tsu-
nami in 2004. The Americans did so using
electromagnetic pulse technology to try and
gain more control over oil and gas interests
on the Asian continent. Say what?
>> Claire Waterhouse
A recent rally organised by the
Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) held in Grahamstown was
enough to make one wonder if anybody
still cares about Zimbabwe. With barely
20 supporters showing up at the widely
publicised rally and press conference
held a couple of weeks ago, it seems as
though most people were either too
scared or apathetic to show up.
Because South Africa is unable to
assist in allowing Zimbabweans to
vote for their country from this side
of the border, the MDC has organised
16 rallies to take place in various parts
of South Africa to try and encourage
Zimbabweans to vote in the upcoming
elections in Zimbabwe.
According to guest speaker Rodrick
Chimombe, Eastern Cape District
Chairman for the MDC, there have
been at least “223 cases of torture” and
“152 unlawful detainees” under the
current Zimbabwean government so far.
A fear of similar fates for Zimbabwean
students at Rhodes seemed evident in
the low turnout, which the organisers
and most feel that the word is still an
insult and that the use of it should not be
encouraged. The South African Human
Rights Commission (SAHRC) has con-
demned the use of the word regardless
of the context saying that it is “an insult
to all South Africans and undermines
efforts of building a non-racial society”.
The SAHRC has demanded a formal
apology from Khoza but he remains
defiant, claiming that his use of the word
was acceptable because the word is still
regularly used in the townships. The Nestle Ricoffy 750g
R29 89
SAHRC does not see this as any reason
for such an insult to be acceptable and
is threatening Khoza with charges in the
Equality Court. each
No matter how regularly the word
may be used, Khoza should be reminded
Pick ‘n Pay Choice
that he holds an extremely public
position. This means that both national
Spaghetti 500g
and international eyes are on him and
his behaviour as he organises an event
which is supposed to be uniting our
country. Using words with such negative
connotations is not conducive to nation-
building, regardless of the skin colour of
the person using it.
R4 99 each
blamed on the “fear and intimidation”
the students face. However, Chimombe
seemed surprised to hear of the alleged
intimidation when interviewed by
The Oppidan Press and condemned it,
stating that he hoped the renewed MDC
presence would diffuse the situation.
What about the apathy Rhodes
students are famous for? This may have
been the case for South Africans, but
organisers of the rally made it clear that
they believed the Zimbabwean turnout
was low due to fear, as many students’
“bread is being buttered by the Mugabe
government”, so they couldn’t protest
even if they wanted to. Annoyance at
their posters being ripped down was also
high, although one can never be sure
whether this was due to political rivalry
or CPU simply doing their job.
To their credit, the MDC made the
best of a rather disappointing situation.
Their dedication and sincerity were
inspiring and their point was clear
from the get-go, with phrases like “to
save Zimbabwe, Mugabe must go”
being chanted eagerly for the handful
of supporters to hear. Indeed, the most
popular phrase of the day was “Chinji!
Maitiro!”, “Change is the way forward!”
According to other guest speaker
Ringrose Moyake, Secretary of
International Affairs for the MDC,
Zimbabweans are fleeing from Robert
British Army Commanders had
to scramble frantically earlier this
week to evacuate Prince Harry from
Afghanistan after an American website,
The Drudge Report, blew his cover.
The Prince had been serving on the
frontline in the country in total secrecy
since December after threatening to
quit the army if he was not allowed to
No Name UHT Milk
R6 89
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The Oppidan Press 05.03.08
Mugabe to places as far away as China,
America and England. He continued
to say, “they are not tourists, they
are running from the government in
Zimbabwe, an oppressive regime. They
are a suffering people whose dignity
has been removed.” He added that it is
time to “stand up and be counted, fight
together, white or black”.
A final speech was given by Rodrick
Chimombe. He wanted his comrades
to know that Morgan Tsvangirai had
sent him. His message was clear:
Zimbabweans need to stand together. He
said that certain structures were in place,
so that even if the elections were rigged,
Zimbabwe would still be freed.
These comments were interesting,
especially alongside those of Moyake,
who promised the rally that “what
happened in Kenya will be a picnic
compared to Zimbabwe.” Is it possible
that the MDC is reaching breaking
point? Comments during the rally
certainly seem to point that way,
although Chimombe refused to specify
when interviewed. He merely stated that
“it’s up to the Zimbabwean people. If
Mugabe plays his tricks again, the people
will make a plan.”
Rodrick Chimombe is going back to
Zimbabwe to cast his vote. He believes
“it is better to die at the election, than to
die of hunger.”
serve with his unit.
We’re not sure who the blunder
award should go to in this mess…
the commanders who sent a prince to
war, the prince who insisted on it, or
the stupid people who decided to blow
the lid on it all, endangering everyone
involved!
>> Claire Waterhouse
per litre
each
 6 The Oppidan Press 05.03.08
(JWF

t



.BSDI

Make sure to bring an extra five bucks to
lectures this week, as Give 5 collection
points will be situated around campus.
For those of a more active inclination,
the Makana Brick 8km night race will be
held tonight. Registration costs R10, and
all finishers receive medals. Proceeds
from the event will go to charity.
)VNBO
3JHIUT
8FFL
t

.BSDI
The Rhodes University Truth and
Reconciliation Commission will be held
tonight at 19:00 in Eden Grove as part
of Human Rights Week. This forum will
allow students to voice any human rights
violations in front of a panel of judges,
including VC Dr Badat.
#MVFT
t

.BSDI
Dan Patlansky, South Africa’s favourite
blues guitarist, will be playing at De
Taphuijs on Thursday this week. Cover
charge is R15 for Live Music Society
members and R20 for non-members.
5SBODF
t

.BSDI
A trance party is happening at the
monument. There will be cold drinks
and water on sale, as well as boerie rolls.
The entrance fee will be R10 at the door
for all, and proceeds from the event will
go to the Masincedane Soup Kitchen.
0PIMBMB
t

.BSDI
The French Film festival continues.
This week’s film is L’Homme Qui Aimait
Les Femmes / The Man Who Loved
Women, showing at 20:00 in Eden
Grove Red. This comedy by François
Truffaut appreciates women in their vast
variety and understands who they are
up against, breaking many conventions
of cinematic narrative. L’Homme Qui
Aimait Les Femmes is the final movie in
the series of French comedies selected
by Ward Jones of the Philosophy
department. Everyone is welcome to
attend and admission is free.
5IF
+PM
t

.BSDI
Celebrate the end of term with Van
Coke Kartel at De Taphuijs. These
ex-Fokofpolisiekar members, Francois
van Coke, Wynand Myburgh and Justin
Kruger, released their self-titled debut
album at the end of November last year.
Fokofpolisiekar decided to take a break
in 2007, providing an opportunity for
Van Coke and Myburgh to express their
mutual musical interests. The two started
writing songs together with Van Coke on
guitar and Myburgh on bass.
Compiled by Jaquie Arkins, Emilie Gilbert and Shea Karssing
)BZMFZ
.VFMMFS
Type “graffiti” into a Google search bar
and the first page will display one to
ten of about 52,700,000 results. Clearly
this practice is a popular one, but does
it have the status of an art form? This
is a question more heavily loaded than
it may initially seem. Although graffiti
clearly has artistic merit, the idea of
categorising it as an art form may negate
its very function.
But firstly how we define art is a
question that provokes a variety of
responses. Alex Dubb, a fourth year
student with an interest in the politics
of power, argues for a wide definition of
art that goes against what he considers
an elitist academic conception of it,
saying that it is “at the core of any form
of creative self expression, and that is
common to humanity. Some art is more
profound perhaps than others…but you
and I and everyone else commits ‘art’
every day of our lives, no matter what
anyone tells you”.
Graffiti originated out of the avant
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency was
the first novel in a series of the same
name by Alexander McCall Smith.
Published in 1998, the events evolve
around Precious Ramotswe, the first
female detective of her kind whose
agency is located in modern-day
Gaborone, Botswana.
The novel reached amazing and
somewhat surprising success, making
way for two Booker citations and
the achievement of securing a spot
on the Times Literary Supplement’s
International Books of the Year and the
Millennium list. There are eight others
in the series, which has sold over 14
million copies and been translated into
39 different languages.
garde tradition of disruption as a means
of social rebellion and awareness. If one
then tries to put an expensive frame
around graffiti, it seems to defeat the
purpose entirely. Pamela Allara, visiting
lecturer to the Department of Fine Arts
describes private property as the “sacred
cow” in our capitalist society, thus
making it the perfect canvas on which to
rebel against capitalist ideology.
Dubb, on the other hand, argues
against classifying graffiti as an anti-
authoritarian tradition. “I think that
it is oft forgotten that public property
is just that, public. Thus graffitti in
‘public’ space is not about breaking
from constraint in any overt sense…
but simply creatively using what belongs
to you”. He continues by making a
comparison to advertisements that also
occupy public space: “The absolute
deluge of ads that we are subjected to on
a daily basis are renting and therefore
commodifying public not private space,
space which at the end of the day does
not belong to them, or me, it belongs to
us, the general public”.
Either way, graffiti deftly plays
with the idea of ownership, refusing
to be restricted by hierarchical power
structures. Although private property
may be sacrosanct, intellectual property
is not and thus graffiti uses this tool to
gently chip away at the idea of ownership
over people.
But this is also a problematic notion.
Everyone has the right to freedom of
expression but should graffiti artists be
able to exercise this right on public and
private property? Historically speaking,
the morality of the practice seems to
matter very little as “graffiting” has been
going on for centuries with no centre
of power successfully abolishing it.
Graffiti started in Ancient Greece and
Rome, usually taking the form of scratch
marks on public buildings or inside
tombs. This is what lent graffiti its name,
which comes from the Italian graffiato,
meaning ‘scratched’: the form it took
pre-aerosol can.
Throughout history, graffiti might
be seen as a social barometer, providing
useful insight into the political climate
of the time. Allara cites the Berlin Wall,
which is saturated in various musings, as
In this new addition to The No.1 Ladies
Detective Agency series, Precious
Ramotswe is faced with many difficult
challenges.
As Mma Ramotswe’s fame for
being the best female detective in
Botswana increases, she has to deal with
threatening anonymous letters.
Furthermore, she tries to help find
the identity of an adopted girl’s parents,
while Mr J. L. B. Matekoni desperately
goes in search of a miracle for his foster
daughter.
This book will undoubtedly have the
same exquisite writing as his previous
novels and will definitely be a page-
turner.
Pics: Sarah Mills
the perfect example. At the time, people
were dissatisfied with what the Berlin
Wall stood for, so they used graffiti
to subvert the very ownership which
underpinned it.
Graffiti is not a stagnant force,
however, and has morphed with the
times, becoming increasingly varied and
elaborate as new tools are developed.
The medium of choice has also changed,
ranging from public buildings to cars
to subway trains to internet property.
Yes, not only can artists now post their
graffiti online, but the practice of it is no
longer restricted to the tangible. Today,
there are many online sites where a user
is able to create his or her own virtual
graffiti – in a completely legal manner.
It is clear, then, that true graffiti
artists find themselves in a quandary
as to whether their work should be
considered art or not. They cannot term
it “art” because this would not be graffiti
as they intend it. Yet, at the same time,
its indulgence in the creative cries out to
be art. Allara attempts to strike a balance
between the two: she feels graffiti should
be thought of as “public art” or a “gift to
society”.
For Dubb it is more straightforward
than that: “graffiti is…of course art,
and in its medium is quite a profound
type too. In utilising of public space, the
use of pseudonyms and other forms of
anonymity, it is an affront to those forces
attempting to commodify you and your
creativity.”
If history is anything to go by, the
only certainty in this issue is that there
will be no swansong for the aerosol cans
of the world. Instead, they will fill the
musical bars of property everywhere
with their notes of discord.
"65)03
t
"
.D$"--
4.*5)
Alexander McCall Smith was born in
Rhodesia, which is known today as Zim-
babwe. He went to school very close to
Botswana in a town called Bulawayo.
This is where his love for Botswana
originated. He attended the University
of Edinburgh where he later became a
professor in medical law. He returned
to Africa and particularly Botswana to
teach law at the University of Botswana.
The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency
series came from Smith’s love for what
the people of Botswana meant to him
and the qualities that they portrayed.
Although McCall Smith lived in
Botswana for many years, he and his
wife now reside in Edinburgh, where he
continues to write novels.

The words fashion and Grahamstown
may not seem synonymous, but with all
the trendy new shops that have recently
opened, students now find themselves
presented with more options with which
to get trendy, and fewer excuses for
being out of vogue.
Though Grahamstown’s bizarre
weather patterns make stylish dressing
somewhat tricky, bright and bold colours
remain ‘in’ this summer. Turquoise,
electric blue, bright pinks and all shades
of green are the colours to watch out for,
while metallic colours continue to be
popular.
137 High Street is not exactly an undis-
covered venue, but I was very excited
to hear that the visit would no longer
require my parents’ credit card. Rumour
had it that a brand spanking new stu-
dent menu had surfaced. I need to get a
new source, as this was not the case.
Although not as student-friendly as
the elusive student menu might have
been, 137 still has some decent, afford-
Albany Jewellers
Engraving, Watch
& Jewellery Repairs
(046) 622 3115
For the braver set, high-waist jeans
are all the rage with Hollywood’s hottest
celebrities. The ‘office’ look, with tailored
pants and waistcoats, paired with a
sleeveless vest or crisp white shirt, is
ideal for those with a more conservative
sense of style.
If you are wondering where you
might discover these fabulous items in
Grahamstown; Elixir and Artichoke,
both located in Peppergrove Mall, will
serve as an excellent starting point.
If you’re looking for something
slightly more affordable, however,
Mr Price and Foschini also warrant
a browse. For funky accessories and
original T-shirts, the stalls around the
arch are worth visiting.
able choices available on the menu. It
must be added, however, that most of
the decently priced dishes are limited to
either the specials on offer or the toasted
sandwiches, which are served with crisps
instead of delectably deep fried chips
that one might expect, making it a far
lighter, more sophisticated meal. As far
as toasted sandwiches go anyway.
Apart from the daily menu and
evening specials, 137 High Street also
serves a mean cappuccino, apparently
the best in Grahamstown. To go with the
Fashion trends come and go, so
rather than blindly following the masses,
try experimenting with your own style
by simply blending it with whatever
trends are in season.
Here are the top ten fashion must-haves
for your wardrobe:
1. Bold earrings and chunky bracelets
2. Peep-toe shoes
3. Clutch-bags
4. Sunglasses with prominent frames
5. Corset belts
6. Big, colourful bags
7. Spaghetti-strapped summer dresses
8. Chunky heels
9. Bubble dresses
10. High-waist jeans
brilliant cup of coffee, 137 also offers a
selection of cakes, tarts and puddings,
although the puddings they had on offer
were only served as part of the evening
menu.
All in all, despite the misconcep-
tion that our long-standing 137 High
Street had finally caught on and created
a long-awaited student menu, the meal
was highly enjoyable, as was the coffee,
although my very shallow pockets did
throw a bit of a tantrum on the way out
(as did the parking meter attendant).
R&B crooner J. Holiday joins R&B’s
new crew with his debut effort Back of
My ’Lac. Many reviewers describe it as
“a breath of fresh air” when compared
with the music of many of today’s R&B
posers who tend to jump through musi-
cal hoops for a quick buck. Influenced
by the likes of R Kelly and Boyz II
Men, Holiday’s satin vocals have been
produced by the best to create a full-
bodied album that takes R&B back to its
soulful roots. The album describes life
while growing up in the ghetto as well as
Holiday’s love for women.
Holiday’s single “Bed” peaked at
Puzzler Media 2008
7
Those of you who are indulging in the
fantastic pastime of sex will probably
agree that the act itself can get very
boring very quickly if there isn’t any
variety. By variety, I don’t mean a
different partner every night, but rather
the interesting and strange things people
think of, such as props and costumes,
which add a little zest and zing to the
Pic: Geoff Wakefield
bedroom. Occasionally, however, things
don’t go according to plan and can go
horribly wrong with highly embarrassing
effects.
A male friend of mine wanted to add
a little spice to his love life and asked
his very conservative girlfriend to dress
up for him so that they could indulge
in a little role playing. She went out
Food and bought a naughty nurse outfit and
added ruby-red lipstick to her alter ego’s
Décor look. The next day my friend woke up
with a nasty rash on his gold member
and asked his mother to take him to the
Vibe doctor. Clearly the pain messed with his
thought processes, because the silly boy
Booze took his mother into the examination
room with him where the doctor went
on to tell him, in front of his mother,
Value
that the rash and mild inflammation
on his penis were caused by an allergic
reaction to lipstick!
Although my friend’s problem was
solved with some medical cream, other
kinky sexual practices can have serious
results, should anything go wrong. Auto
number five on the Billboard Singles Erotic Asphyxiation (AEA) is one that
charts and Back of My ’Lac also peaked springs to mind that can literally kill you.
at number five on the Billboard 200 AEA is when one suffocates themselves
charts. or their partner just before they reach
Back Of My ’Lac is not a ground- orgasm. When the blood supply to the
breaking album and there are certainly
many artists who have succeeded where
J. Holiday makes mistakes but it is,
brain is cut off, it creates a feeling of
being light-headed which apparently
intensifies orgasms. I don’t know why
nevertheless, a highly enjoyable listen. I’d anyone would want to die for their “big
give it a six out of ten. O” and, as open-minded as I would
like to think I am, I would certainly not
CD giveaway: What is the name of J. recommend it to anyone. The risks seem
Holiday’s debut album? to far outweigh the benefits.
Send in your answer to entertain- Engaging in fantasies or something
ment@theoppidanpress.com. The winner that you wouldn’t usually do to bring
will be chosen at random. Catch the sexy back into the bedroom is fine, as
RMR Top 40 on Saturdays from 15:00- long as you remember to proceed with
18:00. caution. Always have a safe word that
you and your partner agree on which
you can call out when your lover cracks
that whip just a little too hard or things
become uncomfortable. Using handcuffs
can be fun but remember to keep the
key in a place that is easily accessible for
One foot in the grave both of you. And if you’re going to use
edible ingredients in all the festivities,
basic hygiene should be your main
priority. Sex in any situation should be
pleasurable, not painful,
and your safety and
Repeat after me
Complete security should
the grid always come first,
by placing regardless of what
digits one you decide to do.
through
nine in
each cell in
such a way
that only
one of each
digit is
present in
every row,
column
and box.
Difficulty:
Easy
8 The Oppidan Press 05.03.08

“Chill out!” – That’s my message to the

Dean of Students Division.
The crack-down on societies and
any person who whispers the word
‘alcohol’ has got to stop. I find the
motivation behind Dr Vivian de Klerk’s
actions commendable, don’t get me
wrong. Her sudden and severe re-
sponse is in reaction to the recent rapes
on campus. I am not making light of
them, but if Dr de Klerk continues to
take such an unforgiving stance on
alcohol consumption, she will alienate
herself from the student body.
Most of the people (and I really
mean most) who I have broached the
topic with in conversation has been
badmouthing Dr de Klerk and the
way she has been man-handling the
Alcohol Misuse Policy. Anyone who
took part in the annual Botha Mud
Olympics this year will have felt a little
bit self-conscious as Dr de Klerk’s
assistant, Larissa Klazinga, stood on
the sidelines and recorded the event on
camera. I doubt Dr de Klerk wants that
film for a promotional video.
Her recent findings on alcohol
(mis)use have been published on
her division’s website and it makes
some sweeping generalisations about
drinking habits. Amongst other things,
a survey concluded that 49 percent of
students are in the safe range of not
becoming alcohol-dependant. Half the
student body is being herded in the
same direction as the other half: an
alcohol-free zone.
Societies have really had the rough
side of the deal. Rafsoc is a case in
point. However, societies such as
French Soc and Greek Soc are all Dear Editor Editor’s response
about wining and dining in order to discouraged homosexuality. It cannot
experience other cultures. I wouldn’t Last week I couldn’t believe my eyes Thank you for your letter Mzoxolo. Our
be blamed on young boys listening to
dare to attempt to speak fluent French when I saw a copy of The Oppidan Press township distribution plan has changed
Celine Dion. Or, as a priest once told me
until I’ve had a couple of glasses of in my letter box in Extension 7 (of all this year - we now post to all digs in East Watching a Rugby World Cup game back when I was 14 years old: “Listening to
wine. Why has Dr de Klerk suddenly places!). That seemingly small thing Grahamstown. in 2007, a student from a neighbouring Queen will make you gay”.
clamped down on societies? This is the means a lot. It shows that you care Unfortunately, we haven’t perfected country flung a derogatory comment Secondly, this idea that the Bible is
same woman who told a society whose about your readers, no matter the art of distribution and there are digs regarding the South African team’s some transcendental point of reference
members funnelled beer at an awards where they stay in this town. that do not get a copy of the newspaper inability to score tries. A patriotic that should be obeyed when it comes
ceremony last year that the whole thing These are small things that make every two weeks. If you are one of supporter retorted: “At least we don’t to moral issues is misguided. Firstly,
will “blow over”. Dr de Klerk should your newspaper the best student these people, please go to our website have to stand in endless queues for many people, including some Christians,
rather organise free shuttle services and publication. Keep it up! (TheOppidanPress.com) and fill in an sugar!” The response? “Well, at least we believe that the Bible cannot be regarded
more regulations on the booze to juice online complaints form. You will receive don’t have faggots in our country!” A as entirely factual. It is by faith – and
ratio rather than worrying about how Mzoxolo Budaza the next edition. friendly exchange. not fact – that we are saved. However,
much alcohol students imbibe. This bothers me. We are at an many people don’t even believe in what
We are supposed to be maturing to academic institution where we ought to the Bible says at all, so why should they
responsible young adults. Feeling like think critically and reassess things we be judged by what it says? Furthermore,
a dragon is breathing down your neck have been told by our parents, teachers, there is no precedent for the translation
is not the way to foster this maturity. Dear Editor, agree with the Editor’s view on Bianca- peers, church and even the state. of biblical principles into legislation. It
Everyone makes mistakes. We all live Maree. “Personal reasons” just aren’t One of my favourite quotes from is not illegal to dishonour your parents,
and learn. I learned my rather harsh Thanks for providing a great good enough when you’re dealing the drama series The West Wing goes work on a Sunday, commit adultery and
lesson in first year – shouldn’t this newspaper! Usually, I couldn’t agree with the well-being of 6,000 students. as follows: “In a free society, we do not perv over your neighbour’s wife and car.
year’s first years make their mistakes more with what is said in the Editor’s Potential SRC candidates should really need a reason to make something legal. The Catholic Church has no right to
now, rather than at their first office column each edition, but not this time. start looking at themselves before We need a reason to make it illegal!” interfere with government legislation
party? I really do not think that Ricci is a hero making the decision to run. Wanting The argument that homosexuality is and be consulted as a stakeholder when
So I repeat: Chill out! Most of all, at all! He should never have run for to create change, but being unable to unnatural and against the Bible is simply it comes to homosexual legislation (as it
don’t spoil the fun for the other 49 president if there had been even the handle the academic pressure means and inexcusably wrong. happens in the good ol’ USA).
percent of us. slightest indication that he would have DON’T RUN. Wanting to organise a Firstly, the idea that homosexuality I am not calling for gay acceptance. I
to leave for academic reasons. Instead great O-week, but also wanting to duck is unnatural is erroneous. Scientists am not imposing my view of homosex-
of being responsible enough to not run out as soon as life gets tough means have observed over 400 different species ual marriage on anyone. I am scared at
in the first place, he has merely left the DON’T RUN. Hopefully next we’ll of animals that exhibit homosexual the prospect that tomorrow’s leaders still
students in the lurch and we are now have a president who actually manages tendencies. As many as one in ten bulls hold such unfounded and archaic views
Ines Schumacher having a reshuffle for the second year to stay the whole year! do not mate with female cattle, but will and show no sign of changing. Religion
072 461 3174 in a row! attempt to get it on with other bulls. and politics are not interdependent enti-
editor@theoppidanpress.com On the other hand, I completely Anonymous If anything, social factors have ties; in fact, they are not even friends.

Editor: Ines Schumacher
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Having witnessed the wide spectrum of
reactions to the recent racist row on the
University of Free State campus, I found
myself taking a step back and looking
inwardly.
While half my friends are planning a
road trip to the UFS to beat the hell out
of anyone who looks like their surname
starts with a ‘van’ and has Kurt Darren
on their iPod, I don’t think introducing
While I was considering most news net-
works’ obsession with the United States
electoral nomination primaries and,
more specifically, the media’s romantic
infatuation with the Democratic nomi-
nation race, the implications of either
Barrack or Hillary winning suddenly hit
me.
Despite welcoming the distraction
from everything else going wrong in the
world, I couldn’t help thinking that the
Democrats are running the wrong presi-
dential candidates. I’m not saying that
a woman or a black guy can’t run the
country, because they can. What I am
saying is that they are the wrong people
to run now.
Contrary to common belief, the
election isn’t only about winning. Whilst
the gold medal is the primary goal, the
‘Grand Prix’ for the Democratic Party
should be to win with as large a majority
as possible, and to stack the seats in
the House of Representatives and the
Senate with as many Democrats as
possible. A strong majority allows you
to dominate the national agenda with
your party’s manifesto for your terms in
office. It allows you to pass legislation
without fear of it being blocked on the
Pic: Supplied
our fists to their faces is going to change
anything. Although it will provide us
with an outlet for our frustration, shock
and disgust.
While I feel slightly guilty for not
feeling the urge to give these racist
retards free reconstructive surgery, I
can’t help but feel like we, as a society,
have let them down in some way. The
fact that people who harbour such
opinions managed to slip through the
cracks is scary. We are not born with
hatred of this nature; rather, we are
floor of either House or having to accept
Republican representatives making
adjustments to your bill just so they’ll
vote with you to pass it. It allows you
to fill empty Supreme Court seats with
your nominations and to put your own
budget together without worrying about
it being rejected. Basically, dominating
the election allows you a heck of a lot
more freedom than a narrow election
victory.
While on the topic of narrow
things, let us not forget that the dif-
ference between the Democratic and
the Republican Party is as thick as the
skin on my teeth. They both agree that
abortion should be legalised, they just
disagree under which circumstances,
and to whom it should be allowed. They
both agree that tax cuts are good for the
economy, disagreeing only about who
should benefit from them. Both sides
feel pretty much the same way about the
war in Iraq and that the education sys-
tem needs an extreme makeover; merely
disagreeing on what measures should
be taken to correct the situation. With
only miniscule differences between the
parties, it is easy to win votes, but also all
too easy to lose them.
The 2008 Presidential Election is the
best chance the Democrats are going to
have at taking back the White House.
taught it at home and through our
communities.
I also believe that this hatred has not
gone undetected. Their opinions were
tolerated, or (even worse) shared by their
peers, parents and teachers. How can
they go through life without having to
interact with black people, an interface
that would shatter their preconceived
notions of what a black person is? Is
it because they were so secluded from
the real South Africa they never got
the required culture shock? Or maybe
They should be cleaning the floor with
Republicans butts and sucker punching
them on every issue imaginable!
Instead, they have two candidates that
will make the more conservative liberals
and moderate conservatives sleep a
little uneasy. I’m not saying that the
Democrats are going to lose the election.
On the contrary, I still believe they will
win. I just think that by running such
‘unorthodox’ nominees, they are going
to make the race a lot closer than it need
be. Whist many Republicans may be
dissatisfied with their party, I fear those
disgruntled voters may turn out on
Election Day, purely because they don’t
want a woman or a black guy in the Oval
Office.
The time for Barrack and Hillary is
after the Democratic Party has been in
the White House for at least a term of
governance, not when they’re trying to
win it back. Many Republicans are still
having trouble trusting Democrats (Bill
Clinton certainly did them no favours)
to lead the country, and now their nomi-
nee may be a woman or a black guy!
They are turning it into a fair fight, when
it really should not be.
they were never looking for black role
models.
Either way, these racist retards are, for
all intent and purposes, part of the new
apartheid-free generation and for them
to exist and thrive in our backyard is a
I pray for the week in which Jacob Zuma
does not find his way into the news
limelight. Alas, that week is not this one.
The ANC President held an exclu-
sive meeting for black journalists in
Joburg two weeks ago. White journalists
were barred entrance and when black
journalists such as Yusuf Abramjee from
Primedia Broadcasting Group and Radio
702/567 talk show host Kieno Kammies
walked out in solidarity with their white
colleagues, they were promptly labelled
“coconuts”: black on the outside, but
white on the inside.
An exclusive gathering that
discriminates on a racial basis is
unacceptable, especially in a country
with a history of racial prejudice; a
country where many leaders still remind
9
Pics: Supplied
poor reflection on us, their parents, their
teachers, their lecturers and the UFS
administration.
The fact that a university in South
Africa, 13 years after liberation, still
had segregated residences means that
we were asleep. The price of liberty is
constant vigilance and we, as a society,
were caught napping. So before we think
of grabbing our pitch forks, remember
darkness cannot drive out darkness, only
light can do that. Hate cannot drive out
hate, only love can do that.
us of sacrifices made for the free society
that we supposedly enjoy today.
The exclusion of people who had
such a prominent role to play in our
liberation is short-sighted. Countless
white journalists sought to bring about
transformation in South Africa. Many of
them paid dearly for their efforts. Head
of Rhodes’ School of Journalism, Guy
Berger, was on a shortlist of ‘Enemies of
the State’ because of his courage to act
upon his political beliefs.
Having our country’s potential leader
linked to such racial bias is beyond me.
Already, the international community is
wary of Zuma’s understanding of HIV/
Aids, his flagrant disrespect for woman
and lack of formal education. Now,
he may even be racist! If he continues
to make his name synonymous with
scandal, he may as well make himself at
home in news headlines.
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 11

Although the Water Wise Landscaping

and Gardening nursery café could easily
be nestled in the heart of the Karoo
with its stone surroundings, and a light
layer of dust covering the grounds in a
space that invokes a sense of calmness
as soon as you pass through the gate.
The entrance consists of a hand painted
sign, a rusted Victorian gate and a stoep
that borders Sean Haydock’s home and
business. Amidst the slow creaking of
tin windmills that have been randomly
placed in the garden, strange and
unusual plants, some of which appear
almost prehistoric, are arranged in
containers of all shapes and sizes.
This one of a kind nursery in
Grahamstown is a sight to behold
but has received little interest so far.
Understandably, Haydock finds it
difficult to make sense of the scarce
attention paid to his seven month-old
venture. If his business was merely about
the selling of unusual plants, perhaps
Haydock would find the drought of
consumers more understandable.
Referring to the ‘hosepipe’ mentality,
Haydock claims that while most
gardeners lavish about 45 percent of Since then, his initial project the not too distant future. as long. The strong likelihood of an

Pics: Sarah Schäfer

their monthly water on their flower beds
and lawns, his entire nursery absorbs
less than ten percent of his monthly
water costs in comparison. Pointing
excitedly to one particular succulent and
its profusion of water-swollen nodes, he
makes me note the arid patch of scrabbly
earth that sustains it. “This one requires
almost nothing, and just look at it,” he
says.
Herein lies the crux of Haydock’s
message. Before opening the nursery
Haydock ran a recycling business in
Grahamstown for four years which has
given him an advantage over others:
first-hand knowledge of waste and
the inordinate lengths that it takes to
combat it. The business gave Haydock an
idea for his following initiative and his
relationship with succulents first began
when he noticed them “just thrown away
on dumps”. It was in rescuing and then
replanting them that he began a ‘green’
form of recycling.
has expanded into a business that
aims to use succulents as a means of
changing existing gardens and raising
environmental awareness amongst
the Grahamstown public. Haydock is
critical of the leafy gardens that have
become a commonplace affair in our
small town. He is adamant that people
can only sustain these sub-tropical
bubbles through the selfish presumption
that they have some special privileged
‘right’ to an abundance of water. For
Haydock, the general population is
ignoring the inconvenient reality that
water is becoming an increasingly scarce
commodity.
In response to my question
of whether he is afraid of being
characterised as yet another quasi-
environmentalist hippie, he remains
oddly unperturbed. His advertising
flyers consist of dire, post-apocalyptic
warnings about what we stand to lose
and the dust-bowl gardens that loom in
“In ten years gardens will be dead and
water restrictions will be put in place,” he
says with the frankness of a person who
has thought about an unpleasant fact
repeatedly.
These environmental tremors are
only the signs of a greater catastrophe
that both scientists and committed
conservationists have been warning
us about for decades – warnings that
have mostly gone unnoticed for just
environmental Holocaust can no more
be relegated to the ever expanding
swamp of Hollywood B-grade movies,
it is a real issue that is being taken up by
serious committed artists.
At the end of his novel The Road,
Cormac McCarthy writes what could
well serve as a motto for Sean and the
millions of other like-minded people
who also fear for the future of our
environment.
Once there were brook trout in the
streams in the mountains. You could see .
them standing in the amber current where
the white edges of their fins whimpled
softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in
your hand. Polished and muscular and
torsional. On their backs were vermiculate
patterns that were maps of the world in
it’s becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing
that could not be put back. Not be made
right again. In the deep glens where they
lived all things were older than man and
they hummed of mystery.

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12 The Oppidan Press 05.03.08

Scientists studying the flow of seismic
waves through the earth’s core noted
something strange: the waves pass more
rapidly through the core when they are
parallel to the earth’s axis of rotation.
At the high temperatures in the core, all
waves should pass through the core at
the same speed regardless of direction.
The surprised scientists suggested
that the reason for this anomaly is that
the earth’s core is not liquid (or hexago-
nal crystalline as previously thought),
but rather a cubic crystalline structure.
Recently, simulations have shown that
this is the only likely explanation for the
difference in wave speed.
Because the earth’s heat balance and
magnetic field are dependant on the
properties of the inner core, this discov-
ery may prompt a re-evaluation of what
is known about the cooling of the earth
and the stability of its magnetic field.
In late 2006 Pluto’s planet-status was
revoked, leaving our solar system with
eight official planets. The decision caused
an international uproar and changed our
conceptions of the solar system.
The solar system has been reduced to
eight planets amongst literally billions
of other objects ranging from the size of
pebbles to, well, Pluto.
If that shakes the conception of
Earth’s place in the universe, consider
the fact that to date 273 planets have
Everyone knows that you only use ten
percent of your brain, a duck’s quack
doesn’t echo and that there is a ‘Ten
Second Rule’. There are plenty of these
false “facts” floating around in popular
culture today.
Here are a few popular myths that
are, in fact, fictitious:
You can only use ten percent of your
brain
You use far more than ten percent
of your brain everyday. This “fact”
seems to have sprung either from a
misunderstanding of the discovery of a
particular type of brain cell, or may have
simply arisen from speculation by self-
help gurus eager to sell a way to “enable
you to utilise your full potential”.
You may not use all of your brain
at once, but over the course of a day,
just about all of the brain is used for all
your various activities. See http://www.
snopes.com/science/stats/10percent.asp.
A duck’s quack doesn’t echo
This myth seems to have sprung from
the acoustic qualities of a duck’s quack
that make echoes hard to hear. Ducks’
quacks do echo, and you can listen
to this at the University of Salford’s
Acoustics department website: http://
www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/acoustics_
info/duck/.
Everest is the tallest mountain in the
world
While the tip of Everest might be the
highest point of land above sea level,
measurements from base to summit Black holes are cosmic vacuum only within the event horizon (which lies
show that the Hawaiian volcano Mauna cleaners at a distance less than the star’s original
Kea and Mount Kilimanjaro are both A black hole is formed from a star that radius) that the force of gravity becomes
much taller than Everest. has gone supernova. As a result of matter much greater.
being ejected from a supernova, a black Objects can settle into orbit around
The Sahara is the world’s largest hole will actually have less mass and less a black hole just as they would around a
desert gravity than the star it formed from. It is normal star.
It might be the world’s largest hot desert,
but Antarctica is much larger than the
Sahara and even dryer. The Antarctic has
almost no rain, very little vegetation or
animal life and is therefore classified as
a desert.
Later, photographers of
these migrations simply
pushed lemmings off a cliff
using a broom.
Water spins down the drain in the
opposite direction in the Northern
Hemisphere
The Coriolis Effect that determines
which way ocean currents circulate does
not have any effect on the rotation of
water draining from sinks or toilets. For
the Coriolis Effect to influence water
flow, the water would have to be moving
slower than one rotation per 24 hours.
Lemmings jump off cliffs
Lemmings do not commit mass suicide
by cliff-diving during migrations.
This misconception can be traced to
the Disney film “White Wilderness”.
The migration scenes were shot on a
large turntable in a studio and later,
photographers of these migrations
simply pushed lemmings off a cliff using
a broom.

Cool Gadget of the Week: E-Book readers

been found in entirely different solar
systems around distant stars. The planets
are many light years away, making them
too small to see with normal telescopes.
This forces astronomers to resort to
indirect techniques to look for them. For
example, they look for changes in the
way the star in the middle of the distant
solar system moves as a result of a planet
or else planets crossing in front stars
which have the effect of a slight eclipse.
The planets that have been discov-
ered to date are huge; most are ten times
the size of Earth. Astronomers recently
detected a pair of planets that are the
most similar to the setup of our solar
system. In some ways, the planets appear
to be counterparts of Jupiter and Saturn,
orbiting a star about five thousand light
years away from us.
DISCOVERED BY
Andrew Slaughter
The new generation of E-Book readers
provides clarity and readability that
rivals print in paper books. The variety
of material available online has also
increased. The benefits of reading
electronic rather than paper books are
numerous; including portability of the
device, as well as sharing and searching
for new texts. And think of all the trees
you are saving by not using paper!
Most models available at the
moment have display screens of 90mm
by 120mm. Battery life ranges from
7,500 pages to 10,000 pages depending
on the particular model. The devices
weigh-in between 170g or a pocket-
sagging 300g. The most popular models
all run on Linux OS. E-Book readers
have expansion slots for extra memory
of either the SD, MMC, Memory Stick
(Sony), CF, or USB type to increase the
page capacity. The readers support a
wide range of electronic book formats
from PDF to HTML and can also
be used to view images and listen to
MP3s. Some even have note-taking
functionality thrown into the deal.
Prices range from R2,000 to R5,000
for the most popular models with all the
festive functionalities. If you don’t have
the cash to call up a digital Elizabeth
Bennet, the Japs (of course) have also de-
veloped software that allows E-Books to
be viewed on mobile phones. Mechanic
thumbs for scrolling not included!
While some people might have
problems reading from screens, it is a
worthwhile investment for the science-
savvy.

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Tiger, Easy-Off Bang, Dolcé and
Gabbana, Shoprite and Sunlight; in the
business environment, a lot depends on
the creation of a good brand name for a
particular product or service. In many
respects, the brand name created by a
business will determine its success.
Branding is the external
communication by the business to
influence current and prospective
customers in the market. The branding
creates an association with the business,
which has an impact on the buyer’s
views, and ultimately their purchasing
decisions.
In the past couple of years, South
African retailers have seen the
importance of branding and the impact
it has on revenue and capturing a large
On 6 February, the petrol price went up
by 17 cents and is expected to reach R8
per litre later this year. If you’re living in
digs and have a car, chances are there’ll
be a new pinch to your pocket this year.
There is always talk of the oil price
going up, but the intricacies of the ever-
Pick ’n Pay’s Chairman Raymond
Ackerman officially opened the newly-
expanded Grahamstown Pick ’n Pay on
Tuesday 19 February. The Oppidan Press’
business reporters managed to secure an
exclusive interview with him to find out
more about the Pick ’n Pay brand and
where it is heading.
You are still so closely linked to
Pick ’n Pay after all these years. What
keeps you going?
Well, I’m 77 in March, but I’m still the
share of the market segment. A nearby
manifestation of this is Grahamstown’s
own Pick ’n Pay. The store is a franchise
owned by Mark Shelton and Jon
Campbell. It was their capital and
creative entrepreneurial initiative that
instigated them to extend their store to
include a clothing section. The Pick ’n
Pay brand in general is expanding to
keep up with global trends.
Change and improvement are
important to maintain a healthy
customer association with the name.
Brands such as Woolworths have
incorporated a coffee shop into some of
their stores and Fruit and Veg City has
expanded their brand to include Food
Lovers’ Markets.
Grahamstown seems stuck in a
time-warp. Our stores keep the same
branding, whilst their counterparts
in other parts of the country diversify
increasing demon are hardly discussed.
Petrol prices are driven by supply and
demand in a given market. Crude oil
prices also have a major effect on oil
prices. For the refineries to make a profit,
the price of petrol must be higher than
the price of crude oil. Since the price of
crude oil has been increasing in the past
number of months, the knock-on effect
has been an increase in the price of pet-
full-time chairman. What keeps me
going is ensuring that the way Pick ’n
Pay was when it started – in terms of its
principles – is kept by my successors.
The spirit must be kept and not die with
me.
What prompted the change of im-
age and branding for Pick ’n Pay in the
last year?
No one likes change. Only a baby in
nappies that doesn’t know anything likes
change. As an old guy, I didn’t want to
change. However, business is evolving
and overseas trends prompted us to
their businesses. But there are a few
exceptions. Grahamstown Pick ’n Pay’s
change in branding and expansion has
seen the local store capture 50 percent
of the market segment and increase
revenue. Other big brands, such as
Woolworths and Fruit and Veg City,
should be noticing a similar opportunity
for expansion.
The long and short of it is that
the logistics don’t seem to allow
for a Woolworths food court in
Grahamstown, as there is no depot in
Port Elizabeth that would allow for
the local store to have a food court.
rol. Because crude oil and international
petrol prices are dollar-based, any weak-
ening of the exchange rate will increase
the petrol price in South Africa.
The petrol retail price is regulated by
the government and is based on both
domestic and international elements; the
most significant of which is the price of
crude oil. The government has backed
initiatives to reduce South Africa’s
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consider modernising the brand. The
response was tremendously positive.
We have seen Pick ’n Pay branch
into banking with the creation of
GoBanking. Should we expect a greater
involvement in financial services?
Basically, GoBanking was created for
the convenience of customers, to create
value, for the payment of accounts and
so forth. We are not trying to be involved
in the banking industry as such. What is
your vision for the Pick ’n Pay brand in
the future?
To continue with the growth of the
However, according to the store
manager, Elmarie Vos, those sweetie tubs
will not escape us for much longer as
Woolworths Grahamstown has plans to
include a food court within the next two
to three years.
As far as the introduction of a
Food Lovers Market is concerned,
Grahamstown’s Fruit and Veg City faces
space limitations. However, co-owner
Dudley Sparg did say that there are plans
to expand the store and further develop
the brand.
Whatever the name or the game,
branding in any business is king
and future successes depend on the
continued positive association created
in the business and keeping ahead of the
competition. But seriously Woolworths,
we’re desperate for your butternut soup,
chocolate muffins, prawn chips…the list
continues.
dependence on imported crude oil, such
as Sasol and PetroSA. Currently they
meet about 30 percent of South Africa’s
demand for petroleum products.
With petrol prices rising, oil compa-
nies are cashing in. Exxon Mobile, one
of the world’s major oil companies made
$4.6 million an hour and $40.6 billion in
2007’s final quarter. These are the largest
recorded profits for a company. Ever.
day of the
Tel: week
046-6224652
The Oppidan Press 05.03.08 13
corporate stores as well as the franchise
stores. We have 220 franchise stores
around the country, including Graha-
mstown. We also have an academy that
trains young people and twins them with
successful franchises to get them started.
What are your hopes for South
Africa’s future?
Unemployment, poverty and educa-
tion are critical issues that need to be
addressed. We should concentrate on
improving those and remaining positive
about our country. We have come a long
way.
Ford SA has announced an investment
plan of R1.5billion to expand operations,
further increasing the growth prospects
of the Eastern Cape.
Port Elizabeth’s Struandale assembly
plant will be benefiting from half of this
investment, set to begin in 2009. The
other half will be going to the Silverton
assembly plant in Pretoria. The plant
will increase annual production to
180,000 units, with the majority being
exported. To prepare for the launch of
the investment, Ford SA will continue
to work with the government to
accelerate human resource training and
development. This will allow the auto
industry’s current and future workforce
to acquire the skills necessary to
support the investment. Job creation is a
component of the investment, with the
hiring of over 500 additional employees
by 2011.
Local suppliers will benefit from
increased local content that will be
needed due to expanded capacity. Ford
SA currently sources 35 percent of its
content locally, a figure that will improve
to 60 percent when production begins.
‘Brain drain’ is still a problem for South
Africa as our financial services sector,
in particular, is targeted by global
recruitment companies.
According to Jocelyn Rowe, a
recruitment company in London, job
opportunities are increasing, while the
number of applicants for those jobs is
declining. The general consensus is that
South Africans have a working culture
and professional qualifications which
are suitable to the British employment
sector. Australians and New Zealanders
are also highly sought-after.
Recruitment drives by foreign
companies in South Africa are
happening against a backdrop of
huge skills shortages, where even the
presidency is experiencing a vacancy
rate of 25 percent and a turnover rate of
13.5percent.
However, South Africa operates in a
global market and should be working to
remain competitive on an international
scale if it is going to stem the tide.
An expanding global market is
a reality, and foreign recruitment
companies suggest that South Africa
should broaden its scope of candidates,
not purely concentrating on attracting
Europeans to our shores as our own
qualified minds migrate to Sterling
shores.
14 The Oppidan Press 05.03.08
Anyone who has tried to pick up a girl
or a guy in a club will know that it’s a
challenge to speak over the loud music
- especially when Gummi Bears is the
song playing and everyone on the dance
floor is bouncing around like a flea.
Frequent clubbers who dance the
night away are likely damaging their ears
because of noise pollution. It is classified
as ‘pollution’ when it is unwelcoming
or causes annoyance, sleepless nights,
fright, or any other stress-related
reaction. Music in nightclubs falls under
the category of ‘community noise’.
Ever left a club with a ringing in your
ears? That is because the sound pressure
from the loud music is too high. Sound
pressure (or sound waves) is measured
in decibels (dB). It is damaging at about
75 dBA, becomes painful or tickling at
around 120 dBA, and can even kill you
at 180 dBA. However, different people
can endure different ranges of noise, and
the definition of noise is very subjective.
It all depends on how long you are at
the nightclub and how loud the music
is. The Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) says that
permanent hearing damage starts after
eight hours of listening to music at 85
dBA. A typical nightclub has music
playing at 110 dBA, which can cause
permanent damage after only four
minutes. Teenagers are known for their
nightclub activity, and one study found
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that 60 percent of 18 to 19 year olds had
noise-induced hearing loss.
Hearing loss is not the only
consequence of loud music. It can also
cause headaches, irritability, insomnia,
and a decrease in sexual desire. Students
should be concerned that noise can
Preparation time: 30 minutes
cause poor academic performance.
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Studies note an increase in tension,
Serves 6
uncertainty, faster talking and increased
blood pressure. Sound familiar? INGREDIENTS:
So what does the law say about noise? 300 g scone dough
Some cities require all nightclubs to be 10 ml olive oil
soundproofed. The Provincial Noise 500 ml mozzarella cheese
Regulations of 1998, which fall under the 125 ml Parmesan cheese
Environment Conservation Act 1989, 250 g spinach, cooked and chopped
say that “no person shall make, produce 3 large eggs
or cause a disturbing noise, or allow it 45 ml fresh basil, chopped
to be made, produced or caused by any 1 clove garlic, crushed
person, animal, machine, device or appa- 1 red pepper, cut into strips
ratus or any combination thereof; where 125 g ham, thinly sliced
a disturbing noise means a noise level
that exceeds the ambient sound level METHOD:
measured continuously at the same mea- Preheat oven to 200°C and grease
suring point by 7 dBA or more (above a deep, round 25 cm pie dish. On a
the background noise)”. If a disturbing lightly floured board, roll dough into
noise is coming from a building, the af- a 25 cm circle. Press the dough into
fected citizens can complain to the local the dish so that it covers the bottom
authorities. The authorities will then and comes up the sides. Combine
write to the owner of the building or the 250 ml mozzarella and Parmesan
person responsible to stop or lower the cheeses, spinach, eggs, basil, garlic
noise. People can complain to the police, and red pepper in a large bowl.
but they usually offer no help. Cover the crust with the mixture and
So should you modify your clubbing top with the remaining mozzarella
behaviour? Maybe. But a simple gesture cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35
to the DJ to turn the music down slightly minutes, or until the filling is set and
is all it takes. It’s up to them to decide the crust is crisp. Allow to cool to
whether or not to honour your request. room temperature.
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The Iron Man Triathlon is an intense
sporting challenge that demands seri-
ous training and determination. Craig
Bailie, however, makes it seem easy as he
entered the gruelling competition whilst
writing his Politics thesis and fulfilling
his duties as a teaching assistant.
On 13 January of this year, Bailie was
one of 900 athletes who took part in the
Iron Man 70.3 triathlon in East London.
“I was just keen for the challenge,” he
says. “It was the first half-Iron Man to
be held in South Africa,” Bailie explains.
Athletes had to complete a gruelling 1.9
km sea swim, a 90 km cycle and a 21.1
km half marathon.
Bailie’s motivation for the event
stems from a dedication to sport: “Since
I stopped rugby I’ve been trying to do
cycling and swimming. I was up for the
challenge of combining the three,” he
says. “I’ve always enjoyed endurance
events.”
“Obviously I wasn’t in the top
100…I’m not concerned about time or
position,” he says casually. “What was
great about this Iron Man – and any
debut event – is the experience you gain
from it.” Indeed, Bailie plans to run
the half-Iron Man again next year as a
prelude to the full marathon.
Apart from the triathlon, Bailie also
has his mind set on future events. “I’m
currently training for the Two Oceans
half marathon on 22 March,” he says. As
a result, he is not lifting weights at the
gym. “I’m shedding weight,” he says with
a smile. This way he will have less bulk
to carry, thus increasing endurance and
reducing knee strain.
Bailie, who has been studying for
seven years now, is currently complet-
ing his Masters degree in Politics. Last
year he tutored Politics students and this
year he is a teaching assistant, a job that
keeps him extremely busy. “It’s difficult
balancing work and training,” he says.
“But as long as I allow God to guide me,
His grace is sufficient to take care of all
Last year a talented crop of male
players attempted to join the Rhodes
Netball Club, an addition which would
have created the first all-male netball
team in the university’s history. The
problem? They weren’t Rhodes students.
According to university policy all
athletes participating in sports clubs
must subscribe; in other words, they
have to pay the membership fee.
Herein lay the problem for the new
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my needs.”
Bailie believes God will guide him in
his future plans. “I think things are only
going to happen if God’s willing. I’d like
to get into politics as a career, but God
knows when that will be. Sport is never
going to be my career. I don’t think I’m
skilled or talented enough to make it a
career.”
Nevertheless, Bailie is planning to
stay active. “Why not use what we have
been given?” he asks. “We’ve been put
on this Earth to live, so let’s live.”
players who, according to Cindy White,
Chairperson of Rhodes Netball, were
incredibly gifted. This meant that the
club was forced to charge the players
a membership fee that the men were
unable to afford. As a result, the players
were forced to withdraw.
Perhaps an increase in outreach pro-
grammes is the solution to incorporating
outside talent into Rhodes clubs. Alter-
natively, clubs could subsidise member-
ship fees for athletes who demonstrate
incredible ability in a particular sport,
but lack the finances to participate in it.
EMAIL rhodope@fables.co.za
The Oppidan Press 05.03.08 15
Sports
INSIGHT EDGE >>
Crucify me - butcher me if you will -
but I say: let TriVarsity be scrapped!
It’s hugely over-rated, a gluttonous
booze-up, an excuse for the dazed to
venture into purple absurdity and it is
an embarrassment! It sounds quite harsh
but my opinion is rooted in the fact that
TriVarsity destroys Rhodes sports, as
opposed to building them. Allow me to
explain.
I have observed TriVarsity like an
anthropologist critically surveying the
purple Rhodent and how it behaves in
the high-pressured environment of this
event. What one notes is the significant
role alcohol plays in determining the
behaviour (what’s new?) of the Rhodent.
Alcohol disrupts, hinders and almost
castrates sportsmanship; the spirit of
sport dissipates in the vapour of drunken
chants and disruptive behaviour. How
are players supposed to concentrate,
when bottles and unruly spectators
invade the pitch?
Sport is a social event and spectators
bring fun to the game. However, when
the Rhodent deems it acceptable to get
pissed to the point of no return and as-
sault referees, that’s where my reserva-
tion comes in to play. The last time I
checked, chundering and piss-offs were
not part of the TriVarsity programme.
Unless Rhodes students acknowledge
and recognise that all of this has been
brought upon themselves, I have no
sympathy for those crying foul play,
because they know they can’t get pissed
without avoiding judgement.
The violence that is associated with
excessive drinking is so characteristic of
TriVarsity. During my time at Rhodes,
brutal stories have emerged in the wake
of TriVarsity. I have heard horror stories
of girls being sexually assaulted and
raped because they were too inebriated.
There are always wolves on the prowl
and TriVarsity disguises the wolf in a
purple riding hood suit.
TriVarsity is supposed to facilitate a
relationship between Rhodes and other
institutions. However, the majority of
students that go and revere it like a god
are Rhodents. I think Rhodes should
have its own sports parade in its back
garden, instead of further tarnishing our
reputation and having our VC embar-
rassed when dignitaries express “disgust”
towards the way Rhodes students
behave. It all seems to gravitate around
the selfish purple Rhodent and this was
further confirmed by the massive disap-
proval of TriVarsity being hosted by Fort
Hare. Is TriVarsity not about facilitating
relationships with other institutions? If
we cannot pay respect to our peers then
why further interact?
The fact that NMMU and Fort Hare
have threatened to exclude Rhodes from
TriVarsity is embarrassing enough. Let
us bow out now, gracefully. Show interest
in upholding the integrity of TriVarsity.
In the quest to maintain the Rhodes
Dream, which Dr Badat expressed so
beautifully, and the motto of “Where
Leaders Learn”, I truly hope that the
university leadership
will exclude
Rhodes University.
TriVarsity is
headed in the way
of Rhodes Rag –
towards extinction,
at least
for the
purple
Rhodent.

In an attempt to raise cancer
awareness the Rhodes Athletics Club,
in partnership with the Health Suite
and RMR, challenged the Rhodes
community to participate in a gruelling
24 hour marathon last Friday.
“CANSA has been the Athletics
Club’s main cause for the past four years,
so many of us have either dealt with it
or have someone close to us who suffers
from cancer. It is such a universal matter
affecting all ages, races and cultures,”
said Helen Kean, the Development Of-
ficer of the Rhodes Athletics club.
The call was well-supported by
enthusiastic students and staff, with up
to 15 teams and a number of individuals
signing up for the marathon. “Everyone
has been incredible, we estimate that we
have raised R10,000 for cancer,” said a
jubilant Kean.
The starting gun for the marathon
went off at noon at the Rhodes Athletics
track field. A few individuals donned
funky, colourful gear - that was probably
not very comfortable to run in - but it
was worth the chance to compete for the
prize for best dressed.
The participants were provided with
all sorts of entertainment: RMR was
pumping music to keep everyone awake
and the Sports Bar was open to all those
who wanted a bit more than a energy
drink to quench their thirst.
In the build up to the marathon the
Athletics Club set up a stand in the
library quad for students who wanted to
show support but lacked the stamina to
run for 24 hours. Instead, they could be
involved by shaving or spray-painting
their hair in rainbow colours.
“I think it’s good to see a sports club
involved in social matters. I really think
this a great cause. However, I will not be
participating in the 24 hour marathon
but I’ll shave my hair to show support,”
said Richard Mutasa, a second year
BPharm student.
A few brave students managed to
finish the exhausting 24 hour run and
some were awarded prizes such as food
vouchers and aromatherapy to sweeten
the deal and ease the ache.
Siphosethu Stuurman
University rugby in South Africa
has reached a new level with the
introduction of the FNB Varsity Cup.
The inaugural tournament kicked off in
fine style in Joburg on 18 February.
The country’s top eight universities
will clash in a number of fixtures until
31 March, where the four teams with the
most points will advance to the semi-
finals.
One of the games will be televised
on Supersport every Monday night, a
concept that is derived from the very
successful American “Monday Night
Football” and with the R10 million help
from FNB, the idea is guaranteed to be
successful.
Rhodes University is not participating
in the tournament, as they failed to
qualify.
The selection of the top eight teams
was based on their performances at the
SASSU rugby tournament in July last
year.
“Rhodes finished tenth in the
tournament last year and so missed out
by two universities,” said Sports Officer
Kerr Rogers.
TriVarsity archrivals NMMU made
the top eight and have already faced
Maties on their home ground, but the
dominant University of Stellenbosch was
too much of a task for NMMU as they
lost by a score of 40-24. “It was a tight
game, we could have played better, we
made a lot of mistakes but we are going
to learn from them and try to advance in
the competition,” said Mr Kolie Brandt,
NMMU Rugby Manager.
The eight teams that are taking part
are; NMMU, University of Pretoria
(Tukkies), University of Johannesburg
(UJ), University of Free State (Shimlas),
Tshwane University of Technology
(TUT), University of Stellenbosch
(Maties), University of Cape Town
(UCT) and North West University
(PUK).
The competition’s firm favourites are
Maties, although it has not been a
smooth ride for them as they went from
a 31-5 lead at half time against Tukkies
to a 31-31 draw at the end of the match.
The Varsity Cup is also subjected
to the new Super 14 Rugby rules,
something that the players are not
pleased about. “The new rules will give
new challenges and the players will
have to figure it out for themselves,’’
said North West University coach Matt
Proudfoot.

Anesu Chingono
The 2005-2006 Ashes series between
England and Australia will probably go
down in history as the most exhilarating
test series ever played in world cricket.
Many expected the Australians to
triumph easily, but the English were
determined and refused to roll over and
be beaten. Many analysts thought it was
the end of an era for Australian cricket,
with legendary bowlers such as Glen
McGrath and Shane Warne deciding
to hang up their boots. But what began
from there was to be a world record of
16 undefeated test matches in favour
of the Aussies, and the emergence of
talented fast bowlers such as Stuart Clark
and Mitchell Johnson who would take
over the mantle of those who had gone.
Veteran South African fast bowler
Shaun Pollock is now among a large
number of international cricketers who
have recently retired, along with Stephen
Fleming, Adam Gilchrist and Brad
Hogg. Will the departure of these senior
places leave irreplaceable gaps in their
respective teams?
Polly is arguably one of South Africa’s
greatest cricketers. His accuracy with
the new ball and his ability to generate
swing is certainly a unique trait which
many cricketers do not possess. He
was no slouch with the bat either, often
contributing vital runs for the lower
order. Many South Africans hope the
talented Albie Morkel can fill his big
shoes: tall, strong and athletic, Morkel
hits the deck hard with the ball and
offers great entertainment with some
powerful hitting towards the end of the
innings. His emergence for the Proteas
has been so rapid that some media have
dubbed him the “New Lance Klusener”.
Gilchrist’s powerful hitting will be
sorely missed and he will certainly
be remembered as one of the greatest
wicket-keepers/batsmen ever. But with
Brad Haddin, Australia have a suitable
deputy. He averages over 50 in domestic
cricket and many fans are hoping he
can transfer his domestic form onto
the international stage and become
the Aussie’s next great wicket-keeper/
batsman.
Stephen Fleming’s absence will be
also felt in the batting department;
although a young Ross Taylor is
beginning to make a name for himself in
the New Zealand top order with a string
of impressive performances.
There is certainly no shortage of
talent in world cricket. In South Africa,
Pacey Dale Steyn is beginning to be
recognised in international cricket;
and, in Australia, James Hopes is part
of a new generation of all-rounders
breaking into the international scene.
These young cricketers have a lot to
prove in international cricket as talent
and potential must manifest themselves
into consistency and good all-round
displays. There have been many
talented cricketers to represent their
countries but few have left with the
great impressions of Adam Gilchrist,
Stephen Fleming and Shaun Pollock.
The challenge to the new generation is to
emulate these great cricketers.