The Oppidan Press

Edition 10, 1 October 2014

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News Features
2 Te Oppidan Press 1 October 2014
Mila Kakaza
R
eal estate agents in Graham-
stown have come under scru-
tiny as student complaints
about maintenance problems and
unsatisfactory service increase.
Rhodes student and tenant at
Somerset Corner Bonnie Kamona
stated that promises were made by her
estate agent before moving into the fat
she is currently occupying. We were
promised our fat would be thoroughly
cleaned. It was dirty and had sticky
foors, Kamona said. Te fat, Kamona
further explained, had broken doors,
curtain rails and shelves to name but a
few problems.
Rental manager at Re/Max Mag-
gie Redemeyer explained that 90% of
their tenants are made up of students.
Whenever there is a complaint it
goes through to maintenance. Te
landlord is contacted and it is then
sorted. We do not treat students badly
because they pay our salaries at the
end of the day, Redemeyer said.
Te rental team at Lew Gefen So-
thebys International Realty stated that
their clients are a number one priority
and landlords and tenant queries are
dealt with efciently.
Director at Pam Golding Properties
Daphne Timm stated that although
agents are not obliged to fx mainte-
nance problems, students have a right
and obligation to point out what needs
maintenances attention. Once these
problems have been pointed out, the
agent will go to the landlord with the
comments. Te landlord will have to
get quotes which he/she may accept or
reject, Timm explained.
Rental agent from Harcourts Glynis
Mather-Pike explained that an incom-
ing inspection is conducted for new
tenants. Tey are given a week to
settle down and fnd any problems,
Mather-Pike said.
Echoing Mather-Pikes sentiments,
Candidate Attorney at the Rhodes
Law Clinic James Ekron stated that the
Rental Housing Act stipulates that the
landlord and the tenant should make
an inspection of the property prior
to taking occupation. If something
is broken and the landlord is made
aware, it is possible for the student to
legally withhold a section of their
rent in order to fx an element that
they require the landlord to fx,
Ekron explained.
Somerset Corner tenant Neo Baepi
explained that her bedroom door
and shower were broken and it took a
month to get them fxed. Tey dont
act quickly because they know we are
students, Baepi said.
Mather-Pike went on to explain
that the future tenant goes through
what Harcourts calls a personality
analysis. First years for example are
required to include their parents de-
tails so that parents are involved. Te
students as well as their parents have a
copy of the lease, Mather-Pike said.
In my experience, real estate agents
are bullies, Ekron said. Tey will
have you sign an agreement you
dont properly understand and scare
you with large quantities of money
which you arent required to pay.
Te Legal Aid Board, Rhodes
Law Clinic and Legal Resources
Centre are some of the places where
students can receive legal representa-
tion when required.
Estate agents vs students
Students feel that real estate agents are treating them unfairly and providing
poor service with regards to maintenance of fats. Photo: SHEILA DAVID.
Phelokazi Mbude and Leila Stein
Donkeys are a common sight for Grahamstown residents. For
the owners of these donkeys, they provide a means of transport,
income and entertainment.
Donkey owners travel throughout Grahamstown doing small
jobs for farmers, local businesses and residents. Tese jobs include
transporting alcohol, cement, logs and refuse. However, these jobs
are not available every day.
Sherif Annerie Wolmarans, founder of the Makana Donkey
Association (MDA), explained that many of the donkey owners
transport the wood for an income of R40 to R60 per job, but not
much of this income goes towards caring for the donkeys. Tese
owners are the poorest of the poorest, she said. Wolmarans esti-
mates that only 75% of donkey owners are able to properly look
afer their animals.
At the age of 11, Sithembela Nzwane inherited his 11 donkeys
from his older brothers and started working with them. He is usu-
ally able to earn R200 per week which he uses to help support his
mother, grandmother and two younger brothers.
Nzwane makes sure that his donkeys are well cared for. He does
not allow them to carry heavy loads and ensures they do not work
when it rains. I dont hit my donkeys and you would never fnd a
sore on one of my donkeys either, said Nzwane.
Since the donkeys are an important source of income, no matter
how sporadic, the health and well-being of the donkeys is impor-
tant. Organisations like the MDA and the Rhodes Organisation
for Animal Rights (ROAR) assist the donkey owners in improving
the care of their donkeys.
Te MDA trains donkey owners on how to handle, feed and pro-
vide healthcare for their animals. ROAR ofen participates in drives
and clinics with the MDA. In addition, they recently donated R2
410 to the MDA for medicine, hoof oil and deworming medicine
for the donkeys.
Tis term, another student initiative, the No Danger Diaries,
partnered with the MDA and helped to raise funds for the donkeys
and their owners through a Pub Crawl.
We incentivise them [the donkey owners] by raising this money
[thereby] ensuring the longevity of the donkeys lives, explained
Ben Davies, one of the organisers of the event.
However, this specifc initiative has raised concerns since the
donkeys are being used for recreational purposes.
While we understand that certain events are arranged in order
to raise funds for carters or sanctuaries, and we applaud these good
intentions, our concerns are about the wellbeing of the donkey,
explained ROAR in a recent statement.
Despite these difering views, the initiatives taken on by students
and NGOs continue to assist and uplif the welfare of donkeys and
the work of their owners. As a result the donkey cart industry can
continue to provide for those who need it.
Support for donkeys and owners
Thandi Bombi
Students have been lef to assume the worst
as the year comes closer to an end. It has been
almost fve weeks since the postponement of
Intervarsity 2014 and there has not been an
ofcial cancellation of the event, or an ofcial
update to put students and participating sports
teams at ease.
Intervarsity 2014 was to take place at Te Uni-
versity of Fort Hare but was postponed because of
student unrest at the Universitys Alice campus.
Due to the unrest Intervarsity was postponed
to the weekend of the 5th to the 6th September
but Rhodes declined because it was during our
holiday, said SRC Liaison Ofcer Eric Ofei.
Ofei added that all sports fxtures are set a year
in advance and that there are no free weekends in
which to ft Intervarsity.
Tis pending cancellation adds to a series of
mishaps related to Intervarsity. Tis cancella-
tion may give more reason to those against it to
push for its permanent cancellation, said Rhodes
Sports Administrator Mandla Gagayi.
Meanwhile, members of sports teams that were
supposed to participate in Intervarsity 2014 are
unhappy with the way things have turned out.
I am very disappointed, said Kefentse Mfoloe,
Rhodes basketball team player.
Intervarsity 2015 is being hosted by Rhodes
and many are hopeful that it will bring an end
to these failures. I think that it is very good that
Intervarsity is happening at Rhodes University
next year, said Ofei. Te Rhodes Sports Council
is very organised and they will be able to prove
the relevance of Intervarsity, as well as be able
to satisfy the hunger for it that is a result of the
cancellation this year and safety issues in 2013.
Rhodes top brass has full understanding of
what happened and cannot use it to cancel in the
future, Gagayi said. Although the cancellation
of Intervarsity has been a let down, the SRC and
Sports Admin are keen to make the future Inter-
varsity events a success.
Another let-down with Intervarsity cancellation
Many of Grahamstowns donkey owners rely on them for their
livelihood, transporting wood or tourists on their carts, but often
still struggle to aford proper care for their donkeys.
Photo: KELLAN BOTHA.
With the Islamic State (IS) being one of the wealthiest terrorist organisations in the world, the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) says Africa should be concerned with their infuence. Photo: SOURCED
Life and death measured by the bucketload
These owners are the poorest
of the poorest
Sherif Annerie Wolmarans,
founder of Makana Donkeys Association

Politics
1 October 2014 Te Oppidan Press 3
Another let-down with Intervarsity cancellation
Nathi Mzileni and Tarryn de Kock
T
he decapitation of American
journalist James Foley sent
Western media into a tailspin.
Facing the challenge of how America
is going to deal with the Islamic State
(IS) formerly known as the Islamic
State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) US
President Barack Obamas call for
the aerial bombardment and the
destruction of IS strongholds came
as a familiar return to the rhetoric of
the War on Terror that has charac-
terised the last decade.
Aerial bombardment is a com-
mon military strategy used by the US
Defense Forces. President Obama
has authorised over 350 drone strikes
in the Middle East since 2008. Tese
unmanned machines have killed over
2 400 people. However, more than a
decade afer declaring war on terror,
the US has yet to see a decrease in the
operation of terrorist organisations.
IS is an efciently organised group.
Several organisations have estimated IS
funds to be at over R22 billion, making
it the wealthiest terrorist organisation
in the world. Te Institute of Security
Studies (ISS) reported that one of the
major ways IS secures funds is through
the sale of oil. Te group controls some
oil refneries in northern parts of Iraq
such as Baiji, and its oil is sold to cor-
porates at a price usually below market
value. Te companies fnd it much
easier to deal with these organisations
than governments with regulations,
said Siphokazi Magadla, an Interna-
tional Relations and Security Studies
Lecturer in the Politics department.
Obamas strategy has sidelined Iraq,
a country that could potentially play
an important role in combating IS
which has already amassed a body
count of 5000 and has displaced over
a million people in its ofensive. Its
important for the West to have con-
versations with the Middle East. Tey
feel the organisations more intimately,
Magadla added.
However, what has become
more concerning is the reach the
organisation has had beyond the
Middle East. Reports have emerged
that young South African men are also
being recruited as combatants. Te ISS
believes Africa will feel the threat of IS
more closely when African IS fghters
return home. Tere are genuine con-
cerns that the Islamic States thousands
of African fghters, with access to the
groups considerable war chest, will
return home to infame existing con-
ficts Africa should be worried, the
ISS reported.
Te Weekend Argus recently re-
ported the frst possible link between
South Africa and the Islamic State,
in a web-video released by IS where a
man can be heard saying I am your
brother Shu-aib from South Africa.
It is necessary to recognise that the
porous borders that characterise our
globalised and interconnected world
are also the points from which dubious
elements can emerge.
Te growth of extremist ideas in
recent decades shows the fault-lines in
our ideas about belonging, democracy
and international politics, and stems
directly from the way in which the
War on Terror has been fought since
9/11. Te current global situation
highlights the need to avoid confat-
ing terrorist values with cultural and
political identities, and to instead
focus on fnding new, refexive ways of
understanding violent confict.
Is IS the new chapter in the War on Terror?
Kim Nyajeka
Since July 2014, social media has been bombarded with thou-
sands of video clips of celebrities and ordinary people taking
part in the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Ice Bucket
Challenge to raise awareness and money for suferers of the
disease. Te challenge has been widely scrutinised, with many
people expressing the view that it wastes fresh water, an already
scarce resource in many parts of the world. However, an alterna-
tive challenge has sprung up to mimic the Ice Bucket Challenge
and draw awareness to another life-threatening occurrence.
Te Rubble Bucket Challenge was adopted by journalists
working in the Gaza Strip to raise awareness for the plight of the
children who have been afected by the Israeli-Palestine confict.
Unlike the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, the Rubble Bucket Challenge
does not call for donations, as Maysam Yusef, one of the challenges
creators, highlights: Money will not bring the many innocent souls
back to life and we cannot begin to rebuild Gaza unless the Israeli
attacks stop. Participants pour rubble from the debris of destroyed
homes over their heads as this is the only material available to them
for such an activity.
To date, ALS has been known to primarily afect Americans, with
5 600 people being diagnosed each year. It is estimated that 2 123
Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli Defence Forces Opera-
tion Protective Edge, launched in July this year. It was hoped that
the Rubble Bucket Challenge would receive the same, if not more,
attention than its counterpart as it is also for a worthy cause where
one is not being forced to part ways with ones money. Unfortunate-
ly, this is not the case. Since the advent of the challenge in July, very
few people outside of the Gaza Strip have participated.
In a world where human rights (both political and socioeco-
nomic) are held in the highest regard, it is concerning that so few
choose to advocate for the realisation of these rights for people
caught in the middle of an endless confict.
It becomes necessary to question whether people support causes
such as ALS and cancer awareness specifcally because these are not
seen as politicised causes of death. Te prevalence of these diseases
in more industrialised societies could point to underlying eco-
nomic and environmental causes exacerbating their prominence in
some places compared to others.
Dr Irene Calis, a post-doctoral fellow in the Politics Department,
agreed that the political nature of the Rubble Bucket Challenge
makes it less attractive.
It is easy to avert political discussion from the Ice Bucket Chal-
lenge as it does not ask for more than a donation, whereas the
Rubble Bucket Challenge demands [that] you take a clear political
stance which you may have to defend, she said.
Political issues cause people to be more cautious when displaying
their concerns for fear of the repercussions and negative responses
from others. Tere is politics in everything, so we should be rais-
ing the tougher questions surrounding not only confict but disease
as well, said Calis.
With the Islamic State (IS) being one of the wealthiest terrorist organisations in the world, the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) says Africa should be concerned with their infuence. Photo: SOURCED
Life and death measured by the bucketload
The Ice Bucket Challenge may have garnered support for ALS,
but the question is whether the Rubble Bucket Challenge will
raise the same awareness for political issues in Gaza. Photo:
ASHLIEGH MEY

Photo Story
4 Te Oppidan Press 1 October 2014
Big plans ahead for Child Welfare
Attending Nompumelelo Preschool, the girls strike a pose while lining up for a bathroom break.
Photos: EMILY CORKE
Preparing breakfast for hungry mouths, Nompumelelo Preschool provides two
meals a day for each child on just R85 a month.
Boys and girls stand quietly awaiting Teacher Boekies instructions. Obedient and confdent, these learners are eager
to learn.
Photo Story
1 October 2014 Te Oppidan Press 5
Emily Corke
T
he voices of children in the
playground can be heard from
down the road of Nompume-
lelo Preschool in Joza. Te preschool
shares a property with the Ikhaya
Losizo foster home.
Tandi*, aged nine, sits on the
jungle gym with broken nets. She has
just joined the Ikhaya Losizo home,
afer Child Welfare declared that her
parents could not provide for her and
that her home was too unstable. Her
face lights up when she sees Director
of the Joza Child Welfare Unit Angela
Hibbert approach the houses.
Unfortunately, Tandis story is not
a unique case. As it stands, the Ikhaya
Losizo Foster homes can only take in
six children for each home. Te chil-
dren are cared for by a trained house
mother in each house.
Tere are not enough facilities for
children needing foster care in Gra-
hamstown. Te current houses are just
too small for the issues we have here,
said Grahamstown citizen Walter Eks-
teen, who has been very involved with
Child Welfare.
Child Welfare, along with Eksteen
and other community members, have
started an initiative to raise funds to
build a community hall on the Nom-
pumelelo grounds to complement the
Ikhaya Losizo homes.
When we have a community hall
we will have a complete safety zone
where children are really protected in
many ways, said Child Welfare Direc-
tor Woineshet Bischof.
Bischof hopes the community hall
will be the best venue for community
engagement and training programmes
like maths, reading, parental training,
computer and sewing skills and aware-
ness programmes.
Te ofcial plan for the initiative
was that the property would have
Nompumelelo Preschool, three foster
houses, a community hall and a satel-
lite ofce for Child Welfare on it. Te
two current houses were funded by the
National Lottery and the initiative
is looking for funding to continue
their project.
One way of raising the funds will be
in the form of a gala dinner which will
be hosted on 4 October by the Dioc-
esan School for Girls in Grahamstown.
Te tickets to attend are R200 each
and they include a three course meal,
drinks and entertainment.
*Tis is not her real name. She has been
declared vulnerable by the government
and cannot be named or photographed.
Big plans ahead for Child Welfare
Attending Nompumelelo Preschool, the girls strike a pose while lining up for a bathroom break.
Preparing breakfast for hungry mouths, Nompumelelo Preschool provides two
meals a day for each child on just R85 a month. Two boys linked together throughout the day. Teacher Boekie says they are always up to no good.
Children line up after song time for a bathroom break. They wash their hands before receiving their long-awaited
breakfast. Today there is porridge for breakfast and chicken for lunch.
Thandi* plays on broken jungle gyms and torn nets. The Ikhaya Losizo home needs funding to refurbish and upgrade
its grounds.
Thandi*, aged nine, sits on the jungle gym with broken nets. She has just
joined the Ikaya Losizo home after Child Welfare decided that her parents
could not provide for her and her home was too unstable.
Opinion
6 Te Oppidan Press 1 October 2014
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Koketso Molope and Ben Rule
T
he use of the word nigger/
nigga and the arguments
about the diference between
the two (shouts to 2Pac) has long
been a discussion point in the black
community in the USA. Tose using
the word argue that by using it they
have removed the ownership (and
thus the power) of the word from the
people who used it to oppress them
thus allowing them to take hold
of the word and change its meaning.
Although the word still carries much
baggage, its use has been a way
for various black communities to
make sense of the baggage on their
own terms.
I recently became aware of some-
thing called black Twitter, which I
found fascinating both because of what
it is and because I was not previously
aware of it. For those who, like me,
have not heard of it: black Twitter is a
subculture on Twitter which is part on-
line community, part social commen-
tary, lots of spice, even more shade
and all memes.
What is interesting is that those who
use it call it black Twitter.Tis makes
it diferent from something like Asian
food, which is not described the same
way by Asian people and becomes
simply food the minute one sets foot
in Asia. Black Twitter is a conscious
recognition of a black online identity.
Tis article is too short a space to
properly explain black Twitter or en-
gage with all of its interesting aspects.
Tat said, there are certain words
which have become commonly used
in the language of black Twitter, and
which are intriguing. It is common to
end a post with the phrase the struggle
is real. More ofen than not these posts
relate to the more mundane aspects
of life such as weather patterns, dress
codes, methods for studying for tests
or being broke.
Everybody in this country knows
what is meant by the phrase the
struggle. It is a part of our collective
heritage, especially for the children
of the generation who were actively
involved in it.
Tose children are now taking to
Twitter and using this same phrase to
describe things such as peoples inabil-
ity to match clothes. Each generation
has its own struggles, but the tongue-
in-cheek manner in which some of
this generation is using the phrase is
allowing them to take ownership of
their own heritage.
Another word that seems to be in
fashion at the moment is the word
ungovernable. It is used to describe
people when they are fouting societal
norms or generally going against ac-
ceptable standards of behaviour. Te
history of this word is powerful.
In a series of speeches in the mid-
1980s, then ANC President Oliver
Tambo challenged the people of South
Africa to make the country ungov-
ernable in order to overthrow the
apartheid regime. Te word is at the
heart of the internal resistance the
peoples resistance to apartheid. Tis
is another example of using a word
with historical and political baggage
to describe somebody shooting their
mouth of online.
Given that Heritage Day has recently
passed, black Twitter is a striking
current example of how nobody can
tell you what your heritage means
but yourself.
The language of black Twitter
Michelle du Toit
Illusions are created by the way in which a product is
marketed and this can determine its popularity and set
it up for failure or success. Ofen this branding is done
through the use of words and creative naming. Words
have certain connotations and these can infuence a per-
sons opinion of the product.
But enough of the theory, let me illustrate this with some
examples. Standard Bank Simpler. Better. Faster. Te
words arent even hidden in sentences. Understandably,
Complicated. Average. Slow. wouldnt exactly have the
same efect. But ofen the attempts to infuence consumers
arent just in the marketing of the product, they are in
the name itself. Pampers nappies. Which mother wouldnt
want to pamper their child? Te McDonalds Happy Meal.
Obviously, a child would want a meal that is happy.
Te full efect of this crafy trickery is not always so
obvious, however. We can be subtly manipulated to believe
almost anything. Te best example of such a conspiracy
would be favoured water.
Te word favoured plays on our senses and this, along
with the connotation of sparkling and the essentiality of wa-
ter, aims to convince us that it is a necessity. Te other con-
notation of this genre of products is that they are healthier
than other liquids on ofer. We have all heard the stories
about the chemicals in Coca-Cola, but what could possibly
be unhealthy about water? It is natural!
What we have been cleverly distracted from is the fact
that favoured water is in fact just juice without colour. It
tastes like a fzzy drink. It just looks diferent. Te word-
ing has allowed us to believe that it is more than colour-
less Cream Soda or Fanta. It is not. Let us stop deluding
ourselves that we are being healthy all juice is essentially
favoured water.
And if weve been under the impression that weve been
drinking water all along, how many other things are we
misinformed about while consuming them? Until we start
to think about these products, well simply be pawns of
advertisers who manipulate us for fnancial gain.
Sparkling delusion-favoured lies
Marketers often use the healthy connotations of favoured water to sell it, but this distracts from the fact that chemicals
and favourants make it only a little bit healthier than soda. Photo: KELLAN BOTHA
The ever-growing subculture of black
Twitter is a conscious recognition by
black people of their online identity,
community, and culture. Image:
SOURCED
Julius Malema and the EFF have made it their mission to challenge President Jacob Zuma and the ANCs authority in
Parliament. Photo: SOURCED
Emily Corke
T
hings have not been looking good for the ANC
over the past fve months in Parliament. While
they have all been too busy managing President
Jacob Zumas PR (ahem, Nkandla), they have been un-
able to avoid the constant attacks on their party by Julius
Malema and his EFF. If Malemas job is to make Zuma
uncomfortable on that R246 million throne, then he is
doing it well.
I am not here to put Malema on a pedestal; he is no angel.
But he is fulflling an important role in the current political
arena against a backdrop of police killing miners in Mari-
kana, children being evicted from their homes in Nomzamo
and daily scenes of service delivery protests. He is also
asking the right questions of the ANC. Last week the High
Court ruled that the EFF were allowed to wear their iconic
red workers uniforms in Parliament. Tis is embarrassing
for the ANC because it contrasts with their expensive suits
and lavish gowns worn at other political events. Te EFF
attire is a clear statement about who they claim to represent.
As Malema has built himself up to be the voice of workers,
the poor and the disenfranchised, many are starting to walk
with him. On a symbolic level, insisting on wearing workers
attire in Parliament means he stands for those who are lef
out of these ofcial proceedings.
On 1 July, provincial Speaker Ntombi Mekgwe ordered
Once again, South Africans fnd themselves in a peculiar and polarising
social space. Two notable events have recently captured the countrys at-
tention. In the past week we celebrated our 20th Heritage Day a day that
is meant to acknowledge and appreciate the cultural and social diversity
in this country. However, these positive sentiments have been clouded by
an incident of blackface at Stellenbosch University, following one at the
University of Pretoria not too long ago.
Tis completely unnecessary and ignorant act by seemingly innocent and
unaware white male students has had the usual racially-divided responses
in South African social media. Many have questioned our legitimate claim
to celebrating our countrys cultural diversity and understanding, when acts
that directly undermine the dignity and humanity of many South Africans
continue to grab headlines.
Te Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) continued antics in Parlia-
ment have also captured the attention of the country. Julius Malema, Floyd
Shivambu and other EFF Members of Parliament continue to taunt and
accurately critique the governing ANCs political, economic and social
misdemeanours. Te EFFs reactionary statements (and unfattering middle-
fngers) have again polarised the opinions of ordinary South Africans with
many either vehemently against or for the political partys actions.
In international news, actress Emma Watson (of Harry Potter fame)
launched the much-lauded and much-criticised He for She campaign. Wat-
son has stated that the necessity of such a movement comes from a need for
true gender equality, and a need for people to realise the importance of femi-
nism, as women continue to fnd themselves marginalised across the globe.
Te campaign and Watsons speech have again produced a divided public
with many either supporting her for speaking up, or others criticising her
actions due to the lack of representation for people who do not identify as a
He or a She.
In this edition, youll fnd a number of opinions that you might not neces-
sarily agree with. We ask questions about the authenticity and intentions of
the new-age hippies at the recent Greenpop Festival; we contemplate the
nature of social activism in contemporary society, with particular reference
to the controversial ALS Ice Bucket Challenge which has taken the world by
storm. We look at the continued rise of clicktivism as crowdfunding and
websites like Avaaz carry on characterising this new-era social activism. We
also analyse the rise of the Islamic State in the Middle East and North Africa,
and question the future of international politics as we know it.
Tis edition also serves as an introduction to Te Oppidan Press new
Editorial, Managerial and OppiTv teams for 2015. We are excited to welcome
the new teams aboard and are confdent that they will carry on being the
countrys best student journalists, and providing Grahamstown with news
that is critical, thorough and impactful.
The Oppidan Press
Ben Rule
Many of us are inherently sceptical
of people who post videos of them-
selves on the internet, claiming to
do so for a cause. Tis scepticism
arises from incidents such as the
whole of Facebook posting selfes
of themselves (apparently without
make-up) for cancer, or simply
clicking the share button to make
the world aware of all the grievous
injustice of wars and poverty while
we chomp cereal in our pyjamas.
When the ALS ice bucket chal-
lenge started trending, I fgured
that it was just more of the same
more neknomination than
anything else. I was wrong.
Te ice bucket challenge has
managed to raise over $100 million
in donations for the fght against
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
All of this has been as a result of the
awareness which was created by the
viral ice-bucketing on the internet.
Tis puts this latest trend into a very
diferent category from the ones
described above. A splash of internet
videos have actually made a difer-
ence to a cause. It seems that people
have understood that simply pour-
ing iced water over yourself is not
sufcient to help anybody with ALS
you also have to donate money.
Tis begs the question as to why we
were not all donating money in the
frst place all of the help which the
ALS campaign has received recently
has been the direct result of an
activity which does not help ALS.
Tis is rather bizarre. Why do we
need to pour water over ourselves
on the internet before we realise that
this is a cause worth donating to?
Or if we were already aware, why
was the broadcasting of our own wet
faces the most convincing argument
for us to actually get involved? I
have long thought that the internet
is divided into exhibitionists and
voyeurs. It is from this basis that we
can begin to understand why the ice
bucket challenge worked.
I am hopeful enough about hu-
man nature to think that people
want to do some good in the world.
But it seems that a simple appeal to
conscience is not enough to achieve
results, especially on the internet.
Tere is a daily tsunami of these
types of appeals and it is quite easy
to become desensitised to them.
Charities therefore need to fnd a
way to convince people to donate
without using any of the conven-
tional internet tactics.
Te ALS Foundation did this by
tapping into our existing exhibi-
tionist tendencies we want to do
good but we also want to post lots of
pictures and videos of ourselves for
everyone to see. Imagine the social
approval you can get by posting a
video of yourself donating to charity.
Tis is what the ice bucket challenge
did perfectly. We want to broadcast
ourselves to the world more than we
want to donate to charity. Now, we
can do both.
Opinion
1 October 2014 Te Oppidan Press 7
would be favoured water.
Te word favoured plays on our senses and this, along
with the connotation of sparkling and the essentiality of wa-
ter, aims to convince us that it is a necessity. Te other con-
notation of this genre of products is that they are healthier
than other liquids on ofer. We have all heard the stories
about the chemicals in Coca-Cola, but what could possibly
be unhealthy about water? It is natural!
What we have been cleverly distracted from is the fact
that favoured water is in fact just juice without colour. It
tastes like a fzzy drink. It just looks diferent. Te word-
ing has allowed us to believe that it is more than colour-
less Cream Soda or Fanta. It is not. Let us stop deluding
ourselves that we are being healthy all juice is essentially
favoured water.
And if weve been under the impression that weve been
drinking water all along, how many other things are we
misinformed about while consuming them? Until we start
to think about these products, well simply be pawns of
advertisers who manipulate us for fnancial gain.
Marketers often use the healthy connotations of favoured water to sell it, but this distracts from the fact that chemicals
and favourants make it only a little bit healthier than soda. Photo: KELLAN BOTHA
Julius Malema and the EFF have made it their mission to challenge President Jacob Zuma and the ANCs authority in
Parliament. Photo: SOURCED
Emily Corke
T
hings have not been looking good for the ANC
over the past fve months in Parliament. While
they have all been too busy managing President
Jacob Zumas PR (ahem, Nkandla), they have been un-
able to avoid the constant attacks on their party by Julius
Malema and his EFF. If Malemas job is to make Zuma
uncomfortable on that R246 million throne, then he is
doing it well.
I am not here to put Malema on a pedestal; he is no angel.
But he is fulflling an important role in the current political
arena against a backdrop of police killing miners in Mari-
kana, children being evicted from their homes in Nomzamo
and daily scenes of service delivery protests. He is also
asking the right questions of the ANC. Last week the High
Court ruled that the EFF were allowed to wear their iconic
red workers uniforms in Parliament. Tis is embarrassing
for the ANC because it contrasts with their expensive suits
and lavish gowns worn at other political events. Te EFF
attire is a clear statement about who they claim to represent.
As Malema has built himself up to be the voice of workers,
the poor and the disenfranchised, many are starting to walk
with him. On a symbolic level, insisting on wearing workers
attire in Parliament means he stands for those who are lef
out of these ofcial proceedings.
On 1 July, provincial Speaker Ntombi Mekgwe ordered
police to remove the group wearing red overalls bearing
the phrase asijiki from the Gauteng Legislature. Just last
month, National Speaker Baleka Mbete removed the EFF
kicking and screaming from Parliament. Even more embar-
rassingly, Mbete had riot police called into Parliament to
have them removed while they were taunting Zuma with,
Pay back the money!.
While the chanting and theatrics may have been a distrac-
tion, it has not gone unnoticed that the questions to Zuma
about paying back the Nkandla money went unanswered.
Zumas laugh echoed in our minds as we watched the EFF
demand the answers we all really want. Will the ANC realise
that every time they kick out the EFF, they are symbolically
kicking out the countrys poor and disenfranchised workers?
When will Mbete realise that when she screams, I am not
recognising you! to one of the EFFs MPs, she is shouting
the same abuse to their supporters? Coming afer recent
protracted strikes by workers demanding to be recognised,
this is dangerous territory for the ANC.
Now the ANC are stuck with an even bigger predicament.
Not only are they stuck with Malema in Parliament in his
red workers uniform, but they are stuck with their track
record of trying to have him and the people he represents
removed from Parliament. Not good to have on your radar
fve months into your new term of ofce. Te ANC have
come head on with Malema, and they have lost. Again
and again.
Malemas tactics
EFFing up ANC votes
Ice bucket exhibitionists
The Ice Bucket Challenge managed to successfuly capture the concept
of supporting a cause by taking advantage of peoples desire for social
recognition. Photo: ASHLIEGH MEY
>>Unathi Msengana set to rock Rhodes
>>Inclusion and exclusion in African education
>>50 years of English study in Africa
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Features
8 Te Oppidan Press 1 October 2014
Dillon Lutchman
Environment
F
rom 12 to 14 September 2014, the Greenpop Hogsback
Reforest Fest invited nature-lovers from all corners to
enjoy an event that combined music and reforestation to
promote collective green action.
Hogsback has over 1215 endemic plant species and is consid-
ered to have the widest biodiversity ring of Afro-mountain forests
in the country. Endangered species like the Amathole toad, Cape
parrot and Samango monkey, which dwell in the area, rely heavily
on these indigenous plant species for their survival.
As such, Hogsback was an ideal space for the intervention facil-
itated by Greenpop. A environmentally-based business, Greenpop
enabled the planting of 2400 trees during the festival.
Journalism student Christina Schild attended the event and was
enlightened by the experience. Going into the festival, I had an
idea of the environmental aspect but I do feel I gained signifcant
knowledge about the process of reforestation and of reintroducing
indigenous fora and fauna into an area overrun with alien vegeta-
tion, she explained.
While sceptics argued that an emphasis on partying exceeded
that of planting, Schild considered the event to have played a
variety of functions by disseminating environmental knowledge
through various talks, promoting environmental action by plant-
ing trees and creating a congenial environment thanks to musical
entertainment.
Journalism Honours student Melite Vivier agreed that this was
not such a big party fest but rather honed in on the tree-planting
process, workshops on sustainable living, our changing environ-
ment and the science of nature.
Ticket prices (R520 excluding accommodation and transport)
for the fest somewhat deterred student attendance, perhaps ac-
counting for the large number of Rhodes students not attending
even though it was during vacation.
Schild commented, If the cost of the ticket was reduced, and
therefore the festival made more accessible, then I defnitely feel
that an event like this would work at Rhodes.
However, Schild continues to support the initiative as a whole.
It is a beautiful idea that truly brings people together in a new
way. It shows them alternatives to this growing culture of simply
yanking out the aliens and shoving the indigenous trees in the
holes, said Schild.
Te direct action and environmental education created by this
event cannot be undervalued. Vivier added, I really enjoyed
planting things that will last for many years with the added beneft
of all of them being indigenous.
With eco-friendly festival Rocking the Daisies on the horizon,
Greenpop shows that fun can be encouraged without under-
mining the fundamental project of generating environmental
consciousness and participatory action.
Hogsback forestation rejuvenation
Where did the genuine hippies go?
Sasha Ross
Arts and Entertainment
Te Greenpop Reforest Festival took
place over the September vacation
in Hogsback. While the festival was
meant to promote conservation and
eco-living, it was hard not to notice
the pretentious among the genuine.
Its a treevolution we cant wait
to plant and dance with you was the
fnal line in a Greenpop Reforest Fes-
tival email I received. For me, this line
set up the ideal Greenpop wished to
create a 60s dream of planting trees,
eating well and living an eco-friendly
lifestyle. Tis ideal was enforced by
Lauren ODonnell, one of the Green-
pop co-founders announcing, We
love creating festivals of action, in
Hogsback we are doing a celebration of
our earth.
While documenting the festival, it
was difcult not to be critical of the
conversations and actions of those par-
ticipating; many had strong opinions
on the state of the world, as is expected
at such alternative events.
Conversations between students
featured big ideas and a rejection of
traditional structure, as was heard
when listening to Charles Mackenzie.
People are so blinded by what society
says, they need to open their eyes.
While conversations such as these
may have been genuine, it did seem
as if some were striving too hard to
ft the anti-society ideal in order to
blend in. Te line between genuine
and inauthentic was thin and difcult
to distinguish. Te conversations
heard among the festival-goers, and
especially students were on the cusp of
being reactionary. For some, the fact
that there was no trance music being
played was a bigger issue to mull over
than the planting of over 2000 trees.
It was easy to pinpoint all the difer-
ent groups of people that Reforest had
attracted. It was the perfect excuse for
a new-wave guilt-reduction by spend-
ing money to feel like youre making a
diference. Greenpop allowed people to
join a privileged, caring society. Tey
let people fall in love with nature again
through a productive mix of volunteer-
ing and crowd-funding. Te Greenpop
team is one which strives to make
an obvious diference and through
clever marketing they have a particu-
lar interest group of wealthy families
ready to join the treevolution. Te
clique-driven festival was the real
deal. As Christina Schild, a Rhodes
University student put it, Everyone
has their groups here, its not like you
can actually just go make friends with
these people.
As well as afording me the oppor-
tunity to make a tangible diference to
our environment, the Reforest Festival
hosted by Greenpop and Terra-Khaya
also provided a look into the lives
of those privileged enough to pay to
feel like theyre making a diference.
However, based on the events isolation
I wondered whether this diference
could be tangibly felt.
Motorised transport accounts for approximately 13% of greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa, leading many car
dealerships to display their vehicles emissions levels for eco-conscious customers. Photo: KELLAN BOTHA
Nature-lovers participated in practical activities at the Greenpop Hogsback Reforest Festival to learn about the indigenous fauna and fora. Photo: KATE JANSE VAN RENSBURG
Mikaela Erskog
With green technology on the rise and the vehicle manu-
facturing industry adapting to environmental issues,
South Africans should start considering what forms of
transport might alleviate concerns such as greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions.
According to researcher Anthony Danes 2013 report,
transport consumes 28% of fnal energy in South Africa,
97% of it being liquid fuels. Te University of Cape Town
Energy Research Centers researcher also found that con-
tributes 13.1% of South Africas GHG emissions.
As a response to these issues, the availability of hybrid ve-
hicles in South Africa has increased over the last eight years.
Sales of hybrid cars have also been on the increase, with the
total number of hybrid cars sold increasing from 204 to 627
between 2006 and 2011.
Here we consider which vehicles are locally and globally
accelerating towards greener pastures.
New on the block:
Te New Mini Cooper
Released earlier this year, this hybrid vehicle has become
a favorite with buyers as it combines the classic Mini Cooper
look with low fuel consumption (4.6 litres/100 km), which
Environment
1 October 2014 Te Oppidan Press 9
even though it was during vacation.
Schild commented, If the cost of the ticket was reduced, and
therefore the festival made more accessible, then I defnitely feel
that an event like this would work at Rhodes.
However, Schild continues to support the initiative as a whole.
It is a beautiful idea that truly brings people together in a new
way. It shows them alternatives to this growing culture of simply
yanking out the aliens and shoving the indigenous trees in the
holes, said Schild.
Te direct action and environmental education created by this
event cannot be undervalued. Vivier added, I really enjoyed
planting things that will last for many years with the added beneft
of all of them being indigenous.
With eco-friendly festival Rocking the Daisies on the horizon,
Greenpop shows that fun can be encouraged without under-
mining the fundamental project of generating environmental
consciousness and participatory action.
Hogsback forestation rejuvenation
diference. Greenpop allowed people to
join a privileged, caring society. Tey
let people fall in love with nature again
through a productive mix of volunteer-
ing and crowd-funding. Te Greenpop
team is one which strives to make
an obvious diference and through
clever marketing they have a particu-
lar interest group of wealthy families
ready to join the treevolution. Te
clique-driven festival was the real
deal. As Christina Schild, a Rhodes
University student put it, Everyone
has their groups here, its not like you
can actually just go make friends with
these people.
As well as afording me the oppor-
tunity to make a tangible diference to
our environment, the Reforest Festival
hosted by Greenpop and Terra-Khaya
also provided a look into the lives
of those privileged enough to pay to
feel like theyre making a diference.
However, based on the events isolation
I wondered whether this diference
could be tangibly felt.
Sewage spreads in Grahamstown
Lili Barras-Hargan
Various sewage leaks occurring in
Grahamstown East and West are
contaminating the Bloukrans River,
which runs south of the city. Tis
river goes on to join the Kowie River,
which supplies water to surrounding
agricultural projects and drinking
water for Port Alfred residents.
Te stream running through the
Botanical Gardens is also being
contaminated by this sewage, which
removes oxygen from the water
and oversupplies the stream with
unnecessary nutrients. As a result,
there is now unwelcome alien fora
growing in the area.
Te sewage leaks are not only a
threat to the environment but also to
businesses and homes. People cannot
live with dignity in a situation that
should not occur in the frst place, and
that should be rectifed swifly when it
does, commented Kowie Catchment
Campaign (KCC) Chairperson Laura
Bannatyne.
Te sewage leaks are spreading
towards surrounding areas that supply
food and water to Grahamstown.
For example, the headwaters of the
Kowie River in the Belmont Valley are
becoming contaminated and unless
treated, the water could potentially be
used during the agricultural process.
As a huge supplier to our local food
markets, this would mean that the
vegetables and fruit we consume could
have been grown with dirty water.
Te KCC is a Grahamstown-based
organisation that has become involved
in fnding solutions to the sewage
problem. As well as bringing leaks
to the attention of the Makana Local
Municipality, the KCC continues
to point to useful resources for the
prevention of future leaks.
Te Makana Environmental
Department was interested in
informing locals on how to avoid
sewage problems and the KCC was
able to point them in the direction
of informational resources and
preventative strategies that might help
to establish proactive community
involvement.
People can help prevent so many
sewage blockages and resultant leaks
that are ofen caused by dirty nappies,
rags and newspaper, explained Safety,
Health and Environment Ofcer at
Rhodes University and KCC Secretary
Nikki Khly.
In addition, with the help of the
public, the KCC are in the process of
building a local information guide to
efective sewage disposal.
Te public have been invited to
complete a mini survey regarding
the situation in their area which will
contribute to a hotspot map.
On this map, sewage leaks, litter
and environmental threats such
as alien species are indicated with
accompanying pictures.
In this way, organisations like the
KCC will become more aware of
the whereabouts and severity of
sewage leaks.
With students and residents in
Grahamstown watching out for
sewage problems like this, there is
hope that leaks can be reduced
and possibly eventually eradicated.
Grahamstowns crumbling infrastructure has resulted in several incidents of
leaking sewage, threatening local businesses, homes and the environment.
Photo: KELLAN BOTHA
Online campaigning taking
the act out of activism?
Lauren Buckle
Te form of environmental
campaigning has altered over
the years with the rise of the
internet. Some of the biggest
global environmental and social
movements are being headed
by internet-based organisations
such as Avaaz and GetUp!,
which allow a greater number of
people to join these initiatives
instantaneously without
much efort or any signifcant
contributions.
While mediums such as online
petitioning and email blasts have
revolutionised the spread of
information and globalised many
environmental struggles, the shif to
clicking sign petition has a number
of positive and negative aspects.
A petition, to be successful, has
to capture the publics attention
and put pressure on decision
makers. Online can do both of
those efectively, commented
environmental activist and Rhodes
Computer Science Professor Philip
Machanick. However, a petition on
its own seldom has a major efect.
Te creation of online petitioning
has decreased the amount of contact
between the people signing and the
people running the petitions, as the
two groups rarely come into physical
contact with one another.
While this can be problematic
in that it does not help campaigns
to obtain reliable and committed
petitioners, it does allow for more
campaigns to gain more signatures
more easily.
Te Grahamstown Residents
Association (GRA) is running a
petition to save our local railway.
Tis petition is mostly paper-based,
but is using an online forum to
build numbers and awareness. Te
GRA expects about 2000 signatures,
of which about 300 are collected
online.
Machanick believed that the
campaign needed to utilise the
hands-on awareness-building and
person-to-person networking
that paper signatures facilitates,
as it garners better local support.
However, he mentioned that online
petitioning is useful in gaining
valuable support from outside of the
community. Environmental rights
organisation Avaaz has shown that
while online petitioning is key to
circulating information, gaining
outside support and creating a
global network, it needs to translate
into practical action as was
demonstrated by the global march
they initiated on 21 September 2014.
Te march took place in many
countries including Sri Lanka,
Kenya, Turkey, India, Australia,
France, the United Kingdom and
South Africa. Over 675 000 people
were involved in the march in an
attempt to promote ways of stopping
climate change through the use of
sustainable energy sources.
While electronic campaigns can
be far-reaching, there is still a need
for people on the ground to organise
physical campaigns if activism is
to translate into action. Activism
should involve more than just
a click.
Motorised transport accounts for approximately 13% of greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa, leading many car
dealerships to display their vehicles emissions levels for eco-conscious customers. Photo: KELLAN BOTHA
Nature-lovers participated in practical activities at the Greenpop Hogsback Reforest Festival to learn about the indigenous fauna and fora. Photo: KATE JANSE VAN RENSBURG
Is internet-based campaigning enabling
environmental change?
Mikaela Erskog
With green technology on the rise and the vehicle manu-
facturing industry adapting to environmental issues,
South Africans should start considering what forms of
transport might alleviate concerns such as greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions.
According to researcher Anthony Danes 2013 report,
transport consumes 28% of fnal energy in South Africa,
97% of it being liquid fuels. Te University of Cape Town
Energy Research Centers researcher also found that con-
tributes 13.1% of South Africas GHG emissions.
As a response to these issues, the availability of hybrid ve-
hicles in South Africa has increased over the last eight years.
Sales of hybrid cars have also been on the increase, with the
total number of hybrid cars sold increasing from 204 to 627
between 2006 and 2011.
Here we consider which vehicles are locally and globally
accelerating towards greener pastures.
New on the block:
Te New Mini Cooper
Released earlier this year, this hybrid vehicle has become
a favorite with buyers as it combines the classic Mini Cooper
look with low fuel consumption (4.6 litres/100 km), which
means it requires less fuel and emits fewer GHGs.
Global Leader:
Te Smart ForTwo Electric Drive
Te American Council for an Energy Efcient Economy
dubbed this the greenest car of 2014. Te car was the
cheapest electric car produced in the United States this year,
and is a top example of the environmental innovation of
electric cars in general. Te car gets the electric equivalent
of 51.8km/l.
Dealers Pick:
Te Nissan Leaf
Tis is the best-selling electric car in the world. Presi-
dent of the Rochester Institute of Technology, Bill Destler,
explained that the Nissan Leaf can go about 64 km on 11
Kilowatt-hours (KWH) of electricity, the energy equivalent
of 1.25 litres of petrol.
Local choice:
Toyota Prius
Te Prius is the most popular environmentally-friendly
car in South Africa, mostly because it was the frst hybrid
car in the country. Its fuel consumption is amongst the low-
est in South Africa at about 4.9 liters/100km (the average
fuel consumption of normal cars is nearly double this at
around 8-9 litres/100km).
Dealing with green wheels
Scitech
10 Te Oppidan Press 1 October 2014
Gaming is srsbznz
#GamerGate: Not a discussion about ethics
Bracken Lee-Rudolph
T
he gaming community, especially on Twitter,
was set alight by the hashtag #GamerGate over
the past month. Yet through all the hatred fying
around Twitter under this tag, its difcult to see where
the trend started and what exactly it is about.
#GamerGate started and centred around an independent
American game developer, Zo Quinn. Eron Gjoni, Quinns
ex-boyfriend, sparked what was known as the Quinnspira-
cy when he wrote that Quinn had cheated on him with fve
other men, including Kotakus Nathan Grayson and other
game developers.
By naming Grayson, Gjoni was implying that Quinn had
slept with him in order to gain positive coverage for her
game, Depression Quest. Incidentally Grayson never wrote
about Depression Quest and Kotaku never reviewed it. Tese
facts were not checked before a torrent of harassment and
death threats was directed at Quinns Twitter account.
Tis escalated to the point where Quinns personal details
were hacked and posted online, which prompted her to
leave her home for fear of the innumerable death threats
and sexual violence which she was receiving on a daily basis.
#GamerGate, rejecting the notion that it was a misogynistic
movement, purported itself to be about ethics in gaming
journalism, while simultaneously speaking more about
Quinns personal life than either ethics or journalism.
Te movement once again launched waves of abuse and
vitriol when Anita Sarkeesian - a feminist pop culture critic
- released a new episode in her Tropes vs. Women in Video
Games series. Sarkeesian received similar treatment from
#GamerGate, more for her views on gaming culture and
feminism than her stance on Quinn and gaming journalism.
Sarkeesian was also forced to stay with friends the night she
released the video, afer some of the tweets
she received included the details of her address and threats
of violence.
Quinn and Sarkeesian were not the only two afected.
Anyone who supported them was quickly shouted down,
and media houses who were in support of them were
dubbed as corrupt. Both groups were labelled as social
justice warriors (SJWs), a term used derogatively to refer to
people who prioritise issues such as gender or race represen-
tation in video games.
Te movement later caused freelance video game writer
Jenn Frank to quit writing afer she wrote a piece in support
of Quinn and Sarkeesian for Te Guardian. Claims of cor-
ruption and agenda-pushing against Frank popped up in the
comments and in emails, and her Twitter feed was bom-
barded with abuse. Te story was criticised for not disclos-
ing Franks personal biases - that she had supported Quinns
work and briefy met Sarkeesian. It was later revealed by Te
Guardian that she had, in fact, informed them of this. Te
193-year old organisation made an editorial decision not to
post this information, saying that the connections did not
fulfl the criteria for a signifcant connection in line with
Te Guardians editorial guidelines.
All this may seem very unfocused and irrelevant to
ethics in gaming journalism but this is because ethics in
gaming journalism have very rarely been discussed.
Borderlands 2s Lead Writer Anthony Burch began dis-
cussing situations that could present real ethical dilemmas,
such as him being friends with Destructoid writers who
reviewed content which he wrote, as well as Polygon Man-
aging Editor Justin McElroy hiring his brother. However,
these issues were largely shrugged of by #GamerGate and
not discussed any further.
Tere are several fundamental faws with #GamerGate,
least of all its ideals, but one of the largest issues seems to
be where they are focusing their attention. Te segment
of the gaming industry that has received the most scrutiny
is the independent gaming sector, which is comprised
of mostly small, self-reliant studios and individual develop-
ers like Quinn making their games from home. No atten-
tion has been paid to large publishers, or heavily backed
studios such as Ubisof giving journalists free Nexus 7
tablets - which retail at about R3,000 locally - at a Watch
Dogs preview event in April 2014; or, as Anthony Burch
suggested, conficts of interest in writing not related
to representation.
Certainly, gaming journalism ethics need discussion,
even on a local scale where journalists receive PR-funded
trips to cover events such as Gamescom and E3, and free
gaming consoles are handed out by developers to reporters
on launch (which happened both with the PlayStation 4
and Xbox One).
However, at this rate, #GamerGate is not going to lend
debate of ethics any credence.
Bracken Lee-Rudolph and Duncan
Pike
Once upon a time, video shops
and cinemas were the only places
you could get movies; while TV
series showed once, and only once,
a week. Now, digital distribution
means this content can be just a
few clicks away, provided you have
a decent internet connection.
One of the most diverse and wide-
ly used forms of digital distribution
services is the Apples iTunes store.
Te iTunes store ofers a massive
selection of media including songs,
TV series, movies and podcasts.
Tis huge media collection has led
to the iTunes Store having a 63%
share of all digital music sales world-
wide by 2013.
Netfix deals primarily in the
online streaming of movies and
TV shows on a monthly subscrip-
tion basis. While the service is used
by 50 million people worldwide, it
is only available in certain coun-
tries, including certain parts of the
Americas and Europe.
Tere are a few South African
equivalents including DStvs Box
Ofce and On Demand. Te closest
true comparison, however, is Times
Media Groups new streaming ser-
vice, Vidi.
Vidi works similarly to Netfix,
albeit with a smaller content pool
which Vidi attributes to the initial
expense of setting up such a service.
Te available TV content is planned
to increase by 200 hours monthly,
as is the pool of supported devices,
with PlayStation, Xbox and the
XBMC range of media players all
being considered.
Stream quality is an issue with
lacklustre South African internet,
as anyone who has ever tried to
watch an HD video on a slow line
will know. However Vidi has a
solution to this, as the quality of
the video being watched scales to
the speed of the internet in use to
allow for an uninterrupted viewing
experience.
Gaming is one of the largest
proponents of digital distribution,
and Steam is the largest and most
popular of these platforms. Valve
Corporations service has over 100
million users globally and 3700
games available as of September
2014.
Steams leading competitor is
Electronic Arts Origin service. Ori-
gin has a slightly smaller user base
and return, catering only to EAs
titles, such as Te Sims, Battlefeld
and FIFA. Steam (for most games)
and Origin (EA games) are usually
required to register PC games, and
provide an online backup should
you lose the disc.
Digital distribution is a grow-
ing feld, which caters to all forms
of content. Even this newspaper is
available online - if you check out
our website.
Downloading your
entertainment
A torrent of misogynistic comments and threats directed at Zo Quinn, a video-game reviewer have been the hallmarks
of the international discussion known as #GamerGate. Photo: SHEILA DAVID
The prevalence of media downloads in South Africa has led to new
streaming services such as Vidi. Photo: SHEILA DAVID
Advertorial
With just a week lef before the announcement of the 2014
Investec Rhodes Top 100 awards recipients, it might be worth
refecting on why success should be celebrated. In the face
of many negative portrayals of our society, it is ofen easy to
forget those hardworking, earnest individuals pursuing excel-
lence in their felds.
It is necessary to have initiatives such as the Investec Rhodes
Top 100 because success and excellence should be acknowl-
edged, even if its to remind ordinary people of their capacity to
be extraordinary. By celebrating peoples achievements we are
acknowledging their potential, positive energy and eforts.
Investec Rhodes Top 100 is about recognising more of what
society undoubtedly would like to see - motivated, inspirational,
generous and well-rounded leaders. Tis is about celebrating
habits and qualities that should be encouraged at all times. Tis
initiative afords us the opportunity to stop, refect and cher-
ish moments of success. It is about identifying and recognising
examples of stand-out performance. Success is, in its essence,
celebrating as it builds the confdence of those being celebrated
and motivates others to redirect their energies towards unlocking
their own potential. Excellence should be celebrated, as it breeds
more excellence and success breeds more success.
While looking forward to celebrating this years crop of In-
vestec Rhodes Top 100 leaders, we also encourage other students
to carve their own paths. Tey too could become recipients of
the award, by focussing on building their individual achieve-
ments and social contributions. It is important for all to realise
and accept the possibility of transcending their own limitations.
Celebrating success in this way is not about boasting or ego-
stroking, but about building a nation of doers - doing both well
and good.
We are really proud of the calibre of applications for the 2014
Investec Rhodes Top 100 Awards and are encouraged by how
much potential lies within Rhodes, South Africa and indeed the
world the potential for much-needed transformational leader-
ship that is going to take us to the next level. Watch this space as
the award recipients will be announced soon.
Investec Rhodes Top 100 Awards: Excellence and success should be recognised and celebrated
Ellen Heydenrych
At Rhodes, Varaidzo Nyakunika ap-
pears to be a regular student with im-
peccable fashion sense and the grace
of a supermodel. However, few are
aware that she is also a famous singer
in her home country, Zimbabwe.
Having recently been nominated for
Best RnB/Soul Music for the Zim-
babwe Music Awards (Zima), she is
taking the Zimbabwean music scene
by storm. Many of her singles sung
almost exclusively in Shona have
topped the charts on Zimbabwes
major radio stations: Power FM, Star
FM and Zi FM.
Nyakunika started recording her
music when she was 17. I always
loved singing, she said, but when
I was younger, I was quite shy about
singing because my voice was very
powerful and I always felt like I was
diferent. My voice was so big, it made
me feel out of place.
I write all my songs, Nyakunika
added. I write from experience. I
feel I get inspired by a lot of things
that happen in my life. She admitted
that she is best at writing love songs,
even though she prefers to keep her
personal life and music career separate.
Her Zima-nominated album, Varaidzo
Singles 2013 2014, is comprised
mainly of love songs but also includes
a dance number.
Nyakunika also spoke of the pres-
sures of creating music within the
Zimbawean music industry. I am un-
der pressure not to sing in a typically
western style, she says. Te Zimba-
bwean audience is more interested
in a sound dubbed urban groove,
which she incorporates into her music,
singing in multiple genres. I have to
mix it up, she said, so when I want to
sing a song thats really personal to me,
I prefer to sing a ballad because I pre-
fer to work from my heart. Nyakunika
explains that without conforming at
least a little bit, the chances of some-
one succeeding in the Zimbabwean
music industry are very slim.
Although her studies come frst, her
music career is booming. With hopes
of creating music for an audience
outside of Zimbabwe, while working
towards a Law degree, Nyakunika
is one busy student with a voice she
hopes to share with the world.
Arts & Entertainment
1 October 2014 Te Oppidan Press 11
Sasha Ross
Medicine Boy, a product of the col-
laboration between Lucy Kruger
(Lucy Kruger & the Lost Boys) and
Andre Leo (Pretty Blue Guns), re-
cently wrapped up its launch tour
of their More Knives EP at Graham-
stowns Champs Action Bar. Te
duo are also part of rock group Te
Very Wicked.
More Knives consists of six songs
which were engineered and mixed
by Jurgen von Wechmar at Sunset
Studios in Stellenbosch. Kruger
started her music career while
studying at Rhodes, and her return
to Grahamstown with Medicine
Boy showed the transformation her
sound has taken. Te band showcas-
es the extent of both musicians tal-
ents, with Kruger playing keyboard,
snare drums and tambourine while
sharing vocals with guitarist Leo.
Medicine Boy makes use of
haunting guitars, reverberating ech-
oes and lingering vocals to form a
beautifully crafed live performance
and EP.
Tis psych rock group creates a
space to get lost in their music; they
possess the rare talent to provide
the audience with a way to let loose
whether theyre intoxicated or not.
Watching Kruger and Leo live
provides you with an intimate look
into their creative process as they
feed of each others energy while on
stage, which in turn surges through
the crowd.
From the frst song the crowd
was notably transfxed. Kruger and
Leos music is dark and evocative,
but certainly not depressing. Teir
sound can be likened to that of Te
xx, but still retains its own purity
and originality.
It is safe to say that Medicine Boy
is defnitely part of the reawakening
of psych rock currently taking place
in Cape Town.
If youre lucky enough to be at-
tending Rocking the Daisies, youll
be able to check them out at the
Vans campsite stage on Tursday.
More Knives is available for free
download at medicineboy.band-
camp.com
From the streets to the stage
Josh Stein
A
performer, an Idols win-
ner (Champs Idols are still
Idols) and a proud isiXhosa
woman, Sikelelwa Qwazi seems
to have been born to be on stage.
Whether that is on the streets of Port
Elizabeth or the stage in the Rhodes
Teatre, Qwazi will always fnd a way
to shine.
Most recently Qwazi has been
involved in some of the plays put on
by Masters students from the Drama
Department. In Hunger she acted,
danced and sang. She also played the
drums for Blue Moon, and hosted
her own concert on Heritage Day, per-
forming with artists from from many
diferent genres.
I collaborated with a variety of
musicians, not only from Rhodes but
also people beyond Grahamstown
who sent in their music and said they
wanted to be involved. I sang, played
my keyboard and performed a Xhosa
dance in the spirit of my heritage,
she said.
Qwazis love of music and perfor-
mance began at an early age. Coming
from a township in Port Elizabeth
meant she did not have access to
instruments or resources. We saw
things on TV and we would create
drums using buckets and our own cos-
tumes made out of whatever we could
fnd. We would go and perform at
malls and in front of shops, she said.
As for what to do afer she has
completed her studies, Qwazi seems
to have a pretty clear plan to see the
world. Afer my degree I want to go
to South Korea and teach for about
two years. Ten when I come home I
want to buy my mom a house. Whilst
Im in Korea Im not just going to be
a teacher Im going to be a musician
and Im going to focus on Korean clas-
sical singing, she explained.
Afer Korea, Qwazi plans on pursu-
ing acting in either America or the
United Kingdom, but Italy remains her
dream fnal destination. While she is
still studying, Qwazi is using the Gra-
hamstown platform as a springboard
for greater things to come.
Sikelelwa Siki Qwazi has played a role in several recent drama performances at Rhodes and plans to continue her
musical career in Korea after her studies. Photo: SHEILA DAVID
Rhodes law student also
Zimbabwean chart-topper
Seemingly a regular law student, Varaidzo Nyakunikas Shona RnB singles and
best-selling albulms regularly top the charts in Zimbabwe, her home country.
Photo: BRONWYN PRETORIUS
Medicine Boys Lucy Kruger performs at Champs Action Bar at the end of
the duos latest tour. Photo: HLUMELA NKABILE
Medicine Boy brings psych to Champs
Sports
Digs headaches
for students
Exploring
black Twitter
Islamic State
goes global
2 6 3
Douglas Smith
T
he Rhodes University Rowing Club (RURC) put
in a gutsy efort to win bronze medals in the
mens A and B races at this years Boat Race, held
at the Kowie River, Port Alfred. Te A-crew in particu-
lar put in an especially good performance to improve
on their 4th place fnish last year.
Aside from the success of the mens teams coach Chris
Holliday was extremely proud of the way that the womens
crews performed, with both the A and B crews placing
fourth. Te potential is there for the club to go back to
its old success, said Holliday. Rhodes is still the most
successful club at Boat Race.
However, Holliday admits that going into the mens
A-crew race for third place. the crew was not sure how
they were going to take the medal. Holliday explained
that his rowers looked stif and nervous in the earlier time
trial that decided which fnals race they would take part
in. Aside from their own form before their fnal race, the
crew had to worry about taking on a University of Johan-
nesburg (UJ) crew that was more experienced at winning.
Te Rhodes crew got of to an uncharacteristically
messy start, but quickly found a good rhythm that pushed
them into an early lead. Tey maintained the advan-
tage throughout the race, but UJ were never out of it
completely. UJ were relentless, but as we came around
that last corner we knew we had it, said Holliday.
With UJ in hot pursuit right until the fnish line, the
men from Rhodes were forced to give it everything to
ensure their victory and were pulled home by the cheers
of their fellow RURC members. Having all the Rhodes
crews in that fnal corner, you could see the purple on the
bank and it got them going, Holliday said. RURC Presi-
dent Jedrick Teron put so much efort into the race that
he spent half an hour in an ambulance receiving oxygen
afer collapsing at the end of the race.
Te way that they pushed in that fnal it was the
most intense race I have ever watched, said Danny
Tucker, who rowed for the B-crew on the day. Tucker
would likely have rowed for the A-crew had he not
stepped on a broken bottle which severed a tendon in his
foot just three weeks before the event. He was replaced in
the A-crew by Nick Cox.
Tucker was gracious in congratulating his team mate,
despite having to give up a position that he had been
working towards for seven months. Nick really did a
great job, he said. He stepped up like a man and Im
extremely proud of him.
Tucker managed to shake of the disappointment of
being dropped from the A-crew and helped the B-crew to
win a bronze medal of their own.
RU Rowing Club medals at Boat Race
The Rhodes University Rowing Club (RURC) showed improvement in
both mens and womens crews this year at Boat Races and secured two
bronze medals. Photo: IVAN BLAZIC
Muhammad Hussain
Over the last four years, Rhodes University has
seen the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) club grow
from non-existent to knocking on the doors of
the Extreme Fighting Championships (EFC).
Founding member, coach and Cape Fight
League (CFL) fghter Aidan Brown has been
instrumental in this development.
For the last 19 months Brown has been a con-
tracted pro-scene extreme fghter, participating
in fghts all over the country. His record on the
amateur scene is nine wins to two losses while
his pro record is 2-2. He has achieved all of this
while being a full-time student.
I train about 18 hours a week peaking at 22
hours before a fght, said Brown. My life is
very compartmentalised and largely I had to
drop social life. I dont go to parties like Boat
Race and Intervarsity, as that time is very impor-
tant to me.
His stringent routine has, however, paid divi-
dends as Brown is in his third and fnal year of
a BA in Law and Politics, with plans to continue
with his law degree next year.
At the same time he continues his climb to
reach the EFC main-stage.
Teres no doubt thats where Im going, Ive
geared my life towards that, commented Brown
on his EFC hopes. He is currently training
for a CFL fght that is scheduled to take place
on 1 November in Cape Town. With his oppo-
nent still unclear, Brown is holding thumbs for a
shot at the title, either this year or at the begin-
ning of 2015.
Browns fascination with the sport started a
long time ago and he attributes this partially to
his genes. My granddad was a professional boxer
called Jonny Brown. He was a WBF [World
Boxing Federation] titleholder, and although I
did not know him very well his legacy was some-
thing that fascinated me, said Brown.
When I was 10 years old I found some UFC
[Ultimate Fighting Championship] videos. Tere
were no rules, the rounds were untimed and it
was absolute savagery, but I remember thinking
to myself: I can do this.
Ten years on and Brown is on the verge of join-
ing the ranks of Africas premier MMA club. Te
CFL is one of the biggest feeders to the EFC with
many current titleholders starting their careers in
the league.
When in Johannesburg, Brown trains with
Fight Fit Militia, one of the gyms afliated to the
EFC, and although he is not a full-time member
he still benefts from the experience of training
with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Richard Quan and Norman Wessels from
Fight Fit Militia have allowed me to stay inside
the nucleus even though I spend most of my time
here [in Grahamstown]. And I havent spent this
much time and this much efort to not test myself
at the highest level, Brown concluded.
Brown sights opportunity in MMA big leagues
Law student Aidan Brown has been a pro MMA
fghter for near two years and hopes to soon be
competing at EFC. Photo: KELLAN BOTHA