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SAPS continues to dissapoint Page 3 Manguang looms for ANC Page 5 Photo Story Page 8 Halloween on a Budget Page 10 Tripping the Daisies Page 12 Premier League Round Up Page 15

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2 NEWS

16 October 2012

News [in briefs]

Marikana ensures protection

he Marikana Commission of Inquiry has assured protection programmes for the people due to testify who fear for their safety. This comes after the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) branch leader Dailvuyo Bongo was shot dead at his home in Marikana, North West, on 5 October. There was no sign that he would be killed, we saw that there was no unity among the involved organisation but cannot say if Bongos death was linked with rivalry, commission spokesperson Kevin Malunga said. Bongo was among those who took part in the commissions, in loco inspection of the hill where 34 striking Lonmin mine workers lost their lives as police opened fire on them in August. (NUM spokesperson

Lesiba Seshoka called the attack an assassination.) Bongos death comes after that of the NUM branch chairperson last weekend. There was also an attack on another branch leader, who survived, but his wife was killed, according to Seshoka. Malunga revealed that the commission was still consulting legal experts, following a government call to pay legal fees for the families of the Lomin Marikana dead. Malunga said while the commission is sympathetic to the families of the deceased, they cannot legally commit themselves to providing financial assistance. He said that such a move would put a strain on the already financially-struggling organisation. The commission was adjourned until 22 October.

By Brenda Sekgota

F18 fighter jet breaking the sound barrier during a flight demonstration over the Axalp in Bernes Oberland by the Swiss Airforce, taken on the 11 October 2012 : REUTERS/Pascal Lauener.

Zille calls for new party

D
A leader, Helen Zille is calling for the formation of a new political party to challenge the African National Congress. Zille said the historical roots of the current political parties were making it difficult for them to challenge the dominant position of the ANC alone. Zille has called on constitutionalists, both within ANC and in other political parties, to take the plunge and move out of their comfort zones into a new political formation. She continued that the current leadership battles in the ANC and its alliance partners had pitted these constitutionalists against populists who abuse institutions of state to pursue narrow political agendas; who see the constitution as a barrier of their progress and who mobilise on the basis of racial nationalism. She said this had created contradictions that the ANC is failing to manage. The DA has been wooing smaller opposition parties to join in its fight to reduce ANC dominance.

Shamoon strikes and infects 30 000

After crossing to Turkey by boat, Syrian men take a break and rest, October 11, 2012. REUTERS/Osman Orsal. By Hancu Louw

he newly-developed Shamoon virus recently infected 30 000 computers on the Saudi Arabian state oil companies (ARAMCO) network. According to timeslive, U.S. Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta said that the Shamoon infection has been the biggest attack on the business sector to date. A similar occurence a few days later

led to the infection of Qatars natural gas firm, Rasgas. The virus specifically aimed at cyber espionage in the energy sector makes use of shared networks on computers running Microsoft Windows NT operating systems. By activating a code called a wiper, system files are overwritten and replaced by an image of a burning U.S flag. In the case of the ARAMCO incident, all the computers had to be disposed of due to the lasting damage of the virus on the network.

Running children, as public health workers fumigate a local neighbourhood in the Dominican Republic,October 9,2012:REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

Water problems affect Mpumlanga T

he water-supply problems in Mpumalanga have affected some areas terribly. The residents of Bushbuckridge are forced to draw water from dirty dams and even snakeinfested locations. There are water tanks in the area but these have not been filled for three weeks, which is how long the residents have been without clean water. Last week the MEC for corporative governance and traditional affairs, Madala Masusku, announced that Bushbuckridge local municipality owed R260 million to the water board.

Mark Massey (L) and partner Dale Frost, preparing to register their marriage in New York City Clerck: REUTERS/ Andrew Kelly

Edition 8

Independent Student Newspaper

Activate
Editor-in-chief: Xand Venturas Deputy Editor: Sarisha Dhaya Chief Copy Editor: Matthew Kynaston Online Editor-in-chief : Megan Ellis Webmaster: Brad de Klerk Online Content Editor: Nina Mc Fall Chief Media Supervisor: Hancu Louw Chief Sub-Editor: Alexa Sedgwick Chief Designer: Mignon van Zyl Assistant Designer: Nkemdilim Oranye Chief Pics Editor: Niamh Walsh- Vorster Assistant Pics. Editor: Sibulele Mabusela Illustrator: Katja Schreiber News Editor: Brenda Sekgota Politics Editor: Andrew Blane Business Editor: Njabulo Nkosi Features Editor: Samantha Luiz A & E Print Editor: David Mann A & E Online Editor: Leah Solomon Lifestyle Editor: Rhea MacDonald Environmental Editor Jane Berg Sports Editor: Bridgette Hall Online Sports Editor: Ashleigh Morris Finance Manager: Bulali Dyakopu Advertising Assistants: Justine Pearce Adrienne Weidner Tarisai Murumbi Distribution Manager: Tarisai Murumbi Fezekile Cokile Editorial Consultant: Craig Wynn Paste-Up Mascot Rosie Fick Contacts: Editor: activate.editor@gmail.com Deputy Editor: activate.deputy@gmail.com Cover pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster

A disservice
By Hancu Louw aiting 35 minutes or more for the police to show up at 12am: a situation all too familiar to many Grahamstown residents. According to recent reports based on the 2011/2012 South African Police Service (SAPS) report tabled in Parliament on 28 September, 58% of all 10111 calls are incorrectly, or simply never processed. Terence Nombembe, Auditor General of the investigation, said that, So-called positive incident reports to 10111 call centres had to be entered on the SAPS case administration system (CAS) to generate a docket with a case number. However, he added that 58% of positive incident reports were not linked to dockets on the CAS. SAPS currently costs taxpayers R62.4 billion per year, a shocking amount considering the inefficiency experienced in most towns and cities in South Africa. In an independent study headed by the Mail and Guardian, Grahamstown ranked 19th on the log for residential burglaries with 1057 crimes reported in 2010/2011, showing a 6.24% increase to 1123 reported crimes during the 2011/2012 period. The discrepancy between what the public is told and the reality becomes clear. By dialling 10111, all citizens expect a swift response and efficiency in dealing with any criminal case. However, when my fellow digsmates and I reported an incident to the Grahamstown police on Monday, 8 October 2012, there was a 35 minute waiting period during which a SAPS patrol vehicle drove straight past the incident without reacting. Ironically the Grahamstown police have been unwilling to respond to these incidents and all attempts to engage with the issues of inefficiency have been met with phrases like the police and the community are fighting crime together, or utter silence. It does seem worrying that earlier this year Kernel Nell of the Grahamstown Police publicly stated that, It is not the best job being in the South African police we ask for your prayers to help us do our jobs more efficiently. Certain expectations are inherent when a state institution is called the South African Police Service -- expectations which are often not met. With an estimated 1032 firearms lost or stolen over the 2011/2012 period and a budget leaving R617 million unspent, including R92 million allocated to detective services, the numbers seem to speak for themselves.

Student protestors demonstrated outside the Grahamstown Police station earlier this year in dissatisfaction with police services. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster

From the Editor

Welcome to the newly redesigned Activate. I hope you enjoy reading this paper as much as I enjoyed putting it together with my new team. First off, Id like to explain the nude person on the cover. No we arent just putting a naked girl on the cover to draw your attention (well, maybe a little), we decided on this cover because we are attempting to promote cancer awareness. I dont think Im being too presumptuous in saying that there isnt a person around that hasnt been affected by cancer in some way or another. The point being, its something that needs to be addressed and we at Activate have decided the best way to do that is to have a competition. Weve partnered with the good people at Movember South Africa and we will be running a competition throughout the month of November to see who the cancer crusader with the best tache is. Although all of the details of competition are yet to be ironed out, we can promise awesome prizes. Basically the men (and, erm, women) of our quaint varsity town will submit photos of their furry upper lips and well post them up on our website (activateonline.co.za) and then you, the students of Rhodes University will vote on which one you like best. With that said, we dont want the focus to be taken away from the fact that we are trying to raise awareness and support for cancer support groups. As a result of this, we will incorporate the fundraising aspect into our competition. In the meantime, enjoy the feel of you clean-shaven visage for a couple more weeks, because come Movember, there shouldnt be a shaven upper-lip around. Well release the full details of the competition in the coming days on posters and on the web so keep your ear to the ground. Aside from that, as I before, this edition has a fresh new look which we developed over some time. Because were a new team, we felt it was time for a new look. Anyway, enough of me, enjoy reading the new and improved Activate. If you have any issues youd like to raise, or you just feel like hurling digital profanities at someone, drop me an email at activate.editor@gmail.com. Xand Venturas Editor-in-Chief

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4 SRC: End of year report

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16 October 2012

SRC Presidents final address

ramps and rails on campus. We further facilitated a successful examination timetable such that there are no Saturday Examinations ever, thus ensuring a fixed two day period for study every five-day cycle. The hosting of successful O-Week and Inter-varsity programmes by making students aware of the rules and regulations and providing adequate security is indicative of the overall success of the year. Furthermore, we initiated a shuttle service available to all students since the beginning of second term which has proved a tremendous help for those needing it. Concerning policy change, this year has witnessed the amendment of the students constitution, with the introduction and implementation of a changed tenure, such that the SRC runs from January to December in order to facilitate more effective training and hand-over, the Residence Councillor to run in the general elections and the Secretary General Portfolio to effectively replace the Vice President External in achieving more accountability and administrative strength to the institution as a whole. Lastly, the financial checks and control mechanisms introduced this year is to foresee mature and accountable expenditure within the institution as well. We have certainly come a long way in the short period that you have afforded us to represent you and your best interests. At the first Student Body meeting, I stated our vision and the trajectory and objectives that we would like to accomplish - That being, the Awakening, Rehabilitation and Reformation of Student Governance at Rhodes University. Of course this vision is far from full realisation, but concerted efforts have been made to facilitate its manifestation in the next few years. This is speaking to a change, that we as a collective want to be and can be for the future leaders that are to succeed us. With elections for majority of leadership positions coming up, I appeal to society committees, senior students, sports code captains, faculty representatives and any other leadership position that I have respectfully omitted, vote responsibly by questioning and querying agendas behind an individuals motive to campaign for any leadership position question not their mere portrayal of cheap and meaningless leadership jargon, but of their character and ethical thinking that they subscribe to. Bear in mind the hard work left by

he SRC 2012 Vision was adopted as The Reformation of Student Governance at Rhodes. Bear that in mind as the presentation unfolds. For the purposes of laying a concrete foundation for this presentation, Id like to reflect on some of the challenges we have faced as a Council at the start of this year. The resignations of our Media, Societies, Treasurer and Activism Councillors respectively impacted team morale and cohesion greatly. Societal matters for one have still to this day been a challenge to administer and maintain, most particularly with regards to our relationship with the Finance division and the financial systems that the University has subscribed to. Another hurdle faced, without going into much detail, was the consistency within the SRC office regarding our staff. This year, we have had an unprecedented 4 Financial Administrators in the past 10 months which impacted tremendously on the continuity and institutional memory of the office. Its been rough! Regardless of these adverse conditions though, we have effectively dealt with these challenges and have STILL managed to introduce various innovations that have overall, increased visibility and the general impact that the SRC has had on campus and nationally, yes nationally this year. Regarding governance, we have managed to service students faced with the reality of academic and financial exclusion with a turnover of a 80% success rate this year. This representation extends to SRC involvement in both lower and higher disciplinary hearings and countless interventions to students in need. Moving to developmental milestones, we have managed to engage with sub-structures with the likes of the Oppidan Union and the Post Graduate Liaison sub-committee towards our vision of in sighting reformation. This is with regards to mandate and their roles and responsibilities in the greater picture of the student governance organogram at Rhodes. In terms of representation, we have been party to consultation of the new and improved student disciplinary code and numerous other policy changes to better the lives of students. These include tackling issues around students challenged with disabilities by highlighting the accessibility issues and providing

Outgoing SRC: President - Matthieu Maralack; Vice President Internal - Martin Forsyth; Vice President External - Silvanus Welcome; Academic Councillor - Sakhusomeleze Badi; Activism and Transformation - Owethu Makhathini; Community Engagement - Thabo Seshoka; Environmental - Ruth Kruger; Media - Brad Bense; Oppidan - Nicolain Shabangu; Projects Manager - Rory Abrahams; Residence Councillor - Cacharel Wroots; Societies - Mfundo Makana; Student Benefits and Sponsorship - Zoey Sibeko; Treasurer - Simone Starkey; International - Vanessa Siwawa-Ndai . Pic: Supplied your predecessors that have in sighted progress in your tenure youve left. To my colleagues (in no particular order), Nicolain Shabangu, Ruth Kruger, Silvanus Welcome, Cacharel Wroots, Mfundo Makana, Venessa Siwawa-Ndai, Rory Abrahams, Martin Forsyth, Simone Starkey, Thabo Seshoka, Owethu Makhatini, Zoey Sibeko, Bradley Bense (VP 2013), Sakhe Badi (President 2013)...Take a bow for an outstanding display of work ethic, perseverance and commitment to the students that have put us in office Lets give them a round of applause. To the SR Council of 2013 The SomeBadi Administration, our Best wishes for every success in your tenure make us proud! It has been an honour serving you, students of Rhodes University. You certainly have (MATT) ERED! I THANK YOU. - Mathieu Maralack

SRC of change? Media 2012

By Bradley Peter Bense

his year saw a tumultuous beginning under the Maralack Administration. Dealing with the unfortunate resignations of SRC Liaison Officer Mr Mark Addison, four SRC Councillors, and the death of Financial Administrator Ms Nicky Harris, morale was low and we had two weeks until Orientation Week. All societies information, hard and soft copies, was found to be missing. The SRC had no choice but to take immediate action. With 11 councillors left and a new Liaison Officer, Mr Eric Ofei, the SRC appointed assistance from alumni to fill the gaps in a much depleted team. They had to track down society chairs using 2010 information, because that was all that was left. Bi-elections were held for the noncontested vacant portfolios, which saw very good participation from both candidates and voters. Ironically, these positions were far better contended than the official elections had been the previous year. Halfway through first term, the SRC had filled all vacant positions so that a training weekend could be held in Port Elizabeth. It was there that the Maralack Administration formulated their vision and mission, to rejuvenate student governance. In the implementation of this mission, they were faced with several problems, such as deficits in all accounts and the SRC communication with substructures such as Societies, Head

Students, Halls, Sports Administration, Student Sports Council and the PGLSC had been broken. Each councillor brought something new and exciting to the council. Mfundo, with extremely limited time and no handover, walked into office without full contact details of societies or even a Society Council. Zoey ensured the return of the SRC Shuttle. Sakhe formulated a Faculty Representative Policy and legitimized the body, and remains highly respected with the University Administration and Faculty Deans. Cacharel started with six SRC Hall Representatives out of 12 after the Kholosa administration had scrapped the idea in 2008. 11 of the 12 positions are now filled. Thabo fixed communications with Community Engagement Representatives and raised R45000 with the Give 5 initiative working with Rhodes Alumni House and the Dean of Students Offices. Rory threw smashing Great Field Parties, ensuring that Inter-Varsity can continue being held at Rhodes. Martin improved the SRC constitution which many previous administrations failed to do, allowing more Student Body and Forum meetings to be held this year than many previous years. Simone co-ordinated spending, keeping the SRC afloat on a cut-back budget while paying off many of the existing account deficits. Ruth was involved in environmental conferences across the globe while also being active here at Rhodes, facilitating Rhino Week and Environmental Week. Nicolain handled countless individual

Oppidan issues. Owethu became the active member on council, driving events and taking part in the Anti-Fur Protest during Animal Rights Week. Amirah and Vanessa worked together on International Week and the Parade while defining the International Councillor portfolio. Silvanus guided and organised Orientation Week 2012 while representing Rhodes SRC nationally. Matthieu orchestrated all SRC activities and kept the Council together. After a national SRC Colloquium during InterVarsity, the SRC has become recognised on a national level. I made a lot of posters. I also learnt about a vision and what that means in the world of the institution. What one attempt to do as an individual can never be achieved in one term of office. A vision ensures groundwork and then evolution of a body. In the context of the SRC, any and all visions are about the students. Our vision was to empower the students by plans reforming student governance. The students, however, took things into their own hands. 2012 saw a responsive student body, something I first realised when students initiated a march for Black Thursday against the change of exam time tables in June. As an organiser of themed lets unite Rhodents Purple Thursday events, this upset me. However, Black Thursday did not. It represented just what the SRC has been trying to bring about for years. Rhodes students were engaging. They were fighting. Id call that a job well done.

16 October 2012 The importance of being active in the political world

By Andrew Blane

POLITICS

SMACKDOWN!
ANC heavyweights prepare to battle it out at Mangaung
By Fezekile Cokile n just two months the ANCs election conference will be held in Mangaung, and President Jacob Zuma could face two opponents for the title of ANC President. The two politicians gunning for Zumas position are likely to be Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and Tokyo Sexwale, Minister of Human Settlements. Who is the likeliest victor? Tokyo Sexwale: Sexwale is no stranger to politics, even though an article published by Pretoria News in June revealed that 57% of the respondents knew that Sexwale, who is Minister of Human Settlements, was a politician or a businessman, while 18% thought he was a football player, 12% a comedian, and 6% said he was a judge. Sexwale made his contribution to South African politics as a member of the Black Consciousness Movement and joined the ANC underground movement in the 1970s. After being released from Robben Island in 1990

s students we have yet to make our mark on the world, as we are still building the foundations of our CVs and completing our education. Unless we are directly affected by the current affairs of South Africa as well as in the world, many of us are not truly conscious of what is happening around us. By being conscious I do not mean reading the news and complaining about it. We need to take it a step further and read between the lines by questioning it. The Marikana strikes do not necessarily involve a mob of protesters asking for a ridiculous increase in their salary. They rather represent a larger problem with the economy; the result of poor service delivery and the growing gap between the rich and poor among other things. Students have a responsibility to take notice and question our surroundings, because our actions from here on can have the ability to change the situation in our country, even if it is merely through a single vote. We live in a democracy where the government needs to represent the will of the people. Although you may see yourself as just one person, a number that is insignificant in comparison to the countrys massive population, you have the ability to affect others or to become part of a group that can. The growing unemployment rates, the recent fall of the Rand and crime rates all affect us in one way or another. South Africa has the highest popular protest rates in the world; this clearly indicates the need for change. Instead of criticising the municipal workers for trashing the town in protest, consider their grievances and what is being done to rectify them. It is our responsibility to hold the government accountable for its actions. As the cost of residence and digs is rising, the ideal home has become increasingly unaffordable and the ability to continue studying will become even more financially straining. Some may be forced to enter the job market earlier than anticipated, provided that there are still jobs available. The environment is also at risk and rapidly being depleted and plundered by humankind. It is therefore important that we become active in the political sphere in order to prevent this, or at least have some say in our future. Asking questions leads to answers. Although it may not be as simple as raising your hand in a lecture, there are reasons and solutions for the current issues surrounding us. The bigger picture needs to be brought into consideration, or viewed from a different angle. As Mahatma Ghandi once said, When the people will lead, the leaders will follow. Our future depends on it.

he was elected to the Executive Committee of the ANC. In 1994 he was elected as Premier of Gauteng and then left the political arena in 1998 to go into business. In recent years Sexwale has returned to his political roots and is the current Minister of Human Settlements. Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe: Perhaps a stronger opponent can be seen in Motlanthe, who has the ANC Youth League backing him, according to the Mail and Guardian. The Gauteng Province Executive Council has shown its dissatisfaction with Zumas performance in a statement made by provincial leader Mashatile, who says, As this Provincial Executive Council we have been calling for the renewal of the ANC change in leadership. Motlanthe moved into the limelight when he took over as temporary president of the country between 25 September 2008 and 9 May 2009, following the dismissal of former president Thabo Mbeki. He served as Secretary General of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) from 1992.

President Jacob Zuma: Unarguably no stranger to politics, the current president, Jacob Zuma, is gunning for a second term. Despite the backing of his province, he appears to be a little anxious about his chances of winning in Mangaung. IOL reported that President Jacob Zumas lobbyists want to offer Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe the position of president of the country after the 2014 general election in exchange for no contestation in Mangaung. Motlanthes spokesman, Thabo Masebe, declined to comment. It remains to be seen what will happen in December in Mangaung. We can only sit and watch as the ANC political heavyweights go into battle to become the partys next leader.

US election at a glance
By Fezekile Cokile urrent US President Barack Obama competes to be re-elected over Mitt Romney in the political arena, ahead of the 6 November elections. A brief look into what each candidate promises to achieve might give you an idea of the different positions found in their manifestos. In case you have never heard of Romney before, he is the Republican nominee running against incumbent President Obama. Born in 1947 the business-minded Romney founded the investment firm Bain Capital, and has a net worth of $250 million (roughly R2.2 billion). He is not new to politics as he is the former governor of Massachusetts. Romney attempted to run in the 2008 US elections as the Republican nominee but lost to John McCain. In terms of government spending, Romney promised the National Association for

the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) in July that he would reduce government spending and eliminate Obamacare. His reasoning behind this was a high level of debt slows GDP growth and that means fewer jobs. If [the] goal is jobs, we must stop spending over a trillion dollars more than we earn. To do this, I will eliminate expensive nonessential programs like Obamacare, and I will work to reform and save Medicare and social security, in part by meanstesting their benefits. Furthermore, according his manifesto, Romney will reverse the Obama-era defense cuts. He believes that a strong America must and will lead the future. I will insist on a military so powerful that no one would ever think of challenging it. These are the only few points of what Romney has promised America. Similarly, President Obama has his own list of promises which cover areas of infrastructure, healthcare and the military. In a campaign rally in Ohio in

July, he spoke about how we will not go back to the days when insurance companies could discriminate against people just because they were sick. We're not going to tell 6 million young people who are now on their parent's health insurance plans that suddenly they don't have health insurance. We're not going to allow Medicare to be turned into a voucher system. Healthcare is a domestic concern in America, much like in South Africa. According to Timothy Johnson, author of The Truth about Getting Sick in America, it is a moral issue: 45 000 people die every year in the United States because they lack healthcare. Additionally, when speaking about the heated issue of Afghanistan, Obama promised that, By 2014, the war in Afghanistan will be overI have set that timeline. I intend to keep it, because after a decade of war that's cost us thousands of lives and over a trillion dollars, the nation we need to build

is our own. Interestingly, PolitiFact. com reported that Obama has only kept 38% of the promises he made in the 2008 run-up elections; 15% were compromised while 17% were broken. Come November , the two opponents will see just how influential their promises have been to the American people in this game of politics.

President Barack Obama (L) and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney laugh at the end of the first presidential debate in Denver 2012. Pic: Jason Reed/ REUTERS

Jacklyn Cock: The Green Economy

By Andrew Blane seminar was held on 10 October by Jacklyn Cock, a former Rhodes student who has published widely on issues relating to the environment. He brought to light some of the concerns pertaining to South Africas ecological movement Towards a Green Economy. With the environmental concerns growing, there is much need for discussion. There is no international agreement on how to reduce emissions and the ecological crisis has led to the increase in food prices, water shortages and crop failure, for which sub-Saharan Africa is expected to bear the brunt. The South African Labour Movement (SALM) has stated that it is committed to a just transition, however Cock raised the point that there has yet to be an agreement as to what changes shall occur was well as the scale of the transition. The SALM merely talks of a transition. This could involve either a shallow or deep

informative change. The ecological crisis is both a threat and an opportunity, by using capital as an incentive for change, where powerful people in both governments and corporations promote activity. Cock quoted Sir Richard Branson in saying, the only option to stop climate change is for industry to make money from it. Thus the expansion of the market reduces nature into natural capital. Cock also criticised President Jacob Zumas path to national growth, saying that some policy documents were incoherent and many government actions were in contradiction with the 2010 promise of a Green Economy. Cock also questioned the idea of green jobs; local labour that benefits the ecology. There has been very little of this in evidence and their benefit to communities is minimal. Moreover, government is not doing enough to replace energy-consumptive jobs with green jobs. At the end of the day it is the poor who suffer most, whether through the difficulty in accessing energy

or the massive problem of food security. 42% of households in South Africa are malnourished, and one in four children under the age of six shows signs of stunted growth. In the questioning after the seminar Cock raised the problem with food prices in South Africa and how major companies have managed to exploit the people through price fixing and corruption. In recent years, the price of bread has risen by 66% as a result of our need to import wheat the result of which is the price having been fixed according to the Chicago Commodity Exchange, instead of something closer to home. In light of worsening climate change, another point raised was the scarcity of water in South Africa and the action taken so far. Little was said about the wastage by elites through swimming pools, golf courses, etc. While the poor are suffering, the focus has been on an extension of the already unaffordable prepaid water meters in poor areas.

6 POLITICS
By Fezekile Cokile Julius Malema is known for speaking his mind. Often what he says comes across as utterly shocking, incredibly funny and at times, inconsiderate. He tends to contradict himself and more often than not goes on about his privileged relationship with President Jacob Zuma. However, his once-revered attitude towards the current president has been less than complimentary following his expulsion from the ANC. The following quotes are some of the few we have collected to demonstrate this:

16 October 2012

Julius Malema: A man of contradictions

THEN NOW
Zuma was taught by people on the ground. He is the most educated president. Economics is simple put bread on the table. (Eastcoast Radio) I am not here to speak President [Jacob] Zuma will speak on behalf of all of us. He was elected, whether we like him or not. (6 January 2012, ahead of the ANC centenary gathering in Mangaung) What is the legacy of President Zuma? His legacy is that of being interrelate [sic] to the youth, is that of expelling those who disagree with him. (16 June 2012, Thohoyanddou, Limpopo) Who goes to Nkandla of all places? Theres no wisdom there, nothing to learn, unless its about cultural aspects. (9 October 2012, Virginia, FS)

They must leave now if they cant accept Zuma... The ANC is not short of leadership. If you leave we have others to replace you. (21 June 2008, Claremont Sugar Ray Xulu stadium in Durban, KZN)

My only regret was to campaign for Zuma, and I apologise dearly. (2012)
Travelling overseas in the past you were asked about Mandela, but now when you land overseas they ask you how many wives you have. (19 July 2012, Qumbu, EC) We must pray for Mandela to live long up until Zuma is no longer president because he (Zuma) does not qualify to bury him. He does not have the moral authority to stand near his coffin [as state president]. (19 July 2012, Qumbu, EC).

We are prepared to take up arms and kill for Zuma. (2008)

Now we say, come 2009, [Zuma] will become president [of the country] and only death can stop us from ensuring that this happens. (Mail and Guardian 2008) An attack on our leader (Zuma) is an attack on our revolution, which is an attack on our people. You are a guard in the revolution. You must be like a security guard and its your duty to defend the ANC. (Mail and Guardian)

President Zuma has undermined the legacy of Mandela. We [expelled ANCYL leaders] never slept with children, we were not expelled for raping or stealing money but were expelled for politics. (23 July 2012, Nelson Mandela Memorial lecture, Port Elizabeth, EC)

Pic: Gary van der Merwe

Graphic: Xand Venturas

Pic: Supplied

Edition 8

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 7

Shortstraw return to Grahamstown

By David Mann t is the final term again, which means exams are around the corner and students are looking to get as much partying done as possible before they hit the books. Johannesburg-based band Shortstraw are providing Rhodes students with one last preexam blowout when they stop off here on their Hashtag Hashtag tour. The tour, which is appropriately named after the bands self-confessed Instagram addiction, will see Shortstraw travelling from Cape Town to Bloemfontein and everywhere else in between. This will be the second time that Shortstraw play in Grahamstown: their first was at The Monastery on 7 October, a gig which bassist Russell Grant described as a titballs amazing show. It was loud, sweaty, and filled with quart-sized beer bottles. So were looking forward to coming back! Comprising of Al (vocals), Russell (bass guitar), Gad (synth and piano), Tom (ukulele and guitar) and Ollie (drums and vocals), the five piece indie- folk group have gained rising fame in and outside of the Joburg music scene with their upbeat and often humorous songs and formidable stage presence. Russell says that the band loves going on tour together, as they get to play frisbee on the beach, roll through small towns, stay up all night, funnel beer from Vuvuzelas, and occasionally play [their] musical instruments. They are particularly excited to play here as they have cited Grahamstown as one of their favourite places to put on a show due to the towns energy and enthusiasm. Shortstraw will be playing with King Dinasour at Champs Action Bar on Wednesday, 31 0ctober, so make sure you go and show your support and enjoy one last crazy night out before exams.

Johannesburg-based band, Shortstraw, are set to gig at Champs Sports bar later this October for all those who like to listen to tharsh folk music. Pic: Sourced

El Toro facing uphill battle Sweaty faces

By Campbell Easton or even the most skilled band, getting started in Grahamstown is no easy feat. It takes a lot of time and talent to separate yourself from the other performers, and nobody has a harder time than the alternative artists who do not appeal to the mainstream. El Toro, a fiery flamenco duo consisting of George Karamitsos (22) and Matthew de Klerk (21), have had trouble finding a foothold in Grahamstown, but after a series of very successful gigs have begun to carve a niche for themselves. However, despite warm responses from Rhodes crowds, getting an acoustic group started can be an uphill battle. Pirates has stopped hosting their Wednesday acoustic nights, and non-electric groups like El Toro are not allowed to participate in the Live Music Societys Battle of the Bands something which the duo found

disappointing. I thought it was unfair that we couldn't perform, said De Klerk. I felt that El Toro could have held its own against any hard-core 'electric' band. As with any student group, the future of El Toro is uncertain. They intend to keep going but Karamitsos leaves Rhodes at the end of the year, casting doubt on their plans. There is talk of a return of El Toro for Fest 2013, Karamitsos said, I would absolutely love to continue because I feel it has so much potential. We are just in unfortunate circumstances. With or without his partner, De Klerk intends to continue. I have plans for El Toro, and I'm gonna have to find a replacement if I want to keep the Flamenco flame burning. Not an easy task, when you consider how flippin' badass and dextrous George is. I have one or two options, but we'll see. It's by no means the end. El Toro will be opening for Danni Bowler at Olde 69 on Wednesday, 17 October.

and gratuitous violence

By Kate Pinchuck Directed by Oliver Stone Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek Running time: 131 minutes Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Grahamstowns act, El Toro, are a two-man acoustic piece with George Karamitsos (left) and Matthew de Klerk (right) making Pic: Sourced

avages tells the story of two marijuana dealers, Ben (Taylor-Johnson, of Kick-ass fame) and Chon (Kitsch), who make a dubious deal with a ruthless Mexican drug cartel who kidnap their shared girlfriend, O (Lively). Salma Hayek makes a convincing cartel boss, although her character is not as fully developed or explored as it could have been. Benicio Del Toro, as usual, is the bad guy and again he is perfectly cast. He seems to have an affinity for greasy, sleazy gangsters. Even John Travolta features as a corrupt DEA agent. At first it reads a bit like a Guy Ritchie film, just not as fast-paced or witty. It is, in fact, quite slow. However, the sweeping shots of Laguna beaches and Blake Livelys hair blowing in the wind provide an interesting contrast and respite to the gratuitous violence throughout the film. The violence used is excessive as its presence goes far beyond its necessary effect. It is as though the film is desperately trying to drive the point that these are bad people and cannot think of another way in which it can be done. Aside from the graphic violence and slight dragging of some sections, Savages includes some powerful performances and takes a slightly new look at the drug-deal-gone-bad scenario by adding the aspect of a complex, three-way love story.

Pic: IMDb The beautiful, sunny California scenery provides a nice irony, juxtaposed against the insidious actions of everyone who lives there, and also allows the cast to be sweaty most of the time. It is a competent crime film with some interesting dramatic nuances thrown in. Some guy gets both his kneecaps shot in the first ten minutes. All in all, Savages is a fairly decent way to entertain yourself for two hours. It will be screening at the Movie Zone Cinemas (formerly the Roxbury) from 2 November. See www.grahamstown.moviezonecinemas.co.za for details.

GIG GUIDE

RUTV Documentary Film Festival

Wednesday 17 October Rhodes Theatre R25 7pm Drinks and snacks available

Karaoke Night
Every Wednesday Champs Action Bar Free entrance

LAN Champions
Friday 19 October Geography 10 Members: free; Non-members: R10 10pm

NatCaf Stand Up Show

Thursday 25 October The Union Free entrance 9-10pm, straight after the NatCaf show

Tunnel Vision Festival

Saturday 27 October The Tunnels R60 presold; R80 at the gate Tickets can be purchased from Under the Arch or contact 083 670 5695

The Woody Cape Festival Experience

November 30 to December 2 Addo Nature Reserve outside Alexandria

The Horror of Grahamstown:

Shortstraw and King Dinosaur Wednesday 31 October Champs Action Bar R20 9pm

8 PHOTO FEATURE
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16 October 2012

Meanwhile, back on the range

2
By Julien Fivez

ith the increasing threat of poaching becoming ubiquitous, South Africa needs more game rangers to man posts across the country. Ulovane Environment Training solves that problem by providing ranger training to applicants of all ages. Situated on the border of the Amakhala game reserve, 40 kilometres outside of Grahamstown on the Port Elizabeth road, the Ulovane camp is almost entirely selfsustaining, using solar power for electricity and heating their water as well as using the borehole for their water supply. Ulovane was started in 2005 and offers a variety of programmes, accredited by the Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA), which aim to equip students with the skills needed to become a game ranger in Southern Africa. Botany, geology and meteorology are just a few of the subjects that are taught by facilitators Mike Rosati, Schalk Pretorius and Cobus Spies. The group adventures across the Amakhala reserve in

search of practical examples of the work that they have come across in the class room. It is not uncommon to see a student munching on some kind of plant which they were able to identify and pick. Their Land Rover, affectionately named Eleanor, has done more than 200,000 kilometres on dirt roads, paying the price with a number of less-than-functional accessories. Each student is required to lead a game drive, taking the facilitators out onto the reserve and giving them a full tour, including a drinks break at one of the reserves many viewing points. Student Tayla McCurdy, originally from Port Elizabeth, enjoyed being part of the programme. It just worked out like this. I did a bunch of other things before coming here, and now I think I have found something that I actually like and enjoy. Ive already been offered a job at Kariega (game reserve), so this is just a necessary course to get me to that point. Ulovane provides South Africa with highly trained, wellrounded and enthusiastic rangers and guides, who are ready to work to protect South Africas environment.

1. A large bull elephant (Loxodonta Africana) wanders down Striata road on the Amakhala reserve. This bull, affectionately named Afstert, is one of 22 elephants on the reserve. 2. Tayla McCurdy takes a moment to check the species of the small, purple Erica (Erica carnea). This plant flowers for only a few short weeks, covering the zuurveld vegetation in Amakhala reserve. 3. A crash of white rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) drink from a puddle in the track after a period of heavy rains. By the end of July this year, more than 245 Rhinos had been poached in South Africa alone. 4. A caracal (Caracal caracal) slides through the

undergrowth as it moves silently through the bush. Caracals are fiercely territorial and are known to fight to the death in territorial disputes. 5. Facilitator Cobus Spies applies flesh from the African potato (Hypoxis Hemerocallidea) to a small gash on Tayla McCurdys hand. The African potato has many uses, ranging from burn ointment, to food, to a moisturiser. 6. Mikhail Thomas and Simpiwe Ndlovu shovel the quarried limestone from the trailer onto the dirt road. Tayla McCurdy stands waiting for an opportunity to begin raking it out and flattening it into the potholes.

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10 LIFESTYLE

16 October 2012

Avoiding the avoidable

By Ruan Scheepers uppose youre off with a bunch of mates and its going to be a pretty sick weekend. Everyone piles into your car and you head off to the coast with some good tunes and in high spirits. Just outside Kenton you strike a pothole that you didnt see because you were fiddling with the stereo. A solid thump and you may even stop to check for damage. The tyre does not deflate but forms a bubble on the sidewall. You also notice an indentation on your rim. In this case, a damaged tyre must be removed as soon as possible to avoid a blow-out which could result in a severe accident. Your car should then also be taken to an accredited service centre (Market Square VW, Settlers Toyota or General Motors etc. depending on the make of your car) to check for possible suspension damage. To avoid a situation like this, you have to wake up behind the wheel. No matter how much driving experience you have, learn to read the road surface at all times. You should also adjust your speed to match your ability to deal with the road surface. The same applies on gravel roads. Here careful attention needs to be given to what lies ahead regarding ditches, corrugations, rocks and holes possibly filled with water. Sharp stones can shred a tyre and ditches can smash your oil sump, resulting in major

engine damage. Corrugations can be dealt with by simply moving more to the centre or extreme sides of the road where the surface has not worn so much. Increasing your speed over corrugations will also help stop excessive vibrations. Another issue is water: road cars and excessive water do not gel. The same applies to mud. A Polo Vivo is not a Jeep. It is low to the ground and has minimal protection from water around key electronic parts in comparison to purpose-built off-roaders. Chances are that if you go near water deeper than your shins, you could cause damage to your car. If you have a 4x4 and are feeling brave, always remember to test the depth and submerged surface if you are crossing a deep forge to avoid getting stuck. If you do not have four wheel drive then stay away from loose muddy areas, especially if you are alone or without a recovery strap. If you do find yourself in a muddy patch or saturated grass, either wait for the area to dry out or proceed extremely gently, keeping your forward momentum without spinning your wheels too much. Aggressive driving will leave you stuck or up against a tree. Something else to pay careful attention to is your vehicles ground clearance. The rule of thumb is to have your wheels on the highest part of the terrain at all times to avoid scraping the underside of the car on higher ridges. If you really need to go down such a route, ask a friend to walk in front of the vehicle to

Always stay clear of wet grass and loose mud. Pic: Ruan Scheepers

guide you as you slowly proceed forward. Keep in mind that the forces exerted on vehicles on a day-today driving basis are astronomical. Key components of the car such as the suspension, engine and gearbox

work under very stressful conditions, and when the stresses on these components become too high, costly repairs are often a result.

I moustache you a question

By Rhea MacDonald

How will you grow your Mo? Pic: Flickr

ou may have noticed around November each year, men of all ages begin to get a bit scruffier particularly in the upper lip department. This phenomenon is due to a worldwide movement known as Movember. Movember started off in Australia in 2003 as a challenge between two friends. Luke Slattery and Travis Garone decided it was time for the moustache to be brought back into style, so they convinced a group of their friends to take part in a dare. They all agreed to shave their faces on the night of 31 October that year, and grow their moustaches until the end of November. During the four weeks, the men noticed that many conversations were started because of the unusual hair on their faces.

The two founders decided they should put the interest of this large number of people to use, and started raising money for charity by asking for donations.Since men are often apprehensive about discussing problems with doctors and are more likely to just ignore health matters, Garone and Slattery thought it was important to help raise awareness about mens health problems. After much discussion, they decided on the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, since the issue of prostate cancer is not widely known and the disease many men worldwide. They started the Movember Foundation and launched a campaign for the following year (2004). The first year raised over $50 000, and led to expanding the cause to include depression in men. Currently, Movember takes place all

around the world with over nine countries officially participating in the month-long event, and almost 2 million people participating in general. Each year more and more people become interested in the event and men everywhere gain greater awareness about health issues that affect them. To become an official participant, simply visit za.movember.com and register. There are dozens of prizes to be won and more information for those interested in the cause. Men: This Movember grow your facial hair. Shape it, trim it, curl it, gel it, and most of all, wear it proudly. Rhodes and the world shall turn their eyes to the thousands of moustaches adorning male faces, and men everywhere will be better off because of these furry facial additions.

Halloween on a budget
By Rhea MacDonald ts almost that time of year again; the time for goblins and ghosts, witches and warlocks, vampires and werewolves. Candy, costumes, and jack-o-lanterns. This is what Halloween is all about, right? Wait a minute, lets get real. Its more like this: absurd amounts of alcohol, girls clad in the skimpiest clothes imaginable, and people partaking in unbelievably outrageous antics. Its one of the last chances to let loose and blow off some steam before the final exams of the year. Whether your plan for Halloween goes along with the first suggestion or the second, you will most likely want to line up some sort of costume. Rhodes students dont go small in anything they do, and Halloween is no exception. However, we are students after all and we dont have a lot of extra cash to spend. Here are some ideas on where to buy for less:

Shop: Adult World Where: Beaufort Street, just after KFC Type of Supplies: Sexy costumes such as school girl, nurse, and French maid, various unique stockings, wands, make-up, hand cuffs, crowns, and more. Approx. Price Range: Full Costumes R200, Stockings R150, and accessories R20-R80

Shop: That Store Where: Anglo African Street, turn left off High Street Type of Supplies: Accessories such as ribbons, tiaras, pipe cleaners, paint, feathers, beads, sparkles etc. Approx. Price Range: R10-R50

Shop: Under the Arch Where: Bottom of campus entering onto High Street, under Drostdy Arch Type of Supplies: Unique clothing, scarves, jewellery, and accessories. Approx. Price Range: Accessories/jewellery R40-R60, unique clothing R100R200

Shop: Nearly New Shop Where: 41 Hill Street, turn right off High Street Type of Supplies: Great quality second-hand clothing and accessories of all shapes and sizes. Lots of unique items perfect for putting together costumes. Approx. Price Range: Small items such as vests and skirts R50, dresses, jerseys etc. up to R150

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A Rhodes student passed out during the inter-varsity rugby final. The debauchery ended in a random nap under the stands where spectators ignored the not-so-surprising scene. Pic: Niamh Walsh-Vorster The Inter-varsity after party held on the Great Field earlier this year saw roughly 5000 students partying up a real student mare. Pic: Mia van der Merwe

The dark side of Rhodes sport

By Hancu Louw isclaimer: the author in no way intends to cause slander to the name of the institution of Rhodes University or any person, body or organisation affiliated to the University. This article is a mere portrayal through the perspective of an individual who wishes to spend his time in the company of individuals known and unknown to him, during organised times of social excess. Try as we may, we cannot deny that we all crave a little insanity from time to time the wish to wilfully destroy ourselves. A depraved notion if there ever was one, but it seems, in light of our historically illustrious past, that we are destined for utter excess. Its late afternoon, a tepid Black Label quart in hand. The lawns are ablaze with white and purple. Fluid creatures stumbling about, music blaring from some speaker, the steady beat pulsating though our bodies. Disjointed cries echo off the walls as things slowly but steadily spiral out of control The sun fades and the beer is replaced by cheap generic box wine, the fuel of the wasted youth; prospective leaders in a time in which all points in the direction of total annihilation. Standing in little groups we chatter away happily, light-headed and optimistic for what the night may hold. The excitement of another night of lubricated mob fury.

We reach the fields and I can feel the blood rising in my chest. Through bloodshot eyes, I see a similar tension in all of them, shouting on the stands, cheering: a projection of their hopes and dreams. This is how Inter-Varsity plays itself out, with all of us ending somewhere in New Street. We, the honest thrill seekers, being milked of our means. But in the moment we are all too happy to get another one. And so it continues, Boat Races comes along and its a mere switch of scenery; a jumble of humans and cars, the best and the rest out to represent their team. Overalls slowly absorb the activities of the day, spilling into ever increasing debauchery. By 9pm things have reached their peak, the winners long lost in the mob, swallowed by the temptation of having really been there. It inevitably ends in drunken brawls and people being stood on, fences being scaled for fear of paying another R20. Pipes offered and turned away, frantically being looked for in the wee hours of the morning. Men shouting from delirious perches on camping chairs for, weed, any damn weed?!Almost-muggings, and stumbling to the beach at 9am to have a last one We have all had a similar time, maybe not all at once. It may be that the author resides in total delusion, but I think its pretty safe to say its happened to all of us purple people on some level. Cradock and the ridiculous heat, dust mixed with the icy brown waters

rushing past the bank. Hansa flows like the river on which the race is held at this event, the last in the Rhodes Big Three. I mean, there are even shirts with tick boxes promoting this trend in organised excess. The Friday night is always the sneaky one; it pounces on you as you leave your tented braai area, on some haphazard mission to get to the field. Beers in hand I head out with the team, ready to get this thing going, anxious to lay eyes on the local Afrikaans ballies and their antics. It flies by in a blur of live music and dry grass. Saturday and its up and away to see some spectacular bails, canoes crashing, while you break the seal on another bottle of Cape Hope; someone forgot the cups, so its a plastic bottle doing the rounds. The day wears on and I end up with a delightful boere tan. The night goes as expected, the prices are low and combination of Energade and beer has everyone bouncing feverishly. It never ends well though, attempting the walk, or opting out for some spot in town at an okes house man, come never really nurses the two day binge. The drive back is mashed into a blur of heat, lame tunes on the radio and cheap cigarettes. We are a people of unconsidered decisions hurtling down three or four years on a diet of late nights, sober or not, seeking that one time it all made so much more sense. This is the dark side of Rhodes sport, the opportunity is all too tempting and all the reasons are to go at it as hard and fast as we can.

The Restaurant of Forever

By Caitlin Stobie Madame, monsieur, good evening and welcome to Forever. I am the maitre d. May I show you to your seat? I cant give you the best table; Father Times been sitting there for the last few millennia, drowning himself in whiskey. I heard Mother Nature stood him up. And before you get comfortable, I must ask you to pay no attention to Shakespeare. Hes been slumped in that corner for as long as anyone can remember, saying something about summer to the fake flowers between glasses of gin. But here in Forever, we welcome the ones who wear black to traffic light parties. We reserve tables for those who spend their lives waiting for someone who wont make them wait. Our cutlery is made from melteddown promise rings, donated to us by pregnant schoolgirls. The chairs are upholstered with wished-upon eyelashes. Our napkins are Dear John letters that were never delivered. And the menu! The house wine is a vintage Chardonnay with a bouquet of promises and a palate of lies; best served chilled. Our dish of the day is regret. It comes with a side of bitterness. Here, its so clean you can remember the first time you smelled blood. You can taste the day you learnt what love wasnt, or the last time you stood in your childhood house and felt at home. But our after-dinner mints are as sweet as the birth pangs of a wife who only knows miscarriages. Our bills are written with invisible wedding invitation ink. We peel paint off the walls of every high school art room and graffiti our doors with the words you wish youd said. We make masterpieces of the memory of the last time your father looked you in the eyes. And at the back table, between lost handbags and coats that used to fit, we record the titles of all the great romances that should have been. So let today be the day you come inside. Let it be the day you remember the names you used to rehearse when you fell asleep. Today, forget that pain is more than a sheet of glass. Let it be the day you put memories into lungs into breaths into voices into songs so you may throw them all to the wind. This is where youll find them. Stay as long as you need the restaurant is always open. Come inside.

Celebrating verse
By Tristan de Robillard

n the last Friday of each month, a group of poetry enthusiasts get together at Caf Dvine in the name of appreciating poetry. One by one, each person will stand and recite the poems closest to their hearts. It can be of any genre, whether written by a worldfamous poet or their own work. The idea of it is to share poetry which comes either from the heart or touches it in a profound way within a supportive atmosphere. Lydia Kasese is a second-year BA student who was invited to perform this week after some excellent performances elsewhere, and says it is an amazing experience. No pun intended, Kasese quips, but words cannot describe it. And yet that's exactly what is done there. Words are used to express what people feel and have felt. Words are used to unite the elderly and the young of Grahamstown. And at the end of the night, race, age and nationality are nothing but words in an enemy's dictionary. Its a very unifying experience.

The range of people who attend is impressive considering the relatively small size of the congregation. As Kasese points out, looking around the room during the readings reveals the faces of first-year university students, businesspeople, high school students and the elderly, and their experiences are just as varied. Nowhere is this variation more pronounced than in the poetry written by the attendees themselves: One young man stood up and proceeded to deliver two consecutive, emotionally wrought performance poems that brought him and several people in the audience to the brink of tears, but was then followed by an older man who wrote in Dr Seuss-like rhymes about a bothersome fly in his lounge. It is a creative cauldron of inspiration, says Liam Marsland, a first-year who has also been to the evenings, A definite must-see for the silver-tongue and the poetically inclined. So mark it off on your calendars, and meet the colourful people who make it possible at Caf Dvine at 7pm. It is sure to be a place where you feel at home.

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16 October 2012

Desert, Dust and Diesel Expedition Namaqualand

By Ruan Scheepers

he recipe was simple. Plan a route into the desert region of the Northern Cape, find an experienced overlander to guide you, work yourself to death to reach the target budget, blow half of that on booze and then convince your old man to hand over the keys to his brand new Land Rover Discovery. For two friends aged 19 and 21 it seemed possible. So we did it. Six people, two Landys, twelve bottles of Captain Morgan and fourteen days of touring a mystical region of South Africa. Namaqualand is a semi-desert region in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It is perhaps best known for the annual flower season which is a spectacular phenomenon occurring between August and October. December, the hottest time of the year with temperatures reaching 45C, seemed the more sensible option. In two weeks we toured from Pretoria, over Upington and through to Pofadder, where we left all tar roads for the next 2000km as we followed the Orange River to its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean. Once beyond Pofadder, our convoy took the gravel road leading to Pella on the banks of the Orange River. This tiny town with its date-palm trees is the classic oasis. The central point of this town is the church built by a Catholic missionary in 1885. After a tour of the church building, the route west from Pella enters the semidesert region along the banks of the Orange River. Totally alone in this desolate environment, speeds were kept to a minimum to avoid damage to the vehicles and trailer on the treacherous tracks. Any event of mechanical failure or damage to the Landys as a result of careless driving could mean an end to the expedition. The lower-profile tyres on the Discovery were concerning but in retrospect they performed exceptionally well. Our accommodation was tents for the duration of the trip. Minimalism is the way to go, so only basic food items were brought along. A portable fridge is essential for meats but mostly to hold ice and Coke. We lived in shorts, bathed in the river and slept under the stars. Five days into the trip, however, we were spoilt with flushing toilets and hot water when our route brought us to a guest house in the middle of the desert. It once played host to Nicolas Cage and 30 Seconds to Mars singer, Jared Leto, during the shooting of a film in the region. This was a time to unwind by the pool, get cleaned up and check the vehicles. From there we entered the untouched heart of Namaqualand. No other people were seen for days and the terrain became exceptionally challenging. At times we relied purely on our GPS navigation to guide us through the rocky desert. The brutal

landscape with its jagged mountains and thick sandy tracks is a prime example of unspoilt nature, an environment too hostile for human life to be sustained. Thus far, however, we had survived a smashed iPhone, a ruined tyre and rim from hitting a large rock, and bruised egos after some showing off got the Discovery so stuck it needed winching to free it from the soft sand. This proved once again the need for a support vehicle and relevant recovery gear on a trip like this. We trekked inland and on the eighth night reached our overnight stop where we would be striking camp inside a cave, a landmark of the area. We were now still two days drive from Vioolsdrif, the nearest town on the border with Namibia. With fuel and rum starting to run low, signs of insanity steadily crept in as the battered team pressed further west. With no spare tyre on the Discovery and the trailer taking a beating, the going was nerveracking as we crossed very hostile terrain. If we lost another tyre on the sharp rocks we would be stranded. By some miracle we made it to Vioolsdrif where we refuelled and resupplied. From here we would continue through to Alexander Bay on the West Coast and then head south to Port Nolloth before starting the return trip to Pretoria. Just a few kilometres from Alexander Bay, it was the turn of the Defender to dramatically lose a tyre. With the spare fitted, we rolled on. The town of Alexander Bay is where the Orange River mouths into the Atlantic. This was once a major diamond mining area, but all that remains of the mining today is an eerie desert landscape filled with abandoned machinery and buildings. Here a miscalculation in soft sand on a narrow track caused the Defender to fall over onto a mine fence in the dunes outside the town. Careful assessment of the situation ensured a safe recovery of the Landy with only minor damage. With a mix of Eric Clapton and Coldplay, we headed south to Port Nolloth using the tar road. Once in the town, we enjoyed fresh seafood at a local beach pub before making our way back towards Upington and on to Pretoria over the next two days. This trip is an example of something every lover of adventure should try. We are very privileged to have had the opportunity to explore this countrys hidden treasures in the way we did. We learnt a lot about the basics of overlanding, the cultures of the Northern Cape and how to handle crises, all while experiencing the best Africa has to offer. Keep it simple and do not take anything you could do without. With the current cost of fuel, it is no cheap exercise but worth every cent. Plan a trip and make it happen.

Our noble steads: The Defender Tdi and Discovery 4 V8. Pic: Ruan Scheepers

The cave where we set up camp. Pic: Ruan Scheepers

The power of the pretty

By Staff Writer retty generally an average adjective used to describe things that are so. But when it comes to Cape Town, the use of the word pretty is perfect. From the people to the venue and even the festival facilities, popular music festival Rocking the Daisies provided enough eye candy for anyone. Coming from our humble university, I had to adjust to the ways of the Cape upon arriving, and taking two drops of liquid mushrooms was no help either. After setting up our little home for the weekend, we mixed our poison and set off on our first adventure. As we walked along, the flurry of anonymous passers-by did nothing to help us ease into our new environment. We settled down to watch the Black Handed Kites, a typical indie duo from Cape Town. However, our attention was soon lost to a huge panda-head tent on our right. We wandered towards it and, going with the flow of the crowd, ended up at a mini Clifton beach with jocks and their girls clad in minimal clothing, bouncing to house beats that were playing at the Mainstay-sponsored bar. The touch of white sand lead onto a large lake where no one was going to swim the whole weekend due to a lack of sunny weather. Moving past these toned figures, our adventures took us to the food court. Hudsons (burger joint) and Knead (bakery) were the main attractions, and I found

the prettiness of Cape Town and its people to be evident in every corner the event even provided a Daisy Den for the girls, where they queued for want of cleanliness and GHDs. Looking down towards the Red Bull stage, it was a perfect scenario for skipping: there was green grass with purple flowers littering its space, and if only the sun had come out to play, wed all be smiling. Instead, I hazily walked into the Nu Beats World Barn for a bit of trippy fun. The festival became a daze of meeting people, making missions across the campsite to find fellow Rhodents and some heavy judging when it came to the music being played. Jeremy Loops, meh. His music is inspiring, but his act as a whole is disappointing his explanation of the loop pedal in the middle of his performance was off-putting. Benguela on the other hand (a three piece improvisation act) played mind-blowing music. Their psychedelic ambient sound allowed you to lose yourself inside, where flowing thoughts gathered to show their approval. Wondrous- it was a definite highlight. Another experience was Card on Spokes. As a double bass jazz musician, he mixes his live bass with synths and samples to create slow hip-hop infused beats. I missed a lot at this festival, as with most. With so much on offer, and so much confusion when your brain is mush from the night before, its difficult to find a direction. People, events and titillating sounds constitute a million

distractions, all having seemingly equal importance in your deluded mind. I struggled through Saturday and then, after a short nap, it was time for what we came to do watch Bloc Party. For three days after their performance, goosebumps tingled their way through my body. The thought of the rain during their set, with those warm stage lights filling the audience and creating silhouettes from behind could not have been done better. The rain, a natural effect, could not have been timed more perfectly. As the set got heavier during their two tracks We Are Not Good People and Team A, it was the most beautiful atmosphere in which to be. Bloc Party was a dream. The natural high produced by their music and performance kept us on our feet a little longer, but the following acts could not top it so back to tent life it was. Sunday, the last day, saw the depressing side of the festival. A wasteland, it showed the dirty side of these once-pretty people. Tents were abandoned, food was discarded and piles of litter were strewn across the deserted campsite. It was a sorry sight, so we went off for some surf pop in the form of Beach Party. The prettiness was again evident as those left were scattered in front of the main stage to soak in the last notes of the festival, clinging on to the memories. I wouldnt swop this weekend for anything. Id have it playing on repeat if I could: prettiness included.

Edition 8 Exchange rates:

Is it too late to rewrite the book?
By Matthew Lester raduates leaving university have generally predicted their future as get a job, start working, buy a car and house, find a spouse and get on with it! However times are changing, and fast. Traditionally a generation lasts for 20 years. We are currently in Generation Z or The Silent Generation that is supposed to run from 2000 to 2020. A few disturbing trends have already emerged in Generation Z: The global credit crunch has left the baby boomer generation, born 1945 to 1963, hopelessly underfunded for retirement. This, coupled with a substantial increase in life expectancy and investment losses, has left millions of baby boomers world-wide facing a very uncertain retirement, and their children with the prospect of inheriting their parents rather than their money. The emergence of the Chinese and other major economies in the Eastern Hemisphere has resulted in massive increases in energy prices.Most certainly the recovery from the global credit crunch will not be quick. In short, the world has to come to grips with the fact that we have lived too large and it is very difficult to cut back. This has changed the way most of us will live out the rest of our lives. Life in a 4X4 is now a thing of the past. Perhaps we cannot wait until 2020 to announce a new generation and we should be looking at the new Generation Bieber from 2010 onwards, and defining a new way of living on a far more sustainable basis. Graduates leaving university are going to have to learn to live smaller from houses to cars, with fewer dirty habits, maximising continuing professional development using Internet technology, and living with the elderly. All of these changes are fast becoming a reality. Failure to adapt to the new challenges will simply drive families of the future to become broke, poisoned by way of a lethal cocktail of increased energy costs and associated taxes. Graduates will be far better equipped to deal with future challenges than the millions of less privileged South Africans who are unemployed or economically inactive. However, even a job coupled with an unsustainable lifestyle is a very frightening prospect. Matthew Lester is an associate professor at Rhodes Business School.

BUSINESS 13
R8.8591 / 1 USD R14.2437 / 1 EUR R11.4832 / 1 GBP
Today I have called on President Zuma to do what is right, and what his high office demands of him. He does not have to wait for the public protector inquiry, which I will be calling for, to correct this wrongdoing ... He can cancel his upgrade, and instead spend the money on the neighbouring communities which so desperately need jobs, infrastructure, and services. - Democratic Alliance Parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko urging President Jacob Zuma to cancel the upgrade to his Nkandla homestead, which is said to have cost R2 million.

Tripartite Alliance:
Power holders in SA
By Njabulo Nkosi

his year marks the centenary of the ANC, as well as the five year conference (Mangaung) where Jacob Zuma aims to maintain the presidency. Other factions within the Tripartite Alliance will strive to topple him off the throne. In the current political and economic situation it would seem that whoever wins the presidency will gain many spoils, while the country suffers. The Tripartite Alliance is the association between the ruling party, ANC, COSATU and the South African Communist Party (SACP). It is centred around short-to long-terms goals of the National Democratic Revolution the establishment of a democratic and non-racial South Africa, economic transformation and continued process of political and economic democratisation. This alliance is the driving force behind and the explanation of, current post-apartheid South Africa. There needs to be unity in the Tripartite Alliance, said Jacob Zuma, There are those against us working hard so that we do not achieve success the Alliance needs to lead South Africa. The Tripartite Alliance is

the true holder of economic and political power in the country. Many inefficiencies and movements of progress can be traced back, directly or indirectly, to this union. Unemployment is at 25%, poverty levels are high and many see the country as having a very unequal society. There is a crisis in the mining sector which drives away foreign investment because of low investor confidence. Scandals are rife surrounding the R238 million ZumaNkandla residence improvements and the tender scams which point towards Julius Malema. Trust in government leadership is questioned and the Tripartite Alliance is seen as both the answer and the problem. COSATU is the largest of the trade unions in South Africa and they aim to organise 1.8 million workers against exploitation. They have the power and capacity to influence government policy, decrease unemployment and help protect employer rights. However, the recent youth wage subsidy (aimed at improving youth employment opportunities) proposed by National Treasury and the Democratic Alliance , has been rejected by COSATU. The subsidy, which can help to create 133 000 jobs, is thought to be detrimental to

the country and the ANC has been lukewarm on the issue. This, coupled with the mining crises (Marikana and Lonmin), is an area where COSATU has the ability to influence the future of the country. The ANC and SACP both have aims to create 5 million jobs within the coming decade. The ANC has a majority of seats in parliament and it can therefore influence policies that curb the crises in South Africa, such as the mine closures and strikes affecting transportation and food supplies around the country. The disunity of the Tripartite Alliance and its failure to act has led to the threat of disinvestment in the country, increased inflation, high unemployment and other economic woes: when it has been solved, the country can move forward. ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe says, We need to appreciate the fact that this is the alliance of the liberation movement. Once you accept that, you dont expect sleepless nights because [the alliance partners] will always engage on various issues. But COSATU [and SACP] always agrees with the ANC on many economic policies. Whoever wins in Mangaung will head the ANC and lead the Tripartite Alliance.

Logos of each member of the Tripartite Alliance. Pics: Sourced

Business roundup

By Staff Writer

Gill Marcus comments on South African Economy Business Week reports that South Africas economic outlook is worsening and job losses will mount as strikes spread in Africas biggest economy. The outlook at the moment is deteriorating rapidly, Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus told students at Rhodes University. Recent capital outflows are an indicator of a loss of confidence among foreign investors, she said.

Vodacom now live with 4G Mail and Guardian report that Vodacom has begun to sell 4G services based on long-term evolution technology, but coverage is extremely limited - for now.

Toyota recall to affect South African customers Toyota Motors said in the Business Report that South African Toyota owners would be affected as part of a wider global recall of 7.4-million cars, but was unable to immediately confirm its full extent.

Rand at a record Low The rand has hit a three-anda-half year low against the US dollar. This is attributed to the illegal strikes in the mining sector. South African Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan said he believes the situation will improve.

South African mines stuck in 19th century As reported by Mine web, Mamphela Ramphele said South Africa's mining industry has a 19th century business model which depends on cheap labour, and will have to engage in mass firings to remain competitive.

Employment grew in September According to an employment index, employment in SA grew 1.61% year-on-year this September, this year following declines in August, reports News 24.

For the latest business news go to activateonline.co.za

14 ENVIRONMENT

16 October 2012

Rhodes University celebrates environmentalists

By Gorata Chengeta n Friday, 5 October, Rhodes University held its annual Environmental Awards Ceremony in the Senior Common Room. The ceremony was headed by Vice Chancellor Dr Saleem Badat and attended by some of the universitys best-known environmentalists. The previous SRC Environment Councillor Ruth Krueger and Rhodes Environment Officer Nikki Kohly, presented the awards. The Residence/Society award was scooped by Allan Webb Hall. The hall was commended for their commitment to working collaboratively on a number of activities such as their Earth Hour event and tree-

planting project. The individual award was given to Brett Sutherland, who is currently pursuing his Honours degree in Environmental Science. He founded the Vermiculture project last year alongside Nikki Kohly, and is the current project manager. The Vermiculture project heads the installation of worm farm bins on campus. The guest speaker for the occasion was Professor Mervyn King. As a former Supreme Court judge, last year he was presented with the Green Globe Award for Sustainability in recognition of his environmental advocacy in the corporate sector. King said that when he was a student he studied as if the earth had limitless capabilities, but recognised a shift in mentality in todays youth.

Saleem Badatt presents Allan Webbs Busisiwe Kubeka and Keegan Watkins with their award at this years environmental Awards for being the most environmental Hall on campus. Pic: Sibulele Mabusela He predicted that the challenge for environmentalists in the future would be to change the minds of corporate heads, as multinational corporations are more influential than governments, so people cannot rely on politicians to appeal to them about environmental issues. He encouraged the audience to challenge such multinational corporations to improve their sustainability: If you think you can continue with business as usual, then welcome to the age of stupid.

Vermiculture begins in Grahamstown

By Jane Berg

A new farming initiative in Rhodes University is using earthworms as a means of creating fertiliser. Pic: Supplied

he Vermiculture project in Rhodes Grounds and Gardens is a year old and still going strong. The initiative is run by Brett Sutherland, who is currently pursuing his Honours degree in Environmental Science. His aim is to create a completely sustainable system for disposing of the universitys waste. Vermiculture, or worm farming, is the use of earthworms in a controlled environment to disintegrate organic material into useful nutrients. The project involves collecting food scraps from the Nelson Mandela dining hall and using the non-invasive worm species Red Wigglers to convert it into rich organic fertiliser. This comes in two forms: vermin-compost and vermin-tea. Taking dilution into account, the venture currently produces about 95 litres of worm tea in summer and 45 litres in winter. The project is still hoping to expand in order to become economically sustainable and help communities in Grahamstown create their own worm farms. However, Sutherland says continuity is a challenge as. The

sustainability of the project requires a constant reserve of funds and dedicated individuals to run it. The fertiliser produced through worm farming is not only superior to its commercial counterparts in terms of its ecological footprint, but also in its quality. Steve Faulconbridge of Liquid Gold Earthworm Solutions says that worm compost, unlike the fertiliser, improves the fertility of the soil and its water holding capacity and structure, with no excess of harmful nutrients.Faulconbridge likens the worms to farmers as they aerate the soil, boost the microbial community and develop natural hormones and regulators which stimulate plant growth. The worms feed on the bacteria, which are passed out to form compost that he says is loaded with stable and usable macro-and micro nutrients.A worm farm requires very little effort to maintain; it needs to be filled up once or twice a week, a sunny location, and occasional watering. It just makes sense-waste in, food out, says Faulconbridge. I save a lot of money and I am able to support myself off the worm growth and the products that they produce.

Focus on farmers for World Food Day

By Gorata Chengeta

Fracking: The basics

By Jane Berg The natural gas for Hydraulic Fracturing is found in two types of rock: coal beds and shale formations. Conventionally, natural fissures in the rock are used to collect such gas, but the most concentrated deposits are found deep in the earth. The gas is reached by vertical drilling for approximately one and a half miles; once the right depth is reached the drill is positioned horizontally. At this point a mixture of water, chemicals and sand is injected at high pressure into the shale which has been fractured by the pressure inside the well. The sand keeps the cracks open so that the gas can flow from the fissure into the well. American production of shale gas began in earnest around 1998, and is now accounting for a quarter of its natural gas extraction. Other countries which employ this method are China, Poland and the UK. It has,however, been banned in France and Bulgaria. The rights for a vast shale field in the Karroo have been leased by a group of energy companies including SASOL, Anglo American, and Falcon Gas and Oil, but mainly by Royal Dutch Shell. The Karoo covers 15% of South Africas landmass; searches for natural gas began in the 1960s but were deemed unfeasible until fracking developed. South Africa lifted its moratorium on the exploration of shale gas in the Karoo in this September, after a study lessened concerns about its safety; the moratorium had been in place since April 2011. Concerns about fracking mostly centre on potential water pollution and the leaking of methane into the atmosphere. Environmentalists argue this belies the advantage gas has over coal.

n Tuesday, 16 October, World Food Day will be commemorated around the globe. This is an initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an agency of the United Nations (UN). According to the FAO, despite the fact that we have the capacity to eliminate hunger, almost one in seven people suffers from undernourishment. With the population of the world expected to reach nine billion by the year 2050, the role of small-holders in providing food is becoming increasingly important. Hence it is highlighted as a theme for this years World Food Day: Agricultural Cooperatives key to feeding the world. The FAO have chosen this theme because small-hold farmers, particularly those in developing nations, do not benefit from increases in world food prices. Some of the factors which hinder small holders from enjoying

the benefits of increased food prices include high variable costs of production, limited access to proper infrastructure and lack of transport; which makes them more susceptible to poverty. The UN declared 2012 to be the International Year of Cooperatives. The UN views these cooperatives as an opportunity for collective, sustainable development which can benefit communities at large as opposed to profit-making companies that only benefit shareholders. The FAO, through studying existing models, found that small-holders could benefit in several ways from engaging in cooperatives. As they operate with a collective voice, they can exploit market opportunities and enjoy more bargaining power in policy-making processes. Additionally, they allow farmers the chance to develop technical and managerial skills. It is hoped that by commemorating World Food Day, governments will act to facilitate cooperatives within their agriculture sector.

Edition 8

SPORT 15

Whats the score again?

By Xand Venturas itting in the stands screaming your lungs out, taking swigs of the cheapest alcohol you can find out of a Fanta bottle and then eventually stumbling off to the Rat. Sound familiar? Probably. Sport at Rhodes has become an excuse for many students to get completely smashed-drunk, and this is a problem. Sport is a beautiful thing. Whether its rugby, football, cricket, tennis, water polo, badminton or archery, organised sport has an effect on people that is largely unrivalled. It makes us patriotic. It makes us proud of our country/province/city/varsity/school. And for a brief moment, everyone supporting the same team as you is your mate. However, this effect has been lost in some sense at Rhodes. Our sporting events are being made into excuses for the student body to get debaucherous without any real enthusiasm for the actual sporting event or its outcome. This is the sad reality of sport at Rhodes. What is particularly saddening is the fact that I have witnessed first-hand the effort that gets poured into organising and executing these events. The time and money that is spent on putting on a outstanding event is essentially wasted on a group of people that wouldnt notice if there were branded hoardings on the side of the pitch, even if they drunkenly tripped over one. The experience of these events is largely spent in an alcohol-fueled daze that, yes, makes you have a great time and gives you a wicked hangover the next day, but does not allow for any appreciation of the sporting event at hand. This experience is explained in vivid detail by senior reporter, Hancu, in his article on page 11, The Dark Side of Rhodes Sports. These issues have always been simmering at the back of my mind since I arrived at Rhodes, but they were really driven home in the weeks preceding this years Inter-Varsity. The most common words coming out of most Rhodes students mouths were, I cant wait for TriVar! The reason this is troubling is because people werent actually looking forward to the sporting events, or supporting their mates who were participating. They saw it as a reason to let loose. Admittedly, everyone needs to get battered once in a while, but why are our sports events being used as the scapegoat for our unbecoming behavior? I suppose that the problem that is inherently part of Rhodes culture is that Rhodents will largely find use any excuse to get drunk and sporting events happen to be one of the best opportunities for this to happen. I propose that the next time an organized sporting event comes along, we watch it, enjoy it, try to appreciate the spectacle. However, your attempts will most likely be foiled by a fight breaking out in the stands behind you or someone spilling their vodka, lime and water on you.

A heros fall from grace

By Bridgette Hall even-time Tour de France winner and inspiring charity man, Lance Armstrong, lost his reputation as a respected athlete this week as details from the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation emerged. USADA Chief Executive Travis Tygart said, The evidence shows beyond any doubt that the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team ran the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping program me that the sport has ever seen. It was first revealed in August that the sporting body would investigate Armstrong, after he was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and given a lifetime ban by the USADA. Armstrong indicated that he would not contest the charges that he had used performanceenhancing drugs throughout his career, although he continued to deny that they were true. Earlier this week the USADA released the report which left Armstrongs fans and the cycling fraternity shocked and disappointed. It contained the sworn testimony of 26 people, including eleven of his

teammates, to the International Cycling Union (CUI), the World Anti-Doping-Agency (WADA), and the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC). Furthermore, the thousand-page dossier included financial payments, emails and laboratory test results which the agency says prove the use of performanceenhancing drugs by Armstrong and the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team. The sheer magnitude of the operation has stunned officials and fans. The report continues to describe how couriers would follow the tour to deliver drugs to Armstrong and members of the US Postal Service Pro Cycling Team, and how they would undergo blood transfusions in the team doctors hotel room at night during the Tour de France. This would boost oxygen levels in their blood, hereby improving stamina and recovery speed. It also describes how thousands of dollars were flushed down the toilet in a team camper-van over a possible police raid in 1999, and how they were warned before drug tests. Lance Armstrong did not merely use performance-

enhancing drugs. He supplied them to his teammates, the report said, He was not just a part of the doping culture on his team. He enforced and re-enforced it. One of the most surprising testimonies to come out of the debacle was that of George Hincapie, who rode alongside Armstrong and admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. Other cyclists named in the report include Frankie Andreu, Michael Barry, Tom Danielson, Tyler Hamilton, Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer, Stephen Swart, Christian Vande Velde, Jonathan Vaughters and David Zabriskie. Armstrongs lawyer, Sean Breen, maintains his clients innocence and called the report a one-sided hatchet job. Breen said the agency was ignoring the 500-600 tests Lance Armstrong passed, ignoring all exculpatory evidence, and trying to justify the millions of dollars USADA has spent pursuing one single athlete for years. The dossier from the USADA has been sent to the International Cycling Union (UCI) which now has 21 days to challenge its findings and appeal to the World Anti-Doping Agency, or comply with the decision to strip Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles.

Chelsea setting the standard

By Xand Venturas ts the most popular football league in the world, and this Barclays Premier League season is shaping up to be one of the most interesting in recent history. After last years heart-stopping finale, when Sergio Aguero snatched the title from right under Manchester Uniteds nose, this year promises to be just as exciting. The early pace setters have been Chelsea. They sit at the summit of the table with 19 points, four more than United and their neighbours City. With the acquisition of Eden Hazard, Marko Marin, Victor Moses, Oscar and Cesar Azpillicueta, the Londoners made their intentions clear Abramovic wants the Premier League again. Manchester Uniteds new signings Shinji Kagawa and Robin van Persie have gelled instantly, with RvP having already scored five goals in seven games so far this season. A few sloppy results have let United down though and as a result they are already trailing Chelsea. Fernando Torres seems to have finally escaped the gloomy shade of Didier Drogbas shadow and has been ably leading the Chelsea line, scoring four goals in the process. The surprise packages of the season so far have to be Everton and West Bromwich Albion. Everton have made

a stunning start to the season and are currently sitting in fourth place. This is a radical change from the norm, as football fans have become accustomed to a slow start from Everton and eventually getting their act together in the final third of the season. Perennial strugglers West Brom have also made an astonishing start to the season finding themselves in sixth place, ahead of Arsenal who are in seventh. It would seem West Brom manager Steve Clark, who has worked under Jose Mourinho has instilled a similar ethos in his squad to that which The Special One had at Chelsea. Theyve been grinding out results and snatching goals when theyve desperately needed them, much like Mourinhos teams have a knack of doing. Of the newly promoted teams Southampton, Reading and West Ham only the Hammers have made an encouraging start to their life back in the Premier League. They are currently in eighth position while the other two lie in, or just above, the relegation zone. The disappointments of the season so far most certainly have to be Queens Park Rangers. After investing heavily on players during the summer transfer window, Mark Hughes players have failed to live up to their billing and have a measly two points out of a

Fernando Torres scores during the 2012/2013 Premier League. Pic: Sourced possible 21. Liverpool are also in with a shout for being the most disappointing team so far, only racking up six points from their first seven games. It would seem that their new manager, Brendan Rodgers has not yet been able to fully imprint his style of play onto his squad and they lack the fluidity and poise that characterized his Swansea side of the 2011/2012 season. Despite their strong start to the Premier League campaign, Chelsea fans shouldnt get too excited as they have been known to have a bad spell around the Christmas period-a time when the Manchester teams tend to excel. All things considered, football fans can look forward to an enthralling year from the Premier Leagues finest.

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Evidence stacking up against Armstrong

Page 15

Results & Fixtures

2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Selected Results
England 5 - 0 San Marino Luxembourg 0 - 6 Israel Republic of Ireland 1 - 6 Germany Greece 0 - 0 Bosnia-Herzegovina Slovenia 2 -1 Cyprus Serbia 0 - 3 Belgium Macedonia 1 - 3 Croatia Netherlands 3 - 0 Andorra Switzerland 1 - 1 Norway Belarus 0 - 4 Spain Russia 1 - 0 Portugal Armenia 1 - 3 Italy

Currie Cup
Results
DHL Western Province 36 - 15 FS Cheetahs The Sharks 42 - 3 GWK Griquas MTN Golden Lions 29 - 50 Vodacom Blue Bulls

Fixtures
20 October
The Sharks vs Vodacom Blue Bulls MTN Golden Lions vs DHL Western Province

Barclays Premier League

Results
Newcastle 0 - 3 Man United Liverpool 0 - 0 Stoke Tottenham 2 - 0 Aston Villa West Ham 1 - 3 Arsenal Swansea 2 - 2 Reading Southampton 2 - 2 Fulham Wigan 2 - 2 Everton West Brom 3 - 2 QPR Chelsea 4 - 1 Norwich Man City 3 - 0 Sunderland

A player from Die Honds takes on a player from Cullen Bowles in last Tuesdays futsal Final. Pic: Brigdette Hall

Who let Die Honds out?

Internal League Futsal comes to its conclusion with Die Honds coming out on top
By Ashleigh Morris

Fixtures
20 October
Tottenham vs Chelsea West Brom vs Man City West Ham vs Southampton Fulham vs Aston Villa Swansea vs Wigan Liverpool vs Reading Man United vs Stoke Norwich vs Arsenal

SAs year in sport - a retrospective

By Matthew Kynaston

n Tuesday night Die Honds took on Cullen Bowles in the much-awaited futsal cup finals. Despite the wet weather, the match was definitely worth watching, ending in a close game with the final score of 3-2 to Die Honds. The game started slowly as players clearly struggled to come to grips with the slippery surface. There was a definite lack of challenges in the early part of the game as players frequently slipped. The game soon got going and picked up pace despite the constant stop and start as Cullen Bowles had a stretch of consecutive corners.

At half time the score was one all. Cullen Bowles goal had to be the highlight of the first half. Some great footwork around the defence of Die Honds and a shot which was made to look effortless rocketed into the back of the net. The second half saw both teams fiercely battling it out as Die Honds scored an early goal. Not to be outdone, Cullen Bowels shocked the crowd with a goal that many thought the keeper had covered. However, the ball seemed to just slip through his fingers and the ball snuck in, tightly against the pole. This goal clearly lifted Cullen Bowels and put them back in the game. Although Die Honds struggled to break through

the solid Cullen Bowels defence, their perseverance paid off and they managed to score the winning goal in the last two minutes of the game. Captain of Die Honds and third year Bcomm student, Kevin Cho, said The game was too close for my liking. He went on to say that The team has been playing great and always bringing the gees. This much is true as, despite the miserable conditions, a few die-hard supporters still showed up to support the team. Die Honds finish their outstanding season with what Cho terms as a thirty something goal difference. The team and the supporters are undoubtedly looking forward to next years competition.

21 October
Sunderland vs Newcastle QPR vs Everton

s a country with some of the worlds most enthusiastic sports supporters, South Africa entered 2012 with high expectations for their various teams. The biggest sports event of any year is the Olympics. Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula had encouraged the athletes to aim for 12 medals at the Games. Cameron van der Burgh won the mens 100 metre breaststroke, breaking the world record in the process, which was swiftly followed by Chad le Clos gold medal in the mens 200 metre butterfly. In this

race he beat Michael Phelps, widely regarded as the greatest swimmer and one of the greatest Olympians of all time, by just five milliseconds. South Africas final medal count read three golds, two silvers and a bronze. South African golf has been on the upswing of late. Louis Oosthuizen came within a whisker of winning the Masters in April, lo sing out to Bubba Watson after a thrilling play-off. Then in July, Ernie Els won the British Open after coming from six strokes behind to win on the last hole. It was Els second British Open and fourth major title in a career spanning 23 years.

There was a lot of expectation as the Proteas headed off to England to try to wrest the no.1 test ranking away from their long-standing rivals. Hashim Amla was in glorious form, batting for two full days to score 311 runs in the first test the highest by any South African player. Captain Graeme Smith scored a century in his 100th test and Vernon Philander bowled superbly to earn a test series win and the top ranking spot. They drew the ODI and T20 series to round of a successful tour. Bafana Bafana have played eight matches this year, winning two, drawing four and losing two. They

recently played Brazil and acquitted themselves splendidly, going down 1-0 to a goal by Hulk. On 16 October they play Kenya, and all eyes will be on new coach Gordon Igesund as he tries to end the year well. The recent Castle Rugby Championship saw South Africa finish second behind the unconquerable All Blacks but this may flatter the Springboks, who were criticised for some of their performances. It was Heyneke Meyers first such tournament, and he will be looking for improved performances in the future. All-in-all it was a good year for South African sport and 2013 promises to be even better.