Edition 6, 6 August 2008

4 Our Politics Editor finds out first-hand how

Palestinians are treated in their own country. 7 We’re giving away tickets to the Sharc Benefit Concert this
Saturday. See inside for details on how to win.

Distribution subsidised by the Oppidan Committee and the South African Post Office.

limit their exposure to violent or dangerous implications of the by-law may be more have to downsize their staff in a town
Nicola Saner
situations”. complex. where unemployment is desperately high.

A
fter a lengthy legal proceedure,
the Liquor Trading By-Law was
passed in a Grahamstown council
The municipal meeting yielded a Hubbard voiced his concerns saying: Already there have been consequences:
unanimous vote to pass the new by-law. “The major problem now is that people are Friars has been forced to fire three of their
Mike Hubbard, the owner of Friar Tucks, not drinking in a reasonably controlled seven staff members (all of whom were the
questioned the objectivity of the council. “I environment and as a result no authority is breadwinners of their families).

ABSOLUT
meeting on 10 June. The by-law stipulates a just don’t see the benefits outweighing the held accountable.” Although Friars crowds The capital invested by the restaurateurs
change in closing times of venues that serve negatives on this and I feel that the council may not always be aware of it, there are and pub owners must also be considered
alcohol, making these times earlier than should have been more transparent with many precautionary forces at work that as running a drinking establishment is no

CURFEW those stated in the current law. Once the law
has been gazetted it has to be implemented
by our pubs and bars. This would translate
to the Rat, Friar Tucks, Equilibrium, and all
other late night venues discontinuing the
sale of drinks at midnight on weekdays and
2am on weekends. On Sundays there will be
a 10pm curfew.
The adoption of this by-law aims
to reduce the crime rate, make the
municipality safer, and minimise the socio-
economic problems associated with alcohol.
According to the Dean of Students, Dr
Vivian de Klerk, “Rhodes fully supports the
proposal”, and hopes “that students will now
tend to socialise either on campus or within
the security of their digs and therefore
their reasons for the law,” says Hubbard.
De Klerk expressed hope that limiting
the hours at pubs and clubs may have a
positive impact on academic performance.
But is our institutional culture at the stage
where this is probable? Students don’t seem
to think so. “People won’t go home and
sleep at 12 o’clock. The noise will be spread
everywhere,” says BCom student Sinead
Courtney.
While de Klerk acknowledges that there
will most probably be more digs parties as
a result of the new by-law, she feels that “it
is important for them [Oppidans] to seek
good relationships with their neighbours
and also obey the laws of the land.”
But in practice, the social and economic
keep them safe. Safety nets of Netcare
ambulances are on call if needed, Hi-Tec
protection is available, there are paramedics
on duty, bouncers at the door to sort the
rif from the raf, as well as other such forces
that benefit the students’ overall welfare.
Unfortunately, house parties offer no
similar protection.
In the past, Hubbard recalls the street
fights; breaking of electricity boxes, bottles
and trees on New Street; car bars; increased
date rape and parties at Grey Dam that got
dangerously raucous, when the pubs were
forced to close early.
Social ills aside, the economic effects of
such a by-law are also cause for concern.
With “prime trading time gone”, bars will
easy task. “I would never have invested this
money here if I knew this law was going to
be passed. My staff has done nothing wrong
and now they’re out of jobs,” says Hubbard.
And down to ethical freedoms. Should
an academic institution not strive to protect
both the positive and negative freedoms of
its students and equip them with the skills
to make their own decisions? “Considering
the university brings in so much revenue to
Grahamstown, some provision should be
made with regards to the students’ social
life,” says fourth year law student Lindsey
Lupnouw.
Although the pubs aim to appeal the
new by-law, they have been told by the
magistrate that this is not advisable.

Higher Education Institutions is equally The transit housing supplied by Rhodes

Paul Harris
A recent report published by the Human
Resources Department at Rhodes
University revealed that 79 percent
of Rhodes staff, both teaching and
administrative, is dissatisfied with their
salaries. The knock-on effects of this for
students could be dire, as the university
risks losing its quality teaching staff to
other higher-paying institutions.
The report was compiled from
the data collected in a questionnaire
circulated amongst Rhodes academics.
Apart from complaints about
unsatisfactory salaries, numerous other
concerns became apparent from the
report.
Academics pointed out that Rhodes
salaries have not kept pace with the
rising inflation, and other fringe
allowances and benefits that were
granted to them were also inadequate.
Staff also felt that the prospects of
career advancement were rare and
often blocked, so the temptation to
flock to greener pastures at other
worrying.
The majority of Rhodes academics
who took part in the questionnaire
also called for greater transparency and
fairness involving benefits, salaries and
job promotions.
Many staff members expressed
concern that large workloads and the
lack of formal recognition for work well
done made for poor working conditions
and prevented them from living “a
balanced life”.
A further 43 percent of academics
at Rhodes are forced to supplement
their salaries with other forms of work,
generating additional income, just
to make ends meet given the present
economic situation. However, this means
that these staff members have less time
available to dedicate to teaching the
students within their department.
Another serious bone of contention
stemming from the report is the issue
of staff housing. Recently there has
been a sharp increase in property
prices and staff on a lecturer’s salary
and below cannot afford to buy houses.
for newcomers to the staff, as well
as married students, has also been
deemed insufficient according to the
questionnaire results.
Simon Pamphilon, a lecturer from
the Department of Journalism and
Media Studies, voiced his concern
about the housing situation in
particular. “The problem with the
transit housing is that it is heavily
over-subscribed,” he said.
He mentioned that
recommendations
have been made
to extend the
service to a two-
year period rather
than the present six-
month option. “There
have been a number
of lecturers who have left
this department entirely
because of the housing
problems,” he said, and he
felt that this was probably Illustration: Leigh Stadler
also the case in many other
departments.
2
Rhodes Debating excelled at the
2008 National Universities Debating
Championships, hosted by the
University of the Free State and during
the July vacation. The first year pairing
of Luxolo Matabese and Luyanda Mfeka
proceeded to the final of the English
Second Language section and held
their own against stiff competition. In
addition to this, Rhodes adjudicators
Brent Phillips and Louise Featherstone
were awarded the Raymond Adams
Memorial Adjudication trophy for the
best adjudicator at the competition and
for the Best New Adjudicator award
respectively.
“Rhodes’ dominance at these
With South Africa’s fast changing
media landscape comes the demand
for more multi-skilled journalists.
The Oppidan Press Multimedia team
is offering a unique learning experi-
ence that could kick start your ca-
reer. If you want to be more involved
in student journalism, specifically
in web and multimedia journalism,
email the Multimedia Editor.
competitions is indicative of the
comprehensive training programme
offered by the society,” Chairperson Clive
Eley commented. “This is particularly
the case in our adjudication training
– something unique to Rhodes is that
individuals entering the society can elect
to become specialist adjudicators. This
bodes well not only for the society, but
also for the promotion of critical thought
and argumentation on campus.”
This follows Rhodes’ success at the
Judge Edwin Cameron Invitational
Debating Competition recently hosted
by the University of Stellenbosch.
Christopher McConnachie and Philip
Abrahams progressed to the final of
Students at Rhodes University have an
infamous reputation for drinking. This
social habit has instigated intense debate
between the university, local residents
and bar owners which has resulted in
the passing of the liquor by-laws. But
can you teach an old dog new tricks?
The Oppidan Press took to the streets to
find out more. Watch the result of our
research.
this competition. Katherine Furman,
another Rhodes speaker, defected to the
‘dark side’ as she spoke with Richard
Stupart from the University of the
Witwatersrand. She also broke to the
final. Rhodes adjudicators again excelled
with the entire adjudication delegation
making it to the semi-finals, and with
Alinka Brutsch and Zimasa Gysman
continuing to the final.
To top off their performance at
the competition, Abrahams and
McConnachie also topped the speaker
tab, being ranked first and second
speakers respectively.
The Grahamstown National Arts Fes-
tival is internationally acclaimed. Per-
formers and artists from Rhodes were
a large part of the programme. Thanks
to CueTV and CueOnline, The Op-
pidan Press is able to showcase some of
these students’ works. Go online to see
some lo-res videos.
The end of exams is usually a time of
relief, but for returning Zimbabweans,
anxiety and anticipation outweighed
any feelings of excitement. The media
hype was unavoidable; everywhere
you looked there were horrific stories
staring you in the face. Even our very
own StudentZone advised us to remove
any Rhodes stickers from our vehicle
before crossing the border as they caused
“tensions” there.
The reason for all this worry was the
presidential run-off due to take place
the week after exams were completed.
Even before arriving in Zimbabwe,
the desperation of the situation in the
country became apparent. A second
year Law student was sent a shopping
list from his parents asking for the
most basic necessities. “I hardly had
enough space in my luggage for even
my clothes,” he admitted. A second year
Journalism student was asked by his
parents to bring home “as much Rand as
possible”. “Why?” he asked. “So we can
survive,” was the answer.
A large percentage of Rhodes
students are Zimbabwean, but many
are wary of speaking openly about their
vacation experiences, fearing serious
The Centre for Social Development
(CSD), Students’ Representative Council
(SRC) and Sharc joined the National
Youth Service to head the three sides of
a community initiative which will start
in Grahamstown at the beginning of
September.
SRC president Xolani Nyali will
coordinate the first side of the initiative
on behalf of the SRC. The project aims
to teach valuable entrepreneurial skills
to local unemployed and out of school
youths.
The CSD is heading the tutoring
programme, the second side of the
Rhodes University management agreed
to implement a leadership bursary for
the SRC president on 4 June this year.
The bursary gives the SRC president
the option of applying for an extended
academic programme, with the
additional year of study covered by the
leadership bursary.
This provision will be on trial for two
years, after which it will be reviewed by
the Dean of Students and the SRC.
The duties of the SRC president are
very time consuming. Current SRC
president Xolani Nyali says his duties
include, “overseeing the performance
of the vice-president, treasurer and the
people who report to them, meeting with
“How was your vac?” is the standard
question everyone asks at the begin-
ning of term. But ask The Oppidan
Press Politics Editor, Claire Wa-
terhouse, and you will get a rather
unusual response – she volunteered in
a refugee camp in Israel. We sat down
with her to find our more about her
experience. Log onto the web page to
watch our exclusive audio slide show of
her time in Palestine.
repercussions back in Zimbabwe. Dean
of Students Dr Vivian de Klerk has
expressed concern about the safety and
wellbeing of Zimbabwean students and
urges students to ask for assistance if
necessary. “If students would like our
office to set up a support group of fellow
Zimbabweans, we can easily do so – we
simply need a request from the students
themselves,” she said.
A first year studying a BCom from
Manicaland Province said that he had
seen people who were beaten in the
buildup to the elections, but he had not
fallen victim himself. He admitted that
the situation was desperate there. “A
bucket of maize meal was being sold
for Z$ 700 billion, and you can only get
Z$100 billion from the bank,” he said.
“The lifestyle at the moment is so painful
for everybody.”
But coming back to Rhodes for this
student is a relief. “Back at Rhodes, I
know everything will be fine, that is
why I like to come back,” he said. He
realises he is fortunate; the majority of
Zimbabwean citizens are not afforded
such an easy escape.
initiative. Sixty-four Rhodes students
have volunteered to tutor Economics,
Accounting, Management, Geography,
isiXhosa and History for two hours
every Saturday in Grahamstown East
high schools.
Tutor volunteering positions are still
available and applications for 2009 are
ongoing at the CSD.
Sharc, which forms the third side
of the programme, will run an HIV/
Aids awareness campaign in local high
schools.
the SRC on a daily basis, and spending at
least six hours answering emails.”
As a gesture of recognising all the
hard work done by the SRC, Rhodes
gives the SRC members an honorarium
at 50 percent of the BA fee for the
president, 35 percent of the BA fee for
the vice-president and excecutive and
25 percent of the BA fee for ordinary
council members.
“The honorarium payable to SRC
members is in recognition of their
contribution to the university and is
not regarded as a salary,” says Dean of
Students Vivian de Klerk.
>> Nolulamo Matutu
The second semester always brings
with it the much anticipated Inter-
res Rugby League. As much as being
a large part of a Rhodent’s social
calendar, it is also an exciting sport-
ing spectacle. The Oppidan Press
has created a new online vote, where
you, our readers can choose your
player of the week. Now the real
competition begins.
 The Oppidan Press 06.08.08

Sjoe. What do you think about the Afrikaans issue?

letters@theoppidanpress.com.

(“Afrikaners are dumb and racist, say English

students at Rhodes”) was an article published in Die Burger in May that caused an ongoing controversy
and debate on campus. Written by Rhodes third year journalism student Thinus Dippenaar, the article
quotes Afrikaans speaking students who feel that they have been discriminated against by Rhodes’ English
speaking community. Cilnette Pienaar attempts to assess the reality of the situation.
According to the President of the
Afrikaans Society at Rhodes, Anzet du
Plessis, discrimination against Afrikaans
speaking students is not prevalent at
the university. “The response I get from
students to being Afrikaans is friendly
curiosity,” says du Plessis, who refers to
herself as a ‘boere meisie’ from the Free
State. She says that many of the members
of the Afrikaans Society aren’t even Afri-
kaans, or white for that matter.
“Our secretary is a English-speaking
black girl who passionately promotes
the Afrikaans society,” says du Plessis.
Students from different races and lan-
guages attend the society’s functions to
learn from each other. “I have been part
of this society for over two years, and I
have never picked up that any Afrikaans
students are experiencing a crisis at
Rhodes. If anyone needs to be part of an
Afrikaans group, they know that they
can join us.”
Du Plessis is concerned that the
article in Die Burger has placed Rhodes
in a negative light unnecessarily. “I have
never been more comfortable being
myself than at Rhodes,” says du Plessis.
“The campus is politically active to the
extent that this type of discrimination is
quickly rectified so that it doesn’t reach
the levels that the media has taken it to,”
she says.
Politics Honours student Estelle
Prinsloo echoes these views. “I knew
that my classes would be in English, I
would probably have English friends and
that the environment would generally be
different to what I was used to, growing
up in an Afrikaner family. If you choose
to come to Rhodes, it is up to you to
adapt and embrace this unique culture. I
was pleasantly surprised at the begin-
ning of the year at how much diversity is
embraced at Rhodes and how welcome I
was made to feel,” says Prinsloo.
She says that she has managed to
integrate well into the University. “I
have studied at two universities prior
to Rhodes and this is the first time I
have experienced such good interracial
and intercultural relationships between
students,” says Prinsloo.
But these are not necessarily the
views of all the Afrikaans students at
Rhodes. While Thinus Dippenaar (the
originator of the Die Burger article)
acknowledges that it may be a small por-
tion of Afrikaans speaking students that
do experience discrimination, it is still
important to address the issue. In addi-
tion, he says he is not surprised that such
students will not express their feelings
to the press: “I have interviewed at least
ten sources (other than those quoted in
his article), but they are not willing to let
their names be published for fear of be-
ing targeted by more English students.”
Dean of Students Dr Vivian de Klerk
says there haven’t been any reports by
Afrikaans students about being discrimi-
nated against at Rhodes. She added that
if there was any overt anti-Afrikaans
discrimination this would certainly be
a cause for concern, but that no such
incidents have been reported to her.
De Klerk commented that not hear-
ing one’s mother tongue regularly can
make one feel like an outsider, since
language is an important part of anyone’s
identity. However, this applies equally
to the thousands of other non-English
mother tongue students at Rhodes. “Our
language policy recognises Afrikaans,
and aspires to have trilingual signs for
all major buildings on campus, so we
are heading in the right direction, albeit
slowly,” says de Klerk.
De Klerk cautions that it is important
to remember that Rhodes is not free of
prejudice and discrimination generally,
and that there is evidence of racist, sexist
and homophobic behaviour persisting,
despite the university’s best efforts to
counteract it. “So it is very possible that,
on a personal level, certain students
may behave in such a way as to alienate
Afrikaans students,” says de Klerk.
Dippenaar admitted that in his per-
sonal experience of being an Afrikaner
at Rhodes, he had not experienced dis-
crimination and said the number of in-
terviewees who felt otherwise surprised
him. “The general intelligent Rhodes
student enjoys the diversity that campus
has to offer and uses this opportunity
to learn from each other,” he said. “It is
>> Think before you speak!
Soutpiel n. Soutie abbrv.
The name given to English South
Africans by Afrikaners. The word is
a portmanteau combining sout (salt)
and piel (penis), so named for having
one foot in Europe and one in SA,
with the “piel” peeking into the salty
waters of the Atlantic ocean.
unfortunate that we have a handful of
students who still believe that Afrikan-
ers started apartheid so their children at
Rhodes must be racists”.
De Klerk emphasised that Rhodes
strives to be ‘home for all’. “Ours is a
very diverse campus, and such diversity
enriches our experiences – as long as we
are prepared to meet each other half way
and are open to getting to know what
makes each other tick,” says de Klerk.
Rock Spider n.
A term used by English speaking
South Africans describing Afrikaans
people. The word originated as
Australian slang for paedophiles in
correctional facilities, as rock spiders
have the habit of sneaking into and
inhabiting little cracks. Disgusting.

“Of course, mini-skirts have nothing to

Sinethemba Makhasi
The June/July spate of attacks relating
to sexual violence around campus has
shocked students and academics alike.
As Rhodes marked its Anti-sexual
Harassment Week, droves of students
and academics congregated on the
evening of 29 July at Eden Grove to
listen to a presentation by Professor
Louise Vincent entitled: “Women’s rights
get a dressing down: Reading the mini-
skirt attacks in South Africa”.
The relationship between sexual
violence and a woman’s dress code has
been a thorny issue in debates around
the country. In particular, the mini-
skirt is often criticised as a provocative
do with escalating violence! Violence is
caused by criminals, not by mini-skirts,”
Prof Vincent explained at the talk.
At the centre of these debates is the
African cultural perspective on women’s
dress code.
Members of the 1 in 9 campaign at
Rhodes University lambasted claims
during the debate that a mini-skirt is an
open invitation for abuse. The culture
of wearing short traditional clothes is
prevalent in most parts of Africa and
young women’s traditional items such
umbhaco (a decorated skirt usually
cut above the knee) form part of the
culture. Yet incidents of social ridicule
towards women wearing skimpy clothes
are recorded in most African countries,
Pics: Zukiswa Zimela

item of clothing, or, on the other hand,
applauded as a revolutionary item
representing women’s freedom and
control over their sexuality.
In a well documented case, Nwabisa
Ngcukana was sexually harassed at
Johannesburg’s Noord taxi rank last
year by a mob of taxi drivers who were
ululating Jacob Zuma’s victory song
Umshini wam. Her crime was wearing a
mini-skirt.
Whether a mini-skirt is an invitation
to sexual abuse or an item empowering
women is still a controversial question.
including Uganda, Kenya and Ghana.
Jennie Olesetse, a journalism Masters
student had a contrasting view: “It is true
that some women have been ridiculed
because of their choice of clothes. It
is, however, worthy to note that the
ridicule may be due to many years of
cultural beliefs that have solidified into
the thinking that women wearing a
mini-skirt are disrespectful and have
breeched a certain cultural code, and
therefore deserve to be either punished
or ridiculed into following that culture.
Given that African culture has changed
over time, this sentiment may be shared
by fewer and fewer people and may
sound bizarre to someone who does
not share the same cultural code, but
it’s sensible to someone who does,” she
explained.
Meanwhile, on two separate
occasions, reports about students
whose drinks were spiked at a local pub
were received by the Dean of Students
Division last week. On both occasions
symptoms of memory loss, weakness
and nausea were experienced by the
victims.
Dean of Students Dr Vivian de Klerk
has advised students to be careful about
their drinks and always go out in the
company of friends.
COURAGE TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT
Whether it was through words or song, from
the heart or by means of a well-prepared
speech, the GAP Open Mic night during
Anti-sexual Harassment Week provided a
platform for students to express their views
and share supportive stories.

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Residents of the West Bank are
still continually humiliated in
their “own” territory.
They don’t tell you that tear gas really,
really hurts. Not only did my eyes burn
as if they’d just been dunked in a bucket
of onions, but my lungs seized up, each
breath was excruciating and every inch
of my skin felt like it had been burnt
with acid.
And yet, it is used at least once a
week, in large quantities along with other
‘deterrents’ on the unarmed locals and
foreigners (and on one occasion, me) of
a small village called Bi’lin in the West
Bank. Each Friday, a group of villagers
make their way to the Israel Security
Fence (soon to be part of the Wall sepa-
rating Israel and Palestine) where they
stand and voice their frustration. And
each week, without fail, Israeli soldiers
fire tear gas and use rubber coated steel
bullets and sound bombs against the
peaceful protesters.
Bi’lin is unusual as it is the first village
I suppose it’s a good thing that the MDC
and Zanu PF are finally in talks, but it’s
hard to get excited about Zimbabwe’s
future when it seems that any kind of
settlement is going to keep Robert Ga-
briel Mugabe in a position of leadership.
Surely the world’s oldest tyrant needs
a break. I wouldn’t go so far as to say
deserves a break. He probably deserves
to be thrown out of a plane above the
Atlantic Ocean without a parachute. But
what sort of job position could be found
for this vampiric old man? Let’s look at
his qualifications: Political violence, state
terror, electoral fraud, kleptoracy and a
maniacal hatred of any criticism.
In most places (except for the Rhema
Church and North Korea) these are not
considered employable skills. But surely
no one on Earth is better qualified to
determine whether a country is heading
down the road to dictatorship. So I say
make him a special UN envoy. I can pic-
ture it now: Suspected torture in Uzbeki-
stan? Send in Mugabe because he knows
all the signs. Electoral shenanigans in
Italy? Mugabe will be able to recognise
all the tricks right away, seeing as he
practised most of them himself.
On the other hand, he may choose to
redeem himself in the eyes of the world
by reinventing himself as a misunder-
stood anti-hero. I can see it now: on the
couch with Oprah, promoting his new
book Why I Did It, tears streaming down
his ravaged cheeks. It could make mil-
lions before being turned into a movie
starring Wesley Snipes.
Or else, Mugabe does have six
degrees, so perhaps a job in the verdant
grove of academia
would suit him best.
A job at Rhodes,
for instance. I,
for one, would
avidly attend his
lectures, listening
attentively...even if
only out of pure fear.
to gain international attention for its pro-
tests. Villagers are suing two Canadian
firms for the role they have played in
building illegal settlements on Palestin-
ian land. For this reason, the villagers are
punished by nightly raids and arrests.
But Bi’lin is not alone: Soldiers raid-
ing private homes in the middle of the
night are completely normal throughout
the West Bank and Gaza. Knocking isn’t
necessary, some angry shouts or even
mini-bombs force every member of the
family out into the night. The men are
made to lift their shirts and leave their
pants around their ankles until soldiers
are satisfied with their search.
Raids aren’t limited to homes –
recently two students were killed
when soldiers stormed their university
residence in the middle of the night,
setting off small bombs and firing at
random as they made their way in.
Little mention was made of this issue in
international news, despite the fact that
had a university residence been attacked
in such a brutal manner anywhere else
in the world, outcry would have been an
understatement.
The giant Wall – or euphemistically,
the Security Fence – which is supposed
to protect Israel from terrorists also
Nicole Venegas
Rhodes was set to host the 20th annual
All African Students Conference (AASC)
from 13 to 19 July this year but the event
was cancelled at the last minute due to
disorganisaton and leadership disagree-
ments. The Oppidan Press sourced two of
the key players in the event’s organiza-
tion (or lack thereof) to find out why it
did not take place.
The AASC aims to build bridges
between universities and African issues
with each country bringing in their own
point of view. However, SRC president
Xolani Nyali pointed out that three-
quarters of the seats of the national
executives are held by Canada and the
United States, which defeats the point of
an African conference. He feels that “it
After over a decade on the run, former
Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has
been arrested and made his first court
appearance last week. He is accused
of masterminding a Serbian effort to
ethically cleanse the region of Bosnian
Muslims and Croats.
“We look for anything [in Karadzic’s
appearance] that might possibly justify
our belief that he is different, that he is
a monster and nothing like us. That is
the most important thing, to convince
ourselves that an alleged war criminal
is different from ordinary people…all
we see is our own reflection in a mir-
ror.” - The Guardian
“[Karadzic] has lots of options for
creating a circus, with all this grimly
complex history being pored over for
years in excruciating detail. There will
functions as a continual reminder of the
repression and complete lack of freedom
faced by Palestinian citizens. The Wall
also separates many farmers from their
fields and has cut several villages off
from their only livelihoods, never mind
the psychological toll its presence takes
on every person who has to look at it on
a daily basis.
Internal checkpoints throughout
‘Palestinian’ land are monitored day and
night by Israeli soldiers and whether
you are free to go home or get to work
is largely dependent on the mood of the
soldier who checks your pass. Passes?
Oh yes, those old apartheid relics still
exist in Palestine and all citizens must
carry them at all times in order to eas-
ily be identified. Yet another continual
reminder that Palestinians are thought
of as completely inferior, even in their
own territories (although how much
longer the land remains their own is also
in doubt due to the continual encroach-
ment of Israeli settlements illegal accord-
ing to international law, not that it does
much to stop it).
Human rights violations are rampant
throughout the West Bank and Gaza,
and until they stop, the chances of peace
are minimal. After all, it’s not too much
should be about what Africa thinks is
good for itself ”.
Katherine Furman, the chair of the
local organising committee, said that
one of the main problems in organising
the event was that the purpose of the
conference had become “fuzzier” due to
the lack of communication with, and di-
rection from, the AASC secretary based
in Jamaica. Nyali adds: “We didn’t know
who they were, or what they wanted”.
Therefore, the local organising commit-
tee ended up doing all the work, trying
to find themes for the conference.
Furman cited “petty leadership
squabbles” as another significant prob-
lem whilst attempting to organise the
conference. For one, there was some sort
of ‘coup’ in Jamaica as the chair of the
AASC was removed from his position,
creating what Nyali termed as “turmoil”
be no shortage of money for top-end
legal defence teams, if he wants them.” -
B92 (A Serbian news site)
“When he first appeared he seemed
almost like a school boy who knows
he’s done wrong, diligently following
the instructions of his three tribunal
guards, not at all the bombastic and
flamboyant Serb leader I remember
from my years covering the Bosnian
war. Radovan Karadzic was looking
measurably older, thinner in the face.
But whatever he was thinking, it didn’t
show on his face.” - CNN
“It is possible that Karadzic will be con-
victed of crimes against humanity or
war crimes, but acquitted on genocide
charges. For many observers of the Yu-
goslav wars, such an outcome would be
a grave setback for the project of inter-
to ask to be treated as human.
in the institution.
Additionally, Nyali had a personal
disagreement with the South African
Students Congress (SASCO) president
David Maimela. This led to SASCO
members, including those on the SRC,
being asked to boycott the event. Nyali
said: “It was a power trip by David”.
Nyali had a personal
disagreement with the South
African Students Congress
(SASCO) president David
Maimela. This led to SASCO
members, including those
on the SRC, being asked to
boycott the event.
national justice. For others, of course,
the near total certainty that Karadzic
will be convicted is itself a cause for
concern.” - The New York Times
“Karadzic looked older and thinner
than when he ruled the roost in Bosnia
14 years ago. But without the long
white beard and the thick mane of hair
that were the essence of his disguise
during a 12 year vanishing act, Karadz-
ic was unmistakably the same garrulous
character whom the Muslims of Bosnia
regard as a monster - the attention-
seeking narcissist whose ambitions,
complexes and rages spelt misery for
millions during the 1992 to 1995 war in
Bosnia.” - Guardian.co.za
So where does the concept of the AASC
go from here? Furman says that the local
organising committee is planning a new
project for a smaller conference with
a more academic focus, promoting “a
regeneration of African intellectuals”.
On the other hand, Nyali prefers the
idea of “a new continental SRC body”,
in which student leaders from African
countries would meet approximately
every five years to discuss issues affecting
African students. However, he recog-
nises that this could also become an inef-
fectual ‘talking match’.
Nyali believes that the AASC should
“tear their constitution into a million
pieces and burn it”; essentially, they need
to rebuild the institution from scratch,
reconceptualise and redefine their goals
to “let Africa be the driving voice behind
it”.
Ever wondered where HIV/Aids
actually comes from? Well, these
people have an answer for you!
Some scientists are claiming it
was invented by the US govern-
ment during the Cold War in
order to gain an advantage over
the USSR. Indeed, the idea was
that all Russian agents would
be infected with the virus and
become useless to the Red en-
emy...Ridiculous? Not if you’re
Russian!

Acts of violence, intimidation and unfair
treatment in refugee camps are causing
anxiety and tension among foreign-
ers in Cape Town, Johannesburg and
surrounding areas. As the repercussions
of xenophobic attacks spread across
South Africa, confusion shared by both
South Africans and foreign refugees has
sparked unsettlement and anger, even
here in Grahamstown.
Grahamstown has had no reported
incidents of xenophobia, but this does
not mean that both the foreign refugee
population and town locals have not
felt the tension. Joza has many Somali,
Pakistani, Indian and Xhosa people
running spaza shops, all of whom are
trying to make an honest living. As the
xenophobic tsunami ripples its way into
Grahamstown, certain spaza shops are
forced to close their doors earlier in the
evening than before in order to avoid
potential attacks from South African
citizens who feel resentment towards
foreign nationals.
Intimidation is also rife in the area.
Minutes after we interviewed two
Pakistani shopkeepers, thugs entered
their shop and robbed them at gunpoint.
This is the second time in a year and
a half that they have been affected by
crime. Ironically, during the interview,
they praised President Thabo Mbeki for
allowing them into the country. They
applauded South Africa, saying: “It is so
much better than where we come from”.
Diver Kaipa, a foreigner from Mala-
wi, enjoys life in South Africa. He moved
to Grahamstown from Johannesburg in
February this year, shortly before xeno-
phobic attacks peaked in Gauteng. Even
though the attacks did not affect him
personally, fear has driven him to return
to Malawi at the end of the year. He says:
“The South African government has to
change a lot in terms of security. It’s not
safe simply because they intervened late
with regards to the issue of xenophobia”.
Grace Dyokomba, a local from Joza,
agrees with many South Africans that
foreign refugees should “go back to
their own countries”. She feels that her
struggle to survive is intensified by the
presence of foreigners, who increase
competition for employment and
resources.
On the other hand, a local street
vendor who sells beaded work has
more competition from South African
hawkers coming from Durban and Cape
Town areas to sell their merchandise in
Grahamstown. For her, foreigners are
not a cause for concern; rather it is her
own countrymen affecting her income.
Although the xenophobic attacks that
have blighted the rest of South Africa
have not yet occurred on a large-scale in
Grahamstown, they have certainly forced
both foreigners and locals to confront
the issue of acceptance. Luckily, despite
tension within the nation’s borders, Gra-
hamstown remains one of the few places
in South Africa that maintains an image
of tolerance, for the most part.

Grey-jing Olympics
In a United Nations report issued in
2006, Beijing’s air quality was found to
be eight times worse than the recom-
mended levels of the World Health
Organisation (WHO). Poor air quality
remains a major concern in the lead
up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics. In a
desperate attempt to clear the air for
athletes, authorities in the city have
implemented an emergency pollution
scheme, removing over a million cars
on their bodies and lungs.
The number of vehicles on Beijing’s
roads has been halved. According to
regulations, cars with licences end-
ing in an even number are permitted
Surviving winter
to drive every second day, alternating
with licences ending in an odd number.
10,000 video cameras have been installed
Rambo-style
on major roads to fine offenders. Official First he called unemployed people
Olympic transportation, buses and taxis “greedy and lazy”; then, he called
are excluded. civil servants “pale and smelly”. Now,
The single largest air polluting factory obviously determined to live up to his
in Beijing, Shougang Steel Plant, is label of unwavering political incor-
running at 27 percent capacity. It has rectness, Berlin’s Minister of Finance,
Pic: Supplied

from the roads and temporarily closing
down hundreds of factories.
Athletes arriving in Beijing in
preparation for the games have reported
that major Olympic stadiums cannot be
seen because of the dense smog hanging
over them and many countries have sent
their athletes to South Korea to train in
cleaner air. Indeed, some athletes are
even refusing to compete for fear of the
long term effects the pollution may have
been reported that only a few factories
will stay open for ‘emergency’ purposes.
These temporary patchwork
measures have been described by
environmentalists as “putting lipstick on
the pig”.
Eric Falt of the United Nations
Environment Programme’s sports and
environment project said that China
“never committed to reaching those
specific WHO standards within the
timeframe of the Games”. Tests in central
Beijing on 27 July found 269 micrograms
of particulate matter per cubic metre,
while WHO standards quote a maximum
of 50 micrograms. than invest in more winter clothing!
And while last ditch attempts to clean
the air for Olympic athletes may just
work, long term improvements in Bei-
jing’s air quality remain unclear, as does
the fate of the average Chinese person
who will continue to breathe in Beijing
long after the last Olympian has left.
Follow Beijing’s daily smog levels:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_
pictures/7506925.stm.
Thilo Sarrazin, has decided on the
solution for high oil costs: Germans
should just “wear an extra sweater”.
Known as the ‘Rambo Minister’, it
seems he may soon need those skills
to fight off the angry mobs who
would rather have warm apartments
 6 The Oppidan Press 06.08.08
FREE SPIRITS l 8 August
DrumSoc hosts a drumming circle
every Friday from 16:00 to 18:00 in the
Botanical Gardens. Everyone is welcome
to come along and join in with the
drumming, fire poi workshops and other
games.
FARMERS MARKET 9 August
l
GRASS’ Farmers market continues every
Saturday at The Old Gaol from 9:00 until
noon. A wide variety of fresh foods are
on offer including vegetables from a lo-
cal farm, freshly baked breads, cakes and
muffins, jams and preserves, home-made
pasta, free-range farm eggs and more.
You’ll also find plenty of interesting
crafts such as leather works and pottery,
as well as potted herbs and succulents.
SHARC BENEFIT CONCERT l 9 August
A benefit concert and exhibition to raise
funds and awareness for Sharc’s HIV/
Aids campaign, the show will feature the
Soweto String Quartet, Ubom! and the
First Physical Theatre Company. Tickets
start at R60 and are on sale at Grocott’s.
HIV/AIDS AWARENESS l 9-15 August
Look out for the of HIV/Aids Awareness
Week - it will commence with an
opening address and film screening on
Monday, at 18:30 in Eden Grove Blue;
on Tuesday there will be an Open Mic
session on ‘How “HIV/Aids affects
me’ at 18:30, (the venue has yet to
be confirmed); Wednesday will see a
round table discussion headed by Tessa
Kirkaldy (AIDS Advocacy Officer) at
13:00 at Eden Grove Blue, as well as a
dance-off in the Great Hall at 17:00 and
a themed party at the Union at 20:00;
feel free to take part in a protest action
followed by a picnic at 13:00 on Friday.
WeRecommend
Pics: Supplied
Karen Reum
“It’s all in the genes,” says Tracy
Redmond, as she glances at her mother’s
glasswork hanging in her store window.
Redmond, owner of newly-opened
Kisma Kreations (located under the Red
Café) has been living in Grahamstown
for several years.
Her shop, which matches her spunky
attitude, is nothing short of charismatic.
She inherited a creative flair from her
mother and so began her passion for
making things. From an early age, she
wove wool bangles and sold them to
anybody who would pay.
Now she combines this enthusiasm
with her desire to help the environment,
and creates beautiful treasures out of
waste. Waste may have a somewhat
negative connotation, but her wares are
Michal Blaszczyk
The National Arts Festival featured
many student productions on this
year’s Fringe programme, including
contributions from Rhodes University’s
own drama department. Ranging from
dance productions to comedy to drama,
students catered to a variety of theatre
tastes.
The HamletMachine, directed by
Wesley Deintje and performed at the
Rhodes theatre last semester, was a
major success. Seven of the eight shows
were sold out, with people queuing at the
doors for additional admittance. Not bad
for a show that Deintje was originally
READING…
After his much acclaimed novel
Miss Smilla’s Sense of Snow Peter
HØeg has produced The Quiet
Girl, a philosophical thriller set
in Copenhagen. The novel is
about a clown with an unusual
gift to access people’s acoustic
senses. Having come across his
skill, a group of nuns hope to
use his ability to protect a little
girl. If you enjoy a book that
keeps you guessing throughout,
this story comes highly
recommended.
anything but trashy: bottle cap earrings,
clocks made from juice cartons and
handbags crafted from old records.
Redmond aims to provide customers
with interesting and inexpensive
treasures ideal for personal use and gifts.
Not only can buyers purchase
gorgeous goodies, but they can also
do their bit for the environment as a
positive spin-off. In this way, Redmond
increases awareness of the re-usable
concept and gets to share her creativity
with Grahamstown. If only making a
difference was always as easy as buying a
beautiful pair of earrings!
CHARISMATIC CREATIONS
Owner Tracy Redmond (right) turns other
people’s waste into unique gifts for sale, like
clocks made out of old records.
discouraged to put on.
“Led by only my pride – or
arrogance? – I decided to ignore the wise
words of those who had performed in
many previous festivals”, said Deintje,
who decided to go ahead with the
play’s production despite warnings
from peers and mentors. This turned
out to be a good move considering
the show’s success. Steven Finestone,
Artistic Director of the Actor’s
Centre in Johannesburg, placed The
HamletMachine in the top five of the 50
shows he had seen at the Festival and
rated it the best piece in the Fringe.
Another successful student-
orientated production was the physical
theatre piece New Voices, a group
Tel./ Fax: 046 622 3035
Fest fun. Watch some quality Grahamstown Fest videos
that don’t chow your quota. http://cue.ru.ac.za.
collaboration that showcased the talents
of third-year drama students specialising
in choreography. Overseen by Gary
Gordon and featuring the First Physical
Youth Company, New Voices consists
of four segments, each choreographed
by students from Rhodes and Tulane
University in New Orleans. From Nicola
Elliott’s Quartet in Fast and Sparse
to Joni Barnard’s Epicene: Portrait in
Two, each performance was met with
enthusiasm and praise.
“I found that it gave me the sense that
a person can create great beauty with the
human body”, said PJ Waugh, an enthu-
siastic first-year drama student who was
a spectator at this year’s Festival.
Short Skirts & High Heels, a comedy
WEARING...
When a well-known celebrity endorses
a label it’s bound to be good for business
as people sit up and notice what
their favourite stars are promoting.
Amakipkip is a new, vibrant clothing
label produced here in South Africa.
Known as a “brand of bling”, it is
donned by the likes of hip hop bands
Teargas and Jozi. Not only is Amakipkip
a trend setter in the current fashion
scene, but the label also promotes events
and other lifestyle activities.
Physiotherapist
DIANA PALMER
(M.C.S.P.)
Registered Physiotherapist
written and directed by third-year drama
student Roshnee Gaptor, was another
highlight of the student productions.
The play tells the story of four women
who end up involved in a drug deal after
their boss’ death. Combining humour
with social commentary, this original
play was well-received by festival-
goers. “Hilarious”, said Alice McKay, an
admiring spectator, “one of the funniest
plays I’ve ever seen”.
This year delivered another great
festival, showcasing our university’s
talent and highlighting the unvarying
importance of art. “This was my first
time at Fest,” said Siobhan Lumsden,
another student spectator, “and it was
fantastic! I’ll definitely be back”.
WATCHING…
Everyone is watching The Dark Knight,
the latest Batman flick currently
showing on the big screen. Shows were
consistently sold out at Roxbury, it raked
in a whopping $440 million worldwide
in the first ten days of its release and
critics are predicting a posthumous
Oscar nomination for Heath Ledger for
his role as the Joker, (which would be an
achievement of note as only two people
have won an Oscar posthumously in the
past). With a cast that includes Christian
Bale, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Morgan
Freeman, this movie is a definite do.
58C High Street,
Grahamstown
6139

Win tickets to see the Soweto String Quartet! Send us the answer
to the question. entertainment@theoppidanpress.com.
Catherine Boulle
Sadly, it is true: Taphjuis has closed
its garage-like doors for the last time.
The building as we know it will be
demolished and a block of flats will be
constructed. As daunting as it is that
Grahamstown’s favourite live music hang
out is now no more, Taphjuis went out
with a bang. They ended with a last blast
closing party on 1 August that took the
form of a battle of the bands.
But not to fear, as two new Graham-
stown ventures are here! I was trusted to
test-taste both Kiara’s and Scott’spot:
I expected the first of these to be
a small, buzzing coffee shop on New
Street called Browns. My trusty food
assistant, Si Gregory, and I were thus
surprised (and a little disillusioned with
the reliability of the previously trust-
worthy grapevine) when we discovered
a spacious (but not so buzzing) restau-
rant, called Kiara’s in its place. Upon
entering, we learnt that when The Suite
closed down, the initial plan for the
vacant premises on New Street was a
coffee shop called Brown’s. This idea
was quickly abandoned, however, when
the site owner of Taphuijs, Marinda
Van Achterbergh, decided to take over
The Suite and transform it into a stylish
restaurant. “A more up-market, relaxed
dining experience” is something Van
Achterbergh felt Grahamstown lacked
prior to the opening of Kiara’s. As Si and
I were two of only four customers that
afternoon, the restaurant’s “vibe” was left
somewhat wanting, but we were wholly
impressed with the décor. Si was equal-
lypleased with her roast vegetable pasta
but my “Gourmet’s Choice” sandwich
turned out to be a rather bland substitute
for the fine meal I was lead to expect,
and I spent the rest of the outing staring
Shea Karssing
This weekend Rhodes will be playing
host to four of South Africa’s most
celebrated musos as the Soweto String
Quartet serenade us with their jazzy
rhythms and traditional tunes. Kicking
off HIV/Aids Awareness Week on
Saturday 9 August, the benefit concert
is being organised by Sharc to raise
awareness and donations for local HIV/
Aids related projects.
Yellow House
Cocktail Bar
Woodfired oven pizza and homemade lasagne
43 exciting cocktails
We are open Wednesday to Saturday 18:30 till late
We offer cocktail specials on Thurs; Happy hour is between 23:00-00:00 Fri and Sat
We also do: Parties, private functions and live music
For booking, call 046 636 7884, cell 073 470 6105
rather enviously at Si’s infinitely
LATEST LUNCHES
Kiara’s is not the only new name in Grahamstown.
On the walk from Rat to Friars you may have
noticed the new Scott’spot sign.
more gourmet choice.
Thereafter we Scott’spotted it up.
Scott’spot – believed to be built on the
site where, in 1823 Lieutenant Colonel
Scott commissioned Piet Retief to build
a barracks for British soldiers – is, as
manager Chris Smith explains, “not a
pub, sports bar or restaurant. It’s a bit of
everything”. Si and I felt happily at home
in the cosy atmosphere of Scott’spot and
even more so due to the much-welcome
prices, which seldom exceeded R40. This
was just as well because our food took
roughly 50 minutes to arrive. But above
the sounds of our grumbling tummies,
a Jack Johnson CD played melodiously
in the background and we concluded
that the not-so speedy service was amply
compensated for with good food, quality
décor and a happy “vibe”.
Comprising of Reuben Khemese,
Makhosini Mnguni, Sandile Khemese
and Thami Khemese, the band became
a full-time professional group in 1992.
They performed at President Mandela’s
inauguration, after which Mandela
started recommending them for other
performances.
Although the band uses traditional
European instruments, their music has
increasingly absorbed native African
rhythms and intonations, experimenting
with guitars, keyboards drums, and
Pizzeria
&
On High Street
Kiara’s Final verdict
Food
Décor
Vibe Vibe watching a tape of you repeatedly and
Service
Value Value making copies and distributing your
the distinct sound of the pennywhistle.
This fusion of styles means that the
band has gained both national and
international fame, attracting large
audiences wherever they go. Now it’s
Grahamstown’s turn!
Also performing at the concert
are the local First Physical Theatre
Company and Ubom!, presenting the
contemporary, inspiring physical theatre
for which they have become renowned.
The concert will be held at the Guy
Butler Theatre at the Monument. Tickets
The Peppergrove Mall
Sale until the end of
August 2008!
Up to 30% off on Silver and Gem Jewellery
- Great 21st gifts: bracelets, chains, ID discs etc.
- Engraving
- Brands on Offer:
JAGA, Seiko,Citizen, Swatch, Police, Bijom, Xonix
The Oppidan Press 06.08.08 7
Entertainment
HITTING THE G-SPOT >>
Press Play
Takondwa Nyasulu
Gone are the days when celebrity was
achieved by having real talent and
actually going to work to make a liv-
ing. Today, it is all about positioning
a camcorder on a tripod and shaking
your money maker. Sex tapes are now a
sure-fire way for fly-by-night starlets to
get their Louis Vuitton foot through the
Hollywood door of opportunity. Think
Kim Kardashian. Apart from being
the daughter of OJ Simpson’s former
attorney, her only claim to fame is her
sex-tape with B-Grade musician Ray
Jay and being friends with fellow ‘home
video’ star, Paris Hilton.
For the rest of us ordinary folk, sex
tapes are a bad idea. At the time, mak-
Pics: Maryke Jansen Van Rensburg & Caroline East
ing a sex tape might seem like a good
idea. The voyeuristic and exhibitionist
elements of a sex tape bring that extra
bit of kinkiness to night time activi-
ties. Some of the men I spoke to said
that a sex tape allowed them to admire
their talent over and over again. My
suggestion to get a full-length mirror
was dismissed faster than you can say,
“Britney, put some panties on”. One
gentleman told me that it’s distracting
because, “you become more focused
Scot t’spot Final verdict
on what your body looks like instead
of technique for the job at hand”. The
Food women were all for mirrors, but appre-
hensive about the thought of video-
taping themselves knocking boots.
Décor It’s all fun and games until the break
up. Imagine your most annoying ex
getting his jollies from it. Sick.
There is the possibility that your
Service
partner might be a sweet, caring person
who would never want to hurt you by
romp, right? Wrong. When it comes to
making sex tapes, it’s pretty safe to say
that you cannot trust anyone. The risks
of making a sex tape
clearly outweigh the
benefits. It’s simply
a very bad idea. If
are on sale at the Grocott’s Mail office on you really cannot
40 High Street at R60, R80 and R120, help yourself, re-
depending on the seating position. All cord the deed, then
proceeds from the show will be donated watch it and
to charity. delete it im-
mediately
after-
The Oppidan Press will be giving away
wards. Or
two ‘golden tickets’ to the show! Question:
What does the acronym Sharc stand for? just be
Email your answer to editor@theoppidan- old fash-
press.com. The winner will be drawn from ioned and
a hat and contacted on Friday afternoon. get lots of
mirrors.
Tel: (046) 622 5579
8 The Oppidan Press 06.08.08

P Apply now! Become a part of the Oppi Press team 2009 and make your
mark on student media. applications@theoppidanpress.com.

Staff salaries under

scrutiny
Even though Rhodes is among the best
universities in the country in terms of
academic output, the university’s future
is threatened by dissatisfaction in the
ranks of both academic and support
staff.
A recent report published by
the Human Resources Department
revealed that 79 percent of Rhodes
staff, both teaching and administrative,
is dissatisfied with their salaries.
Currently, mainly senior admin is
being paid above the 50th percentile
(the point at which half of South
Africa’s universities pay their staff less
than Rhodes and half pay more) and
lecturers and support staff are being
kept under the 50th percentile.
At the Vice-Chancellor’s Forum in
September last year, this problem was
addressed and it was promised that it
would be rectified. But first, the age-old
“let’s play this safe” trick was pulled:

Illustration: Leigh Stadler

we’ll set up a Remuneration Task
Team. So that after months of research
we come up with the same conclusion:
most staff is under the 50th percentile.
They’re unhappy. Bravo, I say! Bring on
the obvious conclusions!
How did we get in this mess? In
September last year, The Oppidan Press
published an exclusive report on the
R1,6 million retirement gratuity that
former Vice-Chancellor David Woods
received in 2005; and an additional
R525,000 bonus payment that was
STILL the best cappuccino in town Philip Abrahams court, can’t there? Not necessarily.
With the CC taking all matters with a
not reflected in Rhodes financial During South Africa’s negotiated ‘constitutional flavour’, the SCA has been
Dear Editor, defined as follows: “One third espresso,
statements for the year 2005-6; as well revolution, the inevitable questions left to hear all other matters. As noted,
one third steamed milk and one third
as more grants and bonuses that were surrounding our pinnacle court the CC justices are as much philosophers
137 High Street is now in its ninth year milk-foam” (pg 48).
paid out to Woods. arose. Every court division is to be and politicians as judges, shaping society
of trading. During this period, many This is the formula we follow at 137
In a system where the senior staff a pillar of justice, but none is more according to their normative value
clients have said that the cappuccino High Street. However, the same formula
is prioritised and the Vice-Chancellor hallowed or sacred than a country’s system one judgment at a time.
served at 137 High Street is the best to can give different results in different
butters his own bread first, it’s apex court. Ultimately, the dinosaurs The problem? As history illustrates,
be found in town. places or countries. If the clientele
not surprising that the new Vice- of the Appellate Division were passed politicians and philosophers have a
Our advertising boards pronouncing prefers thick foam, for example, I am
Chancellor is left in charge of a sinking over in favour of the philosopher hard enough time abiding by the law, let
this were tongue-in-cheek and are in sure the coffee establishments will adjust
ship. kings of Braamfontein, and we were alone applying it. Unwittingly, the CC
the same vein as the “best deals in town” their brew accordingly.
However, you have to hand it to left with a team of 11 lauding over has turned South Africa’s law of contract
proclamations as a form of advertising. At 137 High Street we have
Rhodes staff: they’re positive about the most cosmopolitan city in Africa. on its head, rendering an assessment of
On one occasion Dr Margot Beard, never professed to sell i-t-a-l-i-a-n
their plight. The report by the HR With the supremacy of our (then the enforceability of contracts nothing
the critic of 137’s cappuccinos in a style cappuccinos; we sell good-old
Division highlights the fact that staff new) Constitution affirmed, the two more than a free-floating proportionality
previous edition of The Oppidan Press, Grahamstown cappuccinos that many of
are not yet thinking of abandoning courts operated concurrently, with the enquiry. With all due respect to the
has come in to 137 High Street and our clients enjoy.
ship – many love it in Grahamstown Constitutional Court (CC) taking all current CC justices, their lack of private
asked us to correct the spelling on one If Dr Beard wishes to enjoy another
and at Rhodes and just want their constitutional matters and the Supreme law expertise in tandem with the barrage
of our boards. Obviously spelling and style of cappuccino, I would not be
salaries to be adjusted. Court of Appeal (SCA) taking care of all of attacks currently upon our judiciary
cappuccinos mean a great deal to Dr arrogant enough to tell her she may not.
So come on Rhodes: give our staff other concerns. mean that a merger now or in the near
Beard. That, my dear Dr Beard, is what
their well-deserved cash. Because if Most would consider the question of future is simply not feasible. Whatever
In the new complete coffee book – A makes us all unique – tastes differ but so
you can find money for TriVarsity, a merger to be non-starter: if one takes Justice Sachs’ view on the matter is,
Gourmet Guide to Buying, Brewing and do levels of arrogance.
for senior admin restructuring, and the notion of a supreme Constitution you can be sure that ubuntu will have
Cooking, by Sara Perry (Chronicle Books
for planting and re-planting flowers seriously, then there can only be one something to do with it.
San Francisco 2001) – a cappuccino is All at 137 High Street
in front of the admin building every

P
week, you’re sure to find some money
to spare for the people who make it all Positions available: Editorial
happen.
There are other student newspapers you could join… Arts Editor
On a different note, look out for our But then there’s The Oppidan Press. Executive Business Editor
digs hunting booklet coming out at the Managing Editor Chief Designer and assistant
end of this term. And it’s looking to fill positions for 2009. Advertising Manager (2) Chief Sub-Editor (x2)
Marketing Manager Entertainment Editor
Gandhi once said: “I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and Financial Manager Features Editor
photographers”. We couldn’t agree more. We don’t believe in equality; we Distribution Manager Multimedia Editor
believe in being better than the rest. If you think you have what it takes to excel Community Engagement Officer News Editor (x2)
in the field of student journalism, apply to join The Oppidan Press team. It’s red Training and Development Officer Opinion Editor
Technical Officer Pictures Editor
Ines Schumacher hot. Applications close 22 August. Send your CV and letter of motivation to
Politics Editor
072 461 3174 applications@theoppidanpress.com. Job descriptions available on request. Sports Editor
editor@theoppidanpress.com

Editor: Ines Schumacher
Deputy Editor: Catherine Boulle
Managing Editor: Lionel Faull
Advertising Manager: Masixole Mdingane
Advertising Manager: Meike Mann
Marketing Manager: Andrew Lynch
Financial Manager: Solomon Moyo
Distribution Manager: Douglas Mbululu
Assistant Distribution Manager: Phillip Furusa
Community Engagement: Barry Sierra
Arts Editor: Amanda Strydom
Assistant Chief Designer: Ashleigh Swaile
Business Editor: Mbali Sikakana
Chief Designer: Stefania Origgi
Chief Sub-Editor: Emilie Gilbert
Chief Sub-Editor: Shea Karssing
Entertainment Editor: Takondwa Nyasulu
Features Editor: Cara-Ann Carstens
Multimedia Editor: Daniel Calderwood
News Editor: Anja Müller-Deibicht
News Editor: Kelly Adami
Opinion Editor: Sivuziwe Mzamo
Pictures Editor: Sarah Schäfer
Politics Editor: Claire Waterhouse
Sports Editor: Siphosethu Stuurman
Ombudsman: Robert Brand
Printers: Grocott’s Publishers and Printers
Letters to the Editor:
letters@theoppidanpress.com
Editorial complaints: r.brand@ru.ac.za
Advertising details:
advertising@theoppidanpress.com
Distribution queries:
distribution@theoppidanpress.com

Want to share your opinion? Let us know what you think of
the situation in Zimbabwe. letters@theoppidanpress.com.
Candice Cupido
In less than a decade Zimbabwe has un-
ceremoniously devolved from the bread
basket to the rubbish bin of Africa.
Instead of theorising and speculat-
ing about the situation of our northern
neighbour, The Oppidan Press ques-
tioned Zimbabwean students who went
home this past vacation to get a perspec-
tive straight from the horse’s bridled
mouth. All names have been changed to
protect the participating students.
What were the conditions in the
country during the June/July vacation,
compared with those you had experienced
when you left?
Tendai: “It was tough. The biggest
struggles were supermarkets. They were
initially empty at the beginning of vac,
and I think the biggest problem is the
economic situation.”
Munyaradzi: “I had to bath in a
bucket. I had no water for three weeks.
The focus has shifted, kids go to school
to deal, and teachers don’t go to school.” the one with the big cheeks [Tsvangi-
Nick: “Things were different to when
I had left, and when I had returned. For
one, goods were more expensive.”
Munashe: “Things were rough,
Chris McConnachie
On 14 July International Criminal Court
(ICC) prosecuter Luis Moreno-Ocampo
announced he is seeking a warrant for
the arrest of Sudanese President Omar
al-Bashir on charges of genocide, war
crimes, and crimes against humanity.
These charges relate to al-Bashir’s
involvement in the Darfur genocide
which has killed hundreds of thousands
and has displaced millions more.
This decision to seek a warrant for his
arrest has been met with howls of protest
from certain quarters, particularly the
African Union (AU) and the South
African government. These opponents
have called on the UN Security
Council to unconditionally suspend
the prosecution of al-Bashir should the
ICC’s pre-trial chamber authorise the
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economically. There was not adequate
electricity, water, or transport resources.
No law was in order.”
Shaun: “When I went there I was
scared out of my mind, because when
I left everything was chilled and cool.
People I know were getting beaten up.
I was really shocked. Things were dif-
ferent. There was no food in the stores;
prices went up nearly three or four
times. When you get back to Rhodes –
reality hits you. It’s not cool to see your
own parents struggling. It looks like
they’re depreciating with Zim.”
Were you ever harassed?
Tendai: “I didn’t experience it first-
hand, or witness anyone being beaten
up. The day before the elections, I went
into town, and didn’t see anything.”
Munyaradzi: “I saw direct intimida-
tion – groups of Zanu PF youths were
running around in the streets and
making everyone uneasy. If confronted,
and you fail to complete the slogans they
chanted, like ‘Pamberi neZanu, pasi ne-
chamatama’, (Up with Zanu, down with
rai]) you would be beaten up. Everyone
wore Zanu PF t-shirts, had stickers and
posters in their cars. You were regarded
as naked if you didn’t have anything,
warrant for his arrest. If this happens,
the indictment is likely to end the peace
process in Sudan, creating further
turmoil.
This “Peace versus Justice” argument
assumes that there is actually a peace
process that will be thwarted if the ICC
formally charges the Sudanese leader.
Since 2003, al-Bashir and other senior
Sudanese leaders have continually
snubbed efforts to establish effective
peace talks and continues to carry out
its campaign to exterminate the people
of Darfur. A further claim propagated
by the Sudanese government itself,
is that a backlash will ensue against
civilians, peacekeepers, and foreign aid
workers should the president be charged.
However, the Sudanese government
has instead focused its efforts on a
diplomatic offensive to win support from
the AU and the Arab League.
and they would clothe you in their own
way. You don’t see life in people’s faces.
For you to be safe, you had to act like a
Zanu.”
Nick: “I received no harassment, but
apparently it occurred. So, I guess the
stories are true.”
Munashe: “I didn’t see it first-hand,
but I felt intimidated. The atmosphere
was intense. I heard people were getting
beaten up.”
Shaun: “My sister was stopped by
Zanu PF youths, who ordered her to
chant slogans. She came home looking
like she’d seen a vampire. You had to
drive around with a Zanu PF banner, or
the book, if not, you got beaten up.”
With reference to the current situation
in Zimbabwe, do you think there is a
problem, and if so, how can it be resolved?
Tendai: “It’s complicated – sensitive
and complex. Because it’s taken so long
to resolve, there is no clean-cut way to
resolve it. Some say get rid of Tsvangi-
rai, and get a country of national unity.
He shouldn’t appear on MTV Base and
reply to questions about how he plans to
change things with: ‘Everything Mugabe
did, I want to reverse it’. Tsvangirai is
slow-minded; he cannot run a country,
he’s incompetent. People want Mugabe
It has also been argued that the
indictment will make al-Bashir unwilling
to relinquish power should he lose the
presidential elections next year, the
first in over two decades. After taking
power through a military coup in 1989,
al-Bashir has forcefully cracked down on
his political opponents and has routinely
imprisoned members of the opposition.
The prospects of free and fair elections
are as illusory now as they were before
the indictment was announced.
While the critic’s “Peace versus
Justice” argument does not hold much
virtue, it must be acknowledged that
efforts to end the suffering of the people
of Darfur should have priority over
lofty notions of justice. The issuing of a
warrant for al-Bashir’s arrest would in
fact be an important tool in the efforts to
bring an end to the suffering in Darfur.
If it is approved, the international
to step down, and anyone except Mnan-
gagwa to step up.”
Munyaradzi: “The European forces
should leave Zimbabwe to solve its own
issues. Tsvangirai felt insecure, but why
did he run to the Dutch embassy? We
have an African embassy in Zimbabwe.”
Nick: “With reference to politics, the
problem is people in power who want to
retain their power.”
Munashe: “Tsvangirai is a retard, he
makes inadequate decisions. The concept
of sanctions has lost its value. Because of
the sanctions, the stores are empty. The
best solution is Simba Makoni.” does not see beyond today.”
community will have an important
bargaining chip in their dealings with
the Sudanese regime.
The Security Council would be
in a position to offer al-Bashir a
temporary suspension of the charges on
condition that he cooperate with peace
negotiations, allow greater access to aid
workers and peacekeepers and that he
hand over the senior Sudanese officials
wanted by the ICC. This would also send
a clear message to other dictators that
the only way to avoid the international
justice system is to cooperate with efforts
The Oppidan Press 06.08.08 9
Pic: Anthea van Heerdan
A STICKY SITUATION
Before Zim Rhodents even got home, they were
warned to remove their Rhodes stickers from
their cars so as to avoid “tension”.
Shaun: “The Ministers are especially
the problem, they know that if Mugabe
loses power, they all have to step down.
Times have changed. Mugabe wants to
be president forever. He has to admit
he has done wrong – he doesn’t see his
faults. He views himself and his sup-
porters as victims of the world. He views
himself as the father of Zimbabwe, and
to end the suffering that they have
caused.
All of these benefits would be lost
if the AU’s call for the unconditional
removal of the indictment is heeded.
In effect, the Sudanese dictator would
be rewarded for his complete refusal
to cooperate with the international
community’s demands by being
handed a get-out-of-jail-free card. It
would suggest that the international
community can be effectively
blackmailed by a dictator’s cheap threats.
The ICC must approve the warrant
for al-Bashir’s arrest as a means to
gain al-Bashir’s cooperation in ending
the Darfur crisis. In the absence of
meaningful cooperation, the suspension
of the arrest warrant should not be
countenanced. In this way, the threat of
prosecution can be effectively wielded as
a political weapon for peace.
10 The Oppidan Press 06.08.08

Lifestyle
Complete
the grid by
RECIPE>>
placing digits
Coca-Cola Chicken
insult + injury one through
nine in each
cell in such a
Solution: Adding insult to injury

way that only

no ways it ways Solution: No two ways about it

one of each
digit is present
in every row,
column and

Pic: Supplied
box.

Ingredients:
8 Chicken thighs or 6 breasts
1 large onion, cut into rings
250g brown mushrooms, sliced
340ml can cola
Difficulty: 1 pkt cream of mushroom soup
Moderate 30ml chutney
30ml tomato sauce
1 tsp crushed garlic
3 bay leaves
Aromat to taste

Method:
l Brown chicken pieces in a little oil
or butter, add onion and mushrooms
and sauté for two minutes.
l Remove from the heat and place in
a casserole dish.
l For the sauce: add cola and packet
of soup to a saucepan and stir over a
low heat until smooth.
l Add chutney, tomato sauce, garlic
and bay leaves; stir frequently until
the sauce starts to thicken.
l Pour the sauce over the chicken,
season with Aromat and bake at 180
degrees for one hour.
l Serve with basmati rice.

UBOM!
O
SOWET First Physical
Township Dance STRING T Theatre
Project QUARTE Company
Saturday 9 August 7:30pm @ Guy Butler Theatre at Settler’s Monument
With an exhibition and auction of artworks by:

William Kentridge Zapiro Fiona Ewen Rowett

Lorna Cole Roxandra Dardagan Tony Swift and more....

The works will be open for viewing from 11: 00 at the Monument
The official opening will be at 18:00

One can register as a bidder from 11:00

Tickets for the concert are available at Grocott’s on 40 High Street

 The Oppidan Press 06.08.08

For a good cause. If you want to help Masincedane

out, contact them directly. masincedane@gmail.com.

The community has become heavily

Nicole Rice
On most days about 150 people can
be found queuing up outside Cynthia
Belwana’s modest home, but on this
particular day, it is raining so only a
handful of people brave the cold and
wait outside her house in the rain.
Stacked close together in a neat row, the
reliant on this soup kitchen. According
to Cynthia, “the people are very hungry.
We are always busy, except when it
rains”. Despite the rain, Zodwa Kolisi, a
local, waits in line, “I come all the time”,
she says, clutching her Tupperware
container tightly. Cynthia’s soup kitchen
is Kolisi’s main source of food, so she
takes as much as she can to last her until

Pics: Sarah Schäfer

people line up alongside the bright blue
wall, hoods and hats keeping their heads
warm and hiding their shy faces. The
children are surprisingly patient, eagerly
awaiting the soup. Three times a week,
the Xolani location attracts residents
from as far away as Joza and Hlalani to
Cynthia’s soup kitchen.
The soup kitchen started in 2006
in response to the Eastern Cape
Department of Education’s cut-back of
funding for school feeding schemes.
Rhodes University’s Rotaract Club
oversaw the funding and organisation of
a soup kitchen targeted at feeding these
children, as well as other impoverished
members of the community. The
initiative developed when the Rotaract
Club met with Captain Barthwell
Masala, a representative of the Salvation
Army in Grahamstown. This meeting
led to the creation of the Masincedane
society, which means ‘let us help each
other’, a name encapsulating what
the society is working to achieve.
Masincedane runs the soup kitchen by
providing Cynthia with the resources
and support she needs in order to serve
soup after school hours on a Monday,
Wednesday and Friday.
the soup is available again, which is only
in two days time.
Makana Brick and Tile is the project’s
main monetary donor, having supported
Cynthia for three years running.
Checkers donates its old bread twice a
week, Pick ’n Pay donates once a week,
and Fruit and Veg City occasionally
supply vegetables.
This year Masincedane started a
collection of non-perishable food items
at Pick ’n Pay. The collection only takes
place once a term but Tarryn Gillett, the
chairperson of the society, said, “people
were very generous and we got at least society has planted a vegetable garden at together, and everyone learned how to
four full trolley loads”. Cynthia’s house. Last year the gardening plant a veggie garden”. Masincedane is
The society uses the food and money equipment was donated by Phoenix planning to continue their involvement
collected to supply Cynthia with the Roller Mills, but this year the society with Umthathi.
necessities required for making the has made an effort to get more people Masincedane has plans for a further
soup and to pay her a weekly wage. involved. This was done with the help workshop which will be targeted at not focused exclusively on treating
Masincedane, however, is more than of Umthathi, an organisation which children. This will entail painting Masincedane as a feeding scheme,
just a charity organisation. The society’s runs accredited workshops on topics wooden signs with the names of the but transforming it into a sustainable
ultimate goal is to develop a self- such as nutrition, cooking and vegetable project’s sponsors to be stuck in the development project”. Cynthia is pleased
sufficient soup kitchen that no longer gardens. Umthati supplies the society vegetable garden. “Since we want to with the help but says that she still needs
requires their assistance. “Our role as a with additional gardening tools for the paint these, we thought we could turn it all the assistance she can get. Looking
student society is to develop the soup day so those who eat at the soup kitchen into a creative day of arts and crafts with around her small home and outside
kitchen into a sustainable project,” says could also get involved in planting. the children,” Gillett explained. at the small queue of hungry people
Gillett. This way Cynthia would be able Reflecting on the day Gillett said, “we On the whole, Gillett is pleased with standing in the rain she comments, “a
to run the soup kitchen herself. dug the ground together, and planted the work that Masincedane has achieved: shelter outside for protection from the
Moving towards this goal, the together, we sang songs and ate food “These workshops, as you can see, are rain would be very helpful”.

There are many students on campus
who have mental disabilities. I am one
of them. I have Asperger’s Syndrome
(AS), which is a mild form of autism. It
is a neurological disorder, not a disease. I
was diagnosed in December 2003 by my
psychologist and a psychiatrist.
Asperger’s Syndrome is named after
Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger. In
1944 the doctor attributed the syndrome
to children in his practice who lacked
nonverbal communication skills, failed
to demonstrate empathy for their peers,
and were physically clumsy. Fifty years
later, AS was standardized as a diagnosis.
Aspies (people with Asperger’s)
typically struggle with social skills and
generally avoid groups, including group
work. Many Aspies also do not know
how to read body language, so often
they do not know how other people are
feeling, giving very little eye contact
themselves. Many people with the condi-
tion hate crowds and hardly ever leave
their houses as Aspies can be very sensi-
tive to sounds, tastes, smells and sights
that tend to overwhelm them (sensory
overload).
When it comes to interacting with
people, Aspies are usually very straight-
forward, honest and impulsive, which
causes others to misunderstand them as
being rude or insensitive to their feel-
ings. They get to the point quickly and
do not know how to make small talk.
Aspies often go into their own world
during conversations because they lose
concentration and get distracted easily.
This means that they can appear to be
unresponsive, or tend to interrupt the
person speaking. People with the disor-
der never seem to fit in, losing friends
easily without meaning to.
Many people with Asperger’s Syn-
drome have poor motor coordination
and other co-existing conditions such
as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
Some have learning disabilities, taking
much longer to absorb and process in-
formation than the average person. This
means working a lot harder and longer
to pass.
The lifestyle of a typical Aspie is one
of rigid routines, where any sudden
change could cause serious anxiety. For
example, people with the disorder often
have to eat and sleep at the same time
every day and are usually very picky
with the way they eat their food. They
also have certain interests which they
are obsessed with, becoming ‘walking
dictionaries’ in those areas. Aspies have
become known as ‘little professors’.
Examples of people speculated to have
or have had AS are Albert Einstein, Jane
Austen, Beethoven, Wolfgang Mozart,
Henry Ford, Bill Gates, Bob Dylan and
Steven Spielberg.
The exact cause of Asperger’s is
unknown, although research supports
the likelihood of a genetic basis; brain
imaging techniques have not identified
a clear common pathology. There is no
cure for Asperger’s Syndrome. Experts
recommend that Aspies go to different
specialists for treatment, but this can be
very expensive. Medication is usually
anti-depressants and pills for mood
swings. Your understanding and accep-
tance would help us greatly.

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 The Oppidan Press 06.08.08

WTF? Have you seen anything unbelievable online?

Send us the link! letters@theoppidanpress.com.

Golden ticket into

space
French flight attendant Mathilde Epron
was lucky enough to buy the right
chocolate bar, and instead of winning a
tour of Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory,
she won a trip into space, scheduled
for take off in 2010 on board the
Rocketplane XL.
The Rocketplane XL, built by
Rocketplane Kistler, is in the race to be
one of the first commercial space flight
vehicles, designed to take space tourists
up for brief jaunts outside of the earth’s
atmosphere. Rocketplane Kistler claims
that they will begin commercial space
flights as early as 2009, but they are not
alone in their quest. Other competitors
include Virgin Galactics’s SpaceShipOne
(which has undergone test flights into
space as early as 2004) and XCOR
Aerospace’s as yet unnamed vehicle.
Epron was lucky enough to find the
winning code printed on the inside of a
chocolate wrapper, and if the spaceflight
doesn’t take off by 2011, she will win a
consolation prize of 150,000 euros.
Delia Tanner recently completed her Masters of
Forensic Science (MFS) at George Washington
University in the USA, a qualification that is not offered
in South Africa.
Tanner has always had an interest in forensics, so
after completing her Master of Science (MSc) at Rhodes
she applied for a Fulbright Scholarship to study towards
a MFS in the USA.
Forensic science is a broad term, describing
scientific methods that are useful in the legal
field, which usually means the science involved in
investigating crime scenes.
Obtaining her MFS was a very exciting experience
for Tanner, with course modules taught by
investigators, policeman, DNA specialists at the Armed
Forces Institute, homicide investigators, and even
the FBI. She focused on forensic molecular biology,
building on her foundation in the biological sciences.
“I wanted to apply science in a way in which I could
help the community more directly and hopefully have
more direct satisfaction,” Tanner said.
These days, Tanner is working at a company called
Abbott Laboratories as a technical analyst. Here she is
involved in biochemical work, manufacturing protein
antigens that are used in Hepatitis C tests.
Tanner has a real love for being in the laboratory,
working at the bench, working in the tissue culture and
fermentation labs, using different techniques and trying
out newer ones.
She is planning to enrol for a PhD at Wits next year.
The phrase nuclear physicist conjures up images of Dr
Strangelove and commie scientists in white lab coats
working on doomsday machines. Little could be further
from Helen Seals, a nuclear analyst for the Pebble Bed
Modular Reactor (PBMR) company in Centurion.
After her Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Physics
and Maths at Rhodes, she completed her Honours in
Astrophysics at UCT.
Astronomy was only a stepping stone to her real
interest- particle and nuclear physics. She began
an MSc in particle physics at UCT by working for
Brookhaven National Laboratory in the USA.
PMBR is a South African based company that is
developing small-scale nuclear reactors to sell both
locally and internationally. Seals spends her days
looking at radiation protection measures, analysing
the consequences of potential failures or accidents in
a PBM reactor and looking into the nuclear waste the
plants will produce.
When asked about working for a nuclear power
plant, Seals emphasises that the era of fossil fuels is
drawing to a close. Unfortunately, renewable energy
sources such as solar power and wind simply cannot
supply all of the power we need at this stage. This makes
nuclear power the only reliable way for nations to move
away from their dependence on fossil fuels.
She eagerly awaits the holy grail of energy: nuclear
fusion. But until then the challenge is to make nuclear
energy as efficient and safe as possible, a challenge Seals
has taken up at the PBMR.
Taking a stroll through the Botanical Gardens, you
could be walking over Agrostis gigantea or Axonopus
fissifolius, or perhaps another of the 11 thousand or
so grass species that will make up the online grass
database, Grassbase. It would take a botanist to know
the difference between each little strand and leaf!
And that’s exactly what Kehan Harman is. He began
his profession with a BSc in Microbiology and Botany,
followed by Honours in Botany at Rhodes and MSc in
bioinformatics at Cranfield University.
Finally he got what he calls his first “science job”,
working at the Royal Botanic Gardens in London.
There he learned about taxonomy and biodiversity
informatics. What with the huge amount of data they
use, scientists need systematic ways to deal with it!
Harman began working on this database while he was
taking care of the grass species collection kept at the
Gardens.
He is currently working on something like Facebook
for biologists, an internet platform called “Scratchpads”
where scientists can post pages about their research.
Harman encourages aspiring scientists that if you
want to work in science, not getting your ideal job first
time shouldn’t mean the end of the road. “You may feel
like you’ve lost touch with what you did at university
after several months packing shelves in supermarkets,
but perseverance is definitely worth it. You’ll soon
discover that it all comes back to you as soon as you
start applying the stuff you learned.”
>> Laura Richter

Congratulations to our intern Noxolo Mabona, a Grade 12 from TEM Mrewtyana High School
who won the Science Expo that was held at Rhodes University in the last week of the vac.
Nine years ago, a farmer in Somerset, England decided he no
longer wanted five of his calves so he dumped them on the
doorstep of the Ferne Animal Sanctuary. Among these cows
was Chilli who, standing at a mammoth six feet and six inches
and weighing well over a ton, is believed to be on his way to
breaking Britain’s record as the tallest cow ever. Naomi Clarke,
manager at the sanctuary, admits that she only realised only
realised how ginormous Chilli really was when he failed to
fit into a standard-sized cattle cage. Today, Chilli is roughly
the same size as a small elephant, but he is reportedly “a very
friendly and gentle cow”. Clarke is at a loss as to how her
beloved bovine grew so large: “We don’t know what has made

Pic: Supplied
him so tall. He doesn’t eat much and his feet and head are in
proportion”. Clarke is now waiting to hear if Chilli’s application
to the Guinness Book of World Records has been accepted.

70 High Street, Grahamstown 6139

Telephone & Fax: (046) 622 3115

Engraving, Watch
&& Jewellery Repairs
 The Oppidan Press 06.08.08 13

Pick me! Get some exposure for your student business.

business@theoppidanpress.com.
Marcelino Nkuna
The prevalence of crime scene investiga-
tion in popular TV programmes has
changed the way some of us view police
work. For BK Toana, a third year BAcc
student, these shows inspired a cloth-
ing label he has founded with Tumelo
Moletsane, a BCom student. The label is
called Forensics, and the clothing typi-
cally displays designs of thumb prints,
magnifying glasses and other investiga-
Pic: Supplied
Business
dress concerns raised by customers. The
partnership employs a full-time graphic
designer and makes use of a printer that
makes the high quality t-shirts. Both
admit the industry they have entered is
highly competitive and differentiating
their product from the rest of the pack
is essential. “Our aim is to combine
a quality product that can compete
with established brands with a pricing
structure aimed at a student pocket,”
Moletsane says.
Capital for the establishment of

tive items. the business has been sourced from

Marcelino Nkuna
To all those who doubt the continuity
of a business started while at varsity,
think again. The Black Rage Produc-
tion Company is evidence that student
businesses can survive in the real world.
The dynamic trio of former Rhodes
Journalism students Marie McCloy,
Addiel Dzinoreva (Dzino) and Kutlo-
Records, is a recording label which
created the Coca Cola Collaboration
album that featured the best in South
African music such as the likes of Hugh
Masekela. Black Rage’s TV division
currently produces a number of popular
urban culture shows, for instance Noted
on SABC 3, and Kasi 101 and Headrush
on DSTV’s Channel O. One of the
founders, Skosana, is also a presenter on
SAFM Radio.
embraced diversification within their
company’s structure.
The enterprise has gone beyond
definition as a media company,
becoming a service provider that
markets South African urban culture to
the rest of the world by recommending
local acts to perform at international
festivals. The company’s website offers
users an inside look into the latest in
urban fashion, music and nightlife in
Toana came up with the business
idea in response to the limited variety of
places to shop in Grahamstown, which
he found to result in a lack of exclusive
clothing available.
Toana then approached Moletsane
for his shrewd business sense and started
planning the venture. “The market re-
search was a challenge because we didn’t
see the usefulness of surveys,” Toana
says, citing the inability of surveys to
gauge market response to their product
in real, financial terms. The next step
they took was to develop a launch edi-
tion of t-shirts to expose the label in a
brand awareness campaign to determine
the viability of their product and ad-
the two students as well as three other
independent investors in order to avoid
reliance on debt provided by financial
institutions. As young entrepreneurs,
guidance can be a huge advantage. Toana
is receiving pointers from the owner
of a clothing label in Cape Town while
Moletsane has the help of his mentor
who is an investment banker with vast
knowledge to draw from. Toana’s creativ-
ity and Moletsane’s prudent venture
capitalist thinking is what makes their
partnership thrive. The duo plans to
register as a Close Corporation, increase
their product range and introduce their
business to other campuses in South
Africa in the near future.

ano Skosana began operations in 1996
and have since become a leading media
company well in tune with South Africa’s
urban youth culture. Their success has
proved that you don’t need a commerce
degree to get involved in business.
One of their subsidiaries, Outrageous
In keeping with good business prac-
tice, Black Rage saw the gap in South
Africa’s media landscape and seized the
opportunity to cater for South Africa’s
urban youth culture, whilst keeping
up-to-date with trends and growth in
the market. The company has also fully
Maxwell’s
every major city in the country and
is distinctly South African in style.
Its innovation in the media world has
opened doors for Black Rage to produce
content for BBC Radio and TV. These
mavericks are thus living proof that
Rhodes truly is “Where leaders learn”. Tel: 046-6225119
38 Somerset Street
Grahamstown 6139

I A L S
Mbali Sikakana

The 10,000 strong ethnic Chinese

community in South Africa has been in-
cluded in the definition of ‘black people’
in a ruling by the High Court, entitling
them to the benefits of the BBBEE Act
(BEE). The ruling has put black business
organisations such as the Black Manage-
ment Forum, Black Lawyers’ Association
and Black Business Executive Circle on
the offensive in a bid to challenge it.
The Chinese community’s presence
in South Africa during apartheid is
seldom acknowledged. Chinese people
could not vote before 1994, they were
excluded from public facilities, banned
from certain areas, subjected to job and
educational restrictions as well as forced
removals. Only Chinese people who
were citizens before 1994 qualify for BEE
status. This means that Jack Two, the
manager of Jessica Fashions and a third
year BEcon student at Rhodes, does not
qualify. “If Chinese people were affected
by apartheid and power was taken away
from them, it is reasonable to give that
power back, even though I don’t believe
they were treated as badly as blacks,” he
said.
With the net widening as far as
who qualifies for BEE, the reactions
from students, future employers, and
employees are relevant. “There are some
black people who say that fighting in
the struggle against apartheid should be
a determining factor as to whether one
qualifies for BEE status. “Valid point, but
I personally see no problem with Chi-
nese people being included,” says Portia
Gumede, a first year BBS student.
Chrisna Coetzee, a second year BA
student is optimistic: “Some white South
Africans may see this ruling as another
light push out of the door. I don’t agree
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Immigrant Chinese outnumber Chinese
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06 August 15 - 16 August
Student Forum TriVarsity
(Details to follow)
East London/ Alice
07 August
There will be a bus available
Societies Awards
to transport people for Tri-
Evening (Details to follow) Varsity from Rhodes to Alice
11-15 August 13 - 15 August on Saturday 16 August. It will
leave the Transport Department
TriVarsity build-up week Nominations open for at 07:30 on Saturday morning
Rhodes Campus SRC elections and return after the last game.
The cost of the bus is R95 per
25-29 August person. Students need to book
and pay before 9 August at the

SRC elections SRC office.

SRC Website - up and running!

Weekly slot on RMR: Friday mornings, 8.30ish:) Get the lowdown on what’s
happening with the SRC and on your campus.

Springbok dream team. Vote for your favourite players online and we’ll
create the Oppi Press dream team! www.TheOppidanPress.com.
Ines Schumacher
The Chinese prefer to leave the fourth
floor of a hotel to foreigners as four is
considered to be an unlucky number in
China. Not even the Olympics are being
spared from Chinese superstition. On
8/8 (that’s 8 August), at 8 minutes past
8, the games will begin. As you might
have guessed, eight is a lucky number
in China (even though it’s a multiple of
four).
The lucky number eight is not
working in favour of the Chinese in
2008. Natural disasters and political
unrest are occurring all over the
country. But the Chinese would not be
the Chinese if they considered all these
disasters to be just an unfortunate series
of events. Instead, the Chinese believe
that the “Curse of Fuwa” is a more likely
Phetane Rapetswane &
Litha Mpondwana
Wednesday nights are never going
to be the same again as the annual
Castle Lager Internal Rugby League
commenced on 23 July with two intense
match-ups. Defending champions the
Dream Team will attempt to repeat their
good form from last season but will face
stiff competition this year.
There are six participants in this
year’s league and Smuts Manager Zenzo
Sibanda is predicting a close contest
between the teams: “I expect less lop-
sided fixtures because of the amount of
sponsorships and support the teams have
received”. He added that the “Mkhulu
Blues and Heathens are my favourites, as
they have retained most of their players
from last year, and look to be on form”.
There are numerous changes to the
structure of this year’s league, including
the schedule, as teams will no longer
play two games a week like last year.
Rhodes Rugby Chairman, Alan Foulis
explained this change, “having two game
nights a week proved to be too much
for the unseasoned rugby players”. With
more time to train between matches, the
new format should allow the players to
explanation for these disasters.
Fuwa are the five Olympic mascots
Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yinging and
Nini. Don’t be fooled by their cartoonish
innocence or the way their names
combine to read “Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni”
(“Welcome to Beijing”).
Back in May, when the devastating
earthquake hit the province of Sichuan
(home of the pandas) bloggers pointed
out that Jingjing was a panda.
Coincidence?
Not if you know that the worldwide
protests against the Olympic torch relay
(a public relations disaster for China)
was blamed on mascot Huanhuan,
who is the physical incarnation of the
Olympic flame.
The political unrest in Tibet could
only have been caused by the evil doings
of Yingying, a Tibetan antelope.
The Chinese were even able to find
play to the best of their abilities and will
hopefully mean fewer injuries.
The semi-finals will take place on
August 29 and the final on 3 September.
The prizes for the winning team in
this year’s league will include a floating
trophy, free tickets to the Rhodes Rugby
Awards dinner, and sponsored t-shirts
from Castle Lager. Video Spot and
Roxbury will also hand out spot prizes
during the games on Wednesday nights.
Foulis expressed concern with the
general behaviour of spectators at
the games. He particularly hopes to
curb obscene language directed at the
referees. He says that it “is especially
important this year, as Border referees
have offered to send through East
London referees for all our games,
without charge”.
Pic: Samantha Claasens
something to blame on Nini, a mascot
who is meant to embody a golden-
winged kite designed in the shape of a
swallow. Nini has been held responsible
for a deadly train accident in Weifang,
famous for its kite-making industry.
Finally, the hype around the curse of
Eastern Cape soccer fans can finally bay for their own PSL team
Tsepiso Sathie Nzayo
After ten years in the wild, the Eastern
Cape returned to top-flight football
when Port Elizabeth-based Bay United
snatched a 2-1 victory over FC AK in the
promotional play-offs last month.
The victory ensured that the soccer-
starved Eastern Cape will get a taste of
Premier Soccer League (PSL) action as
Bay United will now face the likes of big
boys Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and
Mamelodi Sundowns on a weekly basis.
United’s promotion to the PSL is
Going to TriVarsity?
Siphosethu Stuurman
TriVarsity fever is now coursing through
all purple-blooded students’ veins, but
there is some confusion as to which of
the two campuses of the University of
Fort Hare will host the sporting extrava-
ganza.
Rhodes Sports Officer Glynis de
Long set the record straight: the Friday
15 August events such as tennis, surfing
and the other water sports will take place
in East London, with teams required to
travel to and from East London for the
CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST
UP TO 50% OFF!
Massive stock clearance on name
brand clothing, shoes, bags and
sports equipment.
Cricket, rugby and hockey stock to go!
Pics: Supplied
the Fuwa reached its boiling point with
the floods in the south of China. Who
but Beibei the fish could hatch such an
evil plot?
Five mascots, five pre-Olympic
disasters. The work of the evil-doers is
now hopefully complete.
quite an achievement for a team that has
only existed for three years. The team
is the baby of Volkswagen South Africa
who bought the franchise and relocated
it to Port Elizabeth to form the victori-
ous Bay United that has now brought
professional football to the Eastern Cape.
United’s promotion to the PSL has
reinvigorated soccer development in the
Eastern Cape, which previously acted as
a talent pool for clubs in other provinces.
The club’s stars include Gareth Ncaca,
who showed a commanding display in
the midfield, and Linos Chalwe who had
a total of 11 goals for the season.
day. Saturday 16 August is the grand day
for basketball, netball, cricket and the
ever-popular 1st XV rugby game, which
will all be hosted at Fort Hare’s Alice
campus.
For all those die-hard fans who want
to watch our teams attempt to bring
back the cup, the SRC is organising three
buses that will take students to TriVar-
sity for R95 per person for a return trip.
Bookings close on 9August.
For more TriVarsity details, there will
be an information forum scheduled for
Monday 11 August, with time and venue
to be announced.
The Oppidan Press 06.08.08
Sports
The lure of the Euro
I watched as Kevin Pietersen thrashed a
commanding century against his native
South Africa as if to say: you should be
sorry you let me slip through the faulty
cracks. If that wasn’t enough to leave a
sour taste in any South African’s mouth,
perhaps the sight of ex-South Africans
Pietersen and Andrew Strauss donning
English regalia should have done it. It
makes you wonder how much of our
talent goes begging abroad.
English county cricket is peppered
with South African players, all of whom
are doing well (if not better) than their
English counterparts. The likes of former
Proteas Jacques Rudolph, Martin Van
Jaarsveld, and Zander de Bruyn traded
their green and golds to ply their trade
in lush English outfields. For them, a
cheque in pounds keeps the demons
that taunt their Protea dreams at bay. I
suppose money has the power to seduce
anything.
The lure of foreign currency seems
to be a favoured solution to the wrath of
the streaky quota system in SA sport.
It’s a worrisome trend in South Africa
that most of our players are seeking to
sell their skills abroad because the pound
and Euro speak louder than national
honour. Is national pride silenced by
attractive pay cheques elsewhere?
Benni Mcarthy is a fine example of a
sell-out. He has timelessly snubbed his
country because the English premier
league meets his true priorities.
Sport personalities can mask their
reasons for moving abroad, citing
quota systems, but this excuse is a
tad exaggerated and over-used. It is
a legitimate reason for heading to
greener pastures, but players should not
deny their aspirations of making big
bucks. But, maybe this is all pessimistic
speculation. After all, I’m just a writer
in front of a computer
with no experience
of the pressures of
international sport.
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
SPORTS • SPINAL • GENERAL PRACTICE
Mark Anderson
BSc. (Hons) Wits
10% student discount on
presentation of student
card.
Terms and conditions apply
St Andrews College Sanatorium
Bedford St, Grahamstown
6139
Tel: 046 648 2875
Cell: 079 381 4466
Fax: 046 648 2875
markanderson@telkomsa.net

tiring but the majestic scenery of all
Siphosethu Stuurman
the places we passed kept me going,”
she says.
As the controversially drug-scarred Tour The gruelling cycle needed the par-
de France dominated cycling headlines ticipants to be at their best fitness level
in July, one Rhodes Masters student and Collings had prepared herself well
cycled 720 km in just over a week for by spinning, jogging and doing other
charity. exercises in Grahamstown before her
Sandy Collings, an environmental departure. “I was worried that I would
scientist in-the-making, joined a group hold the whole group back. That thought
of American students in California as made me work hard in preparing for the
part of a Jesuit volunteer programme journey,” she says.
which raises awareness about living The group hit the road at about 9am
green. every day and would cycle the whole day
Collings and her group cycled from until they reached a campsite around
San Francisco to Los Angeles in eight 6pm. “Day five was our longest day, we
days. “The journey was awesome and cycled about 128 km and day six was our
Africa’s infrastructure will not be ready
Tsepiso Sathie Nzayo
for the World Cup. FIFA President Sepp
Blatter shocked the nation last month
Eastern Cape celebrations at entering when he publicly admitted that he has
the soccer big-time were cut short by the a “Plan B” should South Africa be un-
2010 World Cup Local Organising Com- able to host the soccer extravaganza.
mittee (LOC) who axed Port Elizabeth However, Blatter did stress that “Plan B”
from the list of cities to host the 2009 would only be activated in the event of
FIFA Confederations Cup. a national disaster. In any case, nobody
The decision was made after the really knows what Blatter’s “Plan B” is.
LOC’s technical team expressed con- South Africa is building five new
cerns that the stadium would not meet stadia while another five are being
its construction deadline of 30 March upgraded for the first-ever World Cup to
next year. be staged in Africa.
“With the complex nature of the The Nelson Mandela Stadium in
construction and erection of the roof of Port Elizabeth was the only newly-
the stadium, it was decided that it would built stadium to be earmarked to stage
be too high a risk to keep the stadium in Confederations Cup matches. Khoza
the FIFA Confederations Cup schedule,” maintains that Port Elizabeth was still
said LOC chairperson Irvin Khoza. part of the LOC’s plans for 2010. But for
The Confederations Cup has always now, though, only four venues: Loftus
been used as a warm-up event for (Pretoria), Ellis Park (Johannesburg),
the World Cup host nation to test its Free State Stadium (Bloemfontein) and
preparedness. the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace (Rus-
Port Elizabeth’s exclusion has added tenburg) have been confirmed for the
to the widely-held belief that South Confederations Cup.
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A taste for life
shortest as we cycled only 36 km,” says
Collings.
Though day six was the shortest day
for the group, Collings admitted that it
was their toughest day as they had to
climb a 1,500 foot (about 460 m) hill in
just 8 km. “The construction workers on
the side of the road and the traffic going
by were very supportive, they shouted
some words of encouragement to us,”
Collings recalls.
On the final day the group cycled
for 80 km and arrived in Los Angeles at
5pm. The group had finished three boxes
of energy drinks during the entire jour-
ney. Luckily there had been no accidents
or injuries.
Siphosethu Stuurman
Rhodes has finally appointed a new
Head of Sport after a long period of
acting headship by Health Suite manager
Janet Kelly and Sports Officer Kerr Rog-
ers.
Roger Adams was officially welcomed
as the new head of sport on 3 July, taking
over from Aziez Madatt who resigned
earlier this year.
Adams hails from the Western Cape
where he worked at the University of
Western Cape for seven years and then
moved to the University of Cape Town
where he worked for 11 years as a sports
co-ordinator and manager of the UCT
fitness centre.
Adams’ sports experience goes
beyond varsity level as he has assisted
in coaching a number of first division
rugby clubs. He has been part of the ter-
tiary athletics committee since 1993 and
was its chairperson for four years.
“Head of Sport [at Rhodes] is an op-
portunity I have been interested in for a
while,” says Adams, who is happy to be
part of the Rhodes Sports Council.
“I would like to assert sport as part
of students’ development at tertiary level
as there are opportunities for nurturing
skills and leadership,” adds Adams.
His wish for sports at Rhodes is to
see more racially-integrated integrated
sporting codes where no one race domi-
nates.
The Chinese are scared of
their Olympic mascots!
Page 15
Back at Rhodes, Collings is generally
a sporty person as she plays hockey and
enjoys climbing and mountain biking
with friends.
“It is difficult to address racial
dominance in certain sports which
reflects the same in the bigger society,”
says Adams.
With TriVarsity just around the cor-
ner, Adams called for Rhodes supporters
to behave themselves: “Disorderly be-
haviour is always unfortunate in sports.
TriVarsity is an integrated exercise with
other institutions that are different in de-
mographic profile, it’s a kind of exercise
that should be promoted.”
The Oppidan Press sports team wel-
comes Roger Adams and wishes him all
the best in his new position.
Pic: Supplied
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Asperger’s Syndrome.
Page 11
Litha Mpondwana
The Springboks have made a fairly
inconsistent start to their first full season
as the reigning world champions, despite
their historic victory over New Zealand
in Dunedin.
After comfortable victories over Six
Nations champions Wales and Italy,
questions were raised about an exposed
Springbok scrum. But there was much
optimism over the expansive game new
coach Pieter de Villiers was aiming to
introduce.
De Villiers’ execution of his plan
has been delayed by an inconsistency
in selection, where he has failed to field
the same Springbok line-up in any test
matches this season, but in hindsight
there have been positives.
However, the Springboks have tended
to play a bit too loose at times, and that
has contributed to various weaknesses
in their strategy being exposed in their
defeats so far this season.
De Villiers has been mocked by the
Australasian media for his philosophical
antics during press conferences, but his
jovial personality adds to the entertain-
ment aspect of international rugby.
The Springboks are in a good position
to win the Tri Nations this year, and if
De Villiers and his coaching staff finally
produce a consistent line-up, the Spring-
boks should enjoy a prolonged period of
dominance in world rugby.