ALL NINE members of the Ernest Oppenheimer Hall (EOH) House Committee resigned last week after the two entertainment officers were voted out of office.

The residents successfully tabled a motion of no confidence in the entertainment office, in a house meeting held on September 11, which resulted in their dismissal. After the vote, Tafadzwa Kufazvinei resigned as chairperson and the rest of the house committee followed suit.

In his resignation letter, Kufazvinei said, “It is rightfully acknowledged that there were issues in the Entertainment Office and mistakes were made. However, it is false to assume that these mistakes were due to the mistakes of individuals.”

He said that the failings of the entertainment office were due to the decisions made by the entire house committee, and he was taking responsibility as the chairperson because he had sanctioned each and every decision.

“It is for this reason outlined above that I immediately resign following the vote of no confidence. As the leader of this team, I believe that a vote of no confidence in any member of the House Committee is a reflection on me. On introspection, a failure to inspire action or adequately monitor the different portfolios may have led to our demise. For that I sincerely apologise to the House and the House Committee,” wrote Kufazvinei.

In their resignation letter, the remaining house committee members wrote that it was not morally justifiable for them to continue holding office as they wanted to take collective responsibility..

Kufazvinei refused to talk about the reasons for the house committee’s resignation, saying it was a house matter and they were not discussing it with anyone, least of all Wits Vuvuzela.

EOH Warden Nazime Randera told Wits Vuvuzela that the entertainment officers were facing allegations of insufficiently consulting on the ideas of a “certain party”, and the ideas of the sub-committee were not incorporated into the plan. The accusations also included the failure of the office to advertise house events extensively. “They [residents] wanted to host open session, a movie night and indoor sports, and they feel again it wasn’t advertised extensively enough to all the residences in the community itself,” he said.

Randera added that the residents complained that the house committee promised to do a number of things when they campaigned for office, and did not fulfil the mandate once they had been voted into office.

On September 16, an interim committee comprising four students was placed to fulfill administrative duties, and to oversee the events of the house for the next month. “[The duty of an interim committee is] to bring to our attention any concerns students have within the residence itself. There is still a social awards evening that they can still control on behalf of the house,” said Randera.

The residence warden said that there is no time to elect new house committee. “We are almost at the end of the year itself, so technically if we had to run another election it will take two weeks to run the elections, by which time they take office it will be the end of the year almost,” he said.

Voting for the 2017/2018 EOH House Committee is scheduled for September 29.

RELATED ARTICLES: EOH celebrates 50th anniversary, April, 2017.

WITS ALUMNUS and Ernest Oppenheimer (EOH) 1969 house committee chairperson, David Hudgson, has donated R 150 000 to the all-male residence.

The announcement was made at EOH’s 50^th anniversary celebration on September 16.

The donation was made via email to the residence’s senior warden, Naziem Randera, who could not to disclose the details of the email to Wits Vuvuzela.

All he was prepared to say was that, “We as the EOH community are extremely grateful for the donation and believe that it will encourage other alumni to donate and give back to the Wits community,” he said.

Randera said the money would be put in EOH’s trust fund, and will assist students with financial difficulties to pay fees, accommodation or any other issues students may encounter.

Among the attendees at the celebration were EOH alumni, current residents, Dr Brendon Matthews, author of Ernest, a book about the residence and Wits vice-principal Dr Tawana Kupe.

Njabulo Mbatha, EOH resident and second-year BEd student, told Wits Vuvuzela that he thought the donation was a great gesture and that it would be helpful for the residence.

He added, however, that he was hoping the money would be used for renovations at the residence. “I hope they’ll use a portion of the money to renovate some rooms like mine, because they are not in such a great condition.”

Former chairperson of the house committee and third-year Medical student, Tafadzwa Kufazvinei, said they were appreciative of the donation because it will contribute to the trust which will impact the lives of EOH students.

“The donation is also an inspiration for us as students to do more to keep and boost the trust fund,” he told Wits Vuvuzela.

Hudgson could not be reached for comment as he is travelling abroad on business. Director and Head of Residence Life Robert Sharman would not comment on the donation, saying that he had not spoken to Hudgson.

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Wits Vuvuzela : April 28, 2017 EOH celebrates 50th anniversary

Wits Phola Coaches workers are expected to be insourced by October 1.

CEO of Phola Coaches, Stephen Pitcher, made the announcement at a workers mass meeting on Friday morning, September 22. “We’re at a point where we will be able to reach a legal agreement probably within the next week or so,” he said.

Pitcher added that Phola Coaches was aiming to transfer eligible employees to Wits by Friday next week. “The people that we have agreed, that are going to be moving over to be insourced, is going to be the drivers, the queue marshals, security and the cleaners,” he said.

Wits will be insourcing 52 Phola Coaches workers in total, 37 of which are permanent bus drivers, six queue marshals, six cleaners and four security guards. There are three more bus driver positions to be filled.

According to Bheki Ndlovu, Phola Coaches worker and workers’ representative, the workers insourcing benefits include an increase of workers’ salaries and they will also be able to bring their children to study at the institution, provided they pass grade 12. Some of the other benefits will be communicated at an offers meeting scheduled to take place in the next week, said Ndlovu.

“This, we agreed is definitely a phase one, there might be another one, a smaller one a bit later. But this is certainly what’s on the table right now, this is what has been agreed,” said Pitcher to the group of workers.

Human Resources officer at Wits, Dr. Kgomotso Kasonkola, addressed the workers saying, “On our side we’re ready to receive you and make the offers by next week Friday, or by next week Wednesday. We’ll start the process so that if you are happy you can sign then we know that by the first of October you’re part of Wits.”

“I believe that the uniform and stuff are still delayed, but they will be made available in due course. We’re looking at having all the paperwork done by October 6 to make sure that all those people who are coming to Wits will get their salaries in October,”Kasonkola said.

In addition to the insourcing of Phola Coaches workers, Wits Services operations manager, Timothy Modau said the bus drivers’ living arrangements had been sorted out. “It’s an overnight accommodation for eight drivers working at night. So that arrangement is concluded; four beds in each room, there are two rooms. It’s not a permanent accommodation. It means they rotate weekly, he said.

Ndlovu, “We were supposed to have finished everything by now except doing the new ICAM cards that are written ‘staff’.”

“From the outcomes of today’s meeting, it seems whatever hiccup was there, it has been partly resolved because they are still saying they are still busy with the legal side of issues,” he added.

“This thing that they’ve just told us today that on the first of October as promised we are going to be Wits staff it still needs to be seen because there’s little time. We are happy to hear those news but we are not completely overjoyed,” said Ndlovu.

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Wits Vuvuzela, Wits insources 1200 more workers, August 04, 2017.

Wits Vuvuzela, Insourcing high turns sour, February 24, 2017.

A POOR VOTER turnout for the Wits Student Representative Council (SRC) over the past five years has led to the university proposing the use of an online voting system to elect the 2017/2018 members.

“It has become imperative to explore options to maximise students’ participation to validate the SRC as the elected governing structure with an acceptable threshold,” said Jabu Mashinini of the Student Governance office, speaking on behalf of the dean of students, Dr Puleng Lenka-Bula.

She said that not once in the past five years has voter turnout reached the desired threshold of 25%. “The voter turnout in 2015 and 2016 was 23% and even lower in previous years,” Mashinini said. She added that, “Conventional methods of paper-based and physical voting have proven to be a tedious and resource-intensive exercise, particularly where the current generation expects the transmission of information to be instant, efficient and secured.”

Chairperson of the Pan Africanist Student Movement of Azania (PASMA) Phethani Madzivhandila, however, doubts that the electronic voting method will increase voting participation because candidates will not be able to campaign at voting stations as they did with physical elections.

Yanga Damane, chairperson of Democratic Alliance Student Organization (DASO), told Wits Vuvuzela that the introduction of the electronic voting system is a good idea as it will increase voter turnout. “Electronic applications proved to be a success at Stellenbosch and University of Pretoria,” he said.

“It’s about time,” said third-year BCom Law student, Lebohang Ndlovu. “I don’t know why it took Wits so long to introduce online voting. I mean we are students, there isn’t time to stand in long queues just to vote for the SRC.”

SRC President David Manabile said it would be premature to comment on this because it is an ongoing process. “We are still engaging with the higher authorities of the university. I therefore cannot publicly comment on this,” he told Wits Vuvuzela.

According to Mashinini, if there is agreement on the proposition, students will be able to vote from the computer labs and any other electronic device over a period of two days.

The SRC elections are scheduled for October 17 and 18.

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Wits Vuvuzela: August 26, Testing time for SRC elections

VR Production will be the first cutting-edge technology used to tell the story of our rich past at Origins Centre.

TECHNOLOGY is taking the art of storytelling to the next level as the Origins Centre launches its virtual reality production. Virtual reality (VR) has become popular technology, according to
Origins Centre Director Steven Sack. “This is a game changer for us as VR technology is interactive and engaging,” said Sack.

It is the first time this kind of technology will be used at the museum. “We have never done a production like VR before, but it was necessary for us to explore the digital,” he added.
The idea for the project was championed by Sack as well as Professor Barry Dwolatzky, director of the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein, who made a donation towards funding
the project. Funding also came from the National Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS).

The VR experience was first launched at the Fakugesi African Digital Innovation conference on September 14 at Tshimologong, where the first person to try it out was former chief tour guide at the museum, Brian Mogaki. “VR was like a new world to me. It brings everything up close and personal, like you are inside that sphere,” said Mogaki.

This technology, which comprises a headset that visitors wear, lets them see a 360-degree, multimedia view of the museum’s exhibits, allows the museum to take a piece of itself elsewhere and allow others on the outside to engage with it, he said. “It won’t replace the museum, but it is definitely an extension of it. “It is designed for your own personal experience,” said Mogaki.

The project was developed by startup company AltReality, which specialises in VR technology. It has manufactured both the software and headsets for the Origins Centre. The headsets were 3D printed and designed to fit the look of the museum. AltReality’s art director, Gareth Steele, said that this project is about being able to tell the story in a more interactive way.

“The VR experience was really designed to showcase a multimedia collection of what you see at the museum. It looks at the fossils discovered, the research being done, as well as information on DNA testing,” he said. “One of the cool things we also focused on is a 360-degree look into that multimedia world which teleports the user into history, allowing them to be part of history itself,” Steele added.

Dr Tammy Hodgskiss, an archaeologist from the Wits Evolutionary Studies Institute, was responsible for the information that users will see and read about.. In an article in Heritage Daily,
Hodgskiss discussed her role of being able to “marry” the content with the technology. “My role was to provide guidance on my own areas of expertise, and to act as a link between the Origins Centre and Professor Chris Henshilwood, for whom I work at the university’s Evolutionary Studies Institute. “It was one of the institutes that provided a great deal of content for the VR exhibit,” she said. Hodgskiss and her research team’s virtual reality tour will give visitors a taste of what it was like to produce stone tools and to be inside a rock shelter.

The official launch of the VR productuon will take place on Monday, 25 September at the Origins Centre Museum at Wits University.

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Wits Vuvuzela, Photographer captures life in San communities over thirty years, April, 18,2017

Wits Vuvuzela caught up with 22-year old performer Sandile Mazibuko, known to his peers as “Pistol” for his fiery energy. Born and bred in Empangeni, KwaZulu-Natal, Mazibuko is a Dramatic Arts student in his 3^rd year at Wits and made his on-screen debut in the popular SABC3 soapie Isidingo last week. Besides performing he is an avid gamer and enjoys playing Fifa.

When did you fall in love with the arts?

I fell in love with the arts at 15, I was involved in my first performance in Grade 9. I enjoyed entertaining people whether it was through acting or dancing and I can say at 15 I started taking it seriously and considering it as a career.

Do you have any hidden talents?

Yes I do. Not only do I act and dance, I can also rap. I plan on releasing some of my music next month.

If you were not in the arts what other field would you be in?

I have never really thought about it because I put my all into my chosen career path. Personally I have never been the type to have a Plan B, therefore whatever I have chosen has to work. I am not worried about when it’s going to pay or whether I am going to be successful or not. My only worry is am I going to reach the goals I want to reach within that space.

How did you get the Isidingo gig?

The casting director reached out to Wits for actors to audition for the part, I was one of the students that went to the audition. I got a call a few weeks later and I was called by the character’s name, “Mandla” and that is when I knew I had gotten the part.

Who do you want to work with in the industry?

I can’t pin point a specific person. However if you are willing to work and have the same passion and drive as me then I don’t mind. Honestly, as long as we grow as performers within the performance then I am game.

How do you prepare for a performance?

By putting in double the work. I think the more you work, the more you discover. I think one needs to dedicate themselves to the work. The only way one can learn the character is if they put in the work through rehearsals and that is what I do.

What else are you working on?

I am currently in a production choreographed by Grace Barnes titled Breathe. We will be performing this Saturday at the Sibikwa Arts Centre in Benoni.

What piece of advice would you give to someone who wants to get into the arts?

I would tell them to continuously work on their craft. There are a lot of talented people out there but not all of them put in the work. So I believe talent plus hard work usually equals to great success. You might not make it now but eventually your hard work will pay off.

The Sex Actually festival celebrated its 10th year showcasing works about sex and sexuality.

DRAMA FOR LIFE is celebrating a decade of the Sex Actually festival which runs until Saturday, September 23. The festival explores ideas of sex and sexuality through theatre.
Sex Actually includes plays, workshops, film screenings, exhibitions, book launches and discussions.

Festival curator Caryn Green said, “The theme for this year’s festival and conversations is The Body Politic: Beyond Headlines, Heartlines and Hashtags; looking at notions of patriarchy, decolonisation and feminism; their articulation in tradition, education and popular culture; and their influence on sexual identity, relationships and social behaviour.”
Sithembiso Khalishwayo, who has been a part of the festival since its inception, said conversations about sex need to be engaging. He said the festival provides such platforms for students. Khalishwayo is a part of Unzipped and Afriqueer which deal with ideas of sex on various aspects, from issues of sexual reproductive health to societal perceptions of the male identity.
Sex Actually takes a multi-layered approach to sex by not just dealing with it as a stand-alone topic. The workshops provide a platform that allow you to engage on the topic.
The festival always deals with contemporary issues regarding sex and this has aided its longevity. Green said, “It interrogates the complexities of sex, sexuality, relationships, culture, gender and sexual reproductive health.”

Drama Therapy and Applied Theatre Practice honours student, Khabonina Motaung, has attended various productions, screenings and workshops. She said, “They were all interesting in their own right. What spoke to me most was Tswalo – a movement and poetry piece.”

Green told Wits Vuvuzela that the 2017 edition of Sex Actually showcases works from its partners, colleagues and friends from the previous years in celebration of its 10-year anniversary.
The programme for the week-long festival can be found on the Drama for Life website.

Wits Sports clubs score a total of eight nominations at this years Gauteng Sports Awards

THE WITS Tang Soo Do team bagged a total of four nominations as Wits University led the pack with eight nominations at the Gauteng Sports Awards.
The nominations took place in Greenhill Stadium in Randfontein earlier this month.

The Tang Soo Do team has had a great year so far and the recent nominations have topped it off. The team got the nod for Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Most Promising Athletes and Team of the Year.

Coach of the Wits Tang Soo Do team Gregory Hart said the team did exceptionally well throughout the year winning over 140 medals. He credited the success to the upbeat team spirit. “The brotherhood and sisterhood among the team members is strong. The older members are always looking after the younger members,” he said.
Sportsman of the Year nominee Kim Lucas told Wits Vuvuzela that the martial arts culture is designed to be a family, therefore the support structure is expected. He expanded on how addictive the sport is, saying, “I think once you start it’s difficult to stop.” Lucas has been in the club for six years and has just been graded with his black belt making him eligible for the national team.
Most Promising Athlete of the Year nominee Madimetja Malebana said it was an honour to receive such recognition.
“I was shocked because I did not expect it,” Malebana said.

Wits University’s nominations included Disabled Sportwoman of the Year, two nods for Coach of the Year and another nomination in the Most Promising Athlete of the Year category.
The Wits Sports Development Officer, TK Chinamatira, said the Wits Sports Council functions as a structure that supports teams and helps balance the team members’ school and sport lives.
Furthermore, he told Wits Vuvuzela that the lack of funding did not discourage teams instead “it made them work even harder”, he said. Chinamatira said the clubs are more likely to be sponsored when teams perform at a higher standard.

The Tang Soo Do club expects to be joined by two female players from the national team which will benefit the club in 2018.

Hockey ladies from the Southern Gauteng U/21 hockey are the new champions of the Inter-Provincial Tournament.

The Southern Gauteng Under 21 (U/21) ladies hockey team are the new champions of the Inter-Provincial Tournament. The team, which includes five Wits players, competed against
provincial teams for the prestige of becoming National champions on September 9.

The Inter-Provincial Tournament took place at North-West University in Potchefstroom where the Southern Gauteng (SG) U/21 ladies team won 2-0 against the Western Province Pens.

The players dominated the second half of the game where they scored the two goals.

Wits Vuvuzela spoke to the SG U/21 head coach and Wits ladies hockey second team coach, Tsoanelo Pholo, about her team’s win and what it means for the Wits hockey teams.

“Our win is owed to months of pre-tournament preparation from myself and my management team as well as an undying desire for excellence from the players,” said Pholo.

The five Wits players who are members of the winning team are Sissy Pieterse, Ashleigh Readhead, Nomnikelo Veto, Nompilo Thenjwayo and Lezaan Janse van Vuren.

Pieterse spoke to Wits Vuvuzela about the win and what it meant to her.

“My body was covered in goose bumps when that final whistle blew. This literally meant the world to me as it helps to knock on possible opportunities and open more doors for those who would like to go further,” said the second-year Bachelor of Education student.

The Wits hockey sports officer, Erika Venter, said the SG win was not only significant for the five Wits players but for the ladies Wits team as a whole.

“The Wits ladies hockey team is setting their goals on winning the USSA Hockey 2018 tournament. And with five of our top Wits hockey players forming the core of the Southern Gauteng U/21 they have gained an enormous amount of experience by playing in the final, but more importantly by winning the final,” said Venter.

“We play for the best province in the country and being able to lead this team and work with the future stars of SA hockey is a privilege,” said Pholo.

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•  Wits Vuvuzela, Wits Ladies lose out in Varsity Hockey semi-final, May 19, 2017
• Wits Vuvuzela, Wits hockey set to host two tournaments in 2017, April 9, 2017

28-year-old Dr Shakira Choonara received the Research Excellence for Next Generation Researchers Award for her outstanding contribution in the field of Public Health.

The National Research Foundation (NRF) has acknowledged a young Wits researcher with the first Research Excellence for Next Generation Researchers award for her contribution to Public Health.

Shakira Choonara, who completed a Doctor of Philosophy from Wits in 2016, was awarded at the National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards which were held in Bloemfontein on Thursday, September 14. Choonara is a young leader who is a regional sexual and reproductive health rights advocacy officer and an activist for public health.

The 28 -year-old  researcher has been fortunate enough to receive funding from numerous sources such as the Postgraduate Merit Award and the Hewlett Foundation Fellowship.

“I found at the postgraduate level there was much more funding available in terms of scholarships and financial support which does take a substantial burden off for many students compared to the undergraduate level where one is liable for student loans,” she said.

“The reality is that either bursaries or scholarships are advertised quite late and they are long, tedious application processes or the majority of students remain unaware of these opportunities. I found that information from the financial aid office was either outdated or difficult to grasp and I would rely either on previous student experiences or learn the processes as one goes along,” Choonara said.

The Business Intelligence Manager for the NRF, Gerhard Moolman, said it had funded 151 young women under the age of 30 through research funds and doctoral scholarships in 2016. The NRF also allocates 55 percent of its scholarships for grants to female applicants. Moolman also said a challenge with funding postgraduates is the low progression rate from honours to masters, particularly with female postgraduates.

The Wits Postgraduate Association (PGA) said, “We do realise the excruciating need for postgraduate funding and we are exploring alternative means of sourcing internal PGA funding for students, unfortunately at the moment we do not have our own funding.”

Choonara said there need to be more promising trajectories for young researchers to be leading academics. “What’s the point of pursuing studies until the doctoral or postdoctoral level but there are few employment prospects within the university. These are questions around university bureaucracy and faring better to reach and assist students,” she said.

Wits Vuvuzela, April 2017, Witsie is a woman of stature

Wits Vuvuzela, April 2017,Wits Woman of the Year in Healthcare

WINNING is the only option for Miss South Point 2016 and Miss Gauteng Exclusive 2017 finalist, Kelebogile Morukhu. The 21-year-old is currently a third-year student in education at Wits University. One of her biggest goals is to plant a seed of knowledge in the minds of young children. The multi talented model was in the front line of the #FeesMustFall campaign,is currently part of the Wits Education Choir, plays netball and recently joined the Wits Boxing Club.

What pageants have you competed in this year?

I entered for both Miss Gauteng Exclusive and Miss Jozi. I made it up to the semi-finals with Miss Jozi. They didn’t appreciate the fact that I am doing two pageants at the same time, but I am a finalist for Miss Gauteng Exclusive and winning is the only option.

When did you discover that you wanted to pursue modelling and beauty pageants?

I discovered back in secondary school that I can actually do modelling. I first entered a pageant in grade eight and I won it. After that I didn’t stop, I started knocking on doors everywhere. I definitely plan on doing it professionally, because it has made me grow so much as an individual.

What are your other interests?

I’m interested in various things. Not everyone knows that I do poetry, I dance and do sign language, but my biggest interest is that I have always wanted to be a news reporter and a TV presenter from a young age.

What projects are you working on and what is the inspiration behind them?
I have a project back in my hometown, Rustenburg. The programme is called “My holidays are productive”. When it is holiday time, parents do not know what to do with their children and that’s where I come in. I am also working on my motivational speaking project, where I go around schools and talk to the youth about their
worth. The inspiration behind all these projects is to see others better their future and me being able to play a role in it.

Where do you draw your strength from?

I get my strength from my grandmother, but I mostly get it from the gap between where I am and where I want to be.

Describe an average day in your life?
Wake up; hit the gym; get to campus; might have a photoshoot or interview; get to the labs and push school work; try get more opportunities for my career in modelling online; go to tutor grade four learners; hit the gym again; watch Being Mary Jane; and sleep.

What is your fitness routine?
In the morning I do cardio and in the evening I do weights, or work with my personal trainer.

What are the biggest misconceptions you have been confronted with as a beauty contestant?
“The only reason she is making it is because she has a great body and a big ass” and “Tswana girls think they are the best”.

How have you overcome the misconceptions and stereotypes?
The only way I have tried to overcome the misconceptions is by staying true to who I am and by holding on to what I believe in.

Why did you feel it was important to be active in the 2016 #FeesMustFall movement?
I understand the pain of a black struggling child, because I am a black struggling child who has a dream and just wants to achieve it.

Is it true that you are interested in running for SRC in 2017?
SRC!? Wow, these walls have ears. My team wants me to run for office, but I still haven’t made the final decision yet.

Kayla De Jesus Freitas speaks on her personal experiences being deaf, the struggles she has faced and her views on the way forward in society.

I remember with such clarity sitting alone in an audiologist’s office in 2014. My unimpressed stare masked the sheer terror I felt, as she explained that my hearing was slowly fading in my left ear and that I may go completely deaf.

She told me that I had a disorder known as Meniere’s disease, which causes hearing loss and vertigo. I was so obstinate in my refusal to believe that, at the age of 19, I needed a hearing aid. I recall leaving the appointment and crying in my car. I sobbed violently, not at the thought of losing my hearing but, at the idea of wearing something that I associated with the elderly. Clinging to my shallow mentality that a hearing aid would make me unattractive, I ignored the hearing loss for another two years.

By the end of 2016, my hearing had deteriorated to a point that I could no longer ignore. I was unable to hear my lecturers and could not identify from which direction sounds had originated. This daily challenge forced me to get re-tested and fitted with a hearing aid, a process through which I wept almost daily.

My self-esteem took a plunge every time people noticed the 2cm-long device and began contorting their faces, in the hope that I could read their lips. I was ashamed of my disability and feared the tiresome jokes, such as “Can you lend me an ear?” or “You’re only deaf in your left ear, so your hearing is actually all right”.

The experience, however, left me hyper aware of society’s disregard for individuals who are, by their standards, “dis-abled”. The enraging signs of ignorance were even evident to me even on Wits campus. I witnessed students bumping into a blind student without apologising. In my personal experience I often found irritation, as opposed to understanding, when explaining to individuals why I had asked them to repeat themselves more than once.

At the end of the last block, I undertook a story on the Wits Disability Awareness Week. I thought that like any awareness movement, the issues raised would live a moment in my mind before being overtaken by the daily worries of completing my degree. Needless to say, what I experienced stuck with me.

I interviewed the head of the Disability Rights Unit, Dr Anlia Pretorius, as part of the story. During the interview, Pretorius mentioned the achievements of other disabled students, such as a blind student who recently qualified as a doctor. “It’s all about the concept of don’t ‘dis’ my ability,” she said. I sat across from her filled with inspiration from the lived experiences of these individuals, who were proving that they would not be held back by their disability.

This moment made me realise the importance of raising awareness regarding disabilities. It drove the narrative home and showed me that, regardless of what society has told me, I am unbelievably capable. From that moment, I committed to wearing my hearing aid with pride, as a mark of my ability to overcome and achieve.

The Disability Awareness Week as a whole, showed me that it is integral for society to change the shallow archetypal conception of who is considered fundamentally “able” and who is not. It’s time that we stop “dissing” each other’s abilities and work towards a society that is welcoming to all individuals.

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Organisers are looking for a new, larger, venue so the show can go on.

The Mr & Miss South Point beauty pageant was shut down by police due to overcrowding, just as the judges were about to announce the top-eight contestants, on Friday, September 22.

At about 11pm, South Point’s marketing manager, Khethukuthula Msane, announced that police officers had directed that the event be cut short because there were too many people at venue. “May everyone please make your way out of the venue immediately,” he said, leaving the 12 contestants and the audience of over 800 people disappointed.

This year’s event was held at the Republic of 94 bar and grill in Braamfontein for the first time since its inception in 2015.

“We wanted a capacity of 800 people outside and the people that had come in [to the restaurant and bar] were complaining about the people outside [the South Point event]. So apparently we went over our limit and we had no verification. We couldn’t say, ‘No here is the head count’. But we are trying to rectify it so that we can crown our king and queen,” said event organiser and South Point marketing intern, Ntokozo Msiza.

Efforts were made to move the event to Randlords, a rooftop bar and events venue in Braamfontein, however, another event was being held there.

Last year the event was hosted at the Alexandra Theatre in Braamfontein, which can hold a larger audience. The venue changed this year because the organisers try to rotate event locations in order to “bring a new feel to the precinct”, said Msiza.

One of the contestants, Phemelo Medupe, said that he was “shocked and disappointed” because he wanted to be crowned Mr South Point. “I sacrificed a lot of time preparing for the show and practising the choreography,” said the second-year aeronautical engineering student at Wits University.

First year BA general student, Ditebogo Melamu, an audience member and performer at the event, said, “I was disappointed to hear that the evening’s proceedings had come to an abrupt end because I was looking forward to the crowing part. I was in high hopes that my friends would be victorious.”

The beauty pageant has been part of the South Point culture ever since 2014, said one of the members of the organising committee, Puseletso Radebe. Making this the third running Mr and Mrs South Point beauty pageant.
The theme of this year’s pageant was African heritage under the hashtags #OurAfricaOurStory and #toAfricaWebelong, which ran through the various runner up pageants at which each South Point building selected two representatives for the competition.
The final event to select the winners tied in with the Heritage Day celebrations on September 24. To keep the African theme going, the contestants were dressed by House of Hohwa, an African clothing brand.

According to one of the members of the organising committee, Puseletso Radebe, they are in “discussions regarding when and where the next show will happen. “A final date has not yet been confirmed,” she told Wits Vuvuzela.

Msiza said that may be able to finalise the new venue and date by Wednesday, September, 27.

“We sent an SMS out at night that can students please keep so that we know that you were actually at the show,” said Mzisa.

For more images check out the gallery on the Wits Vuvuzela Facebook album.

“We are ready for Ramaphosa”, sang protesters in support for the current deputy president of South Africa during the #Cosatustrike.

BRAAMFONTEIN was consumed in a sea of red as mass protests against President Jacob Zuma and state capture led by Cosatu and the South African Communist Paryt (SACP) got underway from Cosatu House on September 27.

Its Gauteng provincial chairperson Vusi Monyela led the march that started from corner Jorissen & Simmons streets. Speaking to protestors in front of Cosatu House, Monyela said the marches were against “State capture by political leaders, the private sector or any other family that has or seeks to capture the state”.

He also added that, “The protests sort to recapture the nation and place it in its rightful hands, those of the people. We also say to President Jacob Zuma must step down.”

The march proceeded to the City of Johannesburg’s head office a few hundred meters away from where it initially started. Here, Monyela explained that the march had made its way to the mayor’s office in order to hand over a memorandum to Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba. “We have arrived at the house of the mayor who has destroyed jobs and service delivery in the city”, said Monyela.

Prior to the protestors handing over the memorandum outside the mayor’s office, Monyela introduced the SACP general secretary, Blade Nzimande and Cosatu general secretary, Bheki Ntshalintshali and other leaders to the protestors.

The large number of protesters waited in song and dance for Mashaba to come and collect the memorandum. “We are ready for Ramaphosa”, was the song that kept the thousands in attendance in high spirits, showing their support for the current deputy president of South Africa to take the reins at the ANC conference in December.

Member of mayoral committee for public safety, Michael Sun accepted the memorandum on behalf of the mayor, which led to Cosatu calling Mashaba a coward for not coming to accept the memorandum himself.

Some of the protestors in attendance expressed gratitude over the large attendance. Joe Nkosi an SACP affiliate said, “The large turnout shows that the majority of our citizens disapprove the manner in which our country is being led. It is only a shame that young people do not seem to recognise the importance of such protests, being in Braamfontein where the population is largely students, it is disappointing to only see a few of them in attendance.”

RELATED ARTICLES: WitsVuvuzela,Cosatu under attack, Who’s next?, August 22, 2013.

Wits University’s oldest residence, Men’s Hall of Residence, will be slaughtering a cow to celebrate their 95th birthday on September 29.

In an interview with Wits Vuvuzela, Men’s Res House committee chairman ,Sizwe Bhengu said, “I cannot deny nor confirm that we will be slaughtering a cow but there will be a braai”, he said laughing. At the time of going to press, Bhengu stated that they were waiting for disaster management to approve their request to slaughter a cow on campus.

Some of the planned events for the celebration include a formal dinner that will be held on Friday at the main dining hall. On Saturday, September 30, there will be various sports played at the Diggz field between alumni, seniors and freshmen which will be followed by a braai, back at the residence.

The residence has housed many celebrated figures of society during their time as students. The list includes Adv Dali Mpofu, former Wits SRC president and Thusanani Foundation founder Morris Masutha, EFF National spokesperson, Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi as well as former chair of ABSA and CEO of Murray and Roberts, David Brink to name a few.

Former residence hall coordinator and acting cluster manager, Bongani Gumede said the birthday celebration marks the years the residence has existed and the culture and traditions that were established.

Gumede, who used to stay at the residence during his time as a student added that, “Things are not as they seem, there is always something bigger than what meets the eye. Some of the challenges are that some of the traditions need to change as they do not reflect the ethos of the University and the residence”.

Over the years Men’s Res traditions have changed, but the residence has remained a vibrant community of students, past and present. It is known for its spirited, prank-playing, hard playing games and most often involved in activities condoned by the University.

Bhengu added that, “The brotherhood, unity and social responsibility and shared culture among the residents is what makes it great. Men’s Res has not always had the greatest reputation when it comes to issues of patriarchy but we have decided to take a progressive stance with initiatives such as #NotInMyName.”  During this initiative the raiders, as they’re known on campus, started walking  female students who stay off campus to their residences during the heightened time of abductions and crime in Braamfontein.

Some of the traditions and crests date back to the 1950s which include being introduced to Phineas [see pictures], a ceremony carried out with great solemnity in a partially darkened room. Other traditions include early morning activities where freshmen trot around campus wearing white lab coats and little else, from time to time serenading the Dean and Assistant Deans.

“It has become tradition to sing at the graduations of fellow raiders as well as female residences during O-Week and also throughout the year”, Bhengu added.

Director of the Wits, Development and Fundraising Office (DFO) and former raider Peter Bezuidenhoudt said, “This is the first of a number of events that will be organized in the run up to 2022, when Mens Res, together with the Wits University, will celebrate their centenary”.

Bezuidenhoudt said that they have received responses from alumni who span the last 60 years of the residence history.  “Including five gentlemen from the late 1950s, all of whom are going to speak, most notably David Brink the who graduated in 1960, as well as alumni including, 2002 chairman of Men’s Res Elvis Ukpaka, Chief Economist of Investment Solutions Lesiba Mothata”.

The celebrations this weekend are not open to non-raiders. Bhengu  said, “Because of budget constraints we were unable to make the event open to the public. The sponsorship from res life wasn’t sufficient”.

Long sitting security guard of nine years and member of the raider’s community Bab’ Dlamini said Men’s Res is a home away from home. “Kukhona iUnity kuma raider, futhi siyabafundisa imbeko(translation). When they have done wrong I sit them down and we talk, I am one person they listen to”.

Dlamini says he is a father figure for the raiders, “They even gave me a name, uncle raider”. For Dlamini the birthday celebration is a long overdue celebration of the brotherhood renowned in the residence.

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The SRC organized a fundraiser to seek funding from major donors to assist with the current student funding crisis.

The SRC held a fundraiser aimed at pulling major donors to assist with the current student funding crisis at Wits.

The fundraiser, #ActiveForFees, took place on September 25 and included physical participation from students through cycling and running challenges.

SRC Social, Community Development and Fundraising Officer, Lindokuhle Ntumba, said he approached Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Buti Manamela, Minister of Finance, Malusi Gigaba and former SABC Chief Operations Officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng to support the fundraiser. Ntumba said Motsoeneng and Manamela attended and had also pledged to assist in donations.

In response to the poor turnout of less than 40 people, Ntumba said, “In terms of the turnout, I wasn’t really relying much on students for donations. Mine is to show that students are willing to do things differently and not just protest.”

“The main aim was just to paint a different picture to say students are willing to do something for fees. The one thing that you get as a fundraiser is that when you go to people [donors] they’re like ‘no Wits students feel entitled’, ‘you’re lazy’ .The concept was to do something that is positive,” he said.

Ntumba also said they were not yet aware of how much the SRC had made through the fundraiser as they were still awaiting more funding from major donors.

One of the participants in the cycling challenge, sixth-year medical student, Makamole Lelimo, said, “I love bicycles and it’s an opportunity to raise funds but I’m disappointed by the turnout. I know a lot of people struggling with fees, myself included.” He added that they would have advertised it even more.

First-year BCom accounting student, Mandla Shaba, said he wanted to participate in the fundraiser because he is aware that tuition fees are high and that most people cannot afford to pay their fees “…NSFAS doesn’t respond as I’m here, I applied for NSFAS and I didn’t get a response. It’s [#ActiveForFees] a good way of passing the message that students are struggling.”

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Wits Vuvuzela,May,2017,SRC launches SMS Campaign to combat the funding crisis

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PHOLA Coaches workers who claim they have been unfairly dismissed are calling for their reinstatement as well as to be included in Wits’ insourcing plan.

Phola Coaches is a bus company based in Mpumalanga and contracted by Wits to manage transport for staff, students and workers.
Former bus drivers, Stephen Machile, Simion Tshipuke and supervisor Sam Mogoba told Wits Vuvuzela that they were unfairly dismissed by Phola Coaches depot manager Cornelius Simethi and human resources manager Calvin Mokoto.

Machile, who has been working for Phola Coaches for three years, said he was accused of arriving to work drunk.
“At six o’clock [am] when I blew into that thing, it said I was drunk, the supervisor told me to step outside and I did so. After 20 minutes when he called me back to blow into the breathalyser¸ it was okay. I blew four times.”
Machile added that, upon management insisting he was drunk, he requested Phola Coaches to have his blood tested at a lab but the manager refused. Speaking in Sesotho he said, “I took myself to Lancet and they drew my blood for testing, I spoke to the manager Cornelius that morning and asked him, ‘may we please go and have my blood tested?’ he refused. My results came back clean but they still dismissed me.”
“We went to a disciplinary hearing, I gave them my proof that comes from Lancet but it was rejected,” said Machile.
Mogoba, who was a supervisor, said he was dismissed for running late on the bus schedules. “When I was fired, they said it was because of misconduct because I had caused a driver to be late.
“The hearing was postponed and I was not given a date. I was informed on the day of the hearing.”
Mogoba said he asked for time to find somebody to represent him. “They told me ‘you’re there or not, it [the hearing] will continue’.”
Tshipuke, another bus driver who says he was dismissed unfairly, told Wits Vuvuzela that he was dismissed for acquiring a speeding fine.
Kgomotso Kasonkola, human resources officer at Wits, said that the dismissed workers would be insourced only if they referred and won their case with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). Last week Wits confirmed Phola Coaches workers will be part of insourcing from October 1.
“The normal procedure must be followed. If the workers have referred their case to the CCMA, we will be directed by the outcome of the CCMA. It will be like a court order on us,” Kasonkola said.
Sam Mangena, National Health Education & Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) chairperson told Wits Vuvuzela that Phola Coaches could not provide evidence of the workers’ misconduct or provide the policy used to dismiss them.
“These workers were exploited by Phola Coaches. Their management were very arrogant; they said they won’t recognise us as a union. There was no policy attached to the so-called dismissals. They demonstrated unfair labour practices,” said Mangena.
He added that they had referred the matter to the CCMA. “We took the matter to the CCMA. The first hearing was supposed to have sat already, but Phola Coaches didn’t come,” he said.
“They never pitched for Stephen Machile’s case at CCMA. It’s victimisation in its core,” Mangena said.
Simethi denied that the workers had been unfairly dismissed but would not answer Wits Vuvuzela’s questions to him.
Mokoto would not comment on the matter either, saying, “I’m not allowed to discuss any internal matters with anyone from outside. The drivers, they are well aware of their rights. I can’t comment any further,” he said.

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Wits Vuvuzela, Insourcing of Phola Coaches workers is full steam ahead, September 22, 2017.

Wits Vuvuzela, Wits bus drivers back at work following threats to their jobs, April 13, 2017.

Decriminalising sex work in South Africa

THE WITS Bioethics Society hosted a debate on “sex-buyer law” by the Wits Debating Union on Wednesday evening at Wits Education Campus.

 “Sex-buyer law is a law that criminalises the person who purchases the sex and not the sex worker. It is being implemented in Sweden, Norway and some areas in the United Kingdom,” said Rubina Valodia, chairperson of the Bioethics Society.

Valodia said the society wants to stimulate dialogue about sex work in South Africa.

Organisations such as the Sex Workers Education & Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat) and the Sex Workers Union are advocating for the decriminalisation of sex work in South Africa, Valodia said. Sex work is illegal in South Africa.

Javu Baloyi, spokesperson for the Commission for Gender Equity (CGE), said, “The South African law says that sex work is not legal and cannot be practised.” The CGE is planning to challenge this law.

The Wits Debating Union argued for and against the decriminalisation of sex work and the sex-buyer law. Naomi Lubinksy, of the debating union said, “There is nothing criminal about selling your body.”

Ntokozo Yingwana, a researcher from the African Centre for Migration and Society, said that “in implementing decriminalisation of sex work and the sex-buyer law, only a consenting adult will be allowed to be a sex worker. A sex worker is seen as another woman at work and therefore brothels will have to register as businesses and a sex worker will be seen as a worker and will therefore have to register with the labour department.”

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Wits Vuvuzela, Wits Athletes vs sex workers, May 10, 2013

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THE WITS management council is reviewing its relationship with audit company KPMG.

An online campaign started last week calling on the chairpersons of the internal audit committee and the council to honour its commitment to social justice and sever ties with KPMG as the university’s auditor.

According to Koketso Moeti, the founder of Amandla.mobi, where the petition is hosted, the initiators of the campaign preferred to remain anonymous.

A researcher at the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (a partner of Wits), who signed the petition, said that it is important that people sign. “At this time all organisations should decide what they stand for and who they stand with in society, and Wits needs to do the same,” he said.

In the petition, Wits is asked to join organisations such as investment management company Sygnia, energy investment company Hulisani, and financial services firm Sasfin, among others, in letting go of the services of KPMG and to introduce a policy of ethical procurement.

According to Deputy Vice-Chancellor Tawana Kupe, the university’s official external auditors are PriceWaterhouse-Coopers, but Wits secures its internal audit functions from KPMG.

University officials have been engaging with KPMG, and an announcement will be made next week [this week],”said Kupe, in a note sent out late last Friday.

Minister of Finance Malusi Gigaba said in a statement last week that the events surrounding KPMG have weakened the reputation of good governance and audit independence in a major division in our economy.

He also said, “As a measure to restore confidence in audits, all of government and its entities must consider reviewing their work programmes with KPMG.

KPMG has recently come under fire following a report, based on emails posted by investigative journalism non-profit amaBhungane, for failing to oppose the irregular treatment of the Gupta wedding expenses in 2014.

The emails showed that KPMG was aware that Gupta owned companies were classifying wedding costs as business expenses, which could be deducted for tax purposes, but did not raise concerns.

Eight senior executives, including CEO Trevor Hoole, resigned and KPMG

has announced that a full, independent investigation into its South African branch’s dealings with the Gupta family, and its involvement with a controversial South African Revenue Service report will be conducted by a “senior South African legal figure, who is completely independent of both KPMG South Africa and KPMG International”.

The petition demanding that Wits withdraws from any dealings with KPMG had reached 84 out of 100signatures at the time of going to press on Thursday.

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Wits Vuvuzela, September 2017, Four-year LLB limbo

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KPMG South Africa has been under heavy criticism recently after the auditing firm retracted conclusions and findings of a report conducted for the South African Revenue Services (Sars) following an internal investigation. Finance students have been urged to use the KPMG controversy as a case study for their future careers in the financial services sector.  

The Wits Faculty of Law, Commerce and Management hosted a panel discussion on Wednesday evening about the KPMG controversy to highlight the broader issues for the public.

KPMG South Africa has been under heavy criticism recently after the auditing firm retracted conclusions and findings of a report conducted for the South African Revenue Services (Sars) following an internal investigation.

The faculty decided the talk would be relevant for students who are working towards obtaining degrees in the financial services sector.

“Our students are very aware of what is going on in the world, and we know that students are having discussions about issues relating to corruption, state capture, governance and so on. Students in our faculty will definitely find this discussion beneficial to their future careers,” said Kim Jurgensen, the communications manager of the faculty.

For chartered accountant, Nonkululeko Gobodo, who was one of the panelists, the importance of proper governance should be emphasised in the curriculum.

“This is a time when the whole profession should reflect because it speaks to issues ofsustainability. If we don’t follow ethics, jobs are on the line. If you can have a big company like KPMG closing down, doors are closed for training and for developing future chartered accountants so they [students] need to take ethics seriously,” said Gobodo.

Former finance minister Pravin Gordhan encouraged students and South Africans to learn from the mistakes of KPMG in order to fulfil the potential of being a great country, not just in Africa but all over the world.

“It is a very interesting opportunity to learn to distinguish between right and wrong, to understand what it takes to say no to something that is wrong and to begin to embrace it as part of your DNA as you grow into commerce or whatever other field or endeavour you go into,” he said.

Second-year accounting student Sifiso Ngcobo said as an institution of higher learning, Wits shouldfocus on developing students based on the broader goals and demands of the country.

“If you are a conscious student and you are someone who is committed to the developmental agenda of South Africa, you would take whatever it is you are learning in order to improve the life that society is trying to achieve which is that of a nonsexist, non-racial and democratic South Africa that we are all aspiring to live,” he said.

Related Articles: 

Wits council to review its relationship with KPMG, Wits Vuvuzela, September 29