ActivateRhodes University’s

Independent Student Newspaper

Est. 1947Edition 4, 8 April 2014

INSIDE

Join the textbook revolution

Page 6

Profile on new Academic

CounsellorPage 3

New Director of Transformation at

RhodesPage 2

Enjoying your vac

in GrahamstownPage 4

#nomakeupselfiePage 6 Shayi

PantsulaPage 7

2 News 8 April 2014

ActivateEditor-in-Chief

Matthew Kynaston

Deputy EditorRhea MacDonald

Print Content EditorLeah Solomon

Online EditorDavid Mann

Finance ManagerKamaria Balkisson

Art DirectorNiamh Walsh- Vorster

Chief Photo EditorMichaela Weiffenbach

Multimedia EditorTebo Ramosili

Chief DeisgnerCait Dominy

Chief Sub-editorHeather Cameron

Deputy Chief Sub-editorSarah Beningfield

News EditorSinazo Nakupi

Politics EditorNicholas McGregor

A & E EditorSebastian Burger

Lifestyle EditorSara Steiniger

Features EditorFundiswa Ndlovu

Scitech EditorDimpho Moletsane

Environmental EditorJane Berg

Sports EditorJulia Fish

Deputy Sports EditorNandi Pape

DeisgnersTininka Nuen

Kuvaniah MoodleyCindy Archillies

Community EngagementKuvaniah Moodley

Distribution ManagerFezikile Cokile

ContactsEditor:

activate.editor@gmail.comDeputy Editor:

activate.deputy@gmail.comFinancial Manager:

rhodesactivate.finance@gmail.com

Printed by Paarlcoldset,Port Elizabeth

The edition of Activate commends those who finished their degrees in 2013.

Some things have changed in the months you have been away. Dr Saleem Badat and Dr Vivian de Klerk both announced their retirement, effective later this year.

From your time as a first year, knowing nothing about the workings of university life, to nearing the end of your final year and looking forward to actually earning money for your hard work, you have been left with the imprint Rhodes gives everyone who passes through its halls.

Only Rhodents know what it’s like to have Dr Sirion Robertson invigilate your exams. Only Rhodents know about having to turn to BP for sustenance at midnight when other universities have 24-hour cafeterias (we’re looking at you, Stellenbosch).

Being a Rhodent is a unique and wonderful thing. So to all the Rhodes alumni who have returned, perhaps for the last time, Activate would like to congratulate you on a job well done.

In this edition you can read about the newly appointed Director of Equity and Institutional culture, Noluxolo Nhlapo. She will look into transformation and review practices at Rhodes. Another new appointment here is Siyanda Makhubo, SRC Academic Councillor. Activate had a chat with him - read about it on page 3.Dance crew The Via Kasi Movers are back in Grahamstown and our Art Director took some fantastic pictures of them, which you can see in the photostory on page7. Also look out for our story on how Whatsapp and Facebook are setting up a way of voice calling - read more on page 8. And enjoy the paper!

From the Editor

@MatthewKynaston

South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) protesting outside the City Hall, 27 February 2014. SAMWU has ended their sit-in and returned to work as of 25 March. However, according to Samwu chairperson, Zola Kolisi, the return to work might be temporary if the municipality does not meet the demands put forth by the workers.Kolisi stated that SAMWU proposed that there be a meeting between regional and provincial leadership within seven days, in which they will address the current financial crisis. Words by Loyiso Gxothiwe Photo: Niamh Walsh-Vorster

Front Page: The Via Kasi Movers are back in Grahamstown! Photo: Niamh Walsh-Vorster

By Sinazo Nakupi

Rhodes University has appointed a new Director of Equity and Institutional culture, Noluxolo

Nhlapo.In the past decade or so the university has made

headway with transformation at the level of formal regulations and has put policies and practices in place to bring about transformation and an end to discriminatory practices. Although resources play an important role in affecting who gains access to Rhodes University, the demographic of the student body has significantly improved in relation to the enrolment of black students.

Despite this progression, the university is still characterised by imbalances in the racial composition of academic staff beyond the policies. Nhlapo acknowledges the transformation issues and aims to review recruitment policies at the institution. “Rhodes University is not yet transformed, it is a transforming university. My role is to enable the change. While the physical composition of students has been transformed, the staff is still a challenge as the support staff is black in totality in comparison to the academic staff,’ she said.

Appointed on 3 February 2014, Nhlapo is the second person to hold the directorship of Equity and Institutional culture since its creation several years ago. Before joining Rhodes University, Nhlapo worked as a skills planning manager

for the Department of Higher Education and Training and supported the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) in developing skills and undertaking research on issues of equity with the aim of developing and enabling people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Nhlapo will be working towards improving the university’s equity standards, reporting to the Vice Chancellor and working closely with the university’s Equity and Institutional Culture Committee. She will also help advance equity and transformation at Rhodes University.

“I review practices in the institution and how they enable it to reach its transformation goals. I have to ensure that the university recognises, promotes and practices values as expressed in the South African constitution, Bill of Human Rights and the University’s mission and vision statements.”

The director plans on continuing where her predecessor, Tshidi Hashatse, left off by disseminating findings from a review of employment recruitment and selection policies of last year. “I have established meetings with unions to review policies that reward and recognise employees,” she said. Equity in the Rhodes context refers to fairness and justice whereas equality is understood to mean treating everybody the same. It is recognised that equality of treatment may result in the further entrenching of disadvantage of certain groups. This is turn, fails to recognise the history and context of South Africa.

“It is difficult to judge transformation. While student and staff demographics are the easiest measure of transformation, one also has to look at the transformation of institutional research, behaviour, teaching and learning. Transforming Rhodes University entails more than racial and gender equality. Disability also needs to be paid attention to. Even though, Rhodes University works closely with the Higher Education and Training task team to improve conditions and support for disables students. We could do more of raising awareness about disability.”

There have also been efforts to review and transform the curriculum and make it more suited to the geographical placement of the university. There are different perspectives when it comes to curriculum review. Nhlapo aims to involve students in discussions which involve changes to the curriculum, to ensure that it is representative of all Rhodes students. However, Nhlapo realises that she cannot do it on her own. “Implementation depends on the people. Successful policies mean nothing when people do not change the basic assumptions. We can have excellent human rights policies but if there is no implementation at every level then nothing can be done. Now it’s time to put greater effort into implementation and to demonstrate the will to do what the policies say,” she said.

The director’s office is hosting a seminar on Africanisation and the transformation of South African universities’ cultures on 30 April 2014.

Rhodes appoints new transformation director

3PoliticsEdition 4

Is the ANC really losing ground? By Laura Richardson

With the national elections fast approaching, speculation is rife amongst analysts as to what

South Africans should expect. Many people predict that the African National Congress (ANC) support base will continue to dwindle, citing a sharp increase in illegal protest and public unrest, as evidence of its declining popularity.

Global Research group Nomura has argued that the ANC vote could drop from 65.9% to 56.2% due to widespread dissatisfaction with the ruling parties poor delivery levels. According to Nomura, voters are expected to turn to the Democratic Alliance (DA), as well as newcomers Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and AgangSA. Nomura analyst Attard Montalto expects the EFF to garner a significant portion of the unemployed and youth electorate. Journalist Stephan Grootes thinks that the ANC also faces the challenge of a rising black middle class claiming that the party’s ‘liberation dividend’ is not as strong as it once was.

A survey conducted by TimesLive Media cautions against such conclusions, warning that the ANC may well regain its two thirds majority. The analysis of the survey argues that predictions of an ANC vote drop, fail to take into account the decline of COPE and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). In the 2009 elections COPE and the IFP finished third and fourth with a

combined percentage of 11.9%. But according to Nomura a “lack of clear management” is likely to significantly discourage COPE supporters. If the ANC can capture these votes it is likely that they could reclaim their majority.

Much depends on the campaigns of the various parties. Thus far, the ANC campaign has been unimpressive. However, Gareth Van Onselen believes that the three-month campaign period usually boils down to the last two weeks. He says that this is when the ANC usually produces a massive “squeeze campaign”.

“Our target is for a decisive majority, whether it is two-thirds or less is immaterial. At the end of the day, the question is what is the magic behind a two-thirds majority. There is actually none. We want a convincing majority in order to carry forward our programmes of transforming our country,” said Minister of Enterprises, Malusi Gigaba.

Mike Mavura, political analyst and lecturer at Rhodes University, believes the ANC will not get the two thirds majority despite what the surveys say. “I’ll be surprised if they get two thirds, I think they will win the election, but I feel that voter apathy is beginning to creep in as voters do not believe there is a real alternative. I think the real winners of this election will be the EFF. I think for the ANC, their support, as we move into the future, is beginning to end”.

Siyanda Makhubo: your new Academic Councillor Nicholas McGregor

The Student Representative Council (SRC) has finally been able to fill the tumultuous position of academic councillor. Siyanda Makhubo has taken the reigns and has already started making changes.

Why did you get involved with the SRC? SM: I am all for giving back to students, I started out in the

house committee and then the following year I was picked as Hall Representative. I was then able to address certain issues that affected the students. And then at the start of this year there were two positions open in the SRC and I actually wanted to run last year for academic counsellor, but it was taken. I thought, ‘I have been class rep for law’, and I decided to take the next step up.

The academic councillor position has traditionally been a very tumultuous position. Why is that?

SM: It’s hectic! I’m constantly working with people and have to work under very trying circumstances, such as academic issues, personal issues and social issues. If someone loses their DP, I am the first person they will talk to. If someone gets excluded then I will be the one who

will be trying to negotiate other channels to avoid their exclusion.

What will you do, or what have you done, differently?

SM: I have instilled faculty representatives, which is something we have never had before. So the most senior class representative in every faculty will become the faculty representative and will report to me. The way the constitution (of the SRC) is set out I would technically be that person, but now it is far more organized after devolving power and responsibility.

Do you feel there is a lack of communication between the SRC and the student body?

SM: Well they say that the Maralek and 2012 administration was a flop in the history of the SRC. Sakhe’s administration tried to change all of that. The image of the SRC changed and they really tried to put the SRC in the centre of the students. They laid a really great platform for us. So I feel like there was, but we are fixing it! I have spoken to every faculty and I am making myself known to the student body.

Siyanda Makhubo has already begun to change things up as the new Academic Councillor at Rhodes. Photo: Supplied.

As the 2014 election approaches, there is much debate as to which parties are leading. Photo: Linh Do/Flickr

•HomeBakedCakes,Pies,QuichesandBiscuits •FrozenMeals •PlattersforParties •IndividualisedBirthdayCakes

4 Arts & Entertainment 8 April 2014

Enjoying your Vac in GtownBy Storm Olivier

It’s April and summer is slowly fading. However, if you are not vacating town for the holiday period, you won’t be bored. Yes, the majority of students are fleeing but fear not; there are a few things to keep you busy while the April Vac rolls by.

Keep it localPack a small picnic basket, a book and your headphones or grab

some friends and take a stroll to the Botanical Gardens to spend some time soaking up the sun and become “one with nature”.

If you are interested in unique antique things, visit the Observatory Museum. Situated on Bathurst Street, it has a blend of eclectic architecture and a resounding feel of history. There are also plenty of second hand and antique stores in Grahamstown if you feel like getting your thrift on (head down to where Yellow House used to be).

Of course there is always the whimsical beauty of the Monument that has a spectacular view of Grahamstown, day or night – you definitely need a photo of this scenery for your personal collection.

FoodThis is in the interest of most students. Get to know your student

budget friendly local restaurants (this does not include Debonairs,

Steers and KFC). Red Café on High Street provides tasty food with a side order of a great atmosphere.

Jings-Jings Kitchen on Hill Street will cure your Chinese craving. If you’re feeling cheesy however

then remember that you haven’t lived until you’ve had some pizza from the town’s gourmet pizza joint, Gino’s.

Bikini weatherIf you have transport, there is

nothing better than a beach day. Port Alfred is less than an hour away and will provide you with a good beach and many small shops to visit. If you feel like putting a little more distance between yourself and Grahamstown, Kenton on Sea is blessed with a stunning river and a clear beach with the infamous Jerry’s pizza as a wonderful treat.

Just because you are not going

home doesn't mean that your vacation should be spent in bed or in front of your laptop. Get outside before Mother Nature forces you inside.

Rhodes Music Library

By Sebastian Burger

While Rhodes University has a world class library that includes journals, textbooks, novels and movies, there is one section that you probably never knew existed, the music library.

The often forgotten room is located in the music department (Beethoven House) on St Peter’s campus and has shelves upon shelves of cd’s, music sheets, and of course the hippest of all formats, vinyl records.

What is being called the “vinyl revival” is taking place all over the world, with record sales increasing by 33% in 2013 alone. We here in South Africa are seemingly joining the revival slightly late, but we’re catching up, with record stores beginning to pop up and even Musica and Look ‘n Listen once again starting to stock vinyl. For audiophiles and music lovers the vinyl record is the ultimate collector’s item, with its massive cover art and displayable size, making it a reminder of a time when listening to music was an event, a vibe that is so often lost with the easily acquirable (and easily skip-able) digital format.

The music library works exactly the same way as the Rhodes library, with albums being searchable on the Rhodes library website. Unfortunately, there is no option to search a separate catalogue of only music (searching for a Beatles album will return Entomology journals), meaning you will have to sift through the results to find out if the library has what you are looking for. However, true music nuts will tell you that searching on a computer is not what a music library is about; the real fun is spending time pawing through the records and looking for hidden gems.

It must be said that while the library caters mostly for the jazz and classical genres, it does have classics such as Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon and The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in its midst and is thus a must if you fancy yourself a record collector and are starving for something new to listen to.

So if you’re a music lover and have a hankerin’ for the warm crackle and hiss of vinyl or one of those weird kids with a turntable in your room, pop on down to the Beethoven Room and take a gander at what they have to offer.

‘The Treatment’ receives positive rounds of applause Smangaliso Ngwenya

This term the Rhodes Drama Department has once again put on a world class show, but was it worth the watch?

The lights came on to reveal a simple cold white set, diversely used for its conventional and unconventional functions. The multi-functional nature of the set was revealed through the precise movements embodied by the cast when changing the sets between scenes, the small yet distinct alterations in costumes worked like clockwork on the visible peripheries of the stage. Through reflecting a mutual understanding of one another’s intentions and destinations, the cast reinforced the fluidity of each scene, costume change and set change.

The theme of questioning the real and the unreal was thoroughly interlaced throughout the piece. This was conveyed through the actions of the actors and the props, which were almost real but had an absent component that would parallel the play as pure Realism. A few examples were embodied by the actors, who would drink and eat from empty plates and glasses, smoke unlit cigarettes were driven by a blind taxi driver: these are a few components that initiated a consistent questioning of the real versus the unreal.

The stage was demarcated by an elongated triangular-like shape which

successfully led the eye to where the action unfolded throughout the play. The cast fully embodied their characters while ensuring their voices stayed strong and relevant throughout the play. Liz Mills and her cast used a highly effective approach to positioning and movement that heightened the tone of the cold, busy and cut-throat downtown New York environment where the play is set.

Martin Crimp’s play together with Mills’ theatrical approach reveals that the New York dream is for the fittest, most cunning and cold. If you are timid or faint hearted you will not achieve the New York dream for success. The fittest characters were well displayed through the strategic use of posture, costume, voice and distinct body language. This left no ambiguity as to which characters would survive throughout the play and which would fall weak.

The play revealed well-rounded characters who, besides being in the hustle and bustle of downtown New York, had flaws, emotions and dimensions within their rigid, success-oriented characteristics. Accompanying the well-rounded characters were theatrical elements such as the lighting, simple yet highly effective projected backdrops, music, sound effects and the cold, white set, which resulted in The Treatment being a treat to watch.

The Rhodes Music Library has a variety of vinyl records, sheet music, cassette tapes and more. Photo: Michal Kruger

When term ends and most of the students travel back home, Grahamstown quiets down quite a bit, but this doesn’t mean that there is nothing to do! Photo: Rhea MacDonald

6 Lifestyle 8 April 2014

The future of textbooks is hereBy Kayleigh Pereira

How ideal would it be in a world where sixty percent of what you spent on your

textbooks stayed in your pocket? Your money could be spent on things you actually want, like more drinks at Friar’s, which sounds like a student’s dream situation. Saving on textbooks is

a possibility because Paperight is starting a new revolution. The #textbookrevolution.

Not all of us are trust fund babies and some people are paying for three or four years’ worth of tertiary education, so textbooks can become a bit pricey. For certain subjects you are required multiple textbooks and some of these textbooks are hardly used and yet you get roped into buying them. Often students find it easier on their eyes and memory to study from print, so while PDF files and ebooks are great in theory, they are often not very practical. How can we find a win-win situation?

Paperight is an organisation that is trying to reduce these costs by creating a network of ‘print-on-demand’ bookshops. This means that a student can walk into a copy shop and asks for the textbook, where it is swiftly printed and bound. Copy shops, such as Paperight, pay for a licence fee from a prepaid account where they can print from online libraries. All of this is organised with the publishers. They do not have to compromise their gross margins or their commission. This means that you do not have to go through the struggle of waiting for the

textbook you need if Van Schaik runs out. In addition, all costs involved in transport,

warehousing and wastage provisions are immediately eliminated. Hear that, earth warriors? Less waste! You can choose which pages you would like to print out, decreasing the amount of trees sacrificed in the name of education.

By cutting the cost down to about 40% of the original textbook price, Paperight has predicted that copy shops would save every South African university student R1000 a year, they would be able to save them a grand total of R52 billion by 2030.

Well, what are you going to do? It seems obvious, doesn’t it? Join the #textbookrevolution with organisations like Shawco and students across South Africa who have already signed the petition to create a solution for everyone involved. Sign up your name at www.textbookrevolution.co.za and spread the word so that we, as students, can spend money on what we actually want and cut the costs on colossal student debts.

Haricot's: home and heavenBy Nereesha Patel

At first glance, the building is simplistic and pretty in appearance, almost home-like. It's not hard to miss; a white structure set against the blue morning sky on New Street. Walking up the stairs through a grey gate, a waiter suddenly appeared at my side, and straight away he whisked me to a table inside Haricot's Deli & Bistro, where the bakery was already in full-swing in preparation for the first wave of early morning patrons.

When you enter the bakery, the first thing to catch your eye is a table topped with temptingly delicious-looking confectioneries and savoury treats: cakes, muffins, rolls, croissants, among other delights. A waitress at the bakery understood my amazement at the sight of the baked goods. “More often than not, students come in here just to look at the food,” she said with a laugh.

It took some effort to move away and sit down at an impeccably-set table near the bar. Only after I tore my gaze away from the food did I realise that French music filled the air, angelic voices filtered in from goodness knows where.

The décor makes customers feel as if they have stepped into someone’s house, and you feel encouraged to make yourself at home. The white walls are decorated with pictures of delectable treats, and a cabinet filled with cooking utensils, jars and other kinds of kitchenware stands near the entrance. Whilst I waited for my food (I had a hard time deciding on what treats I would like to eat), I made use of the free WiFi and flipped through the pages of a newspaper as I sat back in my chair. It was fairly quiet, but soon more customers arrived, ready to eat some breakfast before heading off to lectures or to work.

I started off with a chocolate cupcake. It was large and swathed in a layer of luscious chocolate icing, and it tasted just as good as it looked. The lightly-sprinkled icing was sweet and decadent, but the actual cake was even better, soft and divine. It is certainly a suitable treat for when one has high noon teas. At R12, it is filling and well worth the buy.

The sandwich was a bit pricey, but reading the menu description made it hard for me to resist: glazed gammon, shaved cheese and mustard mayo on a roll, either seeded, olive or brown. When the sandwich arrived, it was surprising to see that it was a big portion. The fresh olive roll was bursting with slices of cheese and bright yellow mayo, practically falling out, making it slightly difficult to eat the sandwich. But the taste more than made up for it. Although the mayo was overpowering, the sweetness of the gammon does come through, and the cheese paired well with the mayo. I was lying back in my chair by the time I was done, filled with content as if I just had Sunday lunch.

Haricot's Deli and Bistro is a diamond in the rough, and although some of the prices might be a bit high for some students’ taste, it is well worth forking out a little extra to soak in the home-like atmosphere and eat some good food.

Storm Olivier

Just when we thought NekNominations were done, along came the No Make-up Selfie. We're sure you've already seen them on Facebook; young ladies are flooding social newsfeeds with pictures of themselves without make-up on to raise awareness for cancer charities.

“The whole concept behind it is that perhaps, when women are going through cancer treatment, they don’t feel as beautiful as when we have full hair and makeup. So it was really a show of support and at the same time, they can donate to cancer research,” says Cancer Society CEO, Barbara Stead-Coyle.

However, many young ladies have missed out on the point of this exercise. They take the selfie and upload it but forget to donate to the cause.

Both cancer patients and women alike have made a point that simply posting a photo is not going to make a difference without actually stating what the cause is and how you can fund it.

Roxanne Brown, a first-year Journalism student, discussed the reasons behind her choosing not to participate. “A lot of people have missed the point; it seems as though people are more aware of the no make-up campaign than they are of the purpose behind it,” she said.

“I feel that if you want to do something about cancer, get up and do it. Stop claiming to be doing a good deed by removing your mascara. People are concerned that this phenomenal cause has been turned into a contest about who can look better without the aid of cosmetics,” added Brown.

Brisbane Times reporter and cancer survivor Kim Stephens said, “If someone had shown me their no make-up selfie when I was is the midst of chemotherapy hell three years ago, I would have mustered what little strength I had to beat them with my drip stand”.

It's a slap she does not need when cancer is already serving up a regular supply. By putting down their lip gloss, snapping a picture of their healthy faces and blithely professing their bravery for posting it publicly, women everywhere are indirectly saying that this is themselves at their least attractive state. The problem is, to a woman at the height of a chemotherapy regime who barely recognises the reflection that greets her in the mirror, these images are not unattractive at all.

She already acutely feels that by being bald, pale and gaunt, there is nothing that deems her attractive by societal standards now.

Yes, the money raised by no make-up selfies is fantastic and so is the fact that so many young girls and celebrities like Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Selena Gomez have increased awareness globally.

However the fundamental message still needs to be that it is not a beauty contest.

There are cancer patients who are overwhelmed with joy because of this initiative but on the other hand there are also those who feel offended. Therefore they need to be reassured that social media has no hidden agendas, the only goal in mind is to help.

SMS "PINKDRIVE" to 40158 to donate R20 to the cause.

Traditional textbooks can rack up a significant bill over one’s years of study. Photo: Rhea MacDonald

No make-up selfies have been crowding up news feeds for the past few weeks, but not all know the cause behind the trend. Photo: Rhea MacDonald

The value of no make-up selfies

7PhotostoryEdition 4

Shayi Pantsula Words and photographs by Niamh Walsh-Vorster

They’re back. Grahamstown’s infamous pantsula dance crew, The Via Kasi Movers, have been working on a new routine to keep audiences entertained. Last year the group made headlines by making it to the top 8 of eTV’s Step Up or Step Out dance competition. The crew plan to enter this year’s Stumbo Stomp amaPantsula competition. The group began just over 9 years ago and has seen members come and go over the years. The current trio compromise of Litha Kepe, Ayanda Nondlwana and Simthembile Mabhuti Makele.

1. Mabhuti, the youngest member of the crew, was inspired by his grandfather to take up the dance. 2. Simthembile Mabhuti Makele and Ayanda Nondlwana practices a few dance moves to add to their routine.3. The crew practice every day at the Dakawa Art and Craft Community Centre. Litha (far left) enjoys playing soccer when he’s not dancing. Mabhuti (centre) has devoted his time to the groove, and performs in various workshops in Grahamstown, especially during the National Arts Festival time. Ayanda is part of a drama company and is currently working on the children’s theatre production, The Lorax.

1

2

3

Edition 4, 8 April 2014

Whatsapp Voice “a game changer”By Dimpho Moletsane

The world’s biggest social network, Facebook, and its recently acquired famous messenger application, Whatsapp are set to add voice calling to their services later this year.

“We are driven by the mission that people should be able to stay in touch anywhere and affordably. Our goal is to be on every mobile phone in the world,” said Whatsapp CEO Jan Koum, at the Mobile World Conference held in Barcelona last year. “We are working with carriers in established markets to bring value to end users,” he said.

Voice calling through mobile messaging services is not new. Skype, BBM, Tango, Line and Viber among others have been offering voice calling for a long time, though none have managed to achieve substantial numbers. What sets the WhatsApp-Facebook partnership apart from the others is its widespread use in South Africa. There are well over 10 million Facebook and WhatsApp users in South Africa, representing a sizeable portion of the total number of cellular users in SA. It is WhatsApp’s ability to run on most mobile phones that makes it likely to disrupt traditional SMS and voice services.

Former FNB CEO, Michael Jordaan, says WhatsApp’s plans should seriously worry the telecommunications CEOs

and boards in South Africa, and around the world. Jordaan, who is an expert in innovation and disruptive technologies, said that free calls from WhatsApp using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) could be a potential major tipping point, comparing it to when Kodak was faced with digital photography or Nokia was faced with iPhone.

MTN and Vodacom have both filed separate, significantly higher rates with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) for VoIP traffic. In fact, MTN warns customers in its terms & conditions that “MTN GPRS, GPRS+, EDGE or 3G technologies may not be used to transfer or generate Voice over IP (VoIP) traffic”. The result of this could be a termination of contract, as well as a retrospective charge of R25 per MB of data used. Several years ago, Vodacom lodged a tariff of R10 per MB for VoIP.

In spite of this, both Vodacom & MTN have shrugged off concerns that WhatsApps’ planned voice service would negatively impact their revenues. “If anything, this vindicates the massive investment that we’ve been making in our network – over R30 billion in the last six years – with the viability of VoIP services so dependent on the quality of the network connection,” said Vodacom spokesperson Richard Boorman. MTN CEO Sifiso Dabengwahas called Whatsapps’s plan ‘a game changer’.

Being vegan at RhodesBy Alizwa Mnyatheli

Rhodes University is known for its liberalism and accommodation of various ideological beliefs. However, the university does not have a dining hall menu that caters for vegan diets.

The Rhodes Organisation for Animal Rights (ROAR) continues to advocate for facilities to support vegan students at Rhodes. Along with a poster campaign, the society is currently circulating surveys, which ask students if they would be happy to have a vegan meal option in their dining hall and whether or not they regard the exclusion of a vegan option as unjust.

“It is self-evidently unfair that meat-eaters have several meal options to choose from in dining halls, while vegetarians have only one and vegans have none. This unfairness is reflective of an active rejection (on the part of the university) of people who are committed to animal rights and environmental ethics,” said ROAR Society Chairperson, Gemma Barkhuizen.

People become vegan for different reasons, which vary from health to being environmentally conscious. The environment is greatly affected by the production process of animal protein. Land must be cleared to create grazing fields. Animal slaughter – and the nature of the process – is deemed as animal torture by vegans who believe their diet plays a role in reducing the effects of the meat industry.

Rhodes student Mamaputle Boikanyo described how veganism can also be spiritually or religiously rooted. “Being vegan is also a spiritual thing. Just eating something that I know is ethical- when I say ethical I mean something that has not been killed or tortured. It goes hand-in-hand with being an Eco-feminist. It’s purifying for me,” he said.

Staff members at Rhodes, however, state that vegan students are too small a minority.

“We’re industrial. We cater for the masses,” said Food Services Manager, Simon Wright, explaining the cost factor and the challenges of getting a consistent food supply for vegan produce.

Wright also explained that the diets currently offered are there because they are all relatively in the same demand. “Two years ago, in a meeting with ROAR, they reported roughly that there were 23 vegans on campus - a pea-size fraction to meals served daily. It is not certain that figures have grown over the years,” Wright said. “From a staffing perspective it would mean training staff to prepare vegan food”.

Although Rhodes has a separate kitchen, which prepares only Halaal food, Wright says the reason was mainly to attract more Muslim students.

Wright advised that Residences might not be suitable for a vegan lifestyle unless perhaps “easy arrangements” can be made for students.

Personal arrangements have been the only way to solve the issue so far. Katie Durant, a vegan student at Rhodes explained how her dining hall would make vegan meals especially for her. “I would book my (vegetarian) meal and then they would make a [vegan] version of that meal” said Durant.

“Definitely open up the possibility for people, because there are people I know who are vegetarian who say they would go vegan if the option was there,” said Durant.

ROAR states that thus far, the feedback they have received from their survey has been very promising.

The survey has brought some significant responses, which show that most people are in favour of the option being introduced even if they aren't vegan.

As of now, vegans are still a minority compared to vegetarian and Muslim students. Food Services has said that they will only be open to the proposal of a vegan food option if realistic figures show that there has been a change in this regard.

Environment

Rhodes rugby was given a boost this term thanks to some electric play on our Great Field last month. The EP Kings (in red and black) thrashed the Border Bulldogs 60-6 in a Grahamstown-based Vodacom Cup derby on 15 March. Next term will see Rhodes host the EP Academy as we chase down a Varsity Shield spot. Photos: Ashleigh Morris

Is ANC support in decline?

Page 3

Scitech