Happy Birthday Motho

Starting the year off on such a high. I have been So blessed to have amazing people in my life. One of those people is my amazing Motho who turns 30 today ( thou he looks 25!). We had a braai to celebrate his 30th. It was so much fun, and most importantly we were surrounded by great people.

His birthday made realize the importance of having great friendships. Oh he is one of the fortunate few who has the ability to make and keep friends, good friends. Mdu has great friends because he is a great friend and when I was watching him interact with them,the brotherhood was so evident, it made me think of my own friendships and the kind of friend I am.

To be honest in the past I have failed a lot of my friends, I’m extremely sensitive, can overreact and have the sick ability to hold a grudge for years.I am slowly learning the importance of communication in all my relationships, the power a glass of wine, cheese cake and a sincere apology can do for a relationship. I truly believe any relationship can be mended if there are two willing parties and an open and honest conversations to start the healing process. In the past I’ve expected my friends to be psychic, to know what will hurt me, my moods and feelings.

I am learning not to put expectations on friendships, to love and appreciate people for who they are, not who I would like them to be, Im learning to be a good friend so I can have great friends. Luckily I have a lot of patient and kind people who are with me in this journey.

Some pictures from Mdu’s party. Happy birthday Superman!!!

New year, new me!

Revamping this blog! Last year I spent the entire year blogging about my school work and topics that really won’t authentic to who I am, I guess that why I handle blogged or even told anyone about this blog. As corny as it sounds 2014 is really 20-4 me.
This year is my year to be me and unapologetically so! I want to be more assertive, confident and actually embrace and enjoy all the opportunities life will present me.

Think I’m sounding a tad bit “flower child like ” promise I’m not smoking the holy herb, it’s because of the week I spent in Cape Town!

Took a short left with my boyfriend and his friends. It’s turned into a little ritual actually to spend the new year as couples, we have been doing that for the pAst 5 years 😒😒😒. To be honest thinks we need to change that and quickly. Don’t get me wrong the people are great Mara it’s time for a little change, think I’m abit selfish in a sense that I want my boyfriend all to my self.

Cape Town was a lot of fun for me! Truly a trip of many firsts! Check out all the awesome pics from our trip.

Hopefully this is a first of many updates! As my lecturers would tell me, to improve my writing I need to read everyday and write everyday. Using this platform to do so.

Day6 In-depth

Started my day at 5:30, had to take taxi to Spruit Johannesburg

The filming for my multimedia portion of my project, it wasn’t pleasant at all. I keep getting stopped from filming; one of the security guards and managers questioned my intentions and wanted to confiscate my camera.

Couldn’t take the kind of shoots I wanted. But the experience was eye-opening.

Tshepo was so open to sharing and answering my questions. Most of the time I would ask him to repeat his interactions, answer questions while working. I am Grateful that he was so accommodating and patient.

At the end of the day I got a bag of peaches, thankful that I worked with such wonderful people.

Day 5 In-depth

Smanga, a street vendor from dragon city

 

Spent the day researching for the multimedia aspect of my blog. Glad to say the day was very productive. Spent the day with a great man Tshepo Nhlapo, his a street vendor at dragon city and he was kind enough to agree to being videotaped. I was struggling d to find people to agree to be on tape. On Monday I will start shooting my video. To day I was just trying to find locations and planning my shoots.

Day3-4 In-depth

after a hot and tiiring day, i found refuge.
Wishes, Palesa Radebe, Madala

Day 3-4 In-depth

Ive decided to combine these two days. I was struggling with my first topic and people didn’t have time to work with me and avail themselves to me. I changed my focus and topic for in-depth. After two days of no progress, I decided to change my topic and talk to people who are actually interested in my research and questions. With the limited time I have, I can’t sit around in the hopes that people will return my phone calls and reply to my emails.

I am fortunate enough to have found people who are willing to talk and are more than willing to offer their service. I have been spending a lot of time in China Mall, and Dragon City.

It’s amazing what a smile and a handshake can get you, I’ve learnt that language is not a barrier. Everyone understands respect and honesty.

I was running around china mall and dragon city on foot, they are only 1.3 km apart but when you don’t have a cap or sunscreen and its 30 degrees it takes its toll.  I got to my third interview, tired, thirsty and sweaty. Madala, one of the shop owners I was interviewing was kind enough to offer me a glass of water, tissue to wipe the sweat off my face and a chair. This man doesn’t speak a word of English but he offered all these things to me with a smile and friendly gestures.

I’m loving the discomfort and strain in-depth is giving me, the amount of growth and learning that my interviews and interaction are giving me makes me appreciate this project so much more.

Day 2 In-depth

Day 2 In –Depth

It’s so frustrating to have a plan or an idea which seems so perfect and well thought-out, not work out. Today I sent the day on the phone, emails and this evening I’m heading out to the discovery sports club.

With the limited time I have, I really can’t afford cancelation with my meetings, voicemails or out of office email replies.

On the upside of things, one of my contacts replied to my email, he wanted a detailed brief of what exactly my project is about, the types of shots I want, questions I would ask for my video etc. Had to read through my lecture notes on how to draft a good brief before replying to the email. My contact has not replied yet but I hope this is not an indication of the kind of brief I sent him.

For now I’m already thinking of plan C and D but I really can’t afford to not have this work out.

Off to Discovery now, crossing fingers that things work out.

Day 1 In-Depth

Photo By: Palesa Radebe
China Mall which was previously known as highgate

My first blog post for in-depth is a week late and I’m anxious just thinking about the amount of work I have and the limited time at my disposal. The reason why I’m a week behind schedule from the rest of my classmate is because I had mouth and throat ulcers.

My doctor said my ulcers are caused by extreme or severe stress and anxiety. This made total sense to me as I was feeling particularly anxious about my in-depth, portfolios and five hour exam. The fact that I was at home stressing about the research I was supposed to be doing, the contacts I should have made and progress that was not happening, prolonged my healing process and I’m still struggling a bit.

My first day of in-depth was sobering, the two china malls I went to felt like a waste of time. The (high gate) china mall next to New Canada was virtually empty, 70% of the shops there are vacant I was surprised to see how the mall is still kept opened. One of the shop owners said business is bad due to the fact that they have a lot of competition, most of the customers there are unemployed and Dragon city which is a few kilometers away is ideal for most customers.

When I got to Dragon city I immediately understood what the fuss was about. The mall is definitely bigger and better with a lot more options and variety. Could not get what I needed there but it was only my first day.

Though time is not on my side, I optimistic about my topic and the interviews I have managed to secure.

Let it burn

Puff and Pass: Wits Junction residents are using incense to disguise the smell of cigarettes and weed. Photo: Liesl Frankson

After receiving information that Wit Junction residents are irritated by the smell of incense in their corridors, Wits Vuvuzela investigated and found that students believe they have a drug problem more than a cultural intolerance to incense.
Neo Sekgobela, 3rd year politics, said the smell of incense is irritating but not overbearing, and is not reason enough to lay a formal complaint.
Pretty Mapaita, 4th year medicine, said she doesn’t mind incense as the students who burn it, do so in their rooms. Her issue is the students who smoke weed outside on the lawns. Her window faces the garden and when she opens her windows, the smell comes directly through.
“It’s annoying and disturbing. When you’re studying and open a window, you have the strong smell of weed. Weed happens often but incense once in a week or so.”
“It’s annoying and disturbing. When you’re studying and open a window, you have the strong smell of weed. Weed happens often but incense once in a week or so.”
Tawada Chisa, 2nd year BComm said he was first introduced to incense by his mother. She burns it around the house to chase away bad spirits. Chisa said the smell of incense is common on his floor.
“The majority of people in my corridor burn incense. The guy opposite my room is Indian so I get mine from him. “It’s like deodorant or oils or cologne.” Chisa said while incense can be used for its “soothing smell” and for cultural reasons, some students use it to mask the smell of cigarettes in their rooms.
Students are not allowed to smoke in their room, but the rule book doesn’t have any specific rules on burning incense, Chisa said.
Mcebo Olyate, chair of Wits Junction House Committee, said there haven’t been any formal complaints about the smell of incense but students do complain amongst each other in their corridors.
Olyate said Junction has some cases of people smoking in their rooms and few have been charged. He would not confirm what cases are being investigated and what was smoked but he said it would be difficult to stop the use of incense in residence rooms.
“People will say it’s their culture and religion. What we do is promote cultural tolerance.”

Proud to be you

Rainbow coloured flags, bright orange t-shirts, and people dancing to Beyonce’s single ladies were part of the festivities that made this year’s Wits pride the biggest.
The event was a host of colourful flags, bright orange whistles and Witsies dressed in extravagant outfits for the event . The event started with a few words from the Deputy vice chancellor of finance and operations Tawana Kupe, who said he was impressed with this year’s turn out and chanted to the crowd “No fear, No hate, All love, Proud to be you” and the crowd replied with a loud “Proud to be me”
The parade was themed Being Me, which was a week of events dedicated to merge the diverse personalities, sexual orientations and gender identities at Wits. Events include a new t-shirt design competition, a drawing marathon; and a queer history tour.
Wits Pride programme manager Ella Kotze said this year’s theme aimed to make Wits a safe space for everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, age, nationality, ability or class.
Kotze said Wits Pride will join hands with students and those supportive of LGBTIA issues to show their pride and also remember the struggle the LGBTIA community has faced in obtaining their rights.
We need to reclaim the space for everyone, we know there is homophobia on campus, and it’s one of the silences on this campus.
Kupe said “We need to reclaim the space for everyone, we know there is homophobia on campus, and it’s one of the silences on this campus.”
SRC secretary Tasneem Essop highlighted the lack of support the SRC has given to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and asexual (LGBTIA) on campus.
“We are behind pride, as an SRC we have not done much for pride”, she acknowledged that pride has come a long way and as the SRC they want to take the fight against inequality all over campus.
The march started 1 pm at the Library Lawns and proceeded past the Great Hall, down Yale Road across West Campus and back to the Library Lawns again.

Campus Health slammed

Photo: provided.
Wits University’s Campus Health centre was slammed in a report for bad hygiene

Palesa Radebe
Campus Health does not even have a doctor on its staff, nor is its state of hygiene ideal, the sexual harassment report revealed. In a nutshell, the organisation does not have adequate resources to handle sexual harassment cases.
Wits University commissioned an inquiry into the nature, scale and extent of the problem of sexual harassment on campuses. One of the findings in the report points out that there has been a vacant position for a medical doctor at campus health (not known for how long), which has four staff members servicing 30 000 students and 2 000 Wits staff members.
According to the report, campus health is under resourced and does not have enough staff to deal with sexual harassment cases.
The report revealed that campus health does not have its own vehicle and cannot transport complainants to the necessary points of assistance. Campus Control is responsible for transporting complainants to Milpark Hospital.
The findings in the report said campus control does not have any particular facilities for victims who need to be transported to Milpark Hospital. Victims of sexual harassment are required to wait in a general waiting area , where there is frequent foot traffic.
The university’s Sexual Harassment Advisor (SHA) Maria Wanyane said campus health staff are currently not permitted to handle any form of sexual harassment case, due to lack of resources. Rape kits and evidence needed to be collected by specialised doctors, but Campus Health does not have such a doctor on call, Wanyane said
One of the contradictions the report picked up was that victims can bring a friend to file a complaint, but the vehicle only permits two people. However, complainants are transported in a bakkie, which leaves space only for the driver and the complainant.

The report revealed that students who go to Campus Health feel uncomfortable because drivers are male and creates an uncomfortable environment for the complainants (normally female students).

The report also revealed that campus control does not have enough officers to deal with the number of requests that they receive for the “escort service”.

The escort service offers students the option to call campus control security guards to walk with them to their residence at night. Students have to wait because there are not enough security guards available. This makes them feel vulnerable.

One of the conclusions of the report said the vacant position for a medical doctor should be filled without further delay and should be properly resourced to attract an appropriately qualified medical practitioner.
Head of campus health, Sister Yvonne Matimba, could not be reached for comment and directed Wits Vuvuzela to Maria Wanyane who is the SHA.
Wanyane said she is the first point of reference in dealing with sexual harassment cases, and depending on degree of the case, she refers to the policy and takes the necessary steps from there.
palesa@witsvuvuzela.com