Vol. 3 No. 1 12 February 2013

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NWU Vaal Student 24/7 www.nwu.ac.za studentenews@gmail.com

Happy Valentine’s Day!

2 EDITOR’S LETTER 12 Feb 2013

Now, I say this from a few different perspec-tives...

Firstly, by looking back at 2012. It was my first year as Editor of Student 24/7; fresh out of University (finishing my Honours the year be-fore), and being flung into the deep-end that is the other side of University life. Boy was it life-changing! There were many highs, and lows, but with me still being here, and Student 24/7 growing day-by-day, I can proudly say that it was well worth it!

That brings me to this year. A New Year, and new challenges and adventures await! I defi-nitely started the year with a lot happening around Campus. From the drama of late ap-plications, to the long lines of registration, to walking for 12 hours for the CANSA Relay for Life! I hope this is a sign of what is to come this year, since I am not one who likes to sit around a desk all day.

With so many happenings around Campus, I don’t think it will be all that difficult for me to find a reason to get away from my desk and join in on the fun! The same goes with you! The main reason for our beautiful Campus having so many amazing things to offer, is for you to have a great time while studying. So that when you look back on your time here with us, you can do it with a smile on your face and remem-ber all the fun you had with your friends.

This of course doesn’t mean you should use this time to party the night away and forget about classes! One main challenge every stu-dent has is learning how to balance their life, and the sooner you learn to do it at University, the easier it will be when you go out there in the real world.

That was pretty much a mistake I made when I first started. First year was a blur of parties, hanging out with friends and late nights of try-ing to catch up with a week’s worth of classes. Don’t get me wrong, I still did pretty well, but I

What a year! realised that I didn’t plan my week very well. So silly me, decided to spend the next two years only on my work. I literally went to class, went home to finish work, study etc. Weekends were spent studying, studying, and some more studying. Honours was pretty much the same (though with the amount of work I had, I’m sur-prised I’m still not stuck in the library checking facts and typing essays).

So I guess I am making up for lost times now, though not everyone is lucky enough to do this. My favourite event so far, has been the CANSA Relay on 9-10 February. Thousands of people we up for 12 hours straight, walk-ing for a great cause! Though I was completely exhausted by the end of it, I left with a smile on my face, knowing I was a part of something bigger than me.

What am I trying to say? BE ACTIVE! Keep a lookout on Facebook, check the noticeboards on Campus, listen to student chatter; heck; maybe Vuvu will even know about the latest gossip! Use your time to get to know the Cam-pus and what it has to offer. Study hard, but enjoy the little things in life as well!I hope to see you around!

3VUVU’S SOAPBOX12 Feb 2013

Vuvu’sSoapbox

Quack!! Welcome back!

It is not uncommon for this goose to make a few New Year’s resolutions – and yes, like so many others before me, I sometimes find it (extremely) difficult to marry my good inten-tions with reality! Every New Year’s Eve I find myself reminiscing about the year that has been whilst anxiously awaiting the dawn of an-other 365 days. Every year I draw up a list of ‘normal’ resolutions, like going to the gym in Building 25 (opposed to merely waddling past it) and limiting myself to one toasted sandwich a week (which, if you consider it carefully is an unrealistic and impossible resolution to keep). This year, however, things will be different.

Since I fancy myself a bit of a rebel (not to men-tion my knack for adventure), I have decided to turn the tables on tradition and set myself a couple of unconventional resolutions. By do-ing so, I will lessen the impact of the emotional angst that goes along with setting idealistic resolutions. So, here goes:

* I am not going to diet – everyone knows a slender goose (called Vuvu) don’t have to!* Date a gorgeous chick – preferably a certain specimen at the dam behind Building 6. Re-vise: date any chick. Revise: go on a date. * Stop saying “Vuvu you rock” out loud to myself (although denying it would just be ludicrous)* I will buy myself a sweatshirt from the Cam-pus Shop (Building 23) and have the words “Big Cheese” embroidered on the back and wear it on Casual Friday.* I will eat more carbs. I know I want to... and what “Big Cheese” wants, “Big Cheese” should get! (... I so need to buy that sweatshirt!)

I am the first to admit that when it comes to willpower I might lack some commitment but

I am sure that I will be able to manage these resolutions. A cousin of mine (he shall remain anonymous) gets so stuck in his resolutions that it literally wraps around his bones and fortifies them... almost like Wolverine’s metal claws. Seriously! Quack! Therefore, take this goose’s advice: New Year’s resolutions aren’t for everybody, so consider it carefully before you start beating yourself over the head with a dead fish (or the likes thereof).

I want to welcome the new flock of first year students to the campus with a sincere ‘Quack!’ and assure you that you are in for the ride of your life! As you make your way around our beautiful campus, be on the lookout for me and my feathered friends and remember: a goose that does not like toasted sandwiches does not exist – so don’t be fooled. The monkeys are always up to... well, monkey business, so don’t let them con you into sharing your lunch with them. O, and before I forget: don’t mind the hooved herd (Springbuck, Oryx and Black Wil-debeest) they spend their days grazing away on the open fields.

Maybe we should all simplify our lives in 2013 and only focus on the here and now. Be happy. Smile. Make new friends. Cherish old friend-ships. And above all: embrace the campus as your home away from home. The place where anything is possible!

12 Feb 2013FROM THE RECTOR’S OFFICE4

12 Feb 2013 CAMPUS NEWS 5

A word from Miss NWU VaalDear students

Greetings and welcome to the NWU Vaal family!

When you walk onto the cam-pus in your first year, I’m sure you would have experienced the same anxieties that I felt walking onto this green cam-pus for the first time; namely an overwhelming sense of “Oh my word! Why are there so many wild animals?” (No, I’m not referring to the lecturers). Have no fear friends, for I want to share my story with you and hopefully by the time you have finished reading this, you will feel at home here.

My journey here started in 2010 when I enrolled as a fresh faced, scared-out-of-my-too-“uncool”-jeans student. I decided to stick to myself for almost two years and only attended classes and went straight home to study. To my disappointment my first two years went by without me get-ting involved in any social ac-tivities and therefore missing out on two years that could have been the best years of my life. Therefore I want to urge you to get involved in any (and all) projects. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you also get an opportunity to engage with other students and make new friends (as they say: friends you make at university varsity are usually the friendships that sustains en endures all obsta-cles in later life).

Sitting on the banks of the Vaal River, listening to the water, I learned to love and respect nature (and to be very patient when waiting for the geese to cross the road). I also learned to get along and work with peo-ple from diverse backgrounds as well as different, social- and cultural upbringings.

In May 2012 I decided to enter the Miss Acacia, my day resi-dence’s annual pageant, and to my surprise I was crowned Miss Acacia (2012/2013). From there my year spiralled into a thrill-a-minute joyride. As you can imagine, this was a huge deal for me; I got to participate in Miss NWU-Vaal where wonder above wonder, I also won. I still feel so hum-bled for being chosen as the ambassador for this beautiful campus. Even though it is most girls’ dream to be able to be a “beauty-queen”, this was never my dream. My passions are to motivate and in-spire the youth of South Africa – to enable them to live a life of passion, be accountable for their actions and to always treat everyone (and ev-erything) as an equal.

In October 2012 I repre-sented NWU-Vaal at the annual Miss SA Campus (a weekend in Preto-ria). This was a national competition where you get the opportunity to represent South Africa

abroad. I came second (first princess) and was therefore chosen to represent SA in Miss University Africa (I am still waiting for conformation of the location and date).

I cannot wait to put NWU-Vaal on the map! I cannot wait to get to know you all better this year. I am a very open person so feel free to walk up to me and say: “Whazzup!”

Keep the following in mind for 2013: Be the best you, and not a second best copy of some-one else.

May God bless you!

Best wishes,Mariss van den Heever (Miss NWU-Vaal 2012/13)

12 Feb 2013CAMPUS NEWS6

A word from Mr NWU Vaal

Kenny Modise

Dear Students

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

There may be different motivations why you have chosen to better yourself by furthering your education, but you can rest assured that you have made the most important decision of your life as of yet, and it was the right one!

As the first Mr NWU Vaal and also Mr South Africa Campus 2012/2013, I heartily welcome you to the Vaal Triangle Campus of the North-West University.

I hope that you may find all that I have found this campus to be, a campus that is diversified; that is welcoming; challenging; encouraging; and a place that you can call home.

This part of your life is of paramount importance for the shaping of your future - be brave and willing to learn; humble yourself before you find wrong in others and constantly challenge your-self to exceed beyond expectations - these are the secrets, not only to my own success as Mr Oryx 2012/2013, Mr NWU VTC 2012/2013, Mr SA Campus 2012/2013, Founder of BSLOTH- Blacksheep & #YPDPT, Winner of EDC Busi-ness Competition 2012, Chairperson of EDC Student Board, Founder of EDC Student So-ciety, Liaison of Code06 Entrepreneurship for

South Africa etc...-

But to all the success stories that are birthed from this institution. I leave you with this well-known quote to carry you through in your journey that has just begun

“A person's a person, no matter how small.” – Dr Seuss

May the odds forever be in your favour! Olivier Tshimbidi

CH@s gives back to communityCh@s (connecting helpers and students) members of the campus, together with Dr Sid-ney Vos from the Career Centre; started the year in a highly positive note. On Friday, 25 January, Ch@s was in Sharpeville to donate stationery to a visibly struggling Vukuzenzela Primary School.

The organization handed out the much need-

ed books, pencils and erasers to the excited children and staff members of the school. One teacher, Mrs Nhlapho, who sent a request for assistance to the organization, was over-whelmed with the donation and went on to voice some of their challenges, especially with regard to study materials. The student organi-zation, in response, promised to help as often and as much as they could.

12 Feb 2013 CAMPUS NEWS 7

Vukuzenzela Primary School starts from Grade R to Grade 7. The infrastructure is very old and in much need of renovations, especially with painting and plumbing. The garden and yard are also in dire circumstances. When asked why the parents are not coming through to help redeem some basic infrastructural defects, Mrs Nhlapo raised a point that most of their learners are either orphans or come from less fortunate family backgrounds. Ch@s members hence highlighted that it is part of their man-

date to reach out to struggling societies when-ever and wherever possible.

Ch@s is a student body that assists students on campus with access to the relevant student development and assistance programmes available on campus. All students are welcome to join and should do so by speaking to other Ch@s members or they may go to Building 24, Room G26 Mrs Maggie De Beer.

12 Feb 20138 STUDENT 911

Survival Guide: For the first years, from a third year studentMpho Nakana

Firstly let me say congratulations to you all for making it this far. I know you worked very hard and made some sacrifices in order to achieve the results you wanted. Hopefully the follow-ing tips will help you in adjusting to the new phase in your life, which is being a university student. Do enjoy these next few years of uni-versity experience as you are preparing for the real world, and I wish you all success in your studies.

1. Select the correct field of study- ensure that you have registered for what you really want to study. When the going gets tough, do-ing what you love is what will motivate you and keep you going.

2. Get a diary- the campus offers one, or you can purchase one. You really get a lot of things done when you have scheduled them. It also helps to note all your home-works, assign-ments and test dates in a single book.

3. Less partying- yes, there are just some par-ties and events you’re going to have to miss out on so you can do your work. The sacrifice will be worth it in the end though, when you get those good marks and finally graduate.

4. Keep good company- you are going to meet a variety of people in university, embrace them but also select those you keep close to you wisely.

5. Communicate with your lecturers- and don’t be shy to ask for assistance when need-ed.

6. Participate in different activities around campus- there are many things happen-ing around campus like the RAG and various events throughout the year. Go watch or par-ticipate in your favourite sports; join an affili-ated society or committee of your chosen field. Just remember to pace yourself and don’t take

on more than you can handle- your main rea-son for being here is to study so do not allow your academics to suffer in the name of social engagements.

7. Get a good support system around you- there are times when you may become frus-trated or depressed due to the pressures that come with being a varsity student, and hav-ing people you can talk to helps. This may be your family, close friends, and even lecturers (they’re really not as scary as they appear). The campus also has counselors who work with students. The ADS Department is another great assistance to students as it hosts work-shops which help with exam preparations and how to cope with stress.

8. Read… Read… Read…- it can get quite busy with academics and prescribed work, but try to read other material as much as you can. Also keep in touch with the news and other things happening in your field of study. This can come in handy with your varsity work and also helps in understanding it.

9. Prepare for class- I know we rarely do this, but when you are familiar with the material be-ing discussed in class it actually helps you to understand better.

10. Freedom? Some of you may be seeing university as an escape from teachers and parents. Well, allow me to burst your bubble a bit. If you think university is an opportunity to do what you want without having to answer to anyone then you will fail. Be responsible and always remember what your parents have taught you. Listen to your lecturers and submit your assignments on time. This is the begin-ning to your future, so be responsible and dis-ciplined.

11. Be selfish- do what is best for you, your studies and future at all times.

12 Feb 2013 9ADVERT

12 Feb 2013CAMPUS NEWS10

First Years 2013

12 Feb 2013 11CAMPUS NEWS

12 Feb 201312 HEALTH

Let’s get healthy!Roche ArtzEvery New Year often comes with resolutions, right? Well, guess that depends on how seri-ous you are about keeping to those resolu-tions. We all know that health is an important factor in our lives, as without it, how would we ever be able to conquer each day which de-mands us to attend lectures, submit assign-ments and prepare for those tests and exams. It may be that in the first month of the year, we set ourselves out for the most outrageous diets and exercise routines, all to get rid of that excess baggage, yet, it’s vital we go about it the right way.

In an interview with our Campus Health nurse, Sister Mapeeta Mulumba, she advised that one should adopt a healthy long-lasting diet, instead of a crash-diet. By adopting a healthy diet, meals are balanced with healthy ingre-dients made up of fats, carbohydrates, min-erals and proteins. Sr Mapeeta emphasized that one’s “carb intake must be reduced and if possible, carbs should be avoided [as] “carbs make you fat”. She also said that as crash diets aren’t permanent, it doesn’t work and therefore causes more havoc to your body than do any good. A diet should be a lifestyle: one that you can stick to everyday and not just two weeks as most crash diets.

There are two types of fats: good fats and bad fats. Good fats as Sr Mapeeta indicated in-cludes that of “plants and fish”, and bad fats includes that of “red meats and the skin of the chicken”. She advised “It’s better to boil food, have more raw foods and use minimal unhealthy fats”. The usual fizzy drinks we also find ourselves having, like Coke, Fanta, Sprite should also be avoided as Sr Mapeeta said “They’re unhealthy and have no nutritional val-ue”. It’s better to have water, and juice which is either 100% or 40% pure.

Sr Mapeeta emphasised that one must eat three times a day. Of the three, breakfast is the most important one as “our sugar levels go down when we sleep during the night”. She

went further on to explain that “if you don’t eat three times a day, the body stores fat in certain parts like the tummy and the buttocks”, and this is a fact. It is also important to include protein your breakfast, “even peanut butter is a protein”, as Sr Mapeeta said.

We surely cannot forget exercising. Sr Map-eeta said “it’s the best for losing weight and minimising many diseases including obesity”. She recommended a minimum of three times a week for 45 minutes. Exercises she men-tioned were that of brisk walking, jogging, run-ning, cardio.

So perhaps you’re now even more eager to hit the gym and burn those calories as if they never existed? Hold on a tiny, little bit. Wayne Meyer and JP Smit, who are both coaches for Valke Rugby said “Before you hit the gym, do some jogging”. Smit said “In the first month do rowing, swimming, cycling and jogging”. Meyer added one must “cut out most carbs like Coke and white bread”. It is only after the first month of doing these cardio workouts that one can work on the circuit. They emphasised that one must take it lightly first.

These are guidelines for getting healthy and fit this year, but most importantly learn to maintain it and have it form and become your lifestyle.

12 Feb 2013 VOX POP 13

Roche Artz

Be my Valentine...Rose are red, pink, orange, yellow and whichever other co-lours you may have seen them in. Question is, do you cele-brate Valentine’s Day or not? We know this beautiful day is celebrated every 14 February and is often celebrated world-wide with the predominant theme colour being red... not forgetting those chocolates, balloons and cute cuddly teddy bears.

Joseph Bukula, 3rd year, BCom Financial Accounting student said “Yes, I do celebrate Valen-tine’s Day”. He said, “I would usually take my girlfriend out to a restaurant or for a picnic, but I do not dress in red”. He explained that the reason for him celebrating this day is “be-cause it’s a day to share with your loved one and show ap-preciation”. Tumelo Mosia, 3rd year, BCom Financial Ac-counting student, on the other hand said, “I don’t celebrate it because it’s a Pagan Festival and I’m a Christian”. For oth-ers, like Sibusiso Nhlapo, 3rd year, BCom Finance student, it’s just a normal day like any other day. He says “There’s no difference because I believe it’s for lovers and I’m not in a relationship”.

So, is Valentine’s Day really a day for lovers, alone? Surely it could not be so. What if on this wonderful day you want to show appreciation to your friends, or your siblings, or who knows, for your pets as

well? Love is without limits, right? More were of the opin-ion that it’s just an ordinary day and that love should be cele-brated every day. Nomasonto Sikhonde, 3rd year, BCom In-dustrial Psychology student said, “To me it’s a normal day. Maybe it’s ‘cause I’ve never experienced Valentine’s Day as people describe it, but I do believe love exist”. She went further to explain that perhaps in future she’d look forward to experience it. Others were more cold towards the topic, like Teboho Motsumi, 3rd year, BCom Economics Risk Man-agement student who said, “Valentine is the name of a person who’s dead. There’s no need to celebrate it.” He further explained “It should be an each and every day thing”. How is it that such a simple day could be turned into something extremely complicated? We all know Valentine’s Day is a day of celebrating love, but how

could such a simple four-letter word be interpreted in so many different ways? Manana Mole-fe, 3rd year, BA Social Work student said, “I believe that in order for you to enjoy Valen-tine’s Day, your partner must be actively involved, ‘cause if not, this day becomes bor-ing”. Furthermore she added, “Even if you wanna celebrate this day with your friends, it’ll be better if they’re outgoing people and in that way it’ll be a spiced up day”. On a more general note, Sifiso Shongwe, 3rd year, BCom Financial Ac-counting student said, “I think it’s a day of love and where people get involved in sharing gift, thoughts, and so on”.

Take it from Shakespeare, “[love] is an ever-fixed mark...”. It is simple. Show some acts of kindness on this sweet Valen-tine’s Day. Go on, give some-one a smile and say, “Happy Valentine’s Day”.

12 Feb 2013PONDERING PEARL14

New Years Eve is everyone's favorite time of the year. Even the avid couch potato ventures out for a night on the town - or in this case the Durban beach. Parties during the year, never quite capture the electric atmosphere of the night. Friends and family customarily come to-gether on 31 December and as the old year ends, the New Year is announced and greeted with jubilation, euphoria, and elation. It is com-mon to welcome the New Year with cracker ex-plosions and, in some instances, breathtaking firework displays.

Stepping onto the beach at the Beach Club you will have no doubt that Durban has some of the best beaches in the world. The Beach Club is situated literally one step off the beach and is the perfect venue to bring in the New Year. Beach party pleasure kept us on our feet from sunset to sunrise with a kicker sound system that just wouldn't be the same without some kicker DJs. As far as House and Hip Hop music goes you won't find DJs more ground-breaking then Afrotainment, DJ Tira, Big Nuz, Fisherman, Joocy, Bhar, Twitty and DJ Cndo. Other artists that appeared on the night for live performances were Black Coffee, Idols winner Khaya, Zakes Bantwini, Culoe De Song and YFM DJs. These DJs/artist definitely repre-sented Durban on a global platform.

"Mawufuna ukujaiva woze Durban" - If u wan-na dance come to Durban

New Years day, celebrated on 1 January marks the start of a New Year and the calendar's year count is incremented. Many New Year celebra-tions are enjoyed outdoors in South Africa’s warm summer weather. So to start off my New Year I hop aboard the Ricksha Bus for a three

New Years Is A Beautiful Bouquet hour city tour to view a range of Durban's major attractions. The route highlighted the beach-front, uShaka, Emmanuuel Catherdral, Victoria Street Market, Juma Musjid Mosque, City Hall, Francis Farewell Square, ICC, Kwa Muhle Mu-seum, The Cube in Innes Road, Green Hub, Mitchell Park, Florida Road, Moses Mabhida, Blue Lagoon and Suncoast Casino.

I then visited the Sapphire Coast, where abun-dant natural beauty and wildlife exist alongside stylish modern shopping malls, luxury accom-modation, restaurants and sports facilities. The area is truly renowned for its beaches and wealth of ocean activities, from fishing, surfing and scuba diving to paddling in the lagoons or white water rafting. It also has a rich sense of cultural diversity, from traditional Zulu art and crafts to spicy Indian food and the oldest nat-ural golf course in the country! The Sapphire Coast truly has something for everyone, and welcomed me to; ‘the place of sweet water’- where King Shaka once rested his troops.

On day four; I decided to hit two birds with one stone, and most definitely enjoyed the plea-sures of unexpectedly getting ‘sea sick” on a boat cruise into the mysterious deep sea and facing one of my well-hidden fears shark div-ing.

So I first checked in at Wilson’s Wharf, situat-ed on Durban’s Victoria embankment between the Yacht Mole and the Sugar Terminal for a two hour boat cruise, which turned into sour grapes the split second we entered the enig-matic deep sea. Regardless of the ill feeling on the deep sea, Wilson’s Wharf is the City’s trendiest fusion of fun, basking in the sunshine

12 Feb 2013 PONDERING PEARL 15

during the day or enjoying the cool vibe and taking in the magnificent splendor of the rus-tic lifestyle, and the preservation of the natural environment.

Wilson’s Wharf is a “must see” for all who live in or visit the city and offers the ideal destina-tion to take a break, enjoy the buzz, relax and unwind on the deck and watch the ships sail by. Soon after my boat cruise, we deviated to-wards the uShaka Marine world. We brought a standstill to the Underwater Wonderland and braved the depths of the Indian Ocean to dis-cover the world hidden just beneath the wa-ter’s surface.

Sea World is a part of uShaka Marine World, a unique marine theme park, located in the East coast of Durban. Including the Wet 'n Wild Wa-ter Park and the uShaka Village Walk shopping centre, a unique destination premier to tourist attraction that offers something for everyone. I started in on the Xpanda Shark Dive, Shark cage diving got me facing perilous fears of the ocean’s deadly predators. With nothing more than the Xpanda cage between me and the fearsome Ragged Tooth shark, I could test my courage with this close encounter. It also pro-vided me with an opportunity of seeing Brindle bass at close range.

I then took an exit to the snorkel lagoon, and experienced thrilling underwater activity that reveals all that lies hidden beneath the ocean’s surface. Myriads of silvery fish flash mere milli-

meters from my face as I float lazily around the snorkel lagoon. I took a dive through the Phan-tom Ship and spotted the long-lost treasures from the cargo shipwreck, including a Willy’s Jeep that is believed to date back to World War II. Next was the Open Ocean Tank which has a magnificent marine life that includes rays, sand sharks, tuna and pompano. I didn’t even require a diving qualification to enjoy a walk inside uShaka’s largest exhibit.

On my last day, I took a walk along the beach that lead me to the famous Moses Mabhida Stadium. It took two minutes in the SkyCar to reach the top of the arch as a 360º view of Dur-ban awaited, to catch sights of all of the city landmarks by day. Breathtaking!

In next to no time to my arrival here (31 De-cember 2012 at 17:46), I recall discovering that this city has a lot more than beautiful, golden beaches to offer. Durban’s people are friendly and laid-back, and reflect a rich cultural diver-sity that includes African, Eastern and Western influences. Perhaps it’s this blend of culture, art and environment that makes Durban so unique. There’s nowhere else quite like it!!

Pearl MavundaA Million Miles Away From Normal

16 TOP 5 12 Feb 2013

Pearl Mavunda

Top 5 with Ur Girl PearlIt’s nice to get a day off at work/ school for a public holiday, but some of the most intrigu-ing holidays in the world are the most obscure ones… We kick start this edition and our 2013 calendar with my fav top five unknown, untra-ditional, silly and strange, goofy, wacky, weird and wild public holidays, to spice up your cal-endar this year.

Our first weirdest public holiday is on 17 Janu-ary, Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day!! If there's a day to celebrate New Years and to make resolutions for the upcoming year, then there should be a day to ditch those resolu-tions. If you haven't broken or given up all of those New Year's resolutions, you're doing bet-ter than most of us. Maybe, you're well along the way to accomplishing them. Maybe, a few are already checked off on your list. Good for you! For many of us, New Year’s resolutions are hanging heavily over our heads. They have become a burden, and perhaps were not such a good idea after all. If you haven't accomplished, broken, or given up your New Year's resolutions, today is your chance to get out from under them.

Drifting to our lucky number two, of our bizarre public holiday to add onto your calendar is.. well this one goes out to all first years, and it’s on 11 February celebrating Make a Friend Day!! Do you have enough friends? The an-swer should be no. That's because friends are one of life's valuable assets. 'You just can't have too many friends. Make a Friend Day is a great opportunity to meet someone new, or do something to make a new friend. Making a new friend can be easier to do than you think. There must be a gazillion ways to make new friends. It often helps by smiling and just being friendly or helpful.

Oh, by the way.... I hope that you will be my friend!

Next up on our weirdest public holidays is Flip A Coin Day, which is on 1 June. Flip a Coin

Day is a day when making decisions is as easy as flipping a coin. This tradition dates back to Julius Caesar. Caesar would take a coin and flip it to make decisions when the right choice was unclear. The correct answer was "heads", which of course carried his image on the coin. Use this method of decision making for all de-cisions, and for everything you do today.

And to our second last bizarre public holiday on our top five is on 6 August, Wiggle Your Toes Day. Wiggle Your Toes Day encourages you to give your little piggy toes some exercise. Those ten extremities at the end of your feet, are crying out for a little freedom. Cramped up inside a pair of shoes or sneakers all day long, your stinky toes just don't get the chance to move about freely, as they would like to do. The best place to wiggle your toes on a hot August day, is in the pool. Or, sit on a dock and stick your wiggly little toes in the water.

And to our final wacky and weird public holiday to add to your calendar is…DRUM ROLL… National Ding-A-Ling Day celebrated on 12 December. This day is a very special day to "Ring your Bell". Nope, I’m not talking about the Salvation Army Bell Ringers, standing with their bells, outside of every store in the coun-try. On National Ding-a-Ling Day, you should brace yourself for bizarre and crazy behavior, from all the people you encounter. Even nor-mally conservative people have been known to go a little crazy. Some people say this is a day for those who are off their rocker. We say, it is simply a day to cut loose and act a little weird. Be ever vigilant to the ding-a-lings that will come out of the woodwork. Ding-a-Lings will be everywhere: on the road, on the street, in stores, and even in your house!

I suggest you get into the holiday spirit, and become a ding-a-ling yourself......But, please do so for just one day.

Pearl MavundaA Million Miles Away From Normal

17PROFILE12 Feb 2013

Mpho Nakana

In the spotlight 24/7He is one of the best Hip Hop dancers on the Vaal campus, and you can tell when he is in action that he has passion for what he does. In fact he was crowned as best Hip Hop dancer in the inaugural NWU-Vaal Dance Club Inter-res (2012), and was also a host in the Mr. and Miss NWU Vaal finals of the same year. Stu-dent 24/7 had a chat with MacD, just to find out more about the person behind the moves.

Name: Gomotsegang ‘MacD’ Modillane Age: 22 years old From: Rustenburg

Mpho Nakana: So when did you start danc-ing?MacD: I started dancing at the age of eight (8); doing a variety of S’bujwa, Hip Hop, Contem-porary, Latin and Traditional.

MN: What do you enjoy about dancing?MacD: It’s expressive and dynamic… and I try to show that I’m not one dimensional. I’m a jack of all trades.

MN: What are your favourite dance moves?MacD: Robotics and vibrating (demonstrating the moves)

MN: You are really good at your dancing hey. Where do you get this talent?MacD: I wouldn’t necessarily say I have a tal-ent for dancing. I just have an ear for music, and so I am able to identify what (moves) can be good and how it will look. Developing your skill is very important.

MN: How do you keep your dancing interesting and growing?MacD: I watch videos of people who dance, I change and improve the styles and alternate between what I specialize in (at a given time).

MN: You won first place in the Hip Hop dance category of the NWU-Vaal Dance Club Inter-res (2012) competition. How was that for you?

MacD: It was cool. I was representing Oryx. I have also competed in many other dance com-petitions like the Battle of Giants; I compete in at least six competitions each year within a va-riety of categories

MN: What do you do during your spare time, when you’re not dancing?MacD: I enjoy going to the movies, bowling, clubbing and DJ’ing.

MN: Oh you DJ as well… how would you de-scribe your DJ style?MacD: We call it deep progressive club electro house. I’m housed under the Krypton Broth-ers company, who also sell textbooks for stu-dents… they do a variety of things.

MN: What are you studying?MacD: I’m doing my Honours in Politics. I like it because it informs you of the dynamics of our society

… From our little in-between chit-chat during the interview I could tell that MacD is quite aware, politically. He also said his vision for South Africa was for the country to be effective and efficient in its management of affairs…

MN: What inspires you?MacD: Having ambition. I’m an elite individual and down to earth.

MN: What are your future plans?MacD: I’m going to be a politician for a few years. It will be a good stepping stone for me to make the right contacts for pursuing my goals. Then I’m going to pursue my dancing and DJ’ing. I also plan to be a businessman, and use that to contribute to society because then I’ll be able to create jobs.

Final words: I excel in whatever I do, because I believe that you got to do your best in what-ever you do.

12 Feb 2013FREAKY FACTS18

Bon jour etudiants! (Hello students). The new year is here and I have sampled some of the best interesting facts for you to digest. To help you get to know university life and our mascot Vuvu, I have some freaky facts about geese and being a student, to show you how interest-ing it can be to be on our campus! Also, since February is the month of Valentine’s Day and Love, I have also put in some interesting facts about love and romance related things!

Left-handed people are more likely to be schizophrenic.

People with Urbach-Wiethe disease are un-able to feel fear.

There is enough carbon in your body to make 900 pencils.

Scopophobia is the fear of being seen or stared at by other people

The rumbling/growling sound your stomach makes is called Borborygmus.

A group of rhinos is called a “crash”

Falling coconuts kill about 150 people a year

We can only dream of faces we have seen in the past.

A hypnic jerk is when you trip in a dream and wake up with a jolt. This happens because the brain thinks the body is dying.

Shakespeare invented the words assassina-tion, bump and swagger.

Alloxodoxaphobia is the fear of opinions.

In Hawaii it is illegal to insert pennies into other people’s ears.

The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is “uncopyrightable”.

Lethologica refers to the state of not being able to remember the word you were looking for.

Here are some geese facts and some facts that you as a student should know, from coffee to learning, these facts may have something to do with you! Also some interesting facts of love, relationships and Cupid!

A prison in Brazil is using geese as extra se-curity!

Piloerections is the technical name for goose bumps.

Laughter helps increase memory and learning.100 cups of coffee over 4 hours is enough to kill an average person.

A librocubicularist is someone who reads in bed.

Sophophobia is the fear of learning.

A group of geese on the ground is called a “gaggle” and in the air a “skein”.

Gamophobia is the fear of marriage, relation-ships or commitment.

Cacophobia is the fear of ugly people.

Venustraphobia is the fear of beautiful women

For men, chewing a stalk of celery releases an-drostenone and androstenol odour molecules, which makes them more attractive to women

Cupid was a symbol of paedophile love in an-cient Greece.

12 Feb 2013 SPORT 19

The NWU Vaal competed in a variety of USSA (University Sports South Africa) tourna-ments this past December, where five of our sporting codes were represented at different venues. The USSA’s are the highlight on the NWU Vaal’s sporting calendar which sees universities competing for top honours in a number of sporting codes.

The first and most impres-sive NWU Vaal sporting code was the body building team who represented the campus which were hosted by NWU Mafikeng from 2-5 December 2012. NWU Vaal achieved first place in both the overall and best performing team classifi-cations, hence solidifying their position as the number one body building tertiary institu-tion at the tournament. Sabata Moqhali and Tshiamo Kalanko achieved individual first plac-es in their respective catego-ries at the event to the delight of coach Rapheal Kayembe Ntumba.

The second sporting code which represented the NWU Vaal was the dance club, who participated at the USSA Dance tournament held at the University of Venda from 9-13 December 2012. Twenty stu-dents represented the NWU

NWU Vaal impress at USSA Summer tournamentWouter Pienaar

Vaal, four couples reached the quarter finals; five reached the semi finals with one cou-ple finishing third. On an in-dividual note, R.L. Genu was elected to serve on the USSA dance executive committee for 2013/2014 as Vice Chair-man. This is quite an impres-sive achievement and shows the quality of the NWU Vaal’s dance club. The NWU Vaal chess team competed for the second time and finished in 12th place over-all out of the 21 institutions. The competition was overseen by CHESSA (The chess South Africa Association) which add-ed to the prestige and profes-sionalism of the tournament.

Cricket was also part of the USSA Summer tournaments which was hosted by NMMU in Port Elizabeth from 3-7 De-cember 2012. NWU Vaal was highly competitive through-out the week, but only managed one win against the University of Western Cape beat-ing them by 60 runs. NWU Vaal lost the other four closely con-tested matches and ended the tournament in 8th position overall. This was a commend-able performance from the team, and proves that they can only go

from strength to strength in the future. Bennie Ferreira also impressed at the tournament and was duly selected for the SA student side that will par-ticipate at the annual SA Colt week.

The NWU Vaal’s rugby sevens team participated at NMMU George from 25 – 27 Novem-ber 2012. The team ended in 8th position out of 21 universi-ties after losing the plate final in an evenly contested match.

The summer USSA’s staged in December 2012 have once again proven NWU Vaal’s sporting excellence against the other top tertiary institutions in the country. We at Student 24/7 congratulate each NWU Vaal participant at the various USSA’s summer tournaments. Well done!

12 Feb 2013SPORT20

NWU Vaal Sport – Success is part of the gameWouter Pienaar

NWU Vaal has always been a Campus which prides itself on providing individuals quality op-portunities on the sporting front. Sport forms an important part of the NWU in general, as a proud heritage of sporting achievement on the Potch Ccampus shows. NWU Vaal is also rapidly ascending to the top of the table at vari-ous sporting codes, with numerous champion-ships being won by our Women’s Hockey and Cricket teams in 2012.

Since 2008, there has been a steady progres-sion for the NWU Vaal on the rugby front. In 2008 the NWU Vaal had no registered players at Valke rugby, but in the span of four years has produced a total of 192 players who are registered at Valke during the 2012 season. An increase in the number of games played per year has also helped the team to improve their game, as they regularly perform at the top level. Last year NWU Vaal rugby qualified for the varsity shield promotion relegation match, but unfortunately lost out to the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

There was also a 48% increase in the number of soccer players in 2012, with games being played also increasing from 54 in 2011 to 106 in 2012. Furthermore, the men’s and ladies soccer teams both represented the NWU Vaal at the 2012 USSA’s, thus gaining experience for this year’s championships.

The number of sporting codes which the NWU Vaal provides has also increased dramatical-ly since 2008. In 2008 there were 5 sporting codes, but that has increased monumentally to 13 codes in 2012. These codes include the fa-miliar sports of rugby, cricket, hockey and soc-cer, but also include chess, dance, bodybuild-ing and canoeing.

In addition with the different sporting codes, there has also been a substantial improve-ment with regards to sporting facilities at NWU Vaal. The NWU Vaal now boast three soccer fields, three netball courts, three cricket fields, two hockey fields as well as two gymnasiums,

with the old gymnasium being upgraded to in-crease capacity. These improved facilities pro-vide the platform for our NWU Vaal athletes to give their best.

Sport on the NWU Vaal is on the up, with our teams performing exceedingly well and im-proving each year. 2013 will be a huge year for sport, as we kick off with Netball and Soc-cer, and Cricket in February 2013. Let’s sup-port our sporting teams and participate in the variety of sporting codes on offer at NWU Vaal.

12 Feb 2013 SPORT 21

Moroke Bojosi

A rainy Saturday the 19th of January 2013 at the National Stadium in Johannesburg, saw the start of Africa’s biggest soccer spectacle, the Africa Cup of Nations. . The opening ceremony kicked-off just after 4pm, with dance and musical brilliance featuring artists like Sipho “Hotstix’’ Mabuse, Lira and Sibongile Khumalo among others.

The highly anticipated tour-nament opener between the South African men’s national senior team, Bafana Bafana against the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde Islands failed to live up to expectations. The home side were unable to neither create any clear cut chances, string more than five passes together nor play with fluidity much to the disarray of the home fans. The final score resulted in a goalless draw with much work to be done to ensure progression to the next stage.

Bafana Bafana headed into the next game against Angola knowing the group was still wide open after a goalless draw between Morocco and Ango-la on the opening day. A fully packed Moses Mabhida Sta-dium coupled with wholesale changes to the Bafana starting line-up saw a much improved performance in a must win game, which was littered with many missed opportunities from both sides. Bafana domi-nated possession for most of the game and could only mus-ter two goals to see off Angola

AFCON 2013: The Beat of Bafana2-0 on the day. This spirited performance brought back the pride of the nation and the be-lief that Bafana Bafana could emulate the class of 1996.

The last group game against Morocco was dubbed to be a walk in the park, but it turned out to be more of a tussle than expected. Bafana came into the match having had made no changes to the starting eleven that claimed victory over Angola. Bafana Bafana began the match on the back foot with Morocco applying re-lentless pressure on the cover defence. South Africa were already 1-0 down by the 10th minute, which sent alarm bells ringing in the Bafana camp. The second goal came in the 71st minute, after some classy interplay in the midfield which

forced Morocco to push back, and allowed May Mahlangu the space and freedom to curl a sublime shot around the keeper into the top right hand corner of the net.

Shortly after that, Morocco took the lead to silence the capacity crowd at Moses Mabhida Sta-dium when substitute Abdelilah Hafidi smashed the ball past Itumeleng Khune from close range. Centre-back Siyabonga Sangweni beat the offside trap with 4 minutes to play to score his second goal of the tour-nament, thus salvaging a 2-2 draw to give Bafana Bafana a vital point. This meant qualifica-tion to the quarterfinals, pitting them against Mali, in a repeat of the 2002 AFCON quarterfi-nal in Bamako, Mali, where the latter walked away 2-0 victors, to send Bafana packing.

12 Feb 2013SPORT22

2013 is in full swing after a bumper sporting month in January, which tickled the taste buds of every sporting fan. The month of February will continue that pattern offering a small feast for sporting lovers to indulge in.

Heroes get remembered, and their mark on the sporting fields of 2012 will forever remain. We have already witnessed some amazing perfor-mances from South Africans on the interna-tional stage in January. The 2013 Dakar Rally, which is the most grueling off-road rally on the motorsport calendar, once again provided some twist and turns in the sandy dessert and mountain conditions of South America. South Africa’s Giniel de Villiers, finished second over-all in the motorcar category, just behind winner Stéphane Peterhansel of France. This was a fantastic effort by the South African and a great way to start the year for South African sport in general.

January also saw the staging of the Australian Open, which is the first of four grand slam tour-naments on the tennis calendar. South African tennis star Kevin Anderson, impressed many as he reached the 4th round of the tournament for the first time in his career. This bodes well for South African tennis, which has been strug-gling to produce quality results on the tennis courts lately.

With the excitement of the African Cup of Na-tions starting in January, soccer fans can strap themselves in for more explosive action in February, as the tournament heads into the knockout stages. The final will be played on 10 February at the National Stadium (otherwise known as Soccer City) and promises to be a spectacle of African flair and flamboyance. Local soccer fans will also be glad to know that the PSL (Premier Soccer League) will resume on 12 February after the Christmas break. Kai-zer Chiefs are currently on top of the table, but rivals Orlando Pirates are only one point be-

hind them in second. Expect a massive battle for supremacy between the two Soweto giants this month.

The South African cricket season will be in full swing in February, as the Proteas look to con-tinue the good form they showed against New Zealand when they face Pakistan in a three test match series starting on 1 February and ending on 22 February 2013. Players to look out for will be Dale Steyn, AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, as they will seek to send Paki-stan back home with their tails between their legs.

Rugby fans will also be licking their lips as the 2013 Super Rugby competition gets un-derway on 15 February. The Southern Kings are a new edition to this year’s tournament as they replace the Lions, who underperformed in the competition last year. The RBS Six Na-tions tournament featuring the powerhouses of Northern Hemisphere Rugby, such as France, England and Wales will also be contested in February 2013. Catch all the action from 2 February until 16 March 2013, if you want to take a break from Super Rugby action.

February looks to be a bumper month for sport in a variety of sporting codes all around the world. We salute the athletes of 2013! Happy sport-watching in the New Year!

Worldwide view on SportWouter Pienaar

2013 – The next chapter in the crowning of sporting greats

12 Feb 2013 CALENDAR 23

12 Feb 2013CALENDAR24