Photos

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BANK DAY: Students were ready to sign up for the Bank Day games.
BANK DAY: Students were ready to sign up for the Bank Day games. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
Skateistan: This has been a good place for inner city kids to boost their confidence. Queenin Masuabi
SKATEISTAN: This has been a convenient place for inner city children to skate. Photo:  Queenin Masuabi
LIVING ON THE STREET: Beggar, Louise Vermaak at his usual spot outside Pick n Pay, Braamfontein.
LIVING ON THE STREET: Beggar, Louise Vermaak at his usual spot outside Pick n Pay, Braamfontein. Photo:  Queenin Masuabi

 

FEEDING THE NEEDY: The Holy Trinity Catholic Church volunteers giving out food at their daily soup kitchen.
FEEDING THE NEEDY: The Holy Trinity Catholic Church volunteers giving out food at their daily soup kitchen. Photo:  Queenin Masuabi
HOTSPOT: You can now get free Wi-Fi at the Grove, Braamfontein.
HOTSPOT: You can now get free Wi-Fi at the Grove, Braamfontein. Photo:  Queenin Masuabi

 

HERITAGE DAY: Hlengiwe Gumede in her Heritage day attire. QueeninMasubi
HERITAGE DAY: Hlengiwe Gumede in her Heritage day attire. QueeninMasubi
Umswenko “Fashion changes, but style endures.” - Coco Chanel Mary Scholes Mary is wearing a classic shirt and high waist black pants. She pairs her look with black court shoes and adds colour to her look with a red leather jacket which she bought in Namibia. She loves the jacket because it is “soft and feels good on the skin”. She describes her style as “old-fashioned but smart”. This look suits the Wits director of postgraduate studies as it keeps a good balance of power and femininity. Joshua Heim Joshua is wearing a white shirt and blue, fitted blazer. He pairs this with skinny jeans which flatter his tall stature. His brown formal shoes and spectacles give him a classic look. This gamer describes his style as “stylish, free and earthy”. This look will definitely be a hit with the ladies this Women’s Month.
Mary Scholes
Mary in her vintage look. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
Umswenko “Fashion changes, but style endures.” - Coco Chanel Mary Scholes Mary is wearing a classic shirt and high waist black pants. She pairs her look with black court shoes and adds colour to her look with a red leather jacket which she bought in Namibia. She loves the jacket because it is “soft and feels good on the skin”. She describes her style as “old-fashioned but smart”. This look suits the Wits director of postgraduate studies as it keeps a good balance of power and femininity. Joshua Heim Joshua is wearing a white shirt and blue, fitted blazer. He pairs this with skinny jeans which flatter his tall stature. His brown formal shoes and spectacles give him a classic look. This gamer describes his style as “stylish, free and earthy”. This look will definitely be a hit with the ladies this Women’s Month.
DAPPER:Joshua Heim brings a modern age to vintage wear. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
VEGGIE MAN: Sbusiso Mvelase transport veggies to local business' in Braamfontein. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
VEGGIE MAN: Sbusiso Mvelase transport veggies to local business’ in Braamfontein. Photo: Queenin Masuabi

 

ON THE HUSTLE: Pieter de Wet looking for plastic to recycle. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
ON THE HUSTLE: Pieter de Wet looking for plastic to recycle. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
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A glimpse into one of the most anticipated and exciting annual exhibitions.

 

Wits University hosted the 14th annual Ruth First memorial lecture on August 17th. Panashe Chigumadzi was one of the Ruth First Fellows presenting her research this year.

 

A fight broke out between Project W members and Wits EFF after the red berets disrupted the SRC Elections debate, making the organisers cancel the event.

 

On Friday, September 4, Wits held its annual Pride March

 

Profile: we’re here, we’re queer

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“Our bodies are political … and we can use them to protect ourselves … our bodies are vulnerable and therefore are targets,” says Thato Pule a third year Actuarial Science student from the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Pule is transgender woman and she is proud of who she is. When Wits Vuvuzela spoke to her, she was confident and assertive. She wore a stylish multi-colour dress (yellow, white and brown) paired with a black coat. Her hair was tied up and her make-up was on fleek. She spoke with such a command that one could not help but pay attention.

When Pule is asked about her experiences as a young, black and gifted transgender woman, she responds “I have no say in what happens to my daily experience because it is at the hands of those who benefit from my subjugation.”

So many times, it has been said that the youth of today are lazy and have no mission. However for the likes of Pule, there is a greater mission for young people in this era.

Earlier this year, the #rhodesmustfall movement was started by UCT students. The movement was sparked by students demanding transformation at UCT, particularly the removal of the statue of colonialist Cecil John Rhodes.

Pule said #rhodesmustfall was a starting point for her own thinking and caused her to think about the inclusion on campus of “queer bodies”.

Pule was a member of the UCT SRC, the chairperson of transformation and social responsiveness, at the time. However, she later resigned from her position after controversial comments were made about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex (LGBTI) community UCT SRC deputy president Zizipho Pae.

“We are institutionalising and normalising sin. God have mercy on us” Pae wrote after gay marriage was legalised in all American states.

YOUNG, BLACK AND TRANSGENDER: UCT student Thato Pule stands up for the LGBTI community. Photo: Provided
YOUNG, BLACK AND TRANSGENDER: UCT student Thato Pule stands up for the LGBTI community.                                                                                                                                                                  Photo: Provided

These comments led to Pule posting to Facebook a picture that had tongues wagging. It showed the half-naked bodies of Pule and women in solidarity with her, standing in the UCT SRC president’s office. It was captioned “She invaded our personal space as queer bodies and now we are invading hers.”

She also criticises UCT as a whole for their lack of interest when it comes to issues relating to the LGBTI community. “UCT operates on the assumption that someone is either male or female,” she explains. Pule places emphasis on residences, because she feels as though there is no consideration for people of all sexual orientations.

She is an activist with the newly formed Black Resolutions Movement which focuses on what she calls “black queerness.”  Pule believes that the fact that she is black changes the entire sphere of being transgender.

“Activism is not an option, it’s a way of life” Pule says.

Transgendered people have been in the news, with reality television star Caitlyn Jenner, formerly a man, revealing to the world her identity as a woman. She went through medical treatments to look like a woman before changing her name. While criticised by many, including some who claimed it was a publicity stunt, Jenner was also praised and received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award earlier this month.

Pule praises Jenner’s journey because she believes that it has helped to “introduce transgender people into mainstream homes.” However she still believes that is still much work to be done in Africa for people of all sexual orientations to be understood and accepted.

Photography portfolio continued…

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HEAR IT, FEEL IT, LIVE IT: MTN Radio Awards nominees McThomas Ntuli, Samkele Kaase, Mpumi Mlambo and Ziyanda Ncgobo from Vowfm. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
HEAR IT, FEEL IT, LIVE IT: MTN Radio Awards nominees McThomas Ntuli, Samkele Kaase, Mpumi Mlambo and Ziyanda Ncgobo from Vowfm. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
WARM UP: The Wits Women’s soccer team warming up before their game against University of Johannesburg team. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
WARM UP: The Wits Women’s soccer team warming up before their game against University of Johannesburg team. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
CONCRETE JUNGLE: Braamfontein is one of the most busiest industrial areas in Johannesburg as it is home for many people but mostly students from Wits University. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
CONCRETE JUNGLE: Braamfontein is one of the most busiest industrial areas in Johannesburg as it is home for many people but mostly students from Wits University. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
GRADUATION DAY: Juanita Khumalo's family has travelled all the way from Kimberley to see her graduate at Wits University. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
GRADUATION DAY: Juanita Khumalo’s family has travelled all the way from Kimberley to see her graduate at Wits University. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
GRADUATION DAY: Tebatso Manyanga has obtained his Bcom degree from Wits. Photo: Queenin Masuabi
GRADUATION DAY: Tebatso Manyanga has obtained his Bcom degree from Wits. Photo: Queenin Masuabi