RUTV 3

Leah and Laea show you how it’s done.

Iggy interrogates the Liar.

Ever had the feeling that someone may be lying to you? But no idea how to tell for sure?

Here are a few signs to look out for. On the other hand if you’re trying to avoid looking like you’re lying when you are… try avoiding the mentioned gestures…mmmmmhhhh…..

According to SAPS statistics, bold crime in Grahamstown is on the rise. Yet when we hear of crime these days we barley blink an eye and taking precautions is a routine part of our everyday lives. Its only when the precautions we take seem inadequate, that we begin to fearfully blink at the thought of our vulnerability. It seems crime is not only on the rise but also the fearlessness of Grahamstown’s felons. Daylight is as good a time as any. Earlier this year two people were stabbed to death at midday in a local suburb, cars and houses are broken into in broad daylight, even when residents are home. Thieves are not only carrying weapons but also bolt cutters to ensure a successful break-in. Hi-Tech security is usually first on the scene with the police trailing behind. It seems locals are realising that their sense of security is a false one.

Grocott’s Mail reporter, Luvuyo Mjekula has been reporting on crime in Grahamstown for years, and agrees that crime is certainly taking on a more brazen nature, “Crime is getting bolder, more out in the open for anyone to see.”  Mjekula recently reported on an armed robbery at Noluthando Hall in Joza, where pensioners were held at gunpoint and robbed of all their money.  Students have also felt the effects of these more major crimes happening in the Grahamstown area.  We spoke to two students who have recently had first hand experience of the increasingly violent and arrogant nature of these crimes.

 Megan DeWaal a third year BSc student, woke up to find three intruders in her digs on Parry Street.  What shocked DeWaal most was the chillingly cool and methodical way in which the thieves went about their business… [podcast]http://rutv3.ru.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/sequence-03.mp3 [/podcast]

Martin Ross, another student at Rhodes, was one of the victims of the recent spike in car break-ins this month. His car was broken into on Milner street between the relatively busy hours of five and eight o’clock in the morning. Surprisingly it wasn’t just his radio that was stolen…. [podcast]http://rutv3.ru.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/crime-bite_1.mp3[/podcast]

 Elicia or “Superwoman” as she is affectionately known by her community has taken matters into her own hands. Her community in the township has expressed a complete disillusionment with the police response in their area.

Although bold crime may be on the rise, statistics show that the number of major crimes in Grahamstown have neither risen nor dropped since the figures released in 2002.

Isn’t it just great when you have friends partaking in controversial activities?  This is what i thought at first…A group of boys who i know, were scheduled to have their digs formal.  We negotiated at length until they agreed to let me film the beginning of their formal.  In true Rhodes style (and may i reiterate that this is a male digs!) they called me about half an hour before i was set to shoot, to cancel!  Their excuse was that their dates (who had been procured at the last minute) felt uncomfortable being filmed. 

So rushed phonecalls were made and i managed to secure another digs formal shoot on the same night!  And it turned out to be a success-we got great footage.  Everything happens for a reason…

Check out this short description from an anonymous source about the theme of a digs formal:

Watch this short video, from the same source, which talks about the games played:

Here is some footage on the actual digs formal.  Our camera was on while the ladies were setting up.  This snippet shows them blowing up condoms and putting in little cards which detail a game to be played (by the person who pops the balloon).  We had to step in to help them…taking journalism to a new level…

And last, but not least, a look at how they prepared their punch.  It seems even though it didn’t taste that great, it was consumed!

 Pirates Pizza is a student-run business started by Geoff Waugh, Daniel Hocutt, Karim Dhanani and Chris Marshall. They were all students studying at Rhodes, and some are currently finishing their degrees here. As the boys themselves put it on their website : 

 “The enterprise was started in Dan’s bedroom in Cullen Bowles res, it quickly grew to the point where the university waved its big finger at us and demanded that we cease and desist any and all mind-blowing pizza making operations on university property, which we completely understood, as they of course we’re just jealous because they didn’t know our secret recipe… Erm and we were breaking every rule they had written about residences and businesses on campus.”

After Rhodes forbid Dan to continue making and selling pizza in their bedroom, they moved their enterprise to a small venue next to Maxwell’s restaurant in Somerset Street. To raise the capital to sub-lease this property Geoff sold his old Mercedes, Dan sold cows that their family owned and Chris “begged, borrowed and stole,” which in Pirates terms means he loaned some money. Karim joined the team as a partner, and the new Pirates was opened.

 Since they opened in 2007 Pirates has been a hit amongst Rhodes students. As their fan page on Facebook dictates they are a:

“Student run, owned and consumed boot leg pizza venue. Always hard to draw the line between the crew and the customers as they generally are the same bunch…pretty ‘ridiculously good looking people in it that know how to have a good time and make pizza, open till 3:30am on the big nights.”

 Their cheap pizza and lively atmosphere have drawn in a great deal of customers and created some avid Pirates Pizza fans. In fact, they have done so well that they are expanding to a larger premises in African street in May 2009.

This venue will not only sell pizza but operate as a fully functioning, hip and happening new party spot for Rhodes students. The owners have been notoriously secretive about developments happening in the club in order to keep it a surprise for opening day. But stripper poles on the bar and a “fun police” have been promised.

Initially Pirates only employed students, but with their expansion more employees from the greater Grahamstown community are joining the crew.

This is an interesting interview which takes a different perspective on the upcoming SA elections.  An ex-Zimbabwean student shares her concerns about the prospects for Zim in the SA elections…