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October 2017 Volume 38
WITSReview The magazine for ALUMNI and friends of the University of the Witwatersrand
Circle of Excellence Award 2017 (CASE)
Best External Magazine 2016 (MACE)
South Africa R25 (incl. VAT & postage)
International R50 (incl. postage)
201-300 176
EDITOR'S NOTE
ACADEMIC RANKING OF CENTRE FOR WORLD
BAND GLOBALLY WORLD UNIVERSITIES GLOBALLY UNIVERSITY RANKINGS
• UN IV E RS IT Y RAN K I N G S 2017 • RIPPLES OF
R A N KED
SUCCESS
THE BEST The medical class of 1967 recently held its 50th
anniversary reunion. It was a privilege meeting
IN AFRICA
these wonderful alumni and conversations I had
with many of them on their perceptions of Wits
provided food for thought.
2 01 7
The class toasted the illustrious teachers and There is no denying that the University has
mentors who had prepared them for their medical challenges. But they are not the norm or unique
careers and were justly proud of their classmates, to Wits. Negative news in South Africa often
most of whom have enjoyed success practising as gets more traction especially when it reinforces
specialists in the alumni diaspora. preconceptions. Emotions often trump facts.
The achievements of this class are not unique. In Whatever one may think of present-day Wits, 1
global rankings of alumni success over the past most alumni believe they received a world-class
few years, including those of alumni wealth, Wits education and want future generations to have the
University has been variously placed from 7th same experience.
for “most popular among billionaires” to 56th for
the “most millionaire alumni” to 139th for “global The medical class of 1967 started a project to
employability”. My American counterparts assume capture the biographies of its members. Class
we must be a very wealthy university. Not so. representative Professor Gladwyn Leiman noted,
“The biographies started arriving, a small trickle
While the University does enjoy immense goodwill and then a major tsunami of the thoughts and
and support from many, we do have an uphill deeds and activities and global accomplishments
battle with pessimism (about our future as a of a single Wits Medical School class. Can you
university and as a country), generalisations and a imagine the effects of this one School, in its perch
rush to judgement. There is a disconnect between on the ‘white water ridge’ in the southern part of
the University attaining exceptional results in the the African continent, during its whole century of
global rankings and the perception held by some educating medical graduates?”
that standards are dropping. There is a disconnect
between allegations that the University and/ The ripple effect Wits graduates have in all fields of
or its students are violent, anti-Semitic or racist endeavour around the world is profound and the
(against whites/blacks) and the peaceful and ripple effect of providing the same opportunities to
harmonious reality on an everyday campus. And future generations can change lives and destinies.
The Academic Ranking of World Universities is perhaps these negative perceptions feed into the
released annually by ShanghaiRanking Consultancy, incongruity of having successful alumni and being Peter Maher
an independent organisation. It ranks the world’s 500 an under-resourced university. Director: Alumni Relations
best universities on research performance. The
Centre for World University Rankings lists the world’s
top 1000 institutions, based on a variety of factors. WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Image: GCRO
Editor:
Gallo/Getty Images
Peter Maher peter.maher@wits.ac.za
Contributors:
Heather Dugmore heather@icon.co.za
Lyrr Thurston lyrr.thurston@wits.ac.za
Kathy Munro katherine.munro@wits.ac.za
October 2017 Ufrieda Ho
Graphic Design:
Jignasa Diar
ufrieda@gmail.com
jignasa.diar@wits.ac.za
Printing: Remata
FEATURES Published by the Office of Alumni Relations,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Address: Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South
28 Free People’s Africa
T +27 (0)11 717 1090 E alumni@wits.ac.za
Concert www.wits.ac.za/alumni
44 Gauteng UPDATE CONTACT DETAILS:
www.wits.ac.za/alumni/updateyourdetails
City-Region SUBSCRIPTIONS PER COPY:
Observatory South Africa R25 (incl. VAT & postage)
International R50 (incl. postage)
49 Food PAYMENT OPTIONS:
58 Natalie Knight Online payment using a Visa, Mastercard,
44
American Express or Diners Club credit card at:
62 Honorary www.wits.ac.za/alumni/payment or by electronic
transfer or bank deposit to: F
irst National Bank,
degrees Account No. 62077141580, Branch Code 255-
2 005, Ref.No. 29613 (+ your name) or by 3
cash or credit card payment at the Alumni Office.
20 WITSReview is published twice a year. The views expressed
in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor,
49
the Office of Alumni Relations or of the University of the
Witwatersrand. ©Copyright of all material in this publication is
vested in the authors thereof. Requests to reproduce any of
the material should be directed to the editor.
Image: Shivan Parusnath/Wits University
Circle of Excellence Award
2017 (Council for Advancement
and Support of Education)
Image: Frank Black
REGULARS Best External Magazine
2016, 2015, 2012 & 2010 (MACE)
01 Editorial Best External Magazine
2014, 2013, 2012 & 2011
28
04 Letters (SA Publication Forum)
06 Sport
10 Art and social Cover: The Free People's Concert, 1973
Story on page 26.
12 Networking events Image: Frank Black/Getty Images
18 Centenarians
20 Research news
66 Witsies with the edge
68 Books
78 Obituaries
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017
LETTERS
Dear editor...
Ducktails at the Our feature on Witsies in love Faculty of Commerce, Law and I had just completed my MBA
Plaza (May 2017, Vol. 37) plucked Management. Keith has always at the Wits Business School
Michael Hobson’s letter has some heartstrings. supported me in my work. in 1978. Lynette (née Holder)
struck many chords in my Kathy Munro (BA 1957) had already been teaching
memory. Damelin College, for A window opens to Honorary Associate Professor, for about three years, having
Several readers responded to Michael Hobson’s letter instance. I matriculated from romance Architecture and Planning completed her diploma at
(WITSReview, May 2017) about entertainment in Johannesburg in Damelin in 1953, in the days I met my husband Keith at Wits, the Johannesburg College of
years gone by. Their letters have been edited for length. We also when that College was in a in Gate House on East Campus, Where families are Education (affiliated to Wits).
note that Michael’s letter originally referred to Sauer Street, which rather shabby tenement building where we both had offices. made
has been renamed Pixley ka Isaka Seme Street. at the east end of Bree Street. It was early in 1972 and we The feature on Witsie couples We spent the first night of
Down at street level was a small were young lecturers; he was got me thinking about my own our honeymoon at the “new”
The theatre on the I came to live in Johannesburg café, which boasted a large in Business Economics and I family’s strong connection to Carlton Hotel.
corner in 1952, aged three. I often pinball machine. What better was in Economic History. I went Wits. My wife Helen (née Hill, James Pullen (BSc 1977, MBA
Michael Hobson says: “Mr went to the Apollo Cinema entertainment could the Damelin looking for a window-opening BA 1973) and I met at Wits, 1979) and Lynette Pullen
Arridge also asks about the in Beit Street, Doornfontein. students have wished for! pole, which was lodged outside as did my late parents, James Cape Town
20th Century cinema. It was in I remember seeing Tarzan his office. We met in the corridor Craig (MBBCh 1942) and Hilda
Rissik Street, corner Jeppe…” there as a child. I was very Mr Hobson situates the 20th on the 6th floor. We became Craig (née Bertin, BSc Physio
Correction: the 20th Century scared and left before it ended! Century Cinema at the corner engaged in two months and 1944). My mother and wife both
cinema was on the corner of I also went to the Alhambra of Rissik and Jeppe Streets. married in four. Our wedding resided in Sunnyside, where
Von Brandis and President in Doornfontein, the Metro Surely that was the Plaza. Wits reception was at Hofmeyr Helen was Senior Student in
Streets. I went to this cinema in Bree Street, His Majesty’s students of 1950s vintage knew House; the dress was home- 1972. My brother, James Craig
many times and remember in Commissioner Street, and about the Plaza – in fact, one made, as was the cake; and the (MBBCh 1970), and sister,
4
seeing From Russia with Love, the Monte Carlo in Jeppe issue of the Wits Rag magazine total cost of it all was R180 for Pauline Heaver (née Craig, BSc 5
starring Sean Connery. Street. I saw many movies, in the mid-50s ran a brilliant 40 guests. That sum was just Physio 1970), followed in our
as well as James Last and his epic poem, beginning with this under half of my month’s salary. parents’ academic footsteps at
Orchestra, at the Colosseum bold scene-setting: “Lash le Wits.
Stay in in Commissioner Street. At
the Victory Cinema in Louis
Roux went to the Plaza, Like
Samson to the gates of Gaza...”
Graham Craig, SRC President 1972
(BSc Eng 1973; MSc Eng 1986),
touch Botha Avenue, Orange Grove, I
saw Some Like It Hot, starring
The fictitious Lash le Roux
was a “ducktail”. Think James
Melbourne, Australia Engineered to last
Earlier this year I met Mr Barend
Marilyn Monroe. Dean’s Rebel Without a Cause. Romantic roof- Jacobus Stander, who is 100
Please share your news
wetting for the Bozz years old and must surely be
and remember to update
My husband took me to the I remember the Bijou. I also We think we may have been the the only surviving member of
your contact details.
Civic Theatre on our first date to remember a theatre a block or first couple to have our wedding the Wits Civil Engineers Class of
We’d especially love to see a play called Eureka. I saw so to the north, the Savoy. In We have been married for 44 reception at Wits’ GR Bozzoli 1942. He gave me permission
hear of Witsie families Pieter-Dirk Uys in an excellent Joburg in the 1950s were also years and are still Wits people, Sports Pavilion in 1978, shortly to send you a photo of him that
and Witsies who share a show at the Wits Theatre. a clutch of “cafe bio’s”. I never as indeed are our children, with after it was opened. We were I took in April.
birthday with the University Marisa Rothbauer ventured into one. Many who six Wits degrees between them. married on 7 October 1978. John Clarke (BA FA 1969)
(1922). Please help us to were in residence at Wits in The sports club at Wits was
keep in touch with all our Struts and frets those days will remember the I have worked in three faculties, brand new. In fact, building Senior alumna visits Wits
older alumni if they don’t I started learning guitar in 1958 two Braamfontein cinemas, the started the reading programme materials were very much in
have email addresses or Distinguished pathologist
at Charlie Macrow’s Studios, Albert and the Gaiety (known as for blind students, founded the evidence outside the building, Dr Shirley Siew (born 1925;
social media accounts. which was opposite the Bijou “The Bert” and “The Gat”). Aletta Sutton Child Care Centre, and the kitchen facilities had not MBBCh 1947, Master of
Theatre. Shortly thereafter, the Ian Bird (Rev.) (BSc Eng 1957) taught economic history, was been used until that day. We Surgery 1963) visited the
Please email letters to Bijou gave its final performance. Haddington (near Edinburgh), Director of Wits Plus, and had 200 guests and the venue Faculty of Health Sciences this
peter.maher@wits.ac.za. RB Wemyss (BSc Hons 1969) Scotland finally was Acting Dean of the was absolutely perfect. year.
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017
SPORT
Greater goal
THE Wits has launched a Sport Transformation
Fund which will give disadvantaged student
POWER OF
athletes a chance to attend university. The
fund will offer generous scholarships for
studies, accommodation and meals. This
SPORT
will change the lives of elite athletes.
Looking beyond individuals, Wits believes
that universities can play a catalytic role in
the transformation of our national sporting
teams. And the impact may be felt even
more broadly: through sport and education,
the University hopes to contribute towards
the transformation and healing of our
society.
Contributions to the fund provide
empowerment investment solutions for
corporates as well as tax benefits for
individuals.
For more information, please contact
Adrian Carter, Director of Wits Sport:
6 adrian.carter@wits.ac.za 7
or +27 11 717 9419.
Image: Peter Maher
Bidvest Wits
were the Absa
Premiership and
MTN8 champions
in the 2016/17
season. Wits is
Image: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
the only university
in South Africa
with a Premier
Soccer League
Image: Peter Maher
team. The football
club was started The first young athlete to receive a bursary
in 1921 and from the fund is Sisipho Magwaza, a Grade
played in its first 12 learner from Hoërskool Transvalia in
league season in Vanderbijlpark. She is the head girl and
The “Clever Boys” visited campus on 8 August to meet their fans and 1922. captain of the hockey and athletics teams
sign autographs outside the Great Hall. at her school, and has a place in the U/21
SA hockey team. “I am truly humbled and
grateful for this life-changing opportunity,”
said the multi-talented goalie.
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017
Make the most
of being a Witsie.
Stay connected
www.facebook.com/witsuniversity
Gallo/Getty Images
Hockey history
www.twitter.com/witsalumni
on Wits turf
8 9
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) Hockey
World League held its World Cup qualifier
The SA women’s side met Ireland on Wits turf semifinal at Wits’ Education Campus in July. The
University of the Witwatersrand Alumni venue has state-of-the-art artificial turf, rated the
best in Africa, which was installed in 2013.
Slam dunk Twenty international teams (10 men’s and 10
women’s teams) competed for a place in the
www.flickr.com/groups/witsie at USSA Hockey World League Finals 2017 and the
Hockey World Cup 2018. The South African
women’s team qualified to compete in the World
Cup in London.
Wits Basketball teams – the
Horny Bucks and Lady Bucks – Wits Hockey Sports Officer Erika Venter said
See more benefits at
alumni@wits.ac.za both emerged national champions hosting one of the biggest international events
www.wits.ac.za/alumni
www.wits.ac.za/alumni at the 2017 University Sport in hockey was a historic occasion in Wits’ rich
South Africa tournament. The sporting history and would no doubt have many
positive spinoffs.
men’s chess team also took
Alumni House
national honours. The football,
Thanking the Wits organising team, FIH
Alumni House
Wits hockey and rugby teams all
Wits Club &
Club Barns Complex
& Barns Complex Operations Manager Eduardo Leonardo called
West Campus
West Campus improved their performances at the tournament “probably one of the best World
Tel +27
Tel +27 11
11 717
7171090
1090 USSA this year. League Semi-Finals”.
Fax 086
Fax 086 406
406 4146
4146
Email alumni@wits.ac.za
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017
ART
ANDY
WARHOL
@ WAM
The Wits Art Museum’s attendance records
were smashed at the July opening of Warhol
Unscreened: Artworks from the Bank of America WAM hosted
Merrill Lynch Collection. Five thousand art lovers a number of
turned up to see more than 80 of pop artist Andy “talkabouts” –
Warhol’s major screenprints. And the exhibition guided tours
continued to bring in the crowds: 13 544 visitors in where experts
the first five weeks, about halfway through its run. explain the
importance,
The famous Campbell’s soup cans were on show, innovation and
along with images of Marilyn Monroe, Muhammad impact of the
Ali, Mickey Mouse, Uncle Sam, Santa Claus, the works on show.
collection of portraits of “Ten Famous Jews”, a
10 miscellany of animals and more. 11
Warhol is in school and university art syllabi and the
exhibition brought new audiences to WAM. It was
made possible by Bank of America Merrill Lynch and
Images of Andy Warhol paintings © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc.
supported by the advertising agency Black Africa and
Business Arts South Africa.
Explaining Warhol’s popularity, curator Lesley Cohen
said: “His work is highly accessible and also speaks
to the consumerist, celebrity obsessed, media soaked
society that urban South Africans live in. A very
diverse constituency of young people know his work
and since they are such avid social media users they
helped enormously in publicising the exhibition.” Images of WAM interior: Mark Lewis
A related exhibition at WAM, One Colour at a Time,
displayed recent South African screenprints curated
by Artist Proof Studio, Prints on Paper and the Wits
School of Arts’ Division of Visual Arts. The aim was to
encourage an appreciation of the screenprinting art
form, which has a long history in Johannesburg. WR
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017
SOCIAL
01 02
Faculty of Health Sciences reunion
Health Sciences reunion and
12 golden anniversary for the 13
Class of 1967
Images: Peter Maher
The annual Health Sciences Reunion was held in The gathering acknowledged the role Wits
September and the Class of 1967 celebrated its had played in their career success. Professors
50th year since graduating. Gladwyn Leiman and John Gear from the Class
of 1967 led a toast to the illustrious teachers and
The reunion programme included symposia on mentors they had as students at Wits.
teaching, learning and research; a lecture by
Professor Glenda Gray (MBBCh 1986) on “The The Class of 1967 also enjoyed a private dinner at
intersection of health systems development and the Four Seasons Hotel in Westcliff sponsored by
social justice”; a trip to the Cradle of Humankind; classmate Professor Stephen Joffe and his wife
campus tours; class catch-ups; and a gala dinner. Sandra. Prof Joffe is CEO of the Joffe Foundation,
Co-Chairman of Joffe Medicenter (a healthcare
At the dinner held at the Wits Club on West services company) and Esteemed Quondam
Campus, Professor Martin Veller, Dean of Professor of Surgery and Medicine at University of
the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Dr Paul Cincinnati Medical Center.
01 Dr John Gear and Professor Gladwyn 03 The Medical Class of 1967
Davis, President of the Health Graduates Leiman paid tribute to the illustrious (Left to Right) Bottom row: Alan Kisner,
Association, spoke of the renewal under way at The event reunited alumni from around the world lecturers and mentors who taught them at John Gear, Pete Colsen Seated: Errol
the university and the current research success and for the Class of 1967, Prof Leiman observed, Wits Medical School Judelman, Bill Gibson, Jackie Gardner,
Clockwise from top right: Ali and Shira
02 Bennie Skudowitz, Heike Rolle-Daya, Colin
being experienced by the medical school. They “Old faces turned into younger ones and we Nates, Ben Mervis Middle: Allan Katz,
03
Bacher, Alan and Dawn Kisner, Bennie
appealed to alumni to support their alma mater. enjoyed as though 1967 were yesterday.” WR Skudowitz and Viv Fritz at the Health Helen Feiner, Kees van der Meyden, John
Sciences reunion dinner held at the Wits Fassler Back: Herman Massyn, Barry
Club. Schoub, Geoff Wilson, Alan Matisonn,
Bill Roediger, Andre van der Walt, Anton
Schepers, Lewis Levien, Andrew Alison
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017
ART & SOCIAL
WAM tour
Wits Art Museum hosted alumni
and other friends to learn more
about the landscape painter Moses
Tladi (1903-1959). He was the first
02
black painter to have had a formal
exhibition in South Africa and the
first to exhibit at the South African
National Gallery. Senior curator Julia
Images courtesy of Print Matters
Charlton guided visitors through
the exhibition, pointing out that a
landscape is never simply a picture
of a place – it carries much more
meaning and emotion, especially in
the context of South African history.
The story of Tladi’s too-short life is
not widely known, and the paintings 03 04
have not been circulating in the art 01 Caught in the Wind
market. He worked as a gardener in 02 The House in
Johannesburg, served in World War Kensington B
II and was forced to leave his home 03 No. 1 Crown Mines
14 15
under apartheid. 04 Winter Landscape
01
Image: Peter Maher
EOH celebrates 50th
Ernest Oppenheimer Hall 16 September, after which
celebrates its golden jubilee this guests posed for a group photo
year. The Parktown residence (left).
was built to replace Cottesloe
Residence, which housed The 50th anniversary has The Civil
ex-servicemen after World War also been marked by the Engineering Class
II. It is now home to about 400 establishment of a fund for the of 1973 is planning to
students. upkeep and development of hold its 45th reunion
the residence and to support in July 2018. Please
A function on 22 April brought students in need.
contact the organiser,
together past chairpersons of
Carlos Mendes, for
the House Committee to share EOH alumni can contact
anecdotes of their time at EOH. Nazime.Randera@wits.ac.za
details: email carlos@
to update their details or to smagroup.co.za or
A formal dinner was held on contribute to the fund. phone 082 443 7488.
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017
NETWORKING EVENTS
Professor Sharlene
Swartz, a research
IDEAS
director at the
Human Sciences
Sharlene Swartz Research Council
TO TALK
Professor Sharlene Swartz (BSc 1990) gave a talk at the
Wits Club in August on her book, Another Country: Everyday
Social Restitution. She urged the alumni, staff and students
who attended to be aware of how the past remains present
ABOUT
in South Africa, and to talk about what individuals can do to
restore people’s humanity. She calculated just some of the
costs of apartheid that black people continue to bear, and
suggested inheritance as one area where white people could
“make good”.
The issue of corruption in South Africa, she said, should not
Emma Sadleir
distract us from the greater problem of inequality. Her book
tells of people’s daily experiences of inequality, and of her own
“cycling in and out of consciousness”
The audience was spellbound when Witsie Emma as a young white South African – the
Sadleir (BA 2006, LLB 2008) spoke at an alumni way she was aware of injustices but
and student networking event at the Science was able to “forget” this at times in her
Former Public
16
Stadium on 26 July. Sadleir, an attorney who Protector daily life. 17
specialises in social media law, shared important Advocate Thuli
Madonsela at
and in many cases surprising information about
the Wits Alumni
reputational risk in a world where nothing seems networking event
private any more.
The basic rule: if you wouldn’t put it on a billboard Thuli Madonsela
next to a highway, don’t put it in digital
format! Advocate Thuli Madonsela was a popular guest
speaker at an alumni networking event on 23 May.
“Confidentiality is learned The much-admired Wits alumna (LLB 1991, LLD
Swaziland
behaviour and we all have honoris causa 2017), South Africa’s former Public
to teach it, because people Protector, spoke about “how to heal our troubled
reunion
default to oversharing,” Sadleir world”. She said that “one of the greatest calls
said. right now is to find a way to make sure that
everyone that deserves to be in a university gets
Older alumni and students alike into university. We also have the power to make Vice-Chancellor Professor
learnt a lot, in an entertaining sure that once people are at university there’s a Adam Habib (above) hosted
way, about protecting personal and system that makes sure they are not desperate a reunion dinner for alumni
Images (networking events): Peter Maher
corporate information. and destitute.” at the Royal Swazi Spa in
Swaziland on 1 July 2017.
“It was an honour to be asked to speak to the Adv Madonsela’s biography, No Longer About 130 guests attended,
@witsalumni yesterday,” Sadleir tweeted later. Whispering to Power, by Thandeka Gqubule, was ranging from recent
“Super nostalgic day at my old hunting ground.” published in 2017 by Jonathan Ball. graduates to veterans from
the 1950s .
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017SOCIAL
Jeanne Crokaert (Pinn) was died at the age of 100 in 2008.
born in Johannesburg in July
1917 and celebrated her 100th Jeanne’s father, a stockbroker,
Images: Gomes Photography
birthday this year at a “masked was from Lithuania and her
ball” at the Ritz in London. mother, a talented pianist, from
England. They lived in Houghton
Among the many speeches, her Estate in Johannesburg.
granddaughter Kerrin-Lee Nell
01 05 and friend Isa Teeger spoke of After graduating, Jeanne worked
Jeanne’s courage, commitment, on the railways as a counsellor to
humour and ability to overcome young women whose husbands
obstacles. had gone to war. She remembers
the poverty she saw in small
She matriculated at Kingsmead South African towns at this time.
College in 1935 and graduated Throughout her life in South
from Wits with a BA in 1940. Africa, she continued raising
money for railway charities.
01 Jeanne Crokaert with Strilli Though confined to a wheelchair
Oppenheimer
02 by Guillain-Barré syndrome, she News of Jeanne’s 100th birthday
02 Isa Teeger, Dr Joe Teeger
and Dr Susan Teeger lives in three countries and gets came from her cousin Georgina
03 Queen Elizabeth sent a about with the help of wonderful Jaffee, who lectured in Sociology
birthday card staff and friends. She travelled at Wits. Her husband, former Wits
04 The opulent birthday cake extensively with her second student leader Glenn Moss, is
05 Jeanne Crokaert with husband, Pierre Crokaert, the author of The New Radicals:
Georgina Jaffee
18 on business trips. Pierre A Generational Memoir of the 19
06 Jeanne Crokaert (far right)
worked in the diamond 1970s, which was launched at the
celebrated her 100th birthday
in July at a masked dinner industry for De Beers and Wits Club in 2014. WR
party at the Ritz in London 06
03
A TOAST TO OU R CENTENARIANS!
Pearl Colman (Kessel) (BCom 1937; BA 1959; At the time, she told the Rand Daily Mail: “We 1964, MMed 1970) is an oncologist and is
BA Hons 1960; MA 1963) celebrated her 101st hope the service will reduce the number of married to Elinor (Israch) (BSc 1965). His
04
birthday in April, at home in New York. failures, especially among first-year students.” brother Robin Colman and Robin’s wife
Then, as now, some students needed help Deborah Clare (Spencer) both worked at the
Pearl was born on 23 April 1916 and was the Dux with adjusting to the semi-independence of Wits Computer Centre in the 1970s. The
of Germiston High School in 1933. After obtaining university life, and with personal relationships middle son, the late Dr Neville Colman (MBBCh
her first degree and having three children, she and study skills. 1969, PhD 1974), was a distinguished
returned to her studies at Wits. She qualified as haematologist and outstanding athlete who
a clinical psychologist at Tara and worked at the In 1980, at the age of 65, Pearl retired and was married to Dr Glenys Lobban (BA 1970,
Johannesburg Child Guidance Clinic. In 1965, emigrated to the USA to be with her family. BA Hons 1971, MA 1972).
Vice-Chancellor Professor ID MacCrone asked her She worked full-time for a children’s services
to set up South Africa’s first student counselling non-profit organisation until the age of 80. Pearl was married to Advocate Harry Colman
centre. Pearl worked closely at the centre with Dr (BA 1936, LLB 1938), who taught law part-
Yvonne Blake (BSc Hons 1955). Her son Professor Martin Colman (MBBCh time at Wits. He died in 1966. WR
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017RESEARCH NEWS
LOOK OUT!
The sungazer (Smaug giganteus), a lizard species endemic
to the Highveld region of South Africa, is losing its habitat to
farming and industrialisation. It is also under threat from the
illegal global pet trade.
PhD student Shivan Parusnath (MSc 2014) has found that the
species’ population has declined by more than one-third over
the last decade. It has lost almost half of its habitat forever.
Image: Shivan Parusnath/Wits University
The sungazer is a grassland specialist and lives in burrows.
It needs a particular soil type, prey species, temperature and
humidity to survive, and it has a complex social structure. It is
also almost impossible to breed sungazers in captivity.
Parusnath is using novel genetic techniques to understand the
effects of habitat transformation on the population structure
20 of the sungazer. These methods can also be used to check 21
whether a trading permit may be granted for an animal.
A sungazer lizard in its natural habitat
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017RESEARCH NEWS
What is modern
behaviour?
The study of early human behaviour has received a big
funding boost from the Norwegian Research Council –
Images: Craig Foster
US$18-million over the next 10 years. Wits researchers
will benefit through their collaboration with the University of
Bergen’s Centre for Early Human Behaviour, which now has
Centre of Excellence status.
A-rated Wits archaeologist Professor Christopher
Henshilwood – one of the most cited researchers in the
world – also runs the Centre for Early Human Behaviour,
01 which brings together the work of experts in climate
research, neurological science, psychology, geology and
social sciences. The team has already shown that Africa is
where modern human cognition began to develop.
04
22 “Homo sapiens was anatomically modern by 200 000 23
years ago in Africa, but there is no archaeological evidence
to demonstrate that behaviour was modern at the time.
Attributes of modern behaviour, perhaps inspired by
changes in the human brain, are only recognisable after Ancient
African art
100 000 years ago. Before we can study the process,
02
we must critically define the criteria for the term ‘modern
behaviour’ and then find a means to recognise such
Image: David Pearce
01 Bifacial points from the Still
Bay tradition behaviour in the record. This seemingly simple research Some rock art in southern Africa is much older than previously
02
Nassarius kraussianus shell statement involves complex exploration by a team of thought – at least 5 500 years old in places. New techniques of
beads strung as jewellery specialists.” dating show also that paintings were made at the same sites
during the Still Bay period over long periods (more than 1000 years, in some cases).
03 Howieson's Poort stone Recently, the international team of researchers has shown
segments mounted as an
arrow head that certain cultural innovations developed during a much Knowing when an image was made may shed light on hunter-
04 The Blombos Ochre drier period of time in southern Africa (about 66 000 to gatherers’ lives and interactions with other groups, according to
(bottom left), dated to 59 000 years ago), and these innovations allowed people Professor David Pearce (BSc 2000, BSc Hons 2001, MSc 2002,
around 75 000 years ago, to inhabit a greater range of environments. This may have PhD 2008), Director of the Rock Art Research Institute at Wits.
is one of the oldest forms
of evidence suggesting that been the key to success for modern humans. It was
symbolic thought and other during this dry period that new, more efficient and flexible The new technique involves taking tiny samples of pigment so
forms of modern human technologies such as the bow and arrow were invented. as not to damage the painting, analysing them to find out which
behaviour arose in Africa.
It was recovered from This tech-tradition is known as Howieson’s Poort. of them contain the most carbon black (because these are
excavations at Blombos the most likely to reveal dates), and applying accelerator mass
Cave in the southern Cape. The earlier, also innovative, tech-tradition found in southern spectrometry radiocarbon dating.
Africa is known as Still Bay.
Background: Detail from panel of paintings at
03
RSA TYN2, a site in the Eastern Cape. Flakes of
painted rock which had fallen on the floor of the
rock-shelter were analysed.
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017RESEARCH NEWS
Spotless spot
The new, ultra-clean, metal-free Wits Isotope
Geoscience Laboratory, based in the School
of Geosciences at Wits, is a boon for
scientists from a wide range of disciplines.
It allows them to perform high precision,
Gallo/Getty Images
contamination-free experiments aimed at
separating elements and isotopes from a
range of natural materials.
“Instead of shipping our samples to Europe at
a huge cost, scientists in Southern Africa will
have a world-class facility on their doorstep,”
says the lab’s Director, Dr Grant Bybee (BSc
Sitting on another time bomb 2008, BSc Hons 2009, PhD 2013).
Only about half of the children in South Africa from researchers in the area of physical activity, High precision analysis of elements
get enough exercise. And around the world, it’s but also from teachers, parents, coaches, all and isotopes is extremely important in
even fewer (20%). For the first time in history, the way to policy-makers – to try to improve geosciences, but also used in medicine – for
there are now more children who are overweight lifestyles and health in South Africa,” says Dr example in the diagnosis of cancer and
Image: Lauren Mulligan
and obese than those who are under-nourished Rebecca Meiring (BSc 2005, BSc Hons 2005, bone diseases – and in palaeosciences for
or stunted. The prevalence of obesity among MSc 2007, PhD 2014), lead researcher in establishing the origin, movement patterns
children and adolescents in South Africa is as exercise physiology at the Movement Physiology and diets of now extinct animals, including 25
Wits Isotope
24
high as 30%. “We need special efforts – not just Research Laboratory at Wits. our human ancestors. 25
Geoscience
Laboratory
Pressure's on
Gallo/Getty Images
Hunger: “Apart from the thousands of
children who die from hunger each
agri-food system. She asks why
farmers get low prices for their Surprising results emerged from a study of hypertension in
the root
year, 25% of all South African produce but the poor still can’t West, East and South Africa: there were stark differences
children are so malnourished that afford food, and what can be done in the prevalence, awareness and control of this condition.
they are classified as stunted,” to change this pattern, which she Prevalence ranged from 15% in a research site in Burkina
of our writes Dr Tracey Ledger (BCom
1989, BCom Hons 1990,
calls “the single biggest threat
to our dreams of building a new
Faso to 54% in Soweto.
problems PhD 2015) in her blog. “These
outcomes are significantly higher
than any other country with a
society centred around humanity
and personal dignity”.
Hypertension is associated with ageing, rapid urbanisation,
bad diet (refined and fast foods) and insufficient exercise.
Relatively affluent South Africa has the highest prevalence
similar GDP per capita. South Dr Ledger is now working on and the largest number of people whose blood pressure is
Africa is a world leader in child a book about why so many still not controlled, even on treatment.
malnutrition.” development projects in South
Africa – particularly food gardens – Increased life expectancy (the result of better health care) is
Trained in anthropology and fail. “I am particularly interested in expected to increase the incidence of hypertension, which
agricultural economics, she is the the study of failure. I think we can means an epidemic could lie ahead. Professor Michèle
author of a book called An Empty learn as much from why things Ramsay (PhD 1987) was one of the authors of the paper
Plate (Jacana Media, 2016), which don’t work as from why they do that reported the results.
looks at problems in South Africa’s work.”
Wits has a new quarterly magazine, Curios.ty, which aims to make University
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017 research open and accessible to all.RESEARCH NEWS 01
Eland and Benko, the
2015 #FireGrazer image
by Hannelie Coetzee
02
Locust and Grasshopper,
the 2017 image by
Hannelie Coetzee burnt
over Eland and Benko
The art of
grasslands
management
The artist Hannelie Coetzee presented her second
Art/Science #FireGrazer performance at the NIROX
Sculpture Park in the Cradle of Humankind in June. This
entailed burning an image into the grassland – a process
undertaken by the government-funded Working on Fire
job-creation programme. This year’s image, Locust &
Grasshopper, overlaid the 2015 burnt image, Eland &
Benko.
26 27
Coetzee has an Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts from Wits
and taught in the Fine Arts Department in the 1990s. She
worked with ecologist Professor Sally Archibald (BSc 1997,
PhD 2010) and entomologist James Harrison (BSc 1994)
on both #FireGrazer performances, using art as a tool to 01
convey scientific ideas. 02
The images of insects emphasise the important role of
these small creatures in savanna ecosystems. The word
“hittete” comes from an Afrikaans idiom, “Dit was so
hittete”, meaning “it was touch and go”, and refers to
damage to the planet caused by humans.
In 2015-2016, research on the site tested whether
small, managed fires created more productive grassland
communities. Wits MSc student Felix Skhosana (BSc 2014,
BSc Hons 2015) monitored antelope usage of the burnt
Photo: Shivan Parusnath, Wits
veld.
Now the research will go beyond grazing to look at the
value of this habitat to bird, insect and wildflower species.
The goal is to build consensus on appropriate land
management, Archibald explains.
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017FREE PEOPLE'S CONCERT
28 29
THE “Wits University
T H A T
was one of the
DAY
very few venues
F E L T
in the country
E
EE
O P L
R
PE
where we
F
could present
mixed bands
and audiences;
it was a place
where township
and suburb
could meet”
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017FREE PEOPLE'S CONCERT
The Free People's
Concerts in the early
1970s gave a stage to
many folk musicians.
Children were
welcome but didn't
always appreciate the
noise!
It was South Africa’s Monterey,
Haight-Ashbury, Woodstock; a
platform for counterculture with
music as the vanguard. For a
few special hours, it was another
country where the great heart of
music enveloped the crowd.
30 31
B Y H E AT H E R D U G M O R E
It has been 46 years
since the first Free
People’s Concert was
held at Wits in 1971.
Back then, as always,
music was a way for
everyone to imagine
and be part of a different
South Africa – starting
on campus.
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017FREE PEOPLE'S CONCERT
“It was a song that made it all leaders went on to become latter-day luminaries
possible,” says the founder of the Free in government and the media; some were chased
People’s Concert, David Marks, a Durban-based into exile. One or two, like Craig Williamson, were
musician, music producer and archivist of 3rd Ear state spies, but him we’d rather forget.”
Music. The song was Marks’ ‘Master Jack’, which
hit the American charts in 1968, rising to number Over the years the Free People’s Concert grew
18 on the Billboard Top 100. into a major national happening, attracting
a crowd of 28 000 in 1985. The focus was
“What struck me was how lucky I’d been with unreserved freedom with an anti-apartheid
03 04
‘Master Jack’ when there were so many musicians undertone. South Africa was at war; the
in South Africa who weren’t being recognised. So townships were in flames and many South 01 Guitarist Ken Henson
and David Marks with
when I got my first royalties in 1971 I used them Africans, including Wits students and academics,
the sound system, parts
to begin promoting, recording and presenting were in jail or underground or in exile. Anyone who of which were from the
South African singer/songwriters and township opposed the status quo was sjambokked, shot 1969 Woodstock festival
jazz musicians. A concert sound system from my at and dragged into police vans, even if they were 02 Concertgoers
friends at Hanley Sound in the United States was doing nothing more dangerous than dancing. 03 Newspaper cutting, 1975
sent over to me at no charge. Parts of this sound 04 Sammy Brown... there
are no barriers when it
system were from the iconic 1969 Woodstock The Free People’s Concert offered respite. It
01 comes to music, 1975
Festival. My goal was to organise a free concert opened its doors to people from every race and 05 David Marks mixing
and offer our great musicians a platform. sector of South African society and explored the sounds at the 1974
nation’s shattered psyche and unclaimed future concert
“In the same breath it was an act of defiance through the music of the times. All the while, 06 Johnny Clegg and
WaMadlebe, 1972 33
32 against Connie Mulder, the Minister of Information apartheid was tightening the chokechain on the 33
(incongruously a Wits PhD), who was clamping nation, with PW Botha wagging his presidential
down on the few existing mixed hotspots for finger and warning about the swart gevaar.
music. It was a case of ‘no blacks; no women; no
dogs’,” says Marks. The concert used a loophole in the law: if the
event was a private function, entrance was free 02 05
And so it was that Marks launched the first Free and the musicians played for free, there could be
People’s Concert on a beach in Durban 1970. no restriction on who attended. This worked for a
The following year it moved to Wits. The lineup
included Wits first-year student Johnny Clegg
number of years until permits were required. JOHNNY CLEGG
(BA 1976, BA Hons 1977, DMus honoris
and his new music partner Sipho Mchunu, the The venue also had to be changed to causa 2007)
Mamelodi group Malombo and Ahmed Mukhtar. accommodate the swelling crowds and
It was free to all and any donations from the administrative opposition. From the swimming “Sipho and I performed at the Free
audience went to the educational NGO, Teach pool at Wits in 1971, it spilled over to the library People’s Concert circa 1971. Our
Every African Child (TEACH). lawns, then off campus to Milpark and finally to Zulu dancing team also performed there.
Kelvin. Every year there were stumbling blocks At one level it was an exuberant and
“Wits University was one of the very few venues in in its path. In 1976 the National Education Board innocent event, as artists spoke and
the country where we could present mixed bands issued a state edict that “non-whites” might not performed from stage. At another level it
and audiences; it was a place where township attend “this Woodstock-type open air festival on was a unique event in that many of the
and suburb could meet,” says Marks. the campus” without the necessary permission. singer/songwriters who performed there
The Department added that “according to were challenging the status quo and
To organise the concert, the 3rd Ear team worked government policy, mixed gatherings of any were given a unifying platform at a time
with student leaders from the SRC and NUSAS’s kind are not encouraged as a rule” and that it when the national cultural environment
cultural wing, Aquarius. “Many of these student contravened the Group Areas Act. emphasised separation and exclusion.”
06
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017FREE PEOPLE'S CONCERT
I CAME ALONG TO The Free People’s Concert gave the police and their signature ‘Do the Lurch’,
FEEL FREE government “the jitters”, as an article in Wits
Student put it. They got the jitters at the sight of
followed by their anti-apartheid
theme song ‘Shot Down’.
black and white musicians and concert goers Meanwhile the police circled
“I came along to feel free,” said Wendall having a thoroughly good time together. They in the streets or mingled in
Count Judge Wellington Band
Pietersen, described as “a Coloured man” in baulked at the sight of Sammy Brown flaunting all-too-conspicuous civvies
an article in the Rand Daily Mail on Thursday his sultry moves at the Free People’s in ’75 when among the concert goers,
1 June 1972. Pietersen, a social work student he called on the audience to do the same, as his wearing, as Marks puts it: In every single Pioneers, Steve Newman
at the University of the Western Cape, was
helping to organise the collection of clothing
backing band Cheyenne got right into the groove.
At the same concert, activist musician Jeremy
“slightly skew wigs, army issue
boots under their jeans and
act the Free and Tony Cox, Afrozania,
Nyanga, Mike Dickman, Via
and blankets for Operation Snowball at the Taylor made a surprise visit home from Britain. slightly visible revolvers”. People’s lineup Afrika, Horn Culture, Radio
concert. He left South Africa in 1978 because
his involvement in community projects was
He’s remembered for ‘Ag Pleez Deddy’ but what
he should be remembered for is his 1960 anti- Wits alumnus, writer and
showed what Rats, Wasamata, Larry Amos,
Psychoreptiles, Midnight Hour,
seen as political incitement, and he has been colonial anthem, ‘Piece of Ground’. editor Shaun de Waal wrote a vibrant, fun, Spectres, Believers, Bright
living in Italy since 1980.
“Despite apartheid and all its laws, there were
that songs like Phillips’ ‘Shot
Down’ “evoked the terrible
non-racial, free Blue, Unhinged, Winston’s
Jive Mixup, the Kêrels, the
On the same page of the newspaper, a many very good people exploring and sharing emergency years and spoke South Africa Abstractions …
large headline read: ‘Nationwide campus
unrest escalates’. The article reflected on
thoughts of humanity, community and freedom
through music, and the Free People’s personified
directly to the hearts and
minds of a youth taking a cold
could be like. In its way, the Free People’s
Wits Student’s coverage of the Republic this,” continues Marks. “Today, the term ‘struggle hard look at who they were played an underestimated role
Day celebrations, with a front cover picture icon’ is applied to so many of our top musicians as white South Africans”. At in breaking down all sorts of
of sheep being herded down a narrow when they die, but it destroys them in history the concert you could hear barriers, racial, ideological,
34 street and a caption which read: “A nation because they played such an important role all the songs the SABC refused to play. These cultural, subcultural and gender. “One of many 35
celebrates”. The article challenged South simply by playing jazz or South African rock or were the songs that inspired Lloyd Ross and Wits vivid examples in my mind is of a group of Hell’s
Africa “to look at itself, at all the deaths in being part of the vivid cultural life of Dorkay House architecture alumnus and lecturer Ivan Kadey Angels dancing around a bonfire with members
detention, malnutrition, poverty, break-up of in Eloff Street. Here, musicians and performers of to start Shifty Records in the late 1970s. They of the SRC after one of the concerts,” says
families, detention without trial” and asked every creed and colour would come together to recorded non-commercial South African music, Marks.The Hell’s Angels had roared in to see
the following question: “How willing are we to create new sounds and new stage productions the music of the Free People’s Concert, including what these Wits “communists” were up to. “They
make the most elementary personal sacrifice for a different country. It needs to be emphasised the mixed-race punk band National Wake, of landed up partying with the ‘communists’ and
for the sake of humanity we shout so loudly that they made a difference without having to hold which Kadey was a member. helping to clear up and burn the refuse from the
about?” what has become the requisite struggle card.” day’s events to make sure there was no mess
De Waal described the mood of the 70s and 80s afterwards.”
In the beginning the Free People’s Concert as “the new South Africa in twisted embryo”. He
acts were mostly folk and soul singers, but this wrote: “We detested the apartheid state, and we For Marks, the Free People’s Concert was a story
expanded to include the full spectrum of South reviled the Calvinist morality that came with it.” about living and surviving the times. And it should
African music in the 70s and 80s – from the raw In revolt, a subculture of young, mostly white, not be forgotten.
South African rock of the late great Wits alumnus politicised South Africans threw consequence to
James Phillips, to the haunting Zulu chant of Wits the wind as they lost themselves in the music. “It took a lot of people giving freely of their time
alumnus Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu, to the to put on those concerts,” says Marks, who
marabi/kwela of Mango Groove with Wits alumna Some of the great musicians spanning those subsequently organised other major concerts like
Claire Johnston’s arresting voice in the lead. 16 years included: Des and Dawn Lindberg, Splashy Fen. He adds that he generally withdraws
the Genuines, Benny B’Funk and the Sons of from events that grow beyond what they were
In every single act the Free People’s lineup Gaddafi Barmitzvah Band, Kalahari Surfers, meant to do. For him, the Free People’s was an
showed what a vibrant, fun, non-racial, free South éVoid, the Aeroplanes, Tighthead Fourie and exception: “It did remain true and it is important
Africa could be like. No one can forget the Cherry the Loose Forwards, Richard Jon Smith, PJ to safeguard the memory of these gems in the
Faced Lurchers intoxicating the audience with Powers and Hotline, Dr C, Splash, African Jazz strange, strange world we live in.” WR
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017FREE PEOPLE'S CONCERT
De Waal described the mood of the 70s
36 and 80s as “the new South Africa in 37
twisted embryo”. He wrote: “We detested
the apartheid state, and we reviled the
Calvinist morality that came with it.” In
revolt, a subculture of young, mostly
white, politicised South Africans threw
consequence to the wind as they lost
themselves in the music.
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017 Photos: Mark Guthrie, FlickrFREE PEOPLE'S CONCERT
CLAIRE JOHNSTON
Image: Deon Maas
(BA 1990)
“I was in matric and 17 years old when I
attended my first Free People’s Concert in 1985
01 02 with a group of school friends from Greenside
High in Joburg. I was having singing lessons with
the legendary Eve Boswell but I was not yet on
LIKE A CHUNK OF ONE’S YOUTH stage. I was simply a member of the audience
there to see my obsession at the time, the bands 01 Glenn Moss addressing an Ahmed
FLASHING BY éVoid, EllaMental and Petit Cheval. Timol memorial meeting, Wits Great
Hall, 1973, with Helen Joseph third
from the left. Inset: Glenn Moss now
“We managed to get in front of the stage when
02 Johnny Clegg and Paul Clingman 1976
this strange band called Mango Groove came
Cape Town-based author Glenn Moss was Wits Chair of NUSAS in 03 Mango Groove
03
shuffling on. They all stood in a line and there
1971, the first year of the Free People’s Concert at Wits. That same year was no lead singer but I was impressed by
he became Vice-President of the SRC. their marabi/kwela fusion and original sound. not perform at some venues because we were a
One month later I was in the band practising at multiracial band, or the police would arrive and
“Thinking back to that first concert is like a “Professor Guerino Bozzoli was the Vice- Dorkay House in Eloff Street. As it happened, there would be violent outbreaks. It was ‘welcome
chunk of one’s youth flashing by. I was in second Chancellor at the time. He was well known for his one of the guys in the band had asked Eve to the real South Africa’.
year and David Marks pretty much organised resistance to apartheid educational policies and Boswell to recommend a female singer and she
38
the whole thing, assisted from NUSAS’ side by the government’s attempts to clamp down on suggested me. Our first gig was at the Hot Tin “Thirty years later I think we are definitely in 39
our cultural committee Aquarius, led by Elaine student activism and protest. Roof in Rosebank and from then on it was me on need of another Free People’s Concert, to draw
Unterhalter. She went into exile in the mid-70s and stage performing with Mango Groove at the Free on the power of music to break down barriers
is now a Professor of Education and International “These were highly charged times. In October People’s, at the same time as I was doing my BA and bring people together. It would be a brilliant
Development at the Institute of Education, 1971 Ahmed Timol, who was working at Wits in Philosophy, Politics and English. thing to do and there is so much inspiring South
University of London. underground for the Communist Party, died, African music to showcase. There is real heart
four days after being detained by security police. “I realised how small my life had been. Wits and in this country, South Africans are resilient and
“NUSAS recognised culture and music as Officers claimed he committed suicide by jumping Mango Groove opened my eyes hugely. We could resourceful and our country is worth fighting for.”
incredibly important in exposing students from the 10th floor of John Vorster Square Police
to multiracial environments and building a Station, now known as Johannesburg Central
community of resistance. In developing levels Police Station. All these years later, an inquest perfect context for the Free People’s Concert. “For many Wits students, the Free People’s
of political resistance you have to develop a is under way to reveal the real reason for Timol’s Concert offered a sense of something special and
whole life engagement around it as an alternative death. Wits medical student Salim Essop was “I think it was the first time that such an extensive unusual happening, with talented musicians and
community to students’ existing community. A arrested with Timol and he testified at the recent outdoor event took place on campus. There were a multiracial audience enjoying themselves in the
free, multiracial concert was certainly part of this; High Court inquest hearing. thousands of people, many from off campus, sun. It offered a sense of what a different society
an act of resistance in the early 1970s. and a large number of black people. People were could be or what a different ‘normal’ could be.
“Alongside the anti-apartheid activism on campus casually dressed; a lot of jeans and T-shirts and
“Johnny Clegg was in the first line-up and it was in the early 1970s, there was an international colourful, flowing, hippie-style clothes. “It’s so important to remember that there was
also his first year at Wits; he majored in social counterculture movement, in the spirit of the this vibrant happening in our history during
anthropology. Like many of the musicians of the Paris protests and the anti-Vietnam protests in “As political students in NUSAS we identified with these oppressive and difficult times. Wits can be
time, he was musical and political. From 1971 America. Marches and protests became far more the ethos of the counterculture and freedom but extremely proud of its vibrant culture of resistance;
he started working with the Wages Commission spontaneous on campus. Prior to this, marches not with the drug culture of hippiedom. It was far it was the epicentre of new things happening that
as he was fluent in isiZulu and he translated the were in academic gowns. The mass-based too easy for the security police to use drugs as a spread out elsewhere and this contribution needs
Wages Commission’s newspaper and pamphlets. participatory political environment provided the reason for arrest. to be celebrated.” WR
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017FREE PEOPLE'S CONCERT
01 Artists performing
in front of the
Great Hall,1972
02 Paul Clingman,
1972 THE 1982/83
03 Gavin Rabinowitz,
back then FREE PEOPLE’S
01
04 Gavin Rabinowitz,
now
03
CONCERT
FREE PEOPLE’S Gavin Rabinowitz (BA 1983,
CONCERT 02
LLB 1985) was the SRC’s Chair of
Culture and one of the organisers
12 MARCH 1972 more than surmounted – they were eliminated.
No artists were paid. No tickets were bought, but
of the Free People’s Concert in
1982/83.
we knew that donations made to TEACH were a
Joburg-based musician and Wits tangible expression of what we stood for. He left South Africa for London in 1987 to
alumnus Paul Clingman (BA avoid being drafted into the South African Defence
1973) was one of the Free People’s “I was doing a postgraduate HDip Ed at Wits at Force.
04
musicians. the time, so the venue was very familiar to me –
indeed it was one of the only places where such He did a Master’s degree at the London School
“In thinking back on the Free People’s
Concert of 1972, there are conflicting emotions,
a show could even have been contemplated, let
alone successfully mounted. The response was
“It is definitely of Economics, qualified as a lawyer and worked
as a partner in an English law firm for a number
as with everything to do with the past. Of course amazing. The audience came in their thousands. time to of years before setting up his current business: a
40
I was very young – only 21 – and the ideals
and the music were everything I lived for. I was
There were families, children, and they came from
all sorts of backgrounds and places. To see them
reawaken the financial service company investing in real estate
and other assets.
41
writing songs and what my songs stood for – the all mixing freely in front of me, identifying with Free People’s
breaking down of barriers, the possibility of
seeing, hearing and sharing the cultural and
what I was doing, and celebrating the defiance
and determination of simply being there, was
at Wits. Music “I had run the Wits Jazz Club for a year and was
very involved in music. When I was appointed to
human experience of others – was encapsulated exhilarating. is a great the SRC one of my roles was to help organise the
in some way by that day.
“For once I was able to stand on a stage not
bridge; it’s Free People’s Concert, which was the climax of
Orientation Week.
“The cultural censorship I experienced at that only saying and singing the things I was saying a cliché but
time at the hands of the only media outlet
available then – the SABC – and the commercial
and singing, but actually, by my presence there,
able to be those things as well. In later, harder
true.” “David Cohen was Chair of the orientation
committee and I was Vice-Chair. We had a huge
censorship I experienced at the hands of the years, when I was touring in townships, and so
timid recording industry was for me overcome many more of my songs were proscribed and
on that day. It was the first time I was able, along prohibited, and even today – still writing – I could
with everyone else there, to make myself part
of another world – one devoid of the laws that
look back at that little moment in which a certain
hope was realised.
BOOK PROJECT organisers and audience members who were
present and involved with these festivals from
interfered with life, and one connected in spirit RECORDS CONCERT 1970 to 1986. It is supported by the Volkswagen
Foundation and the Africa Open Institute for
with the world beyond our borders, in which
freedom to be and say and think and create were
“Other concerts like it would follow in time, but
in many ways, being before its time, the Free
HISTORY Music, Research and Innovation at Stellenbosch
paramount, valued – and possible. People’s Concert was something that stood The Hidden Years Music Archive Project University. If you were there and would like
outside the days that hemmed me in, both (HYMAP) has launched a two-year Oral to share your memories, photographs
“There was an atmosphere of almost unreal physically and artistically, and remained a moment History and Book Project to document the and recordings from the Free People’s
resonance and opportunity in that little moment that not only promised a possibility, but embodied history of the Free People’s Concerts. The Concerts, please contact Dr Lizabé
– of a place in which the artificial barriers were that possibility.” WR project aims to connect with musicians, Lambrechts at lambrechts@sun.ac.za.
WITS REVIEW I OCTOBER 2017You can also read
