Cape Town an absolute bliss for students

Student journos outside parliament in Cape Town

 

By Mohau Ramashidja

A long awaited day finally arrived as a group of excited second year journalism students from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) embarked on a journey to Cape Town.

The trip was scheduled for a 6 day stay in Cape Town, the seventh being a departure day back to Pretoria in Soshanguve. Students got the opportunity to explore the wonders of Cape Town, making visits to Robben Island, a two day visit to parliament and one of the largest media house in Africa Media24.

“I definitely can’t wait to get there; I definitely can’t wait to see Robben Island, Media24, the parliament and everything else,” said one of the ecstatic journalism students MapulaHloaela.
What was promised to be a 17 hour trip turned-out to be a 22hour long tedious drive for the over excited students. This coursed the group to be a little impatient with the speed rate the driver was driving in. “If the fact that the bus driver could drive at the speed of 200k/h I would be happier. And as for the assignment we are to do in Cape Town I will think about it when I get back. I just want to get there and enjoy everything that we will be doing there, whether it is educational or not,” elaborated one of the students Simphiwe Manana.

Students pose for the camera in the
their first stop to Cape Town 

After making several stops in petrol stations throughout the night; students finally arrived at the highly anticipated Cape Town. Wasting no time it was their very first night being in the mother city that the students endeavoured to explore the streets of Cape Town. There was a lot to explore, but they had to start somewhere. And so it was that they made their way to the infamous Long-street to dance their first night away.

“We went clubbing last night at Long-street and returned this morning at around 4am, slept like an hour or so... Dude I’m so hung over right now but what I can tell you is that if you’ve never been to Cape Town get yourself to Cape Town, visit Long-street and pee. I think I peed in a couple of clubs and I was there,” said the hangover Afrika Mdolomba the following morning.

Although the day of arrival brought an opportunity to explore the streets of Cape Town; amongst those streets being the renowned Long-street; the second day in Cape Town turned out to be a tour of a lifetime for the students. For them it was an experience of a lifetime having to step on the very grounds which political heroes of the country such as Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe and Nelson Mandela stepped on.

Well of course it is not just an island but a world heritage site; a museum filled the rich history of South Africa. From the day Dutch settlers occupied the Cape in mid-1600s and used the island as a prison, to the imprisonment of Muslim leaders from East Indies, African leaders, Dutch and British political prisoners– to the imprisonment of political anti-apartheid activists.

Tshepo Ntsolengoe and Perl Nicodimus
 on the boat to Robben Island

What was supposed to be a 30 minutes’ walk from Green Point to Sea Point turned out to be a one and a half hour walk for the students. This caused for students to be separated into three groups. This caused students to scramble for the first round of tickets which were bought at the nelson Mandela gateway to Robben Island. “I’m so excited, I can’t wait to see where Nelson Mandela was,” said the impatient student Constance Moyo.


Some were quite shocked to witness the raucous behaviour of their fellow students “Now they are fighting over tickets. I mean dah... we are the last group to go to the island and it’s going to be so much nice and fun because it will only be a few of us,” elaborated one of the patient students, Sesana Mabuza
As for what was anticipated to be a drag of the whole Cape Town experience turned out to be the epitome thereof.

There was not a sign of excitement about spending the whole day in parliament amongst the students; being aware of the reluctant faces TUT Journalism department senior lecturer Mr Fannie Groenewald advised the students that they should “Enjoy the day; keep together in groups at parliament and DON’T SLEEP,” he said. The emphasis on the last two words by the lecturer reassured the feeling of the idea that it was sure going to be a long boring day.

The proceedings at the parliament turned out to be the opposite of what the lecturer and the students anticipated. It was in that very day that the state president was scheduled to pay a visit to parliament in order to address issues which concerned the nation.

Students couldn’t help it but to be dazzled by the way the president answered questions and how he out manoeuvred allegations of incompetence against him. One of the Journalism students Neo Manganyi was quite astonished by the parliament proceedings and how members of parliament conduct themselves. “Parliament was just amazing, seeing Zuma addressing all members of parliament in the way he did. And how he matters such as disability issues were addressed it was quite amazing. I feel that more could have been dealt with because there were no resolutions at the end of the discussion,” she elaborated.

 The two day visit to parliament brought a stay at Cape Town to be a short visit; most students turned to be reluctant to about leaving the beautiful mother city. “Do we really have to go home, I’m already missing Cape Town and I’m not even out of this place,” moaned Neo Manganyi who was packing her back on the last day in Cape Town.

Journalism students having
a blast at the beach

“I want to go to the beach,” complained Lerato Motholo who was actually frustrated with the fact that it was cloudy and drizzling the whole week and now that the team was leaving Cape Town; the very day turned out to be warm and welcoming.

 Only good memories will remain in the hearts and minds of the students who paid avisit to Cape Town. Amongst those memories will be the beloved Long-street, the infamous Table Mountain, the iconic Robben Island, the parliament and the diversity of rich cultures and cultural performances by both the coloured and Xhosa people.