Lebohang Pita

@LeboPita

The challenges of cross-generational or intergenerational sexual relationships (which usually involve teenage girls and male partners 10 years older) were put under the spotlight at the Pretoria Campus yesterday, 13 March.

John Ngobene, from the Gauteng Department of Education and a human rights activist, gave a motivational talk aimed at addressing the topic.

His talk followed a fierce debate between the Pretoria Campus’ Debating Society and the Directorate of Health and Wellness’ Peer Educators. The theme of the debate was ‘Romance is an important aspect of any dating relationship, but a sugar daddy (an older male partner) will pay more attention to romantic suggestions.’

John argued that most African adolescent girls are vulnerable to engage in risky sexual behaviour because sexual activity can be exchanged for money or gifts. He also said that some older men would engage in sexual activities with adolescents due to the misconception that they are free from HIV/AIDS.

“Young women or girls may be vulnerable to exploitation in such relationships given a lack of choices for those living in poverty or the need to pay school fees or purchase books,” John said.

He added that sexual activity is negotiated between two consenting adults. However, he asked whether cross-generational relationships are based purely on consent or force.

“Gender, age and economic disparities may increase risky sexual behaviour and reduce a young woman’s ability to negotiate safer sex. It has also been reported that girls are unable to negotiate condom use in cross-generational sexual relations.”

He said that being in a sexual relationship with an affluent and much older person increases one’s chances of contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) like HIV/AIDS.

“The majority of teenagers infected with HIV and other STI’s are infected by adult males. According to recent reports, teenagers with older partners use condoms 20% less than teenagers with peer-age partners.”

John said some girls would enter into such relationships to help support their families. “Poorer families in some communities often consent to the intergenerational sexual relationships as a means of temporary income support.”

He said society should stop perpetuating beliefs that having sex with a virgin girl would cleanse you and that men need frequent sexual satisfaction and multiple partners.

“Engaging in sexual relations with older men is a norm for adolescent girls in Sub-Saharan Africa and we as academics need to come up with initiatives to stop this barbaric practice.”

He urged students to stop entering into such relationships because they are exploitative, oppressive and abusive due to older partners’ use of their societal status and financial power.

 “No matter how materialistic you may be, never compromise yourself to get them. Rather work hard,” John concluded.

Sosh SpinKingz host “Legends Only” event

Bruce Mbingeleli

 
The Soshanguve Spinning Kingz (SSK) hosted a Spin City event in celebrating the legends of spin at Soshanguve Spinning Palace (SSP) in Soshanguve Block F over the weekend.

 The event featured an amazing line-up of local spinners and drifters as well as The General and The Sheriff, spinners from neighbouring countries.

 

The SSP was packed with petrol-heads who came out in their numbers to witness one of the most epic spinning events ever hosted in Soshanguve.

 

This event was held to celebrate the motoring tradition and spinners from Gauteng, Rustenburg and Botswana headed to Soshanguve to support the event.

 

Soshanguve Spinning crew, IZR, and Tshepang “Isla Bonita” Mkonza, a member of SSK, kept the crowd captivated with their brilliant performances.

 

Botswana spinner The General, a friend of SSK, came to celebrate and also enjoyed the event.

 

“I feel like a superior person, because Soshanguve is where it all began. This is the place where we perfected our stunts. I make sure that I perfect all my moves and make them as extreme as possible,” The General said.

 

SSK crew member Lebo “Lebojwa” was not intimidated by the wet road surface and although it was tricky, he managed to do burnouts. 

 

The event was a day of excitement for both the spectators and the spinners.

“The Spinning Kingz crew along with all the other spinners and drifters were legendary today,” Lebojwa said.

Adequate information needed to fight cancer

by Lebohang Pita
@LeboPita

As part of national cancer week, the Directorate of Health and Wellness at the Tshwane University of Technology's Soshanguve Campus on 4 March held an awareness campaign to make students more aware of the disease, also known as ‘the silent killer’. This campaign also included information sessions about HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s).   

“If more information about cancer was available, especially in rural areas and similar to the kind of information available about HIV/AIDS, people would be able to identify some of the warning signs in time and go to a doctor,” said Paul Maraba, a nurse at the Directorate of Health and Wellness. He added that this could also help to establish the prevalence of the disease, which is relatively unknown.

Paul said that it is important that people go for regular check-ups.

Although there are over 200 kinds of cancer, the campaign mainly focused on educating students about breast, cervical and prostate cancer, which are considered the deadliest.

The most common cancer in women is breast and cervical cancer.

Sister Bella Pholo, Health Promoter at the Maria Ronto Clinic in Soshanguve, said it is important for women to regularly examine their breasts and underarms for lumps,  yellow skin, swelling  and pores, that could all be signs of breast cancer. “If it is detected early, there is a greater chance of survival,” she added.

The most common cancer in men is prostate cancer. Bella said it can also be successfully managed if detected early by testing for it.

Paul’s advice to students was, among others, to lead a healthy lifestyle which included exercise, not smoking, avoiding the sun and doing regular self-examinations.

During the campaign, the Department of Health (DoH) offered free HIV/AIDS testing as the disease is proving to spread rapidly among young people.

Jeffrey Makhwiliri, Head of the programme for HIV/AIDS, STIs and Tuberculosis at the DoH’s Tshwane regional office, urged students to get tested as early as possible because knowing one’s status could help one to lead a balanced lifestyle.