First mugging at gun point romance for Leggere

Now is the second month, practicing walking all the way back from Aukland park after my late night shift but this time around things did not go accordingly. I was mugged at gun point by three men on Enoch Sontonga Ave on Friday July 29, 2011 between 22pm and 23pm. The gunmen took my mobile phone, few other belongings and a R20 bank note.

As I was walking, I saw three men coming from the Braamfontein Centre side, a direction I was heading to. After one car passed, they crossed the road towards my side and whilst the other two passed me, one of them came face to face with me and demanded. “My brother, watseba musi, you know…letha…letha”. I did not understand what was going on, so I moved off the pavement to the middle side of the road. What came to my mind was that I must try to stop one of the cars passing by for help but the gunman who was right behind me commanded that I must not think of calling for help because I will make noise and that will anger him. He said is a thug who is not even scared of police and cars. “I’m not scared of police cars wena, come lets go. “Guys lets walk with him where he is going while we negotiate,” he commanded.
As I realized he was coming very close to me with a gun pointing at my direction, only sneaking out of his jacked. I realized that if I make a mistake here, I will die. I then started thinking hard of stories I heard of people losing their lives because of a phone or a car. I then decided to cooperate.

The guy with a gun looked like he was the boss and the others were his followers. He then commanded the other guy with a very soft voice to search me. Instead he asked me nicely if I had a phone with me and I said no. “Are you sure you do not have a phone” the gun man screamed. I said yes I do not have a phone, by this time I was shaking because his face started changing and he said: “look here, we do not want to kill you, but if you continue like this we will be forced, so pleas now cooperate.’’ By this time I thought I had wet my pants. Mind you, it was my first experience since I was born, so I had no idea what to expect. I decided to take out my phone, give it to them. As I was about to leave the soft voice guy asked if I do not have money with me. I said no. He then repeated what the gun man said that if I do not cooperate I’m calling for trouble. He was saying this while trying to open my phone, because the gun man had requested him to remove my sim card and give it back. He was unsuccessful, so he asked for help from me with and by this time I was shaking. But because I had my hand gloves on as it was very cold that night my hands could not grab the phone with ease, so I asked the soft voice thug to help carry my gloves as I open the phone. He held on to my gloves and few papers I had with me. After removing the sim card and returned the phone the soft voice thug he then asked if I was carrying some money with me.



By this time I was a bit relaxed because I had learned that should I cooperate I will be safe. I said no but the gunmen was now very furious and started pointing his gun sharply towards my directions shouting and getting fed up. I thought to myself what if it is actually a gun and he shoots my balls? I realized I was in trouble so I gave up my wallet. Gun man took it and with the help of floodlights by a car that was coming by he managed to see that there was only a R20 bank note. Lucky enough though because earlier I had went to the ATM to withdraw money but I requested R50 by mistake because I wanted about R600. But I thought I was late so I will withdraw it later.

The gunman complained that I do not have money, but he returned the wallet and asked me where I stayed. “Uhlala kuphi? U nayo I mali yoku gibela?”Soft voice thug said. “No it is fine im only staying here in Braamfontein”. But how romantic was that. I mean I felt a bit comfortable when they asked me whether I had money for taxi or not, I felt they cared so much for a thug. I did not understand why they were concerned about my safety while they were robbing me because I felt very unsafe. I felt my life was in their hands.

As I was about to leave with my wallet, the soft voice thug demanded the wallet again. He looked inside and asked gun man. ‘’ Aaah man kanti how much did you say its here? The gun men replied, I think its R50,” but the soft voice guy said no man it is only R20…aagh! Thatha imali yakho mfethu.” This time, the gun man was busy loading, I could hear the cassette sound. You know how it is in movies. I was pleaded with him not to shoot. ‘’ Guys please do not shoot, namikombela , please.” I pleaded. He asked if I wanted the money back, I said no its fine you can have it. He took the money but gave back the wallet. He commanded me to go but as i started typing about four steps I realized my right hand gloves and papers were missing. I then called them for my hand gloves. Soft voice thug had them and said. ‘’ Here...’’ we met half way. He gave back the gloves and he said. You see if you cooperate, there is no trouble but if you don’t there is a lot to pay. I then left the scene with a lot of mixed feelings. But I have no idea what I was thinking asking those thugs for a hand glove? What if they had changed their mind and start shooting at me, because after such an experience all you need is to leave the scene safe.


As I walked away I thought to myself, how romantic that was! I thought that if I had another opportunity to be mugged by those guys would say yes with my eyes closed. I felt it was such a sexy but romantic robbery. I say this because the moment I started cooperating I started enjoying robbery. I mean my favourite moment was when the soft voice thug could not open the phone to remove the sim card. He was human enough to ask for help from me. Also, when I could not open it as well because of the gloves, I asked him if he can hold on to my gloves while I remove the sim card. I thought that was very romantic. I can meet those thugs and smoke pipe with them. I can share a beer or two with them. I can go to my church and introduce them as friends because there was such a connection between us. They were very sweet thugs I must say. But big ups to me for handling it so well because those guys had a gun loaded with bullets and had I not followed instructions I could have lost Leggere.

But the question remains. Will this experience change the way I view the world? NO!

Can Music and Politics Mix in Africa?

By: Mandla Masingi & Azwihangwisi Mufamadi

Richard Nwamba, the SA fm presenter said that South African musicians are not doing enough to challenge the wrong doings in Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

The Mozambique born radio and TV personality condemned South African Musicians for not singing about political atmosphere in African countries. He said that he understands that South Africa has got its own democracy but “what about the rest of the continent?”

Speaking at the talk organised by the Rhodes Music department in conjunction with the International Music Library (ILAM), Nwamba presented a debate that music can be a pivotal tool in changing political regimes in African countries. He said that although “music can be used in lulling us to sleep, music can be a powerful weapon in wakening people on what is happening around”.

During the talk Nwamba pinpointed some of African musicians who fought for democracy through their lyrical usage. Although the list was long but the likes of Oliver Mutukudzi from Zimbabwe; Mali’s Salif Keita; Nigerian Fela Kuti, who was beaten up by Olusegun Obasanjo, before he was a president after Kuti criticised the government, were also mentioned in the list. Also names like Kanda Kuyete, Pierre Akendengue who was forced to apologise in public after he criticized Gabon president Omar Bongo, completed the list. While displaying some of the sound tracks during the lecture, Nwamba claimed that Congolese music is the only music that epitomises the fight for democracy. “The reason Congolese music is good is because it saved Mobutu Sese Seko from being overthrown,” said Nwamba.

Nwamba’s proposition solution to this plight was that awareness should be raised among young generations (musicians), to tackle issues like what is happening in Zimbabwe and Swaziland. “Our silence that we have is making us poor” He lamented.

Meanwhile, Nwamba who has been in South Africa for 31 years will be appearing in the e TV drama Scandal, playing a role of a gynaecologist, as Dr Radebe. This follows his short appearance in the SABC 2 series Muvhango in past years. However, Nwamba said that in all things he does, music comes first. “Music is a passion that I have,” he said.

The Rhodes University head of Ethmnomusicology Dr Diane Thram said that; “Nwamba is a man of many talents, from acting, playwriting and composing.” Dr Thram was very pleased to have Nwamba at Rhodes and mentioned that, Nwamba is pursuing a masters Degree in Ethnomusicology, through Wits University.

Nwamba does not sit on his laurels but involve himself in different projects. He said that he writes a column in one of the Afro pop Magazines, Rootz.

The Union lab- Unreliable

By: Mandla Masingi

Many students at Rhodes University are finding it very difficult to use the Union lab, with ease. This comes after the lab has been installed with new software.

Subusiso Ntsibande a second year B.Com student said that he found trouble when trying to use the lab. “I tried to use the lab for several times and not a single day I could log in,” said Ntsibande.

According to some students this problem has been going on since the lab started to be used. “Even last year this lab was unreliable, I lost two essays because of the complicated software,” said Andile Mhlauli a B.Com second year student.

When the system manager Mr Guy Halse, was questioned about this matter said that the personnel know about the problem, and they are still finding ways to bring the situation to normal. “It is a problem that we are still working on,” said Halse.

Forums create bad habits-a platform for debates

By Mandla Masingi

Rhodes University students say that Forums create bad habits while others say that it helps them meet new people.

A second year drama student Masibulele Madasa believes that Forums create anti-social personalities at Rhodes. “It is anti-social to talk or make a friendship via the net,” he challenged. Masibulele said that if people want to debate about issues, they should join the debating society. Another drama student who does not see the significance of Forums is Nduduzo Jali. “I think it is a waste of time and disgusting, with the fact that people spread un-founding arguments and gossip,” Jali said.

On the other hand, Jacob Mahonko, said that “it’s a bit addictive but it makes you know people that you would never know”, he said. On a similar note, Thapelo Tselapedi said that Forums is a platform for intellectual personalities. “It enables me to have online intellectual debates,” he concluded.