Thursday marks the first day of the unofficial World record attempt by Nissan and Wits University student Sibusiso Radebe, as the winning candidate moves into an NP200 bakkie with the aim of living in it for eight days - or 200 hours, whichever comes first .
Radebe is a third-year geology student who won the title of the Resident by getting three times as many votes as his nearest competitor. More than 1500 if his peers voted for Radebe, with second-placed Alon Alkalay - a first-year BA Law student - scoring less than 600.
Hip hop fan Radebe gave an impromptu rap performance, and was clearly revved up and ready to get on with his “mini-holiday” in the bakkie.
He said: “I’m definitely going to go all the way with this, and Wits students on campus are all invited to come through and check out what I’m up to in my mobile bakkie… boudoir.”
For the next eight days the NP200 will be the hub of a campus party. On Friday, March 25, a second NP200 with a serious sound system and a Jacuzzi (no, we’re not kidding) will keep the temperature on the boil, on March 28 students can join The Resident for a boerewors roll and on the 30th all are invited to play musical chairs with The Resident.
The final day of the record attempt, April 1, will be an all-day party as the Resident counts down to the 200th hour and his “release”.
Radebe has also won R10 000 and a laptop, which he’ll be using to provide live updates on his status and activities on www.theresident.co.za/, Twitter and Facebook over the next eight days.