Issue 98 | The Journalist

Rural women head to Ohio through new art exhibition

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | Art | 0

History has glorified men at the expense of women

A South African artist, Khehla Chepape Makgato celebrates rural women in his new exhibition in Cleveland, Ohio.

A pop-up art show in Cleveland, Ohio is currently exhibiting one of South Africa’s up and coming artists. Khehla Chepape Makgato has been living in the United States for the past few months and is currently an artist in residence at Zygote Press Inc, an artist workshop promoting contemporary fine-art printing in Cleveland, Ohio, in conjunction with Harris Stanton Gallery. His exhibition focuses on strong black women from rural areas in South Africa, specifically those who played a role in his childhood.

Book extract: Sorry, not sorry

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | Books | 0

Experiences of a brown woman in white South Africa

Not bothering to put shoes on would be a great timesaver. And prancing around in your bare hooves is a great cost saver. When white people don’t bother with shoes in public, they’re never judged for it. If I stood in the pasta-sauce aisle at a fancy grocery store as my authentic self, bare heels firmly on the ground, a lot of people would be physically disgusted.It’s economics. And it’s racism. A shoeless person of colour in a fancy grocery store surely does not belong there…

“An under-resourced newsroom is a threat to media freedom”

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | The Craft | 0

Media freedom and democracy go hand in hand

In March, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Media Monitoring Africa and the Oslo Freedom Forum hosted a panel discussion and dialogue named “Media Under Fire”. The dialogue was part of ongoing work to engage with the media in South Africa. The event sought to explore new threats posed to the media, as well how journalists begin to self-censor when they find themselves under threat.

Lost and found: sexuality and identity at varsity

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | Kau Kauru Voices | 0

I found it hard to be accepted and acknowledged as an equal human being

Surprise Netshioswi, a student from the University of Venda speaks out about growing up in a homophobic environment and navigating his sexual identity later in life at university. This is his story.I was raised in the rural village outside Thohoyandou. My entire life evolved there. I attended primary and secondary school there.

A note to Premier Helen Zille

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | Spotlight | 0

Life Esidimeni is an outcrop of our careless society, masquerading as community

Cuba’s new president: What to expect of Miguel Díaz-Canel

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | Spotlight | 0

Who can fill Castro’s shoes?

Defying the boycott call: Black Coffee in hot water

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | Art | 0

Why South Africa’s DJ Black Coffee left a bitter taste by performing in Israel

It was a coincidence that South African house DJ Black Coffee’s recent performance in Tel Aviv took place on the same weekend that saw more than a dozen Palestinian protesters shot dead, and more than a thousand wounded, by Israeli forces. But he was nevertheless criticised sharply for the visit which came in the wake of calls by political movements and civil society organisations to respect the boycott campaign against Israel.

Criticism was levelled against him from a number of fronts. This included South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) which issued a call on artists to remember the role played by the international anti-apartheid solidarity movement in the isolation of apartheid South Africa:

Book extract: My Father Died for This

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | Books | 0

The Cradock Four’s Fort Calata and his son, Lukhanyo

When the Cradock Four’s Fort Calata was murdered by agents of the apartheid state in 1985, his son Lukhanyo was only three years old. Thirty-one years later Lukhanyo, now a journalist, becomes one of the SABC Eight when he defies Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s reign of censorship at the public broadcaster by writing an open letter that declares: my father didn’t die for this. With his wife Abigail, Lukhanyo brings to life the father he never knew

Abducted and assaulted for speaking out

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | The Craft | 0

Mozambican journalist “silenced” with violence

A veteran Mozambican journalist, critical of President Filipe Nyusi and his government, was abducted and assaulted earlier this year. On 29 March journalist and lawyer Ericino de Salema was kidnapped in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, beaten and left unconscious. Salema was critical of the president’s alleged corruption.

#WorldPressFreedomDay: Freedom to do journalism

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | The Craft | 0

Plurality of media is key to democracy

Everyone needs press freedom to be able to publish their news and views to an audience. Gone are the days when political and religious authorities kept this freedom only for themselves. The right to press freedom was a hard-won right historically – against kings, emperors, colonialists and apartheid’s bullies. It unfolded unevenly over history, in different places.

“This victory is not just for me”

by journalist | Apr 24, 2018 | Kau Kauru Voices | 0

The first black recipient of the Abe Bailey Travel Bursary talks success

A young man from a small town becomes an inspiration to those at the University of the Free State when he becomes the youngest and first black recipient of the prestigious Abe Bailey Travel Bursary. Erica Dibela talks to him about Kendrick Lamar, success and giving up his Olympic dream for a law degree.