The cost of living is still under pressure as rising inflation patterns continue.
On 26 February 2025, Statistics South Africa (SA) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January, which has been raised to 3.2%, up from 3.0% in December 2024.
The CPI measures the average change of prices of goods and services typically bought by South Africans. It is a key indicator of inflation as it shows how the cost of living is rising or falling.
The contributors to the annual inflation rate include housing and utilities, food and non-alcoholic beverages, and restaurants and accommodation services.
The increase in prices affects people at all levels, including cash-strapped students. Luthando Nzama, a second year Fine Arts Student at the Wits School of Arts (WSOA), said students can’t keep up. “Whenever we go to Checkers or shopping centre’s the prices are really high and that affects the amount of groceries we (can buy),” she said.
Sizwe Gumede, a second year Civil Engineering student at Wits University has also experienced the brunt of inflation. “Based on my experience, we aren’t able to afford some of the services and goods that we need,” he said.
Gumede said many students struggle to buy themselves essentials such as toiletries and thinks increased allowances may help.
“I heard that NSFAS will be going up, but for the past couple of years it’s been at the same rate while inflation is increasing. This left us students vulnerable to not (being able to) survive off this kind of funding,” he added. Last week, NSFAS confirmed that allowances for university students would increase by 4% and 46% for those studying at TVET colleges.
Various sources have researched the monthly average students need to get by, it ranges between R1500 to R3000 for groceries alone and between R500 and R1000 for other personal items.
As inflation increases, young people on the ground continue to be affected by the rising cost of living and are attempting to make ends meet.
FEATURED IMAGE: South African cash notes. Photo: File.
Several unregistered students have embarked on a hunger strike to protest and fight for academic registration.
Poster reading, “We will not eat until all unregistered students are registered.” Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
The 2025 academic year at Wits University has begun, but some students haven’t been able to resume their studies and register successfully due to financial constraints.
In a statement, the university said 37 295 out of 38 000 students have registered, representing 95% of the eligible student population. In addition, over R2 billion in funding has been raised to assist students. While the university “is doing everything possible within its means to support students”, it “cannot erase all historic student debt fund” without risking bankruptcy.
Starting on 14 February 2025, a number of unregistered students spearheaded the protest for unregistered peers through a hunger strike.
Feziwe Ndwayana, an activist and Master’s student, who has been unable to register, is leading the charge. She believes that education is a right and that black students who are unable to register will be forced to “go back to the township, they must go back to the rural areas where they will become victims of crime.”
She said the peaceful protest is “ an expression of love for our country and all the poor black students on our campus. But also, it’s a symbol of the violence in the institution to deny ourselves food.”
Videos circulating on social media show Ndwayana and Siviwe Mafuna, another unregistered student partaking in the hunger strike, in a scuffle with campus control. The pair alleged that a prayer session with a traditional healer was interrupted.
In a different video seen by Wits Vuvuzela, campus control can be seen grabbing one of the unregistered students and violently escorting them out of the SRC offices.
Shirona Patel, Head of Wits Communication, questioned the motives of the hunger strike. “Please note that the two mature individuals in the SRC Boardroom who claim to be on a hunger strike are not registered students, nor SRC members. In fact, one was a former SRC President from about 10 years ago, who has worked as a journalist. They each have two qualifications from Wits and are now demanding funding for a third qualification. Is this fair? Should they not be paying their own way?” said Patel.
In response, Ndwayana said the hunger strike is bigger than the pair and is supported by solidarity groups such as Wits Palestine Solidarity Committee, and the Socialist Youth Movement (SYM).
Left to Right: Siviwe Mafuna, Feziwe Ndwayana, Mahlatse Letoka, partaking in hunger strike. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
“The fact that we have work experience doesn’t mean that we must keep quiet in the face of injustice. And the fact that one was an SRC president (myself, by the way) here at Wits, it means that we are able to use our experience,” added Ndwayana
Patel said the university and the Wits SRC have had “productive meetings” on the matter and an estimated R9 million will be raised “by the end of the week (R4.5 million from students, matched by the University).”
Ndwayana claims this shows how unsupportive the SRC has been of their efforts. “What we’ve seen is them going behind our backs to meetings and taking money, like the one that you spoke about, taking money from the VC. When we had an agreement that we are in this fight together until all unregistered students are registered. Now, they are sellouts. because they’re going around taking money from VC and going off the course, having private conversations about us and not informing us.”
Ndwayana also claims that the SRC has taken ownership of the hunger strike. “Riding on the wave that we have created with our solidarity movement, going around saying that they’re part of the hunger strike, but none of them have been on a hunger strike. None of them have sacrificed eating. None of them have been with us. For a single day, none of them have asked about our well-being and how we’re doing,” she said.
Members of the SRC were approached by Wits Vuvuzela for comment on this accusation but have yet to respond. Instead, a public statement was issued on February 19, highlighting their solidarity with the strike and “academically deserving students” in need.
As of writing, the unregistered students are on their sixth day of the hunger strike and are hoping for a speedy resolution.
FEATURED IMAGE: Shirt reading: “We will not eat until all unregistered students are registered.” Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
Wits University held the annual Fresher’s Party to welcome first-year and returning students to the university. The night was filled with fun and performances by prominent artists such as Focalistic, Scotts Maphuma, DBN Gogo, and many more.
Wits Vuvuzela hit the ground to capture the night, tune in for an experience of fun, laughter, and excitement, ahead of a jam-packed academic calender.
The Wits Digital Dome is not just a tool for astronomy, but it is a technological hub that bridges different disciplines through immersive education.
Walking into the Digital Dome, you are immersed in lights from the astronomical projection covering the dome’s ceiling. Its cutting-edge technology brings an out-of-world experience which blends research and education seamlessly.
A New Era
The Wits Anglo American Digital Dome was originally known as the Johannesburg Planetarium and has been around since 1960. It was a platform for astronomy that allowed visitors to view stars, planets, and constellations through its then state of the art technology. Some decades later, a much-needed upgrade was needed. Under the leadership of Dr Moutima Aich, the planetarium stepped into the 21st century and stands as the largest digital dome in South Africa and the second largest in Africa.
Wits Anglo American Digital Dome. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
“Most of the planetariums have gone digital around the world. So, we also wanted to do that and not just that. We wanted to expand the space, so we’ve expanded the office space and the event space,” said Aich. She added that the expansion was also for them to “make our own content” and for homegrown stories to be told.
Beyond Astronomy
Although the Digital Dome remains a hub for astronomy education, its new facilities allow for different faculties to use it. One of them includes people from Digital Arts who have been “involved heavily in creating content for the dome,” says Aich. “People who have come here, they’re from medical science background. They also want to do some visualizations on the Dome. And again, they talk to the digital arts for that. So that’s how we are bringing in the different disciplines together,” she said.
The Digital Dome will also enhance student learning and education. It continues to host immersive and entertaining astronomy shows for children. “It’s an animated show, but it is about rockets and propulsion and things like that. So, you still come and learn while you enjoy. So, it does help students in general,” said Dr Aich.
The dome is not limited to children as university students can also use it as a tool for learning, particularly postgraduate students. This includes Honours, Msc or PHD projects on the Dome’s software or data visualization.
What’s Next
The Dome officially opened its doors to the public on 1 February 2025 where it continues to host immersive shows that can bring people together for an unforgettable experience. People can book shows online on Webtickets.
FEATURED IMAGE: Projection of the periodic table in the Digital Dome. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
An exhibition of Esther Mahlangu’s work explores themes of cultural identity and timeless creativity.
The first thing that catches one’s attention walking into the Wits Arts Museum is not just any BMW, but a 525i which has been transformed into a canvas of Ndebele motifs. The geometric patterns adorning the car are a signature of Esther Mahlangu’s work, now on display at this exhibition.
Titled, “Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: A Retrospective,” the exhibition takes the viewer through Mahlangu’s decades-long career and showcases how she has shaped contemporary art, her tradition and culture.
From well-painted canvases to everyday objects reimagined as art – alcohol bottles, construction helmets, and tea containers – Mahlangu’s signature pattern finds itself in unusual places, serving as an exploration of themes such as cultural identity.
Belvedere vodka bottles are designed with Ndebele patterns. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
Beyond the striking visuals, the exhibition also contains quotes from Mahlangu, who explains different phases of her life. One that stands out is her recollection of how she got into painting – she was initially scolded by her mother and grandmother for drawing on the house.
“After that, I started drawing on the back of the house, and slowly, my drawings got better and better until they finally asked me to come back to the front of the house. Then I knew I was good at painting,” reads Mahlangu’s quote.
Nontobeko Ntombela, the curator of the exhibition, spoke at length about Mahlangu’s work and its influence on contemporary art. “She was able to show the world two key things for me…showing the expansion of visual arts, that arts don’t derive from the West,” said Ntombela.
The primary vision for the exhibition was to “pull people closer to the detail of the art and to the detail of the artist,” Ntombela wanted viewers to understand the contributions made by Mahlangu instead of seeing her in a general way.
Freshpak rooibos containers are designed with Ndebele patterns. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
Among Mahlangu’s most iconic works is the coated BMW 525i, a project which first gained international recognition in 1990, when it was returned to South Africa from the BMW museum in Munich after 30 years.
Mahlangu’s BMW design is significant because despite growing up in a rural area, she was approached by a prestigious company to design the car in a still segregated South Africa.
Ntombela is also working on a book which is an extension of the exhibition. “The book becomes a story that gives us the anecdotes of how she forged her career to be relevant. The book becomes the story of how other people give testimonies about meeting her,” said Ntombela. She continued, “We have experiences in the archive of her going into these different parts of the world painting private homes as well as institutions.”
Ntombela hopes to release the book before the end of the year, while the exhibition will stay in the Wits Arts Museum until April 17, 2025.
FEATURED IMAGE: BMW 525 designed with Ndebele patterns, by Esther Mahlangu. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
While TikTok provides users with hours of endless entertainment and a platform for self-expression, these come at the cost of users’ personal information.
TikTok is one of the most popular and fastest-growing social media platforms in the world. Its addictive algorithm and capacity for creativity sets it apart from other social media sites. But this all comes at a price – user’s data.
The Chinese social media video app stands out for its highly effective algorithm which provides content that best suits the user’s interests. The platform also encourages creativity and serves as an educational tool, amplifying its cultural impact. However, the app’s privacy policy raises concerns regarding the safety of users’ information and privacy.
Privacy Policy
According to TikTok’s privacy policy, there are three ways in which the platform collects user’s information. One of them would be through the information that the users give TikTok directly, such as account information (name, age, email, phone number etc.), user-generated content uploaded onto the platform, preferences made while using the app and (with permission) a user’s phone and contacts.
In addition to what the user provides, the social media app has information which is automatically collected. This includes information collected automatically including device details such as one’s IP address and model/make. TikTok also collects location data, and Cookies to help track how users interact with the platform and what pages they visit the most to help enhance the user’s experience.
Finally, TikTok also collects information from third-party sources such as Facebook and Instagram which are used to access TikTok. Other third-party sources are advertisers who may share information about users and their behavior outside of the TikTok platform such as one’s activity on other websites, app stores and even information related to the products bought by the individual online or in person.
The policy states that TikTok uses this information for a variety of reasons, such as customizing the content that a user sees on the platform and understanding how a user interacts with the platform amongst other things. The policy also insists that TikTok does not sell the data but rather shares it with service providers and business partners to perform business operations. While TikTok uses information to enhance user experience, one must consider the potential risks that come with the video app’s data collection.
Privacy Concerns
Several government officials have scrutinized TikTok’s data collection methods, stating that the app poses a national security threat. A recent example would be TikTok’s short-lived ban in the USA, over TikTok owner, ByteDance allegedly sharing user data with the Chinese government.
This short-term ban on TikTok in the USA forced many users to migrate to a Chinese social media app called RedNote. Whereas RedNote poses as a decent alternative to TikTok due to its short video format, its privacy policy shows that it is no better than TikTok’s. According to its privacy policy, the app collects sensitive information such as one’s IP address, their browsing habits, their location and many more. Furthermore, RedNote is also subject to Chinese laws that grant the Chinese government access to this data if requested.
Even though it went dark for less than 24 hours before being unbanned, the drama around the TikTok ban lives on. It raised important questions about data and ownership on social media platforms, watch as our Siyanda Mthethwa unpacks it all. #tiktokban#inauguration
Despite the additional risks that come with RedNote, users are not aware or worry about their personal information being collected and shared. In addition, the app’s use of Mandarin may make it more difficult for English-speaking users to understand the privacy policy which may make them more susceptible to having sensitive information collected without their knowledge.
There are other social media apps, however, such as Instagram and Facebook (which both fall under META) that collect user data. Research shows that in terms of which apps collect the most user data, META apps collect more user data and sensitive information than TikTok.
So why is TikTok getting red-taped? It can be argued that this is due to TikTok being based in China and the fears that the data collected from the app may fall into the hands of the Chinese government, as opposed to META apps which are based in the United States of America.
Despite privacy concerns, there can be more action done by the platform itself and its users. TikTok, for starters, could make the privacy policy and its terms more explicit and they could give users more autonomy on which information they can provide to the platform to avoid security risks. Users can also make more of an effort to read the privacy policy and understand what they are getting themselves into.
Nevertheless, TikTok is a highly appealing platform that provides users with entertainment; however, the cost of this entertainment may be the data that users unwillingly share and its long-lasting digital footprint.
FEATURED IMAGE: TikTok user viewing the privacy policy. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa
The Matric Class of 2024 broke numerous records, and one in their number achieved it all at just 16.
Meet Ngeletshedzo Mutwanamba. She considers herself a simple girl who likes reading and listening to music. But these hobbies and her social life took a back seat so she could achieve something extraordinary.
At just 16 years of age, Ngeletshedzo has managed to pass Grade 12 with a remarkable seven distinctions, becoming the top achiever of her school, Blue Hills College. Her high school journey, marked by the challenges of the covid-19 pandemic and constant load shedding, was anything but easy.
Achieving seven distinctions in Grade 12 involved little sleep and a seemingly unending workload.
“I had to make sure that I was able to manage my time because the minute you start making things pile up everything just goes crazy. So, I really had to make sure that I was able to stick to what I wanted to do for the day,” she said.
As the year went on, Mutwanamba found that she got lazier, another mental barrier she had to overcome. “My motivation was the distinction at the end of the day. I knew that if I did not do (an assignment) at that exact moment I might be costing myself a distinction in the next coming year,” said Mutwanamba. She added that she aimed for eight distinctions, but “unfortunately” only achieved seven.
Mutwanamba started her high school journey in 2020, the year of the covid-19 pandemic, a huge shift for her personal and academic life.
“It was the first year of high school, a whole new environment for me…now all of a sudden there’s this disease, now I can’t go to school, and I personally enjoy seeing the teacher physically,” she said, stating that online Zoom meetings were not ideal.
Due to the pandemic, her school implemented a system where different grades attended on different days, which in turn meant that the curriculum was cut short. “…I actually missed out on fundamental things that would have really helped me out in Matric,” said Mutwanamba, as some of these fundamentals include core elements of English and Mathematics.
Social distancing restrictions eventually eased in 2022, but it was the same year that load shedding became a very frustrating issue as South Africa experienced 205 days of load shedding.
“Load shedding was quite the killer,” she said, as the load reductions would delay her from doing work at certain times. The blackouts also meant that she would have to work in the dark using rechargeable lights and plan her days in advance.
An early start at school and skipping a grade five were indicators of Mutwanamba’s smarts, but for her, seeing a friend achieve a 90% pass in their grade eight year is what fuelled her further. This drive culminated in a Mutwanamba donning the coveted white blazer at her school for being the top achiever.
When asked what advice she would give to people pursuing their dreams, she said, “Always remember your goals…. If you remember the reason why you are there in the first place, if you’re in school the reason why you chose a specific subject. If you’re working the reason why you applied for that job…there’s that specific reason that pushed, you to make that choice. So, remember that reason, remember the goals you set for yourself.”
Mutwanamba will go on to study Computer Sciences at the University of Pretoria this year.
FEATURED IMAGE: Photo of Ngeletshedzo Mutwanamba with her parents. Photo: Lungile Makiza.
As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, a new challenge surfaces: younger generations losing touch with their home languages. A mix of personal stories and expert opinions show the profound impact on cultural identity for the people affected.
“Akasazi isiZulu [He doesn’t know isiZulu].” That’s often the first thing people say when they ask why I am so quiet. And although there’s a kernel of truth to that, the shame it brings me is overwhelming.
When I go to family gatherings in Welkom, Free State, I feel disconnected from my family. The house is filled with chatter and joyous laughs as my family members connect with one another in Sesotho, a language I have lost the ability to speak fluently. I find myself as a spectator, sitting back and enjoying the moment, but not being able to connect with them in the language. While I try to brush it off, my heart sinks deep into my stomach as I struggle with shame.
When I visit my family in Durban the shame continues to linger. I sit with my uncles and brothers who are conversing in isiZulu and making jokes, some of which I cannot understand. I keep quiet and try to laugh at everything that they are laughing at, hoping that they will not call me out on it. When I am called out, I simply have no response, as if to say that I cannot explain my inability to speak my home language fluently.
As I now live in Johannesburg, I am tainted with these experiences that have brought shame to me my entire life. I can’t help but wonder how many more people have gone through the same experiences. How many more people have lost touch with their home languages and have had their sense of belonging affected? And, most importantly, how has this affected my understanding of culture and my relationship with it?
Language loss and learning
This disconnection is not a unique experience: many South Africans born after 1994 have lost touch with their mother tongue. The end of apartheid regime in 1994 signaled the beginning of a new South Africa by recognising 11 official languages in what has always been a multilingual country. However, although these diverse languages were recognised, with efforts made to promote their use, many young people have strayed from speaking or understanding their mother tongues, either fluently or at all.
Since 1994 there have been high levels of urbanisation, particularly in the city of Johannesburg – the economic hub of the country, in which English is used as the lingua francain all sectors of the public. This has made English the key to success in this city, translating into economic and family pressures to master the language. Ironically, only 9.2% of households in Gauteng use English as a first language, a vast difference to the 23% that speak isiZulu.
Parents play a significant role in determining which language their child speaks or in which they receive an education. Studies have shown that parents strongly insist on their children learning and receiving education in English because of its economic benefits. Iin some cases, parents go to the extent of speaking English with their children at home so that they can learn the language more efficiently. A preference for English leads many people to neglect their home languages, which has dire implications for one’s sense of self and identity.
Language is more than just a means through which people communicate, but it is also an indicator of one’s culture and “record of ethnicity”. These are the words of Dr Soyiso Khetoa, a social linguist, who is also the head of the African Languages Department at the University of the Witwatersrand. Khetoa explains, “Language influences perception… therefore, it influences our worldview… and how we interact with the world. So, eventually, the language you speak influences the person you become.”
As a person that identifies as Zulu, I find some truth in that statement. Coming from a traditional Zulu family, I have respect and admiration for my language and culture and knowing my roots gives me a source of pride. However, not being able to speak isiZulu fluently has prevented me from learning valuable information from my elders who can speak only isiZulu, or in other cases, prevents me from participating in customs that require me to speak the language. This leaves me feeling somewhat alienated from my culture and who I truly am.
To illustrate this point, I’ll return to a day on which my father and I performed a ritual of burning incense, an act to communicate with our ancestors. We did this shortly after I changed my surname to my dad’s family name a few years ago to reintroduce myself to the ancestors. After my father had sung our praises, he asked me to also share a few words in what was a bittersweet moment. On one hand, I was able to participate in a unique tradition, however, I felt limited as I could not fully say what I needed to say in isiZulu.
Thato Gololo, a 26-year-old student journalist from a Tswana family, has experienced cultural dissonance too. When Gololo was two years old, his family moved to Bedfordview, with a demographic largely comprising white, English-speaking individuals. Before this, as a toddler, Gololo would frequently speak Setswana but, as he interacted with people from his environment, he would later begin to speak only English. His father insisted to the rest of his family that they continue speaking English with Gololo so that he would not be confused. In the process, he lost touch with his home language and, with it, his cultural roots.
“It’s a very clear pathway, when you think about it. I don’t know my home languages, so I don’t put myself in the spaces with very traditional black people that speak [the language],” Gololo says. “Because I don’t put myself in those spaces, I don’t know the practices. So, I don’t know the practices, therefore, I’m disconnected from it.”
However, Gololo is not fully aware of Tswana customs also because of his pastor parents adopting Christianity over traditional Tswana customs, reducing his exposure to the latter. “My mom hates slaughtered meat, for example. If she’s at an event she will refuse to let you slaughter an animal,” he says. “Because of that I didn’t eat slaughtered meat for a while, because two people I really trust are my parents. If my parents did the thing, I did the thing. If my parents don’t do the thing, I don’t do the thing.”
Gololo has had to learn along the way about his culture, whereas his family already knew and stayed true to their customs. “When my brother got married, he did all of the very cultural things. He didn’t go on one knee to propose, he did the Tswana thing of ‘Hey, I’m going to send a letter to your household being “this is my intention”.’ My family seems to be aware, but personally I’m not.”
Ultimately, Gololo’s reduced exposure to the culture also affected his ability to speak the language. “Because I didn’t get immersed into the culture, because I didn’t speak the language, it’s a direct correlation. I don’t know this stuff. I feel very disconnected,” he says.
English and cultural shift
A common thread among young people who don’t know their mother tongue is a strong preference for English. The language was originally foreign in South Africa, being introduced by the British settlers who resided in the Cape Colony in the 1790s. It eventually became recognised as an official language in 1910 and it has evolved from being a language of liberation during the apartheid struggle to being the lingua franca that connects every community within South Africa.
A generational shift has also occurred as younger generations are not as inclined to using their home languages as a tool, unlike previous generations. Historically, indigenous languages were always prioritised to pass down knowledge and information to each generation. In addition, indigenous languages are seen as keys to understanding the essence of each culture. However, more scholars and students do not see the benefits of studying further in their indigenous languages.
Bela Bill and education
The issue of language in education has always been contentious in South Africa. This dates to the 1976 Soweto protests, when students protested the government’s decision to make Afrikaans a compulsory medium of instruction in black schools through the Afrikaans Medium Decree of 1974. The post-apartheid era has seen progressive changes in the use of language in education: the 1996 Constitution and the Language in Education Policy state that every learner has the basic right of education in any of their home languages. Although that may be the case on paper, many black learners have had to attend public schools in which English and Afrikaans are still mediums of instruction.
The introduction of the Basic Education Law Amendment (Bela) Bill could help to make a significant difference. The Bela Bill, signed into law in September 2024, is a modification of the 1996 Schools Act,which granted the school governing bodies the authority to decide a school’s language policy. The Bela Bill’s language policy states that schools are allowed to choose and enable their own languages of instruction, but that the department of education has the final word.
The bill has faced strong opposition, particularly from the Democratic Alliance (DA) party and the Afrikaans community, who believe that the bill poses a threat to the right to education in one’s mother tongue. The Pan South African Language Board, an establishment that focuses on creating conditions that develop the use of the official languages, commends the Bela Bill, viewing it as a “progressive step towards promoting the equitable use of all official languages and elevating the status of previously marginalised languages”.
Khetoa sees the bill’s positive potential. He says it “seeks to promote or redress linguistic inequalities in the country, in that now it would give formerly marginalised languages an opportunity to be advanced to a certain level where students or learners will be able to take up education in their language”.
The Bela Bill is an opportunity to give more learners a chance to connect with their cultural roots as they are given the opportunity to learn in their native languages.
Infographic: Siyanda Mthethwa/Canva.
Staying connected to home languages
“Monareng, Letsoalo la mmatau, tebele la mahasoa, legadima la manyokenyokela go phala le banna go phema. Kgomo motho, mmamafase fofale manonng, Mapokgole tebele.”
These are the clan names that Freddy Letsoalo and his family are greeted with as a sign of honour and respect. “In most cases it is during traditional events, most recently in June during the return of young men from initiation school. Our folk greet each other with each other’s clan names to honour the ancestors who we believe live in us,” Letsoalo says.
Letsoalo is a fourth-year theatre and performance student at the University of the Witwatersrand who grew up in Tzaneen, Limpopo. He grew up speaking Sepedi and Xitsonga and has managed to maintain fluency in his home languages, even using them to write stories and plays.
Letsoalo values the importance that language has for tradition, saying that it’s an important way to learn more about your culture. “For me, personally, it’s from communicating with elders to learn and connect with the culture. Mind you, the mother tongue is in most cases the only language the elders speak, so it is the only medium to connect or learn about the culture. Lesoalo explains the part of his culture he can remain connected to the most through language. “[It is] the ancestral ceremonies where we pay homage to and thanksgiving to our ancestors through what is known as ‘Go Phasa/Ku phahla’. In this process we call the ancestors and the language used in this ritual is the mother tongue. Knowing the language gives a sense of belonging in the practice and I get to participate in the process.”
The future
The future for language and culture in South Africa is not bleak. Although there are numerous young people who can’t speak their mother tongue, there are still millions of young people who take pride in their languages and their culture, particularly in the arts and culture sector. The Bela Bill is a step in the right direction to help to ensure that more young people are able to receive education in their mother tongues.
Although the language issue has embarrassed me personally, I strive to use the pain as motivation. I am now motivated to learn more about my language and culture so I can help to ensure the preservation of my overall culture. A story that once caused me immense shame now empowers me to lead as an example and prove that I can eventually overcome this obstacle as I strive for a better future.
FEATURED IMAGE: An individual struggling to read a book in his home language, IsiZulu. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
It could be said that Play Braamfontein is at the forefront of bringing back the “cool” to the heart of Johannesburg’s inner city, but at what cost?
Braamfontein has always symbolized freedom and creativity. Walking down the streets of Braam one sees the mixture of old buildings and student accommodations, mixed with new and developing entertainment hubs for people to indulge themselves in. Places such as the Playground Market (formerly Neighbourgoods), Mamakashaka (formerly Great Dane) and Kitcheners Carvery Bar have given Braamfontein its social and cultural identity. But as the identity of these places continue to be phased out or replaced, new businesses have arrived and have given Braamfontein a new lease on life. Play Braamfontein is at the heart of the precinct’s maintenance and continued growth, but how much growth is too much growth?
Genesis of Play Braamfontein
Braamfontein’s history dates to the early 1800s when it was still a farm and evolved into being a suburb for middle class Afrikaaners. It became an economically booming area in the 1950s when many businesses relocated to the area. However, in the 1980s there began to be urban decay in the area which caused many of these businesses to relocate to the northern suburbs.
In response to these challenges, the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) created the R13-million Braamfontein Regeneration Programme in 2002 which set out to “renew the area as a centre of business, entertainment and education”. This led to the creation and improvement of public art and safe open spaces. Around the same time, an entrepreneur, Adam Levy, founded a property-developing company that would change the suburb’s landscape forever.
Over the past two decades Play Braamfontein has acquired old buildngs and refurnashed them into attractive spaces where people can enjoy themselves safely in the inner city.
One of the company’s most notable new changes includes the Rooftop Basketball Court, South Africa’s first 3v3 rooftop basketball court. In addition, the reopening of Johannesburg’s first ever City Beach Club helped bring a fresh and unique dynamic to the city of Joburg. These venues add to the influential role Play Braamfontein had already established in the area partly due to The Playground, a lively market and entertainment space which sees people flock from all over the province every weekend.
Siyabonga Mncube, a 21-year-old student at Boston College and a Braamfontein resident believes that Play Braamfontein has “injected Braam Square with life.” He believes that the area has not been the same since the Covid-19 pandemic, and that Play Braamfontein’s rising influence is exciting.
Further, he said that their role is crucial to the local economy as they are creating new jobs, citing the KFC concept store as an example (also known as ‘KFC at Play Braam’). The location of the KFC concept store was once home to Uncle Faozi, a food shop where many partygoers would go after a night out. It brings new elements unprecedented at KFC stores such as fashion collaborations, new menus, virtual technology and LED lighting that make it an enhancing hub.
Intersection of Juta and De Beer Street, Braamfontein of Play Braamfontein spaces. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa
In March, it was announced that the beloved Kitcheners Carvery Bar would be closing. Speaking to Wits Vuvuzela, former owner of Kitcheners, Andrew Clement, said that the century long pub was “at the forefront of the revival of Braamfontein for the past 15 years” and that it had to close “for economic reasons”. Once again, Play Braamfontein stepped in, taking over the bar and announced that Kitcheners would not in fact be closing, but rather “restored and uplifted” by them soon.
The statement promised to breathe new life into the pub which suffered negatively from the pandemic and that it will be known as ‘’The Original’ Kitcheners Carvery Bar ‘once it has reopened. This latest addition in the properties acquired by Play Braamfontein helps boost their aims of creating a vibrant and creative space that helps Braamfontein be a unique social area.
Through the efforts of innovating new and exclusive venues for the area of Braamfontein as well as its role in celebrating music through one of its most popular venues, The Playground, Play Braamfontein has helped make Braamfontein the heart of culture and creativity. But do these attempts count as gentrification and what effects does it have on the community?
Gentrification is defined as the process where homes and businesses in a poor area are renovated by middle class or wealthy people, which results in the rise of property value or the displacement of existing residents.
According to this definition, one can say that Play Braamfontein have indeed gentrified the area of Braamfontein to some extent. They have acquired several buildings and have at least seven spaces listed on their website which are open to bookings. These spaces are mainly on the intersection of Juta and De Beer Street, with Play Braamfontein owning at least seven out of almost 15 different spaces of leisure in this small segment of Braam. Further, rates to rent out Play Braamfontein spaces start at R20 000 and go up to R45 000 before tax.
There are no official records of residents being forced out of buildings due to the acquisitions of Play Braamfontein, but it is an issue that has persisted in the inner city of Johannesburg, particularly in places such as Maboneng and Doornfontein according to a UJ study.
Ruby Delahunt, a Wits Vuvuzela student journalist, states that while she sees the good that Play Braamfontein is doing for the economy, she believes that they are “pushing out the people that are in Braam.”
“I remember going back to the market when it first started three to four years ago and it’s completely different to how it is now”, said Delahunt, stating that places are way more expensive and that they are more focused on nightlife and drinking, lacking in originality.
Play Braamfontein’s spaces continue to coexist, however, with longstanding Braamfontein pubs such as The Banister Hotel, Wing Republic and Drama Club which have been cornerstones in the culture of Braamfontein. Nostalgic partygoers and residents may be at ease that key Braamfontein attractions are still in existence.
Play Braamfontein has without a doubt been essential to the revival of Braamfontein. It has not only transformed the physical space of the area but has redefined means of having fun through the creation of different venues which people can experience in new and creative ways. Although the development of properties can bring positive change to an area, one must account for the possible challenges such as increased property values which may make the area less accessible to the average citizen.
Looking forward, Play Braamfontein has a bright future, and one can say that they are just getting started. The recent acquisition of Kitcheners and their ongoing renovations on their spaces show that the property developing company continue to make this small segment of Braamfontein a revolutionary area that celebrates cultural heritage. As Play Braamfontein continues with their groundbreaking innovation, they must be aware of the challenges it brings and ensure that Braamfontein remains an area where individuals from all walks of life can enjoy themselves.
FEATURED IMAGE: A sign written, “A new era Kitchener’s opening soon.” Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) victories, international trophies and Olympic medals have made being South African a pleasure and tremendous source of pride.
South African pride is soaring, with UFC victories, another Rugby World Cup win and a handful Olympic medals. Dricus Du Plessis’ recent UFC title defense, the Springboks maintaining their world champion status and Tyla’s musical accolades are all examples of how South Africans are making their presence known on the global stage.
On Sunday, August 18, 2024, South African UFC fighter Dricus Du Plessis retained his UFC Middleweight Championship by submitting Israel Adesanaya. Seven months prior to that, Du Plessis became the first South African UFC champion after he defeated Sean Strickland for the championship.
These recent triumphs build on a wave of victories that all started just less than a year ago when the Springboks won back-to-back World Cups by defeating New Zealand in 2023. Euphoria was injected into the air as South Africans celebrated. The victory showcased that despite the challenges we face as a nation, South Africans can achieve on a world stage.
In the same year, the global music stage was set alight by South African popstar Tyla, who released her breakout hit Water. The single gained Tyla worldwide recognition, receiving a Grammy and a BET award in 2024; achievements which are unprecedented for South African performers. Tyla continues to display her South African pride and has made it easy for her fans to relate with and adore her.
These accomplishments, however, are not enough for us to turn a blind eye to the issues that we face as a nation. South Africa continues to experience high levels of crime as well as high unemployment, with there being an average of 45% youth unemployment. South Africa has a rich history of inequality and oppression, and the longstanding effects of these detriments continue to affect the modern lived experience of South Africans.
So, the question is why could anybody be proud of being a South African? Racism has been a longstanding component of the nation and there continues to be unequal distributions of wealth; why on earth would I be proud of being from such a nation? The answer for me is simple – because it’s my nation of birth and I have no choice but to be proud of it.
Despite the issues that the nation faces, South Africa is made of a variety of beautiful cultures and languages that give us our unique identity. Our differences are our strength in many cases.
2024 has been a great indication of the rollercoaster of emotions that South Africans must endure. In the month of May, the National Elections saw South Africans vote for a new government, resulting in a national coalition government for the first time in its history. This, coupled with Bafana Bafana’s third place victory in the AFCON tournament and the South African Olympic team receiving six medals all make up for an eventful year for South Africans.
I am a proud South African and I am a firm believer that our nation has so much potential to fight for. In the face of challenges and obstacles, I am confident that South Africa will find ways to prevail, and I encourage every South African to share the same belief. We, as South Africans, are not allowing the ghosts of our pasts to affect our present but are rather focused on building a better future for South Africa.
FEATURED IMAGE: South African flag reworked into DNA helix. Photo: Reddit/@lwazilwapheshey
A compelling piece that takes the reader into the minds of South African serial killers through narrative psychology.
On Saturday, 17 August 2024, the Wits Origin Centre hosted the launch of a book titled Killer Stories written by psychologist Brin Hodgskiss and Nicole Engelbrecht, which uses the stories of serial killers to explore their psyche.
Hodgskiss interviewed several serial killers to tell their own version of events. He then applied the principles of narrative psychology to help the reader get a glimpse of how the individuals think, using his role as a psychologist to better understand them.
In his conversations with the serial killers, Hodgskiss learnt that the environment played a huge role in the way that these individuals turned out. He also noted that many of them had a misogynist outlook that made it difficult for him to bear and listen to.
While writing, Hodgskiss realized that “the role that was played by the stories I told myself about myself was part of the problem.” He added, “I noticed amongst all the serial murderers I spoke to was the power that their story has.” These stories that serial killers told to themselves about their place in the world “influenced the crimes they committed”.
Hodgskiss was joined by the curator of the Wits Origins Centre Dr Tammy Reynards and Wits academics Beth Amato and Dr Sahba Besharati who formed a panel to discuss crime, trauma, and healing in South Africa.
Speaking to the audience, Hodgskiss explained his journey prior to writing the book, stating that it all started when he was part of a team at Rhodes University that went to Grahamstown to help the police with identifying offenders. This led him to different maximum-security prisons, where he interviewed serial killers.
Nichole Engelbrecht, the host of True Crime South Africa, a victim-focused true crime podcast, invited Hodgskiss a guest on an episode after reading his research on ‘Lessons from serial murder in South Africa’. The two managed to maintain a relationship that resulted in them agreeing to write a book together which was completed in just nine months.
The book comes at a time where South Africa is experiencing a high crime index. According to South African Police Service statistical report for 2023/2024, there were 27, 368 recorded cases of murder, meaning that an average of 75 people were murdered every day in that period. The annual crime stats are due to be released next week, and one can only hope that a less chilling picture awaits.
Nevertheless, this book helps bring to the forefront that the lived experience of serial killers and their understanding of their role in society play a huge role in their destiny.
FEATURED IMAGE: Left to right: Brin Hodgskiss, Sahba Besharati & Beth Amato. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
Customers waited in long queues to experience Shein’s first pop-up store in South Africa.
The Chinese online clothing store, Shein, opened a pop-up store in Mall of Africa, where attendees got to physically engage with the products before buying, for the first time.
But strangely, customers could only feel and try on clothes, purchases still had to be finalised online, not at the store itself. Instead, they had to install the Shein app and scan the QR codes to buy their hauls.
Walking into the store, predominantly pink decor and calming tunes played by the in-store DJ made for a less chaotic experience than going on the app itself, with countless pop-up’s and spinning coming at you.
Apart from clothes, beauty products like make-up and fragrances were also on display and available for testing.
Teacher, Rorisang Jones, commented on the long wait she had to endure, she said, “I actually find it hilarious because you can’t actually buy”.
In a statement, Shein said the aim of the store is to offer an immersive in-store experience, as well as “empowering individuals to embrace their personal style without reservation.”
The opening of the pop-up store comes at a time when Shein has come under fire for exploitative labour practices, environmental harm and tax evasion. Shein, along with rival e-commerce clothing brand Temu, have been accused of exploiting a tax loophole which has enabled them pay 20% import duty as opposed to the 45% tariff that local retailers have to pay.[KK1]
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has put a hold on implementing a tax hike that would be imposed on Shein and Temu, stating that various stakeholders need to be engaged to ensure sector readiness for a tax hike.
Nevertheless, the introduction of the Shein pop-up store indicates that they have a large enough market in South Africa to stay the course when that comes to pass.
FEATURED IMAGE: Shoppers line up at Shein pop-up store. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa
Societal expectations and experiences can often place pressure on people’s relationships. With Valentine’s Day coming up we have asked individuals questions about their views on certain relationship dynamics especially when it comes to the most anticipated day of the year for some lovers, Valentines Day. Viewers shared their beliefs and Siyanda and Katlego talk about […]
