As Told To: “I have carried the pain of others on my shoulders, but the stories remain, attached to my soul”

by | May 15, 2020 | As Told To

Freelance facilitator and chaplain Philip Allan Stoneman (47) is a man with a rich history of experience and accolades to his name. He is the founder of Trauma Support South Africa and is a qualified facilitator and assessor who does freelance training and awareness presentations for Creative Foundations Training, ImpiMed Medical Services and Tensho Security.

Stoneman was also the founding director of the iThemba Rape and Trauma Support Centre – a position he held for seven years. Prior to that, he was involved with the Emergency Services Chaplaincy on the East Rand between 2000 and 2005. 

He has served as a trainer for the South African Institute for Traumatic Stress (SAITS) from 2008 to 2011 and has facilitated several workshops for the Gauteng Department of Health and Department of Community Safety. Stoneman joined the South African Police Service (SAPS) as a reservist in 2006 to better understand the effects of trauma on officers and workers.

In May 2015, he was called as a stated supply minister to the Dalpark Presbyterian Community Church where he ministered until July 2019. He is an ordained pastor and falls under the authority of the Order for Christian Service and Order for Christian Mission. Stoneman currently ministers as a community chaplain in the Fairleads Benoni Agricultural Holdings as a volunteer.

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As Told To: Tough times for independent media in South Africa

by | May 11, 2020 | As Told To

Sipho Kings (33), is a news editor at the Mail & Guardian (M&G), and  has worked at M&G for nearly a decade. 

Kings began his journalism career  as an intern, then spent a large part of his time as an investigative environment reporter. After spending a year doing a Nieman Fellowship, he became a news editor  for M&G. 

Following the announcement that Associated Media Publishing would cease operations from  May 1, the repercussions of the coronavirus outbreak and lockdown are beginning to be evident and real for independent media in the country. 

Kings speaks about how the outbreak has affected independent media,  M&G’s efforts to counterbalance the adversity that they face and reminds us of the importance of good quality media.  (more…)