Wits Fine Arts students Camryn Jessie and Abdullah Saloojee presented their collaborative exhibition at The Point of Order.
The theme was inspired by Abdullah’s poem Citrus Soup.
Through installation, painting, and found objects, the duo leaves meaning open, hoping curiosity outweighs fear.
From August 27 to 28, 2026, fourth-year Wits Fine Arts students Camryn Jessie and Abdullah Saloojee presented a collaborative exhibition at The Point of Order in Braamfontein: There’s a Bug in This Citrus Soup.
The theme was inspired by a poem Abdullah wrote and shared with Camryn. It reads in part: “My conscience tends the sacred wound, my soup now cold from the ashes. The citrus leaks through my soul; When the water drys up, where do I go?”
An artwork by Abdullah Saloojee titled: Ant/One is many. Photo by: Naledi Maraisane
After weeks of analysing it, Camryn said she found a deep sense of want and disappointment in the piece, which became the anchor for the exhibition. The citrus, the artists said, speaks to intense tension and a state of limbo. The bug itself is left open to interpretation; it can be an insect, a stomach bug, or a technical bug. Essentially, the bug is meant to symbolise disturbance and discomfort.
That disturbance shows in how differently they work. Camryn’s artworks are installation-based. Her paintings act as a base, then she builds around them with tangible materials that give them life. Abdullah’s work is orientalist, an art form which blends realism and fantasy. Yet their pieces have blended so well that people cannot tell which piece belongs to whom. “Another thing that visually combines our work is our fascination with found objects,” Abdullah said. Those objects have been integrated into several artworks.
Abdullah wants his work to evoke sadness, but as a journey toward rediscovered hope. Camryn, in contrast, hopes her pieces “keep them on the verge, whilst still being curious but weird at the same time,” while evoking disgust and discomfort.
An artwork by Camryn Jessie titled: Early worms get eaten. Photo by: Naledi Maraisane
Both have intentionally stopped doing things the ‘traditional’ way within Johannesburg’s contemporary art landscape: “We disrupt the space in subtle ways by keeping things natural, because you don’t have to do things in a certain way,” they said. Their goal is to get people interested without feeling stupid for not understanding. “The bug is something you don’t fully understand, but it ignites a curiosity,” Abdullah said. “Even though there is something strange and unknown, and that you are a bit scared, we hope that the curiosity outweighs that fear,” Camryn added.
In the end, the metaphorical bug can be feared and embraced. The journey gives space to acknowledge and learn to live with its uncertainties, discomforts, and weirdness.
Camryn Jessie and Abdullah Saloojee posing for a picture in front of their found object titled: The Window. Photo by: Naledi Maraisane
FEATURED IMAGE: An installation by Camryn Jessie titled: Life leaks/life enters. Photo by: Naledi Maraisane
As students trade pen and paper for digital devices, research reveals that screen notes might be hurting memory, focus and learning.
A brain study reveals that handwriting activates deep neutral networks essential for memory and focus.
Typing relies on simple, repetitive key presses that cause students to forget key details.
Picking up a pen this September will help students actively engage with content to improve academic performance.
While many view a handwritten letter as a lost art, science shows that giving up pen and paper comes at a steep cognitive cost. September 1, marks World Letter Writing Day, an annual event meant to encourage people to put down their digital devices and write by hand.
A 2024 brain study from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology proves that handwriting fundamentally changes how the brain learns. Researchers attached 256 sensors to university students to track their brain waves while they wrote with a pen versus typing on a keyboard.
The results showed that writing by hand activated widespread interconnected networks across the brain, particularly in areas responsible for memory formation and encoding new information. Shaping each letter requires careful visual and physical control, movement that stimulates deep brain connectivity and improves memory, spelling accuracy and attention.
By contrast, typing involves simple, repetitive finger presses on identical keys, engaging far fewer brain circuits. Students who type notes process information shallowly and forget key details quickly.
Lerato Seohatse, a senior consultant at the Wits Reading and Writing Centre, explains that writing functions as an active thinking process rather than a mere final product.
“At the Wits Reading and Writing Centre we work with the idea that writing is thinking,” Seohatse said. “Handwriting plays a big role in cleaning out ideas. It slows down the writing process and therefore, the cognitive processes involved in writing”.
Seohatse notes that starting with physical tools allow students to map out concepts freely without the pressure of perfection. “One might start with a mind map, which is so much easier to construct through handwriting. At this stage, the topic is explored freely without pressure. Good writing often starts with a pen on paper,” he added.
On campus, students confirm the visual and mental benefits of sticking to traditional pen and paper.
Keletso Molapo, a first-year BSc electrical engineering student relies on handwriting his school notes to retain information. “When I handwrite, I am able to store information easily. The more I hand write is the more information I am able to obtain,” he said.
Lethabo Mofokeng, a third-year bachelor of arts student double majoring in media and African languages, shares that “I think I performed better academically when I wrote my notes by hand. The main reason is that handwriting made me actively engage with information, I could summarize difficult concepts, underline important words and create my own structure instead of simply typing everything from a lecture or textbook,” Mofokeng said.
While digital devices offer speed, neuroscience and some student experiences suggest that picking up a pen this September might be the best revision tool for Witsies.
FEATURED IMAGE: A visual prompt asking if pen-to-paper writing is now reserved for formal signatures rather than everyday note-taking. Graphic: Rearabilwe Tsebela
The public lecture held in memory of Nokuthula Simelane highlighted how the impact of apartheid era crimes continues to be felt in contemporary times.
Nokuthula Simelane was only 23-years old when she was abducted.
Some say the TRC has failed a lot of victims and their families.
At the same time, Steve Biko’s 1977 Inquest was reopened this week at the Gqeberha High Court.
Imagine your loved one leaving the house under false pretences and never making it home; 49 years later and there is still no clarity on where she was or what happened to her.
On Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Ditsong National Museum of Military History hosted a public lecture titled The Unfinished Business of Justice: Remembrance, Resilience, and the TRC questioning the continued failure to resolve apartheid era cases. The public lecture was given by the museum’s curator for insignia, Tinyeko Ndhlovu, to honour of the life of anti-apartheid student activist Nokuthula Simelane.
Simelane (23), code name ‘Mpho’, was an Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) operative. On September 10, 1983, Simelane met Norman Mkhonza, an ‘askari’ (state spy) linked to the Soweto Intelligence Unit. As a result, Simelane was abducted by the Apartheid Security Branch and brutally tortured for an extensive period and eventually murdered.
A police docket was opened in 1996, followed by a short-lived investigation with no leads. Despite years of legal action and attempts by her family to uncover the truth, no one has been arrested or held accountable. It was only in 2019 that Simelane’s death certificate was issued.
Simelane was a Bachelor of Administration in Social Science, majoring in Public Administration, student at the University of Swaziland (currently University of Eswatini), at the time of her disappearance, and just a month shy of graduating.
Discussing her legacy, Ndhlovu said, “Simelane’s life and disappearance speak to the courage of young women in the liberation struggle, the enduring need for truth about enforced disappearances, and the pursuit of justice for apartheid-era crimes. Her story remains a reminder that South Africa’s freedom was secured through profound personal sacrifice.”
A photo of Tinyeko Ndhlovu speaking at the public lecture. Photo: Sikelelekile Pahlana
A major reflection from the day was the failings of the TRC in providing justice for victims. “The TRC has failed us. A lot of families’ history is suppressed,” said Ndhlovu.
Asked about the significance of younger generations knowing this history, Ndlovhu said “history repeats itself. It is very important for young people to know the history of the country for what it was.”
FEATURED IMAGE: A photo of the public lecture presentation which includes a photo of Nokuthula Simelane. Photo: Sikelelekile Pahlana
While the country nears the end of winter, for some residents, the weather is alreadychanging the way theyoperate.
For ordinary South Africans, the climate crisis is not abstract.
A potentially strong El Niño on the horizon.
Behind climate statistics are people like Phumzile.
As Johannesburg nears the end of winter, the heat is already changing how some people work, study and make a living. For Phumzile Mhlangeni, a street vendor on Jorissen street, hotter days mean fresh produce is spoiling faster, forcing her to throw away stock she can no longer sell.
“I’m slower to stock now because of the heat. The fruits might rot and I fear that”, Mhlangeni said.
Her experience come as scientists monitor a potentially strong El Niño expected later this year, a warning climate change professor Jennifer Fitchett from the University of the Witwatersrand echoes.
El Niño is a natural climate pattern that affects temperatures and rainfall around the world. In South Africa, its effects can vary, but Fitchett expects Johannesburg to experience a hot summer with potentially unpredictable rainfall.
Photo of street vendor, Phumzile Mhlangeni with her limited stock. Photo: Keletso Zwane
For Mhlangeni, the heat is already forcing her to change how she runs her business.
To adapt she now keeps her produce in a fridge at home and has started selling sweets, chips and cigarettes to bring in additional income.
Finding shaded areas to protect herself and her produce poses another challenge. Moving away from her usual spot has made it difficult for her regular customers to find her.
“Business is slower and people won’t go looking for me specifically if they can find someone else selling what I am selling,” she said.
The impact is not limited to people working outdoors.
The effects of rising temperatures are also being noticed by Wits students. Jessica Williams, a final year Bachelors of Social Work student said Johannesburg has felt increasingly warmer despite August being considered a winter month. Travelling between West and East Campus means she spends more time walking in the heat, making access to shade and water important.
Fitchett said climate change is adding another layer to the problem. A warmer baseline increases the risk of heatwaves and heat stress, particularly for people who work outdoors.
However, she cautioned against treating El Niño as a guarantee of extreme weather. South Africa does not experience every El Niño in the same way and seasonal forecasts cannot predict exactly what will happen in every area.
As the country moves towards a hotter summer, the uncertainty leaves businesses and communities preparing for conditions they cannot yet predict.
For Phumzile, the forecast is not simply about what may happen this summer. The effects of hotter weather are already changing how she works, what she sells and how much she earns.
FEATURED IMAGE: Photo of Street Vendor Phumzile Mhlangeni with a customer. Photo: Keletso Zwane
Wits offers support for students with disabilities, but for those whose conditions are not visible, stigma and fear of judgement can make asking for help difficult.
Wits has 1,126 registered students with disabilities receiving support through the Disability Rights Unit.
Wits has identified stigma and disclosure as barriers for students with invisible disabilities.
Students say asking for accommodation can be an emotional and undignified experience.
The Wits Disability Rights Unit (DRU) hosted a seminar on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, to address invisible disabilities and the barriers students face in accessing support. For some students at Wits University, getting support for an invisible disability can mean having to explain something that other people cannot see.
These disabilities such as ADHD, autism, mental health conditions, and chronic illnesses may not be immediately visible. Zamo Mbhele, a psychologist speaking at the DRU seminar, explained that this can make it difficult for students to ask for support, as they often worry about how it will be perceived.
Wits itself has acknowledged that stigma can prevent students from disclosing their conditions. In 2024, the university released an article on disability inclusion, the university noted that for students with invisible disabilities, “fear of stigma often prevents disclosure”. It further noted that students with complex needs require tailored support and coordinated services. For those who disclose their disabilities, the DRU provides support such as academic accommodations, assistive technology, and other forms of learning support. However, students who shared their experiences at the seminar said having support available does not always mean that asking for it is easy.
A student completes a paperwork to register for support services at Wits. Photo: Khutso Ngwatoana
According to the Wits Disability Rights Unit , 1,126 students with disabilities were registered last year. This includes 307 students with neurodevelopmental disabilities, 175 with psychosocial disabilities and 133 with chronic illnesses. Yet these figures only show students who disclosed with the DRU. Many others with invisible disabilities may be struggling in silence, reluctant to register because of stigma.
Wits student Alexandra Makhlouf said the DRU has played an important role for her by creating a social space where she can meet other students with disabilities.
“There is still stigma about disability on campus, and having to meet other disability students on campus has played an important role for me,” Makhlouf said.
Another student at the seminar, who asked not to be named because of the personal nature of their experience, described the emotional difficulty of asking for reasonable academic adjustments such as flexible deadlines, access to quiet spaces, or changes to how they participate in academic activities.
“I find it so undignifying every time I need to ask for understanding and accommodation, and I’m in tears every time at home when I am trying to get accommodation for something and putting together my motivations,” the attendee said.
Mbhele shared that, “Belonging is the experience of entering a space without having to negotiate your legitimacy within it.”
These experiences show that, for students with invisible disabilities, sense of belonging can be difficult when they feel they have to repeatedly explain or prove their needs before receiving support.
Dr Leila Abdool Gafoor, Head of the DRU, said the university must ensure that every person’s voice is heard and create psychological safety so that students do not experience stigma when speaking about their needs.
The issue is not simply whether support exists, but whether students know where to find it, feel safe enough to disclose their needs and can ask for accommodation without feeling judged.
For Wits students with invisible disabilities, inclusion goes beyond physical access. It also means creating an environment where asking for help does not feel like having to prove that you belong. The question now is whether Wits can make its existing support easier to access for students who may already be afraid to disclose their disabilities.
Students, including a student using a wheelchair on Wits Campus. DRU said Wits must support both visible and invisible disabilities. Photo: Khutso Ngwatoana
FEATURE IMAGE: A disability access sign on Wits campus that represent physical disability. Photo: Khutso Ngwatoana
Inside the Dome, African tales are revived and retold anew.
Wits launches its annual Digital Dome Festival to retell African oral stories through Virtual Reality, dome animation and projections.
Fourth-year digital arts and animation students showcased their film projects.
The Dome takes African stories to the world while creating employment opportunities for students.
“You are already in the future. Others will arrive,” said Professor René Smith, Head of the Wits School of Arts, during the opening of the Digital Dome Festival, pointing to the transformative power of immersive media.
Wits University hosted its Digital Dome Festival between August 21 and 22, 2026 in collaboration with the Wits School of Arts (Digital Arts Division), the Naval Hill Planetarium, the University of the Free State, and cultural institutions including Electric South and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).
This year’s theme, Stories Spoken, Stories Seen, was inspired by diverse African oral storytelling traditions passed down through generations. African folktales were retold through immersive digital technologies like dome animations, VR experiences and projections. The theme and festival demonstrate that “Africa can shape the future of immersive media,” said Professor Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research and Innovation at Wits.
Student screenings formed a central part of the programme.
An animated statue of Nelson Mandela from the Wall-E film. Photo by: Naledi Maraisane
The Nanabolele projection stood out. The two-minute film, based on a Sesotho mythological interpretation, follows Princess Thakane, blessed by her grandmother to hunt the Nanabolele — a water-dwelling, dragon-like creature that glows in the dark and travels hidden inside clouds or red smoke. She seeks its glowing hide to make gifts for her brothers returning from initiation.
“We wanted a story that could speak to a large amount of people. We started looking at African mythology and folktales,” said Tlhalefo Boshielo, a fourth-year Digital Arts student in animation and projection mapping. The Nanabolele VR experience placed viewers inside a non-physical world, bringing imagination to life through immersive technology.
On what inspired this year’s theme, Sasha Wessels, Digital Arts lecturer and organiser, said that in high school she was not allowed to learn about African languages or traditions, which felt like a robbery. “I left high school angry. I feel unknowledgeable about the country that I live in.”
Projects can be rented to other global domes for profit, creating employment opportunities for students. For this reason, Wessels does not allow students to use Artificial Intelligence (AI). “The issue with AI is that the moment you implement it, you can’t sell it.” However, she acknowledges AI as a useful tool in an industry long gatekept by the West.
Through immersive technologies, students are archiving, professionalising and making African oral traditions, history and storytelling exportable.
FEATURED IMAGE: Students experiencing VR technology for the first time. Photo by: Naledi Maraisane
South Africa’s growing illicit economy is putting everyday consumers at risk.
South Africa’s illicit economy is estimated to account for 12–15% of Gross Domestic Product.
The Consumer Goods Council South Africa’s #YourChoiceHasPower campaign is urging consumers to make informed choices.
Consumers are caught between affordability, accessibility and safety.
A gun threat against investigative journalist Govan Whittles, dangerous methanol in illegal alcohol and poison sold by street vendors are some of the scenes that stuck out in Someone Always Pays, a documentary series examining South Africa’s billion-rand illicit economy.
The Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) launched its #YourChoiceHasPower campaign alongside the documentary, with the council estimating that illicit trade accounts for between 12% and 15% of South Africa’s GDP.
Photo of panel speakers at the launch of the #YourChoiceHasPower campaign. Photo: Nqobile Mtshali
Illicit trade is usually associated with cigarettes, alcohol and counterfeit clothing, but the problem stretches much further. Food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fuel and chemicals are also sold on the black market, meaning consumers don’t always know whether the products they buy are legitimate or substandard. Chief executive officer of CGCSA, Zinhle Tyikwe said reach of illicit goods is “becoming deeper and scarier.”
Economic pressure and unemployment can make cheaper illicit products attractive, creating a difficult choice between what people can afford and what is legitimate and safe. Tyikwe said, “It’s mainly unaffordability,” that keeps the market alive.
Illicit trade is not confined to poorer communities. Whittles’ team found illicit cigarettes being sold in affluent areas including Rosebank, Parkhurst and Sandton. The investigation also uncovered connections between different illicit industries and organised crime. “It’s all connected. It’s all organised crime,” Whittles said.
That interconnectedness helps explain why the cost of illicit trade extends beyond sales. Dangerous products can have consequences for ordinary people, while legitimate businesses can lose customers. Whittles said, “People pay with their lives,” and those who do not pay with their lives can pay with their livelihoods. His team encountered a shopkeeper who refused to sell illicit tobacco but struggled to attract customers because cheaper alternatives were available elsewhere.
The scale of the illicit economy creates further pressure on law enforcement. Whittles said authorities struggle to intercept and investigate every shipment, while Tyikwe said prosecution remains a problem, arguing that fines imposed on those caught selling illicit products are often insufficient to deter the trade.
The CGCSA says consumers can help disrupt this cycle by buying from legitimate outlets, being cautious when prices seem too good to be true and checking products before purchasing them. Its My CGCSA app allows consumers to scan products and access information about registered brand owners, while suspected illicit goods can be reported through the app.
FEATURED IMAGE: Cigarette’s showcased as examples of illicit goods at the launch of the #YourChoiceHasPower campaign. Photo: Nqobile Mtshali
Every August, South Africa celebrates Women’s Month, but are these celebrations honoring women by creating lasting change?
Young women still face high unemployment rates, which shows the need for action that supports women beyond August.
Events such as Her Africa offer women tangible skills, mentorship and opportunities.
Women’s Month should move past inspirational speeches and towards practical action that creates notable change.
During Women’s Month, events across the country focus on women’s empowerment, wellness, business networking, and women in the arts. But, are these events sustainable beyond Women’s Month? The impact of these annual events deserves closer attention.
According to Statistics South Africa’s (STATS SA) Quarterly Labor Force Survey (QLFS) for the second quarter of 2026 women continue to face higher vulnerability to unemployment and remain concentrated in certain occupations. Young woman between the ages of 15 to 24 account for 38,2% of those unemployed and not currently in education or training (NEET).
Pictured is a graph showing the percentage of 15 – 24-year-old young women classified as NEET IN Q2:2025 and Q2:2026. Graphic: Chrislyn Majiedt
These figures suggest that the events that happen during Women’s Month need to offer practical skills, mentorship and opportunities that could turn inspiration into action past August.
On Friday, August 21, 2026, ALX South Africa (ALX SA), a Pan-African organisation dedicated to helping young people build in-demand digital, creative and entrepreneurial skills, hosted their Her Africa Women’s Month event.
Panellist Nozipho McLean, an actress and producer, spoke about the frustration of attending events and feeling inspired but not getting “the juice” of how to achieve success like the women she admired.
Nozipho McLean speaking at the ALX SA Her Africa event. Photo: Chrislyn Majiedt.
McLean’s ‘Long Story Long’, a podcast and live event series, addresses this by providing practical and implementable steps.
Amina Patterson, venture growth strategist and Wits commerce graduate, challenged the women in the audience to be ‘audacious’ and pursue the big ideas they have, whether it works out or not.
Audience member asking a question at the Her Africa event. Photo: Chrislyn Majiedt.
“Something that inspires me the most is seeing women go out and build their own products, whether it works or not you have done what 90% of the population has not done,” Patterson said.
Aisha Jackson, regional general manager for ALX SA, says the organisation has graduated 350 000 young people in six to seven years, with 20 000 of graduates based in South Africa and 60% being women.
Aisha Jackson, regional general manager of ALX SA, facilitating the Her Africa event. Photo: Chrislyn Majiedt.
“I’m sure that women are walking away with one thing that’s tangible, that they can tangibly change in their lives,” said Jackson.
The contrast between Women’s Month celebrations and the ongoing challenges reflected in the labor statistics highlights the need for events that provide women with useful tools they can use beyond August.
FEATURED IMAGE: A photo of the stage where the panel members of the ALX Her Africa event were seated. Photo: Chrislyn Majiedt
Through drums, song and dance, Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala! filled the inner city with a celebration of art and belonging. During a time marked by xenophobic tension, it was a reminder that community and creativity are powerful forms of resistance.
The theme ARISE centred on birds, with the grey go-away-bird reframed as a call of hope.
More than 350 children and young people collaborated with artists at the Windybrow Arts Centre, designing costumes and choreography.
Coming only weeks after marches demanding the removal of foreign nationals, the parade’s imagery offered a counter-narrative of unity and shared streets.
On August 8, Hillbrow’s streets became a stage for music, dance and joy, as the Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala! parade transformed the inner city. In a neighbourhood too often reduced to headlines of crime and decay, it tells a different story – one of collaboration and creativity, and one that celebrates freedom and belonging.
People took to the streets of Hillbrow in bird costumes. Photo: Hannah Brown
The event is organised by Windybrow Arts Centre alongside Shade, and since its launch in 2017, the festival has been reimagining public space. It is about “giving young people, across binaries, age and places of origin the space to play, to express and to have agency over their voices, their version of the inner city and how this place can be perceived,” states Tamzyn Botha, curator of the parade and director of Shade.
The parade carried a particular weight as South Africa continues to grapple with xenophobic violence. Only a few weeks earlier, Hillbrow had been shaken by the June 30 marches demanding the removal of foreign nationals.
Protests took place across South Africa. Photo: Hannah BrownProtests by the group ‘March and March’ took place on June 30, marking the unofficial ‘deadline’ set for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa. Photos: Hannah Brown
Birds were at the centre of this year’s theme, ARISE. The festival’s mascot was the grey go-away-bird, or lourie, known for its sharp warning call. This was reframed as a call of hope, a reminder that communities can raise their voices in unity against hatred. Within this context, it felt like the festival answered back with colour, laughter and carried an important message: Hillbrow belongs to everyone.
The parade began at the Windybrow Arts Centre, which is a prominent hub of creativity in Johannesburg, before making its way through the streets. Hillbrow came alive with drums, costumes and singing. More than 350 children and young people ‘took flight’ across borders, their feathers fluttering as they danced, signifying freedom of movement and connection across divides.
Artistic expression was central to the parade’s formation. Children and teenagers spent two weeks learning new creative skills and collaborating with artists at the Windybrow Arts Centre to design costumes, choreography and music. As Botha said, “the ripples of this work, of the parade and the relationships made during this process, far outweigh the ‘end result’.” It brings young people together in a city where they are often excluded from decision-making. The creative process shows how, through art and performance, Hillbrow’s story can be shaped by its own residents and connectedness.
Hundreds of young people took to the streets for the seventh annual Hey Hillbrow! Let’s Dlala! parade. Photo: Hannah BrownHillbrow’s streets came alive with music and dancing. Photo: Hannah BrownYoung people dancing to the music during the parade. Photo: Hannah BrownSingers performing at the festival. Photo: Hannah Brown
The annual parade takes place on the eve of Women’s Day, marking 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March, when thousands of women stood against apartheid pass laws. This year’s theme felt especially poignant, as debates about who belongs in South Africa’s cities remain tense.
The contradictions felt impossible to ignore. Only weeks earlier, the same streets had been filled with chants of division.
Just as those women fought against restrictions on movement, the imagery of birds gliding through Hillbrow challenged today’s ‘cages’ of xenophobia. The festival did not erase the xenophobic tensions, but filling Hillbrow’s streets with birdsong, dance and laughter for an afternoon reminded Johannesburg that art can be resistance and hope.
In the years ahead, the organisers hope the parade will continue to offer “a shared sense of possibility through wonder, inside what feels like chaos”, says Botha. They envision it becoming more youth-led, “and this type of framing gives the parade over to those it represents.”
FEATURED IMAGE: People took to the streets of Hillbrow in bird costumes. Photo: Hannah Brown
On International Left Handers Day, students share the everyday struggles of navigating a space built almost entirely for the right-handed majority.
Thursday, August 13, marks International Left Handers Day, an annual event meant to highlight the daily challenges faced by left-handed people living in a space built predominantly for right-handers.
A pie chart graphic illustrating the gap between left-handed and right-handed people. Photo: Rearabilwe Tsebela
Handism is prevalent even though 10% of the global population is left-handed. From lecture halls to basic household items, almost everything is designed for the right-handed majority.
For many lefties, this bias starts at home from a very young age. In many families left-handed children are trained to use their right hand for writing or eating.
Using right-handed tools every day might seem like a small issue to most, but it leads to physical discomfort and a slower working speed.
At Wits University, students share how these design barriers shape their daily lives.
Enhle Luthuli, a fourth-year postgraduate diploma in specialized accounting student, said, “I was never aware that they were actually left-handed scissors, which I acquired once and made my life easier as I could see where I was actually cutting”. Writing also presents physical challenges. “I have become so picky with the type of pens I write with because if the pen is a gel pen, my hand may smudge on what I had just written resulting in my work looking untidy,” she added. In lecture halls Luthuli makes it a point to sit on the far left side to avoid bumping arms with right-handed peers.
Katlego Modiba, a third-year accounting science student, noted that specific everyday objects still create challenging moments. “You feel demoralized when you encounter a situation that forces you to change your hands,” Modiba said. He explained that everyday tasks like using a tin opener or shifting gears while driving can be tricky because as a left-handed driver using their stronger arm can damage the car when too aggressive. In high school, Modiba even had to give up softball because all the available sports gloves were made for right-handed players.
Compounding these struggles is the reality that left-handed items like specialty scissors and sports equipment often cost more than the standard right-handed ones. Because schools and sports teams rarely buy these pricier options, left-handed people often do not know they exist, leaving them with no choice but to adapt or pay the price out of their own pockets.
A graphic defining “handism” as an unintentional design oversight that fails to account for 10% of the population. Photo: Rearabilwe Tsebela
Yet, despite having an official date on the calendar. International Left Handers Day usually passes without most left-handed people knowing it exists, let alone celebrating it.
This raises an important question: is International Left Handers Day really meant for left-handed people or is it a necessary wake up call for a right-hand dominated society? Behind every smudged notebook, awkward seating choice and missed opportunity lies a quiet daily effort to adapt. A little empathy and more inclusive design can ensure that no one feels left out in a world that so easily forgets them.
FEATURED IMAGE:A graphic highlighting the purpose of International Left-Handers Day. Photo: Rearabilwe Tsebela
On August, 8 2026, the Wits Sports Council (WSC) along with the All-Residence Council (ARC) hosted the second David Webster Cup since the competition resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s tournament had a twist, with Wits residences competing in 12 different sporting codes, in the fight for res bragging rights and the David Webster Cup.
Wits Sports Council adopts Amazing Race format for the annual David Webster Cup.
12 Sporting codes were showcased to Wits students.
This new format allowed for more inclusivity within the Wits sporting community.
The 2026 David Webster Cup was held at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Sturrock Park, where a new ‘Amazing Race’ format was introduced. While the tournament would previously consist of three to four sporting codes, this year it adopted an ‘Amazing Race’ style format, where each residence team could participate in 12 different sporting challenges.
Wits Residences at the 2026 David Webster Cup. By Zebrena Ralph
Every residence had the opportunity to complete a challenge at each sporting code station located around Sturrock Park and the Wits Science Stadium. The residence who collected the most points from all these stations, was crowned David Webster Cup winners, with West Campus Village taking this year’s cup.
West Campus Village being crowned the 2026 David Webster Cup Champions. By Zebrena Ralph
The purpose of this format was to show Wits students that there are more sports than just football, rugby and netball. Twelve other sporting codes were put on display at this year’s Webster Cup such as snow skiing, boxing, yachting, fencing, and tai chi. “A bunch of students came and said that they did not even know snow ski existed on campus,” Lethabo Rabothata, Gender Equity and Transformation Officer, told Wits Vuvuzela. “It’s actually fulfilling to see that.”
A member from Men’s Res participating in a volleyball challenge. By Zebrena Ralph
The new competition format also aimed to address gender inequality within sports, which existed at previous David Webster Cups. “The real impact that we saw is the (previous) set up of sporting codes presenting us with gender inequalities. It made more sense to do an Amazing Race where everyone is equal and anyone can participate in anything, as opposed to a netball challenge where Men’s Res does not have a team for,” Mamela Nyandeni, Wits Sports Council Chairperson, told Wits Vuvuzela.
Oratile Lesia, the Sports Officer from the All-Residences Council (ARC), said that the ARC played the role of being the bridge between the Wits residences and Wits Sports. The David Webster Cup aimed to foster greater integration between student residence culture and Wits entities such as Wits Sports. “Showcasing this in the David Webster Cup is like merging the two entities together to become one, and to express ourselves beyond our households,” said Lesia.
By showcasing different sporting codes beyond mainstream sports, Azania Jack, a participant from Men’s Res, expressed how as a basketball player he found water polo the most challenging. “It is such a foreign sport to me,” Jack said. Fulufhelo Nengwekgulu from Noswall Hall Residence said that “Mountain climbing was nice, although it was quite difficult, but I enjoyed it as well”.
A member from David Webster Hall Residence participating in a boxing challenge. By Zebrena Ralph
Although the David Webster Cup was an overall success, the WSC was faced with the challenge of attendance. While 10 residences were set to compete in the tournament, two withdrew on the morning of the event. Nyandeni expressed that despite this challenge, the ‘Amazing Race’ format allowed adjustments to be made to avoid any major setbacks on the day of the tournament.
FEATURED IMAGE: West Campus Village Residence celebrating. By Zebrena Ralph
Hundreds took to the streets, calling for protection of housing rights and an end to rising xenophobia.
Operation Ubuntu marched to the Premier’s Office to oppose the PIE amendment and rising anti-migrant sentiment.
Housing activists and informal settlers argue that the revision to the PIE Act criminalises poverty.
The march’s memorandum calls for greater state accountability in handling anti-migrant hostility.
On the morning of August 8, a coalition of over 60 social justice organisations under the name Operation Ubuntu led a march to the Premier’s Office demanding an end to xenophobia and a rejection of the proposed amendment to the Prevention of Illegal Eviction (PIE) Act.
The march was one of many coordinated protests taking place in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban in response to two issues affecting marginalised communities: ongoing xenophobia and housing insecurity.
Marchers charging through the streets holding banners and placards. Photo: Jamie Ho.
Woman holding a placard condemning xenophobia. Photo: Jamie Ho.
Frustration as protestors march for housing rights and an end to xenophobia. Photo Jamie Ho.
Central to the protest was the recent proposal for an amendment to the PIE Act. Currently, people cannot be evicted from their homes without a court order as the Act operates in accordance with Section 26 of the Constitution, which stipulates that “everyone has the right to access adequate housing”.
Activists fear the proposed amendments would weaken these protections, particularly for people living in informal settlements and other forms of insecure housing. They are particularly concerned that courts could order evictions without requiring municipalities to provide alternative accommodation.
“The municipality cannot have that power of evicting us without meaningfully engaging with us and without even understanding our background,” said Operation Ubuntu coordinator, General Moyo.
Housing activists condemn the proposed revision for failing to address the structural causes of housing insecurity that stem from poverty, entrenched inequality and poor governance. Instead, it places further strain on already vulnerable communities by forcing them out of their homes.
“Critics have long referred to this approach as pounding the tip of the ice-berg or swatting at the flies when a corpse is rotting,” explained Marie Huchzermeyer of Siyafana Sonke, a civic movement aligned with Operation Ubuntu.
Furthermore, the government’s persistent failure to address housing insecurity has left residents with few options. “In 33 years, not one RDP house was built in our community,” said Fagmedah Edeies, who resides in an informal settlement within Eldorado Park. “As a mother, I must remember that I have children and I have grandchildren. Where will they then go if this amendment is passed?”
Data visualisation showing housing backlog. By: Jamie Ho.
Beyond housing insecurity, the march also confronts escalating waves of xenophobia across the nation. “We are in solidarity with all the African brothers and sisters that are facing the crisis,” Moyo affirmed.
In their memorandum, Operation Ubuntu called for greater action from state institutions in handling matters of anti-migrant hostility.
Firstly, it singled out SAPS for not protecting vulnerable migrant communities from vigilantism. “We are calling on the police,” Moyo explained, “to make sure that they abide by their obligation which is to serve and protect without discrimination and without favour.”
Secondly, they highlighted the issue of documentation as a systemic failure by Home Affairs and demanded a two-year moratorium on all arrests and forced repatriations to allow migrants sufficient time to obtain documents.
Thirdly, in light of the upcoming elections, Moyo warned political parties against scapegoating migrants for electoral gain. “We will be watching those that will be campaigning trying to use the platform of hate and violence in communities to get votes.”
Held on the eve of Women’s Day, the march highlighted the broader demand for dignity, security and equal protection. For protestors, xenophobia and housing rights are part of the same struggle: a move to ensure that vulnerable communities, and the women and children within them, are not left without a home or a voice.
A mother holding a placard advocating for women and children safety. Photo: Jamie Ho.
Protestors chanting through the streets against the PIE Act amendment and xenophobic violence. Photo: Jamie Ho.
“Stop treating us like animals” reads sign at protest. Photo: Jamie Ho.
FEATURED IMAGE: A placard advocating for women and children safety during the Operation Ubuntu protest. Photo: Jamie Ho.
Since her announcement as the Democratic Alliance’s mayoral candidate for Johannesburg, Helen Zille has dominated national headlines. In this bonus episode of We Should Be Writing podcast, hosts Lulah Mapiye and Bonolo Mokonoto dissect a media meet-and-greet with the mayoral hopeful. From her extensive political résumé to her controversial public utterance, we examine why the Democratic Alliance has chosen Hellen Zille as their candidate for the 2027 local mayoral elections. Additionally, […]
