2024 in-depth reporting project

30 Years of Democracy

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In 2024, South Africa marked 30 years as a democratic and free country. For all the strides made in three decades, there are many more devastating pitfalls. Wits Vuvuzela’s team of student journalists spent eight weeks exploring what 30 years of democracy have meant for Johannesburg and its residents.

The 2024 In-depth Reporting Project was produced by the class of 2024 under the mentorship of Dr Collen Chambwera, Thalia Holmes and Mamaponya Motsai.

A portrait of Hillbrow: 30 years of decay and spirit

by Kabir Jugram

Hillbrow has gained a reputation over the years for its diversity, violence and decay. But although its streets lie in disarray, some residents have created sanctuaries from the dysfunction. 

I sit quietly in the passenger seat of the Uber. We pass a cement monolith along the steep hill; its walls charred to coal. The midday sun hesitantly peeks beyond the hollow sockets where windows should be, vaguely outlining scattered rubble in the meek light. A bright pink top drifts across my eyeline as I peer into the darkness. Glancing up, I see a line of clothes dangling over the edge of a third-floor windowsill with an array of blankets draped across the bare building – weary eyelids over an emaciated face.

Read the full story here. 

Social mobility is not a walkable journey

by Thato Gololo

Education breeds success, but for some Born Frees to grasp their promised freedom, parents have to make the difficult decision of placing them in schools outside the township – with or without the government’s help in getting them there.

 

Read the full story here. 

 

The plate divide: Food inequality in Joburg

As a city that contains such a wide array of lifestyles, from the moneyed elite to people just scraping by, our culture reflects a swathe of differences, all with their own traditions, values and tastes. Nowhere is this more evident than in our food.

Perhaps this is why Jo’burg was voted the second-best city in the world for food in May 2024. There is a wealth of restaurants in Jo’burg that display the city’s diversity with their creative and delectable cuisine.

Read the full story here.

Lost in translation: Navigating language and identity in a changing South Africa

by Siyanda Mthethwa

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…

Read the full story here.

Meet the storytellers

Kabir Jugram

Kabir Jugram

Thato Gololo

Thato Gololo

Ruby Delahunt

Ruby Delahunt

Siyanda Mthethwa

Siyanda Mthethwa

Reflections on the project

This project has altered my being. While once a paternalistic, naïve and fearful child, I leave this project (and degree) as an empathetic, conscious and powerful young man. While once I drifted through life with a vague idea of a journalistic future, I now see myself as a storyteller who is detached enough from others' trauma to be an outlet but compassionate enough to understand it

Kabir

I did what I could with what I had. A skill I learnt throughout this year. My motto is now“If the thing needs to be done, by x date, it will be done.” This relieves me for next year. I feel nervous now, but I know when I have to, I will deliver.

Thato

Unfortunately for my ego, but fortunately for the integrity of my in-depth feature, I learnt that the point is that I do not need to know the intricacies of these things or to be an expert. My only duty is to do the experts justice via my writing, and to listen closely and correctly to those who share their experiences with me.

Ruby

The in-depth project was more than just an academic project for me, but it was also a way for me to find closure in something that I had been struggling with my entire life.

Siyanda

Cry Theatre: Johannesburg’s theatres, from apartheid to democracy

by Ofentse Tladi

Journey through the heartbeat of Johannesburg’s theatre scene, as we trace its transformation from a tool of resistance under apartheid’s harsh censorship to a thriving space for diverse voices and stories in South Africa’s democracy.

The lights dimmed as two figures stood centre stage, gazing over at the crowd. A single spotlight cast long shadows and, for a moment, there was silence. Then, slowly, the haunting notes of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika rose, not from a choir, but from the audience itself. It was a song that once whispered defiance in theatres, now sung freely in places providing a platform for stories of pain and success.

I was a part of that audience, sitting in the intimate space of Soweto Theatre, where the walls felt close and the stage small. We had just finished watching Woza Albert! and the air felt thick with unspoken words.

Read the full story here.

Orange Farm: A manifestation of apartheid’s spatial planning

by Salim Nkosi

Three decades of democracy have not alleviated the struggles of South Africa’s townships – the majority of them remain as dormitories of cheap labor.

How would you describe the significance of 30 years under democratic governance in South Africa? “Honestly, I think the situation just got worse than before,” says Daphne Malakwane, an elderly resident from a township south of Johannesburg.

Read the full story here. 

From shadows to success : Johannesburg's townships are defying economic barriers

by Lona Sokanyile

Thirty years since the dawn of democracy, inequality still lingers beneath Johannesburg’s surface, with township residents often marginalised from the city’s wealth. Despite systemic barriers, individuals in these communities are carving their own paths to a better life.

In Johannesburg, the city of gold, the promise of economic prosperity has long been out of reach for many people. Thirty years into democracy, inequality still lingers beneath the surface, with township residents often on the margins of the city’s wealth. 

Read the full story here.

Mental healthcare in erratic eGoli

by Tristan Monzeglio

As an overwrought Johannesburg continues to address rampant apartheid hang-ups, the responsibility of ensuring citizens’ equitable access to mental healthcare often falls on under-resourced, overburdened, yet empathetic providers struggling to meet demand.

If you’re looking for mental health support in Johannesburg, where exactly should you turn? Should you ask people you know for help – and would they judge if you did? Should you head to the nearest clinic, unsure if they’d assist with an invisible problem? What if you can’t afford help or medication? What if you’d rather look up alternative options online? How would you know the right service to select when seemingly infinite options appear in a Google search for “psychologist Johannesburg”?

Read the full story here.

Meet the storytellers

Ofentse Tladi

Ofentse Tladi

Salim Nkosi

Salim Nkosi

Lona Sokanyile

Lona Sokanyile

Tristan Monzeglio

Tristan Monzeglio

Reflections on the project

The numbers revealed a really interesting narrative, it showed the significant investment in theatre and the amount of people that actually appreciate it. While statistics can’t capture the full essence of public sentiment, they offer a tangible approximation of the truth.

Ofentse

From someone who has zero experience of working professionally, I got to understand the amount of pressure journalists are placed under out there, we are expected to do a tremendous amount of work with societies that do not believe in the impact of journalism on their lives.

Salim

Their stories were filled with hope, sacrifice, and a fierce determination to succeed. Through them, I saw what makes Johannesburg unique, a place where people chase their dreams against all odds.

Lona

Whilst I would label myself a caring individual, I realised that no level of empathy could prepare me to assist with those at the end of their tether, or strive to provide sufficient care in an unjust world.

Tristan

Songs of change: The impact of democracy on music copyright law

by Katlego Mtshali

Exploring the evolution of South Africa’s music copyright laws reveals significant shifts in creative rights for artists, particularly during the transition from apartheid to democracy.

The development of music copyright throughout South Africa’s democratic transition in the 1990s demonstrated how musicians battled for recognition and rights in the face of institutionalised persecution.

The Separate Amenities Act of 1953 posed a significant obstacle for renowned saxophonist Winston “Mankunku” Ngozi during South Africa’s apartheid era. Because of legislation that forbade mixed-race concerts, Ngozi had to perform with white musicians behind a curtain…

Read the full story here.

The collapse of Johannesburg’s service delivery

by Rivaldo Jantjies

Nearly 30 years into democracy, the city of gold’s residents face the harsh reality of a broken service delivery system.

Imagine living in a city that was once hailed as the economic titan of Africa but is now subject to the daily indignity of deteriorating infrastructure. Even after 30 years of democratic governance, persistent power cuts, erratic water supplies, roads riddled with potholes, and uncollected garbage have become unfortunate realities for many Johannesburg residents. The aspirational goals of equality, liberty and socioeconomic progress appear increasingly unattainable to some people.

For individuals like Maureen Ncube, this is the hard truth. “We are struggling, we do not have electricity,” Ncube says. “We are stranded in the informal settlements.” In Kanana Extension Four – an informal settlement located northeast of central Johannesburg in Rabie Ridge – Ncube, a mother of eight…

Read the full story here.

Touring the city: Then vs now

by Victoria Hill

The face of tourism has undergone a makeover since the dawn of democracy some 30 years ago, but whether it is a big enough change remains to be seen.

Stepping off a monstrously sized and noisy aeroplane at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, warm air blows into your face. Your eyes squint while trying to adjust to the blinding sunlight. There is an immediate atmosphere of hustle and bustle, and you can hear several different languages being spoken around you.

Touring the city, you make your first stop at the Johannesburg Zoo for a glimpse of the Big Five up close and personal. A stroll around the Botanical Gardens leaves you parched, so you find yourself on Vilakazi Street for some authentic South African food and beverages. Feeling adventurous, you abseil down the Soweto Towers and ride a bicycle through the Johannesburg central business district and its arty Maboneng Precinct.

Read the full story here. 

South Africa’s football development slowed down by own goals

by Kamogelo Kungwane

From the highs of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations at the FNB stadium to the lows of a false celebration in Nelspruit in 2012 when Pitso Mosimane’s team thought they had qualified for the finals after misreading the rules, South Africa’s football development has experienced mixed fortunes since 1994. 

The year is 1996. The FNB Stadium is filled to the brim with a crowd of screaming fans, all different races and genders, but all adorned in South Africa’s bright green and yellow. Banners fly and the stadium shakes with the sheer force of the home crowd. Bafana Bafana have just become the champions of Africa. Football has done the impossible and brought a troubled nation together. 

Read the full story here.

Broken promises behind anti-immigrant sentiments

by Sanele Sithetho

Thirty years after the dawn of democracy, Johannesburg remains a city of profound contradictions. 

In 1994, South Africa stood at the threshold of an era that promised equality, freedom and unity under the banner of democracy. The country’s first democratic elections saw the formal dismantling of apartheid – a system of institutionalised racial segregation that had oppressed millions of people for nearly half a century. The world watched in awe as Nelson Mandela cast his vote in South Africa’s first democratic elections, a momentous symbol of the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy.

Johannesburg, a city of gold and dreams, was at the heart of this new South Africa. It was a city meant to reflect the promise of equality, opportunity and freedom for all, including those people who sought refuge in its streets. But 30 years later, Johannesburg tells a more complex story. 

Read the full story here. 

Meet the storytellers

Katlego Mtshali

Katlego Mtshali

Rivaldo Jantjies

Rivaldo Jantjies

Victoria Hill

Victoria Hill

Kamogelo Kungwane

Kamogelo Kungwane

Sanele Sithetho

Sanele Sithetho

Reflections on the project

Before this project, I had never imagined myself hosting a podcast. The idea of speaking on a public platform felt intimidating. However, once we began, I realised that podcasts offer a relaxed, conversational medium that allows both the host and guest to be authentic.

Katlego

I learned from this experience that journalism is about people and their lived reality, not just my inquiries.

Rivaldo

It is surreal that this goal of being a journalist has been reached and is now my reality. I finally feel deserving enough to call myself a journalist.

Victoria

... I knew I needed to pivot. That is one skill that this course, and this project have taught me—the necessity of flexibility.

Kamogelo

This tension taught me an important lesson about empathy in journalism—not just for the people with whom one might instinctively side, but also for those whose anger, though painful to hear, is rooted in genuine hardship and fear.

Sanele

Click here to see the 2023 In-depth Reporting Project: The City: Joburg