The Johannesburg City Library welcomes the public back after a five-year hiatus, following relentless pressure from activist groups.
Iconic Johannesburg City Library reopens, celebrating its 90th anniversary with a major renovation.
This comes after years of public frustration and protests over delayed repairs.
Despite the reopening, the library’s future Saturday hours remain in jeopardy due to ongoing labour disputes.
Despite the chilly morning, a warmth of excitement filled the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) as the iconic Johannesburg City Library (JCL) reopened its doors on Saturday, August 9.
A rush of bodies, from excited children to cheery adults, pushed past the throng of media and officials, eager to once again bask in the smell of old and new books.
Following major renovations by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), five years after its closure, the landmark also celebrated its 90th anniversary on August 6.
The reopening was partially possible due to activist groups like the Johannesburg Crisis Alliance (JCA), and the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation (JHF), who were the loudest voices since the library’s closure in 2020.
“This is a facility that belongs to us. It was only when we shouted that they [CoJ and JDA] started working. So protest matters. Don’t let anyone tell you to shut up!” said Flo Bird, founder of the JHF.
Reopening on Woman’s Day was significant, as the city paid tribute to Anna Hester Smith, the library’s first female librarian from 1960 to 1975.
Officiated by Executive Mayor Cllr Dada Morero, the ceremony was a reminder of the power of community.
Pandemic related lockdowns were not the issue, the real problem arose when the CoJ and JDA found that due to structural issues, the building was non-compliant to fire safety systems, electrical faults, and had water leakages.
But years passed without an update and JHF complained that they seemed not to be in a hurry to do timely renovations.
The JDA’s CEO, Themba Mathibe, said the refurbishment preserved the library’s heritage while integrating modern infrastructure including structural repairs from upgraded electrical and security systems, to refreshed reading rooms and archival storage.
Many were in awe, their eyes and hands scanning the aisles of tall, stacked shelves.
Among them was the Deputy Speaker of the Johannesburg Student Council, Mpilo Kunene, who said, “The library is going to be a place where I can be myself and progress my knowledge as a student.”
He looks forward to the youth loving the space as much as he does, yearning for them to engage with the books they have been denied.
Yunus Chamda, coordinator of the JCA, fondly recalls that , “Having been a high school student in the 70s, this library really was the place, on Saturdays, to come and do school research work.” However, Sicelo Tshisa, manager of the library’s Integrated Library System (ILS), confirmed that the facility will only be open to the public Monday to Friday from August 11.
JHF is pushing for Saturday library hours, but still are corroborating with authorities who blame labour union issues for the delay.
FEATURED IMAGE: The Johannesburg City Library located at the corner of Albertina Sisulu Road and Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Street in Johannesburg’s CBD. Photo: Lukholo Mazibuko
While digital news thrives online, a devoted newspaper vendor from KZN remains a steadfast presence at a Wits bustling intersection, hoping to convince young and old to grab print copies.
In the centre of Johannesburg, at the busy intersection of Yale and Empire Road near Wits University, Phumzile Msani ,stands as a symbol of a bygone era.
Phumzile Msani engaging with a potential client at the intersection of Yale and Empire Road. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
As a devoted newspaper vendor, despite the drastic change in the print media landscape, Msani has continued to sell printed news for more than thirty years.
Hailing from KwaZulu-Natal, Msani stepped out of her comfort zone to seek employment in Johannesburg. Without fully completing her education, she could not secure a formal job, leading her to sell newspapers. The money she earned was sent back home to support her extended family. The 57-year-old and her family still rely on the ever dwindling income from her daily hustle.
From Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm, she sells newspapers on the busy intersection. Her selection includes The Star, The Citizen, Business Day, and Mail and Guardian.
The latest quarterly figures from the Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa (ABC) show a further decline in circulation figures. The Star, which used to be one of Msani’s bestsellers has seen a 35% decrease in circulation in the last year alone, less than 6000 paid copies in circulation weekly.
However, Msani’s commitment goes beyond her sales of newspapers, she is a familiar face and voice to regular passersby, making sure to greet passersby with a welcoming grin and willingness to chat.
Msani said the Covid-19 pandemic severely hurt her sales. Despite more individuals using online news sources, sales have not returned to their pre-lockdown level. She told Wits Vuvuzela, “before Covid-19, I used to sell 90 copies every single day, now I only sell up to nine copies a day.”
Price increases have also played a role in decreased sales. For instance, City Press, which was priced at R20 in December 2019, now stands at R29, while Beeld, which was R12.50, has risen to R18.50. Similarly, Die Burger has seen an increase from R13.60 to R16, and Daily Sun’s price has more than doubled from R4.20 to R8 during the same period.
Msani is a monument to the lasting value of print media in an age when digital news is taking over the world. Her devotion, and steady presence beg the question of whether print and digital journalism can coexist, or will screen convenience eventually make the sound of newspapers rustling obsolete?
FEATURED IMAGE: Selection of newspapers that Phumzile Msani sells. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
Two dedicated Wits Chess Club members have been chosen to compete in world university championships between June 25 and 30, 2024.
At the end of June 2024, unlike most Wits students who will be taking time off to recover from an intense exam period, Amy Wallace and Lovers Mthembu will be in Uganda, representing South Africa at the FISU World University Championships for Mind Sports.
Wallace and Mthembu both made the top ten in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) open tournament and were subsequently placed in the top four of their age groups in the USSA closed tournament. Mthembu placed first in the USSA closed tournament, while Wallace placed fourth, allowing them to qualify for South Africa’s FISU chess team that will compete this year.
Wallace and Mthembu both started playing chess early in life. Mthembu said his brother introduced him to chess in 2016 and instantly became “curious about the game” and “just picked it up quickly”.
Wallace on the other hand, started playing chess in 2011 when her mother, the chess teacher at her primary school, introduced the game to her.
From left to right, Amy Wallace and Lovers Mthembu proudly representing the Wits Chess Club at the Wits Sports Conference Centre at Sturrock Park. Photo: Tristan Monzeglio
Wallace described her style of chess as “attacking” and classified herself as a “very tactical player”. She also cited Hikaru Nakamura as one of the chess players she enjoys watching and studying, because of his unique style of play and his entertaining YouTube videos.
Mthembu said he is “patient, but at the same time… aggressive” when playing chess, and “look[s] up” to chess grandmaster, Fabiano Caruana, because of the similarities in their style of play.
Both Wallace and Mthembu have been a part of the Wits Chess Club since the start of their degrees. Mthembu even said he signed up for the club during orientation week.
Wallace describes the Wits Chess Club as being full of people and teammates who are always willing to offer “emotional support”.
When asked what advice he would give students interested in improving their chess skills, Mthembu suggested that they adopt a balanced approach. He said that although he now prefers “studying chess more than playing chess”, one must do both.
Mthembu said that as “you play more tournaments… you can be exposed to a lot of different styles” and use this experience to adapt your game.
Wallace echoed this by highlighting the importance of putting whatever you learn into practice, by “playing online constantly” as well as joining the Wits Chess Club, which runs a “training programme”.
Mthembu stressed that the chess community has never made him feel “excluded”. Wallace agreed that the chess community is generally “accepting”, as “they don’t care about where you come from, your background, or anything like that”.
However, she stressed that “as a female there are some stigmas”, like a many male players who “think that it’s easier for females to get places”, because of certain lowered standards and “rating criteria for tournaments”.
However, she said gendered stigmas remain. Firstly, rating criterion is lowered for women, which leads male players to think “that it is easier for females to get places,” Wallace said.
Secondly, most tournaments have a “best girl prize”, something which others participants and brings their merit into question. Wallace said, women “just want to play, and if we get a prize, we get a prize”.
Wits’ Office of Student Success (OSS) equips health science students with valuable lessons to survive the harsh reality of the healthcare industry.
The department of health sciences at Wits hosted a panel discussion on their premises in Parktown on July 20, 2023, to conscientize students on the issues that exist in the medical field — while empowering them with knowledge to help them thrive in the profession.
One of the organizers, Rachel Dzenga, explained that they aimed for the discussions to provide “emotional, academic, and therapeutic aid to students,” and to prepare them for the “transition from student to professional.”
A second-year dentistry student, Ayanda Ndaba, said she holds a degree in nursing and is “open to learning new skills,” however, she added that she could not find a position in nursing as there were no places hiring despite being “promised” by the program that she would easily find work after completing her community service hours.
Dr. Bongiwe Nhlangulela and Lucy Pearl Khofi speaking to students about their relevant fields and how to survive the healthcare industry. Photo: Georgia Cartwright
To counter the same thing from happening, Ndaba said she learnt to “chase every opportunity available.”
Lucy Pearl Khofi, an award-winning women’s health activist, encouraged students to “always be hungry and go beyond what is asked of [them].” Fraser further explained that the best way to make it in the industry is to “be open to any opportunity” as there is a greater need now than ever before for health care professionals.
The discussion also touched on the debates about the National Health Insurance (NHI) which was passed in parliament on June 12, 2023. The NHI aims to create universal healthcare for all South Africans by bringing in a state-run medical aid, which will provide equal access to quality healthcare. However, it has not yet passed through legislation.
Facilitator of the discussion, Dr. Simon Fraser said the NHI is a “polarizing issue,” that could “overhaul the healthcare system”. Fraser adds that the NHI, if done correctly, could “provide plenty more healthcare positions,” as more qualified professionals will be needed to make up for the shortfall found in many public hospitals.
Dzenga says that the OSS will be hosting more exciting conversations and events to further prepare students for the working world.
FEATURED IMAGE: Dr. Simon Fraser, Dr. Johann Lamprecht, Lucy Pearl Khofi, and Dr. Bongiwe Nhlangulela giving advice to students at the Philip v Tobias building in Parktown. Photo: Georgia Cartwright
The scrapping of the majority of covid-19 regulations on campus have seen Wits University looking like its pre-pandemic self. Libraries are full, the Matrix is a hive of activity and the library lawn is the enclave of activations, naps and conversation.
Parking has once again become a struggle with most parking lots at full capacity. Photo: Elishevah BomeLines that bend and stretch around store corners are once again a lunchtime norm. Photo: Elishevah BomeLines to Vida e Caffe have also doubled in size this semester. Photo: Elishevah BomeThe steps of South West Engineering building serve as a place for rest during breaks. Photo: Elishevah BomeBethia Milner and Daniel Frankel enjoying lunch on East Campus. Photo: Elishevah BomeTo some, covid-19 is seemingly a thing of the past. No masks and no social distancing in congested areas on campus. Photo: Elishevah BomeThe Library Lawns regain their former glory as a place to bask in the sun. Photo: Elishevah BomeWits staffers have been working throughout the pandemic, keeping the university in tip top shape. Photo: Elishevah BomePedestrians crossing Amic Deck to move from different parts of Main Campus. Photo: Elishevah Bome
The Wits Choir hosted a mini concert on the Great Hall steps on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, injecting some culture into passersby.
Photo: Elishevah Bome
Students studying, eating and playing games with their friends on the Library Lawns.
Photo: Elishevah Bome
FEATURED IMAGE: Wits Campus is buzzing again Photo: ElishevahBome
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, […]
