Reporter exposes 30 years of child abuse by pastor
Pastor claims to help those in need but actually takes advantage of them.
Solidarity with journalists under fire
PRESS POWER: Human rights ‘defender’ and journalist Rafael Marques de Morais received a standing ovation for his address at Power Reporting’s third Carlos Cardoso memorial lecture. Photo: Zelmarie Goosen
Standing in solidarity with imprisoned Ethiopian journalists, Rafael Marques de Morais received a standing ovation from fellow journalists and other guests, at the Carlos Cardoso memorial lecture held this evening at Wits University.
Human rights activist and journalist, de Morais delivered the address for Power Reporting’s third Carlos Cardoso memorial lecture. He stressed the importance of investigative journalism in advancing democracy and defending the freedom of expression in the face of opposition and fear incited by government authorities.
Driven by “national and civic conscience”, de Morais says he is proud of his work in defending the rights of fellow Angolan citizens through the exposure of conflict diamonds and corruption. “Journalists should defend constitutional rights”, he said to a packed auditorium.
SOLIDARITY BROTHERS: Human rights ‘defender’ and journalist Rafael Marques de Morais received a standing ovation for his moving address at Power Reporting’s third Carlos Cardoso memorial lecture. Photo: Zelmarie Goosen
De Morais criticized the Ethiopian government as an enemy to journalism for arresting and imprisoning journalists. “Journalists and human rights campaigners must be embarrassed for doing little to support our peers in Ethiopia.”
He also called for a campaign to move the African Union, currently based in Ethiopia, to a country that respects human rights.
Although the challenges of investigative journalists have not changed since de Morais started practicing, he says the Internet has proven to be an advantage in publishing content and reaching wider audiences. De Morais has started his own watchdog website Maka Angola which exposes corruption through his investigations.
De Morais told Wits Vuvuzela that as the values in society have deteriorated, so has the quality of investigative journalism. He says investigative journalists can combat opposition if they realise “government officials are men and women like us”. He says we can limit their abuse of power because “the power comes from the people”.
De Morais said he corresponded with but never met Carlos Cardoso, in whose name the lecture was given. Cardoso, a journalist and a Witsie, was murdered in Maputo in 2000 while working on a investigation into fraud at a major bank.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Wits Vuvuzela. ‘No story is worth a life’. November 4, 2014.
- Wits Vuvuzela. Data dominates investigative journalism gathering. November 4, 2014.
- Wits Vuvuzela. African data team a first for power reporting. October 30, 2013
Wits young leaders on the rise
BRIGHT STAR: Arthur Motolla from AIESEC Wits with the Rising Star trophy. Photo: Lameez Omarjee
A global student leadership organisation has recognised its Wits chapter through an award that also acknowledges the work of its members.
AIESEC Wits (an acronym in French for the International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences) received the Rising Star Award during the June leadership summit (JLS) held at Port Elizabeth’s Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMU).
The award recognised the efforts of Witsies from the society were involved in travel and leadership conferences, during the winter break, which allowed the chapter to fulfill the required number of exchanges and projects within a twelve month period.
AIESEC brings together student leaders from across the world towards the betterment of society as a whole.
Leadership summit
Ten students from Wits attended the five-day JLS which brought together chapters from a number of different universities.
The summit focused on the relevance of African talent and explored leadership in South Africa within AIESEC, according to Onthatile Nataboge, 4th year BEd and president of AIESEC Wits.
Arthur Motolla, 1st year BA student, attended the JLS for the first time. He said speakers stressed the importance of embracing Africa’s mosaic of cultures instead of striving for a unique African identity.
“Opportunity lies with the disadvantaged. That is where opportunities lie for entrepreneurs. That is where you can expect the most amount of growth,” he said as he reflected on the things he learned at the summit.
“I am still overwhelmed by JLS,” exclaimed Duduetsang Mmeti, 2nd year LLB. She explained that students were encouraged to contribute African solutions to African problems.
RELATED ARTICLES:
- Wits Vuvuzela. Students make impact abroad. May 9, 2014.
- Wits Vuvuzela. Alternative graduate employment opportunities. July 19, 2013.
- Wits Vuvuzela. Pack your bags and get an education. June 27, 2013.
About WCJ
We Should Be Writing podcast
- BONUS: What do Witsies have to say about the ongoing #WitsShutdown?Today we’re taking a look at the #WitsShutdown protests which are over historical debt and unaffordable accommodation, which have seen several students suspended, physical clashes between protestors and security and disruptions to the academic programme for many. In this bonus episode of We Should Be Writing, we let students unpack their views on what has […]