Rising meat prices in June 2025 are pushing up food inflation and increasing living costs, adding strain to Wits students’ budgets.
South Africa’s annual inflation rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 3% in June 2025.
Food inflation for meat and vegetables is driving the rise with increasing beef prices up by over 21.2% year-on-year.
Wits students say rising prices are forcing them to change what and where they eat.
Students at Wits University are feeling the impact of rising food prices, with many reporting that they have had to skip meals, switch to cheaper meat options, and avoid campus shops. The price hikes are placing added pressure on already stretched student budgets, forcing some to reduce how often they buy groceries.
Although inflation remains at the lower end of the South African Reserve Bank’s 3% to 6% target range, the latest consumer price index (CPI) data confirms what students have already been experiencing: rising food prices, especially for meat and vegetables, are putting pressure on their budgets. In June 2025, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) recorded a 3.0% year-on-year CPI increase, up from 2.8% in May, with food inflation leading the surge.
Zuko Bangela, a Master of Finance student, said meat has become unaffordable. “Beef used to be my go-to, but now I buy pork and chicken instead. The braai plate I used to get in Braamfontein has gone up twice this year,” he said. “What used to be a weekly treat, I now only have twice a month.”
Food inflation reached 5.1% in June 2025, its highest level in 15 months. Stats SA reports that stewing beef prices alone rose by more than 21% compared to last year, the highest since 2017. Vegetables like beetroot, lettuce, and carrots also saw big price jumps, while cereals and dairy provided some relief.
For Khutso Mahlaela, a third-year law student, the cost of groceries has changed how he shops. “I used to buy meat from Pick n Pay, but now I go to Roots Butchery for better prices. Some items like mince and sausage are just not worth it anymore. Wits needs cheaper options on campus. OK Express is too expensive, and the prices are unreasonable,” he said.
Economists say this trend puts the most pressure on poor households and students.
“Students spend a bigger share of their income on food. When meat and vegetables become more expensive, it hits them the hardest,” said Dr Kenneth Creamer, an economics lecturer at Wits University.
We’ve had outbreaks in South Africa that impact beef prices. Good farming conditions and proper infrastructure can help keep food prices low.”
For now, students say they are adjusting and hoping things get better soon. “We’re always budgeting,” said Bangela. “But it’s getting harder to stretch the same amount of money.”
The new initiative faces resource constraints, relying on donations to keep students fed.
Sizanani aims to feed non-funded students, as well as those in catered and hardship accommodations who can’t afford to book meals at the dining hall.
Each programme serves roughly 130 to 170 attendees, according to the project’s register.
But to operate weekly for a full year, the project would need an estimated R156,000.
Hunger is a silent crisis on campus. For many, lunchtime is a time of uncertainty, not a meal. While some can afford takeout meals at the Matrix or catering at dining halls, others wonder where their next meal will come from.
In May 2025, a Wits Vuvuzela student journalist reported that Sizanani Legacy Project launched their first weekend meal programme at Wits Citizenship and Community Outreach’s (WCCO) kitchen.
Sizanani aims to feed students on weekends who live in catered and hardship accommodation and can’t afford to book meals or aren’t funded. Filling a much needed gap.
The WCCO already provides limited daily food parcels, food banks, and maintains gardens, but it is not enough.
Two months later, four more weekends were hosted, including its most recent on Saturday, July 26, serving sandwiches and Sunday, July 27, serving bread and soup.
According to the register, each program serves roughly 130 to 170 attendees.
Each weekend, Sizanani spends up toR1500 on ingredients and cleaning supplies like hairnets, gloves, and aprons.
Wits Vuvuzela asked Sizanani’s internal affairs manager, Tshwarelo Mafuyeka if they could afford to host on a more regular basis.
“We honestly don’t have enough funds to operate to the extent that we would like,” said Mafuyeka.
He expressed the desire to cook everyweekend, but as an independent student-led initiative, resources are tight.
It would cost R156,000 to cover weekend operations – Saturdays and Sundays, every week – for a full year, Mafuyeka estimates.
However, the project remains optimistic due to additional support.
Campus Housing & Residence Life (CHRL) facilitated communication from several off-campus residences to Sizanani.
This brought South Point, Respublica (Yale Village), Focus 1, AFCHO, Dunwell, and Life Student Apartments on board as donors.
“Notably, Respublica gave the project 1500 noodle packs,” praised Mafuyeka.
The director of CHRL was not available for comment in time for publication, however, Mafuyeka reinforced that CHRL also assisted with “transportation or goodies for events.”
Sizanani also looked at other ventures for help. A Noodle Drive, as one of their initiatives, prompted Wits residents to donate noodles from March till July. Barnato Hall, Girton Hall and Reith Hall were the three top contributors, collectively donating over 200 packets.
Evidently, Sizanani wants Witsies to feed their minds with knowledge without going hungry in the process. Sign up for weekend drives open every Thursday.
FEATURED IMAGE: Volunteers dishing out cooked food into the lunchboxes of attendees at WCCO’s kitchen. Photo: Lukholo Mazibuko
A 12-year-old who never let go of her dream and is now a household name.
After two decades of chasing news, Chriselda Lewis is back in the classroom, now chasing assignment deadlines. Wits University was always her dream institution, but her parents could not afford to pay for the fees, so now she is paying her own way.
Born and bred in Mthata, Eastern Cape, where opportunities are scarce, Lewis was fortunate that her primary school came to her rescue.
“I was told that I was a shy kid; however, at the age of 12 years old there was a television scout that came to my school. My teacher selected me to become a children’s show presenter on Transkei Broadcasting Corporation.”
The moment she stood in front of the camera, she knew exactly what she wanted to be: “I liked the lights, I liked the camera, and I thought this is exactly what I’m going to become.”
Chriselda at the Drum Room, Wits Department. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Lewis completed her undergraduate studies in 2002 at Border Technikon, now known as Walter Sisulu University. After completing her studies, she began her career as an intern at The Sowetan in 2003.
“Working at The Sowetan was very challenging, as it was where I applied everything I had learned in tertiary education. It was also exciting because I had the opportunity to work with veteran journalists who had worked during the apartheid era, such as John Dludlu,” she said.
‘While I may not remember the first story I worked on at The Sowetan, I do remember cracking my first big story in 2004. One of them was the kidnapping and murder of university student Leigh Matthews,” she says.
As her career progressed from The Sowetan, she went on to work at the South African Press Association, followed by Talk Radio 702, then the SABC, where she made her first television appearance on SABC Africa.
In 2023, Lewis won the Journalist of the Year award in the Television: In-Depth/ Features/ Interviews category. Other career highlights include her coverage of the fall of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, the Oscar Pistorius trial and reporting on the earthquake in Türkiye-Syria.
Lewis always wanted to return to school, but never got the opportunity because her work life is demanding:
“As I speak to you, I’m in Bloemfontein to cover the memorial service of the police officers whose bodies were found in the Hennops River. Due to workload and insane working hours, I just never thought I’d find the opportunity to go back to school”.
Lewis says despite having 22 years of experience in her field, it doesn’t hurt to equip herself with better skills so that one day she can be a leader in the newsroom, and to do so, she must equip herself with the necessary qualifications.
But being back in the classroom hasn’t been easy. “If you give me a report I can do it for you, if you want me on TV, I can do it. I’ve moved into a different terrain doing academic writings which is a scary process,” she says.
When asked to share wisdom for aspiring journalists, Chriselda says, “This is not child’s play! Journalism is hard work; it is long hours. You are not going to survive if you don’t love this job. You have to love what you do!”
FEATURED IMAGE: Chriselda Lewis standing outside of the Wits Centre for Journalism. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Legendary storytelling through soothing melodies, a journey you don’t want to miss
If you’re an old soul like me, you will appreciate Ringo Madlingozi’s new album, Ikhwelo, a musical feast for the ears, with rich instrumentals and soulful vocals that speak directly to the heart.
I must admit, it took some time to get used to the new style. Some tracks feel a bit too different from Ringo’s original sounds.
The very first song, uQamata is quite peculiar, with beats and underpinning riffs. Ringo shows off his vocals with a subtle vibrato pitch, adding warmth and expressiveness. I listened to more and appreciated the nuances.
For every song the instruments are given so much room to shine, creating a soundscape that’s both soothing and thought-provoking.
The song Hello Bhabha starts with a catchy whistle (ikhwelo) and follows to a chorus “Hello baby, hello dali, hello lovey, hello sthandwa sam, kudala ndilindile” that adds a touch of charm. I was taken aback and reminded of his earlier hit, Into Yam featuring Oliver Mtukudzi,which explores the perks of a sweet, innocent relationship.
Although this new album is more laid back and mature, we still find elements of melodies, instruments that shine with delicate guitar work, subtle percussion that adds depth to music and breath-taking harmonies in the background.
You might expect a more upbeat and energetic sound, however with Ikhwelo, settle in and indulge into a more mellow vibe, the perfect antidote to a busy world.
Vuvu rating 8/10
FEATURED IMAGE: Ringo Madlingozi’s new album cover image. Photo: Ringo Madlingozi’s Instagram
When power stops fearing protest, silence wins. This is a wake-up call on how South Africa’s loudest weapon is being disarmed.
Democratic South Africa was born through struggle. Its foundations were laid not in conference rooms, but in the streets carved out by those who refused to be silent. From the 1976 protest against the government’s policy of using Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools for Black students to the 1994 apartheid conquerors who got the first taste of freedom, the story of this nation has always been written in protest.
We protested against apartheid. We protested against economic exclusion. We protested for transformation in our schools and our institutions. In each case, protest was the only language those in power could not ignore.
We are a people who know those in power only listen when they are threatened, often violently. And it has been the history of our country’s leaders who respond not to the polite murmur of petitions but to the thunder of marching feet and tires burning.
But what happens when even that language starts to lose its meaning?
Protests have become more frequent and more urgent, yet they are ignored. Communities rise to demand water, electricity, housing and dignity, and yet these demands are met with the same routine: a visit from officials, a statement to the media, and a fake promise of “investigations”. Then, silence.
These issues persist, the cycle continues, and people begin to feel that speaking out changes nothing.
We can all remember the protest of 1976 when young people confronted the might of the apartheid state with nothing but conviction and clarity. They stood together because they believed in the power of their collective voice.
More recently, #FeesMustFall reminded us that protesting could still unsettle the powerful, but even then, the demand for free, decolonised education was diluted, redirected, and largely ignored.
I think the problem today is that the protest itself is being neutralised. Institutions have learnt to co-opt movements, to divide people, and offer symbolic gestures while preserving the status quo by either suspending, expelling or even criminalising protest action. A meeting here and there, tools to manage dissent without ever dealing with the problem.
Along with the above, the rise of individualism has made people easier to divide. In the age of likes, followers, and branded activism, the collective power that once drove our revolutions is fast fading.
We are now in a period where movements become moments and action becomes content. And real transformation is replaced by representation without change.
Institutions, both political and academic, have learnt to exploit this. They divide and conquer, selecting a few voices to ‘engage’, elevating individuals while ignoring the masses. In doing so, they extinguish the flame of the collective, turning urgent demands into manageable noise.
This is how protest dies, not with suppression, but with performance. Not with silence, but with strategic listening.
The tragedy is that we are living in a time when protest is needed more than ever. Economic inequality continues unabated. Corruption is a daily headline. Basic services have collapsed in many communities. And yet, when people rise, their voices bounce off a system trained to survive outrage.
We must remember that protest is not a problem. It is a pulse. It tells us when a democracy is in distress. To dismiss or defang a protest is to allow injustice to deepen in silence.
The choice is simple: either we rebuild the collective strength that once brought down giants, or we continue to shout into the wind while power pretends to listen.
University students in South Africa, like their counterparts globally, experience substantial mental health issues characterised by high levels of psychological distress and limited access to professional help.
A nurse allegedly dismissed a student experiencing depression, advising that more sleep would resolve her condition.
A student having an anxiety attack was allegedly scolded by a nurse while seeking help.
The Centre scheduled additional sessions for the student to resolve the matter, but she never showed up.
The student raised serious concerns about the quality of mental health support provided by Wits Campus Health and Wellness Centre.
“Sister Simangele Sitoe told me I was lazy and dismissed me with sleeping pills and antidepressants,” the student said.
Only after filing a complaint with a former intern named Karabo Molefe, was psychiatric assistance made available.
However, the issue continued in 2025. During an anxiety attack, the student returned to the Centre, only to be scolded by another nurse, Sister Ntombi Dantjie. “She shouted that she’s been a psychiatric nurse longer than I’ve been alive and that I was wasting her time”, the student alleged.
Wits’ Campus Health And Wellness Centre – Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Wits Vuvuzela reached out to both psychiatric nurses. Dantjie was unavailable for comment.
However, Sitoe denied the allegations, “I only interacted with the student once, after the first session, she decided that she does not want to interact with me ever again. After we referred her to another doctor here at the centre, the student would not avail herself and she did not come to collect her medication.”
In response, former intern, Molefe said, “The student came to me and complained about Sister Sitoe. I proceeded to book her multiple times to get assistance and sort out her issues with the nurse, but she never came.”
The head of department is currently not in the country to comment, standing in for him Mr. Brian Jele, the Primary Health Care Nurse at the Centre said: “There is a suggestion box available to all our patients here at the Centre, if any student has an issue, they have a right to voice out their matters, write everything down and put it in a box and everything will be investigated”.
Mr. Jele added, “When Mr. Ntshabele returns on Monday, I will report the matter to him and proper investigation will be conducted from there.”
FEATURED IMAGE: The Campus Health and Wellness Centre’s working hours. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana agrees to a court order to suspend his decision to increase VAT and this means economic relief to many
VAT increase suspension leave students with a sense of relief
Increased VAT rate was met with resistance from various political parties
Reversal comes with a R75 billion shortfall for the government revenue
Wits University students expressed relief as Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, announced reversal of the 0.5% VAT increase on April 23, 2025 after the DA challenged the legality of the parliamentary process that passed the increase.
The initial proposal to increase the VAT rate by 0.5 percentage points was met with resistance from various political parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
For many South Africans, the suspension has provided much-needed relief, including Wits students. As consumers, particularly from lower-income households, funded by bursaries, the VAT increase would have been a big blow.
Shaunice van Wyk, 3rd year student said: “The VAT increase would have forced me to stop buying the basic products that I am used to buying, so the suspension comes with a relief”.
Another third-year student, Patience Msiza, echoed similar sentiments, “As a student I am already struggling to make ends meet, so the increase of VAT rate was going to make things even worse.”
Although the suspension comes with relief, it will result in a R75 billion shortfall in government revenue, prompting the National Treasury to revisit its budget.
Professor Imraan Valodia, an economist at University of Witwatersrand, who previously written in support of the VAT increase, expressed concerns about the long-term implications.
“We’ll have to see what comes in the revised budget, but I think government will have to cut expenditure, which means we’ve missed the opportunity to address the social and economic infrastructure backlogs, which are important for shifting the economy onto a growth trajectory to address unemployment and growing levels of poverty.”
FEATURED IMAGE: Black wallet Photo: Abena Mahlahlane
Institutions of higher learning collect millions in non-refundable application fees while thousands of hopefuls are rejected.
As South Africa’s university application season gets underway, the issue of application fees rears its head again, as many wonder why some institutions of higher learning continue to profit while access remains deeply unequal.
Every year, thousands of hopeful students submit university applications, dreaming of a better future. For many, higher education is a way out of generational poverty, a shot at stability, or simply the next step in their growth. But beyond the administrative process of applications lies an overlooked yet significant source of revenue for institutions: non-refundable application fees.
Take the University of the Witwatersrand as a case study. According to Wits news, the university received around 85 000 undergraduate applications for the 2025 academic year. Yet, only about 6 000 first-year students could be registered. This means the vast majority of applicants paid the fees and were ultimately not admitted.
The undergraduate application fee at Wits is R100 for South African citizens and a steep R700 for international students. Postgraduate applicants are charged R200 per application. Multiply those numbers across tens of thousands of applicants, and the revenue becomes significant, even before a single student sets foot on campus.
Wits is not the only institution profiting from this model. The University of Pretoria (UP) and Sefako Makgatho University (SMU) each charge R300 – a hefty amount for many South African families.
This issue has also sparked national debate and caught the attention of Parliament, according to IOL. In a media statement, the Portfolio Committee on higher Education said the practice of collecting fees regardless of whether a student is admitted is concerning.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Public Servants Association (PSA) has called for the “abolishment of unjustifiable application fees.” The PSA argued that these fees result in universities making massive profits even when applications are rejected. “One university reportedly received over 600 000 applications, with applicants each paying a R200 application fee. The university made an enormous profit of R150 million to just reject applications,” a PSA statement said.
From the institutions’ viewpoint, the financial strain they face is real. Universities like Wits carry the weight of providing world-class education in an economy where many students can’t afford to pay tuition. Some students register with fee waivers, which is a progressive move, and many owe thousands in unpaid fees. Yet, the university must continue operating – paying staff, maintaining facilities, and ensuring academic quality.
Speaking to IOL, Wits University’s spokesperson, Shirona Patel, said the university employs hundreds of assistants, senior students, and part-time staff to support the application, administration, and orientation processes at the start of the academic year. Additionally, the university highlighted the ongoing costs of maintaining online platforms and associated technology.
Still, one can’t help but ask: If a large institution like the University of Johannesburg (UJ) can process thousands of applications without charging a cent when one is applying online, why can’t those who charge application fees follow suit?
According to UJ news, the university received more than 760 000 applications (study choices) from 400 000 applicants. UJ said in a Facebook post, almost 99% of these applications were made online, meaning they were processed without an application fee.
This raises the question: Is the application fee truly an administrative necessity?
In a country where education is supposed to be a pathway out of poverty, monetising the application process, especially when rejection is more likely than acceptance, begs for critical reflection.
FEATURED IMAGE: A list of South African universities without application fees. Photo: Nthabiseng Baloyi
In a country where government controlled electricity supply is often unreliable, Asiphe Nhleko’s water-powered generator offers a sustainable alternative.
Wits student invents a water-powered generator.
Nhleko is supported by Wits to continue breaking barriers and being a champion for innovation.
The generator could power mines, households and businesses.
Asiphe Nhleko is a second-year Mining Engineering student at Wits University. She came up with Hydrogen, which is a water-powered generator. It is registered under her company, Innovation for a Sustainable Future.
The idea for the generator came to Nhleko when her mother got sick and needed support at home. At the time, electricity was one of their biggest costs.
“What makes our generator unique is that it only requires a small amount of water to start, and once it begins, it continues generating power without stopping,” said Nhleko
Nhleko needed to ensure that the generator could operate for a long period of time, as she stays far from home. When she goes home, she can refill the generator, and the process continues.
Nhleko is unable to share more operational details regarding the project. She is currently in the process of registering for Intellectual Property (IP), ensuring that her work is legally recognised and safeguarded.
While the idea came to Nhleko easily, building the prototype was not in her skill set. So she consulted her friend Musa Molefe, who has no tertiary education background. “He is so talented in terms of his technical skills,” said Nhleko. “I know that whatever that I say he can make it, with his hands,” said Nhleko.
After telling her mentor, Isaiah Chiraira (25), studying a Master’s in Electrical Engineering at Wits, about the project, he encouraged her to proceed. He helped to do the electronics and 3D modelling of the generator and helped in securing funding.
“Everyone at the engineering school has been incredibly supportive. They believe in the idea, some have even helped by conducting research for me. I had the innovation, the concept, but not all the solid research to back it up,” said Asiphe.
Asiphe believes her project has the potential to assist with the energy crisis in South Africa. She mentions that the project is beneficial, as it can power basic household items. Her main goal is to target the mining industry. “It’s millions that are spent per day on electricity in the mine[s], to power machines and just to power the mining plant[s],” Nhleko said.
Asiphe Nhleko is ambitious, with a clear vision for herself and her project. She says, “In the next five years, I see myself as a successful entrepreneur… I believe that us as young minds have all the solutions to the world’s problems.”
FEATURED IMAGE: A profile photo of Asiphe Nhleko: Supplied/Luphumlo Golela
Wits postgraduate students tackle a conversation on black masculinities in South Africa, examining the impact of apartheid, absent fathers, and social pressures.
Book club dives into Dr. Malose Langa’s, “Becoming Men: Black Masculinities in a South African Township.”
Langa examines the lives of 32 young boys living in Alexandra, over 12 years.
Panellists highlight the performative nature of both masculinity and femininity, signifying the need to create ‘safe spaces’ for positive self-expression.
For their first pick, the Division of Student Affairs’ Postgraduate Book Club, discussed Senior Psychology Professor, Dr. Malose Langa’s book, ‘Becoming Men: Black Masculinities in a South African Township.’
Langa’s work looks at a study done, from 2007 to 2018, on 32 boys from the Alexandra township. In chapter one of his book, ‘What makes a man a man’, Langa starts with the grim environment, “The place is overcrowded and underserviced, and poverty, violence, and crime are rife.”
Through his study, Langa examines how masculinities were understood and formed over time, and the roles these developments played in negative masculine outcomes, such as abuse against women and other men, alcoholism, gangsterism, and more.
“If crime is being committed by young males, then it means that young males are who we need to focus on, and that’s how the journey started,” said Langa on the night.
Through stories like that of Hilton, a young boy who struggled with his sexuality, Themba, a teen father who fought for a relationship with his daughter, and Simon, the youngest son of four who tried his hardest to reject the norms that took boys down dangerous paths, we learnt about how masculinities in a township are a performance.
In the chapter titled ‘Backdrop to Alex – South African Townships and stories in context’, Langa explained that through a community’s fight against the Apartheid regime “various other forms of violence also increased in townships, including violent crimes …[the] rise of the ‘jackrolling’ phenomenon, whereby gang members committed violent crimes that included harassing, kidnapping and raping young women.”
Iracelma Adriano, a BSc Honours student in Geography at Wits and panellist at the book club, said, “There was a time in the book where the boys actually had to take photos with their disposable cameras and then they had one-on-one interviews with prof and they showed parts of their daily life, what was important to them, and afterwards there was a focus group and now they had this pressure of other men around them, and what they shared was different, and this to me just solidified the idea that masculinity and femininity are things that we perform, they are not inherent or fixed constructs.”
Reading these stories and appreciating the personal journeys of these boys exhibits how masculinities are shaped by historical forces and the subsequent social expectations that arose. Langa’s study reflects a key idea within feminist thought – that gender identities are not predetermined but constructs of society, politics, and history.
To dive deeper, specifically for the context of this book, one must look at the intersectionality discussed by the feminist movement, which recognises that identities are also shaped by one’s experiences and influences. Absent fathers and the vacuum mothers fill was one of the issues discussed. While mothers were credited with helping boys understand their emotions, the flip side was that this was trumped by the societal expectations to be more masculine, ‘Jaro-boys’, who were sexually successful with girls, defining them as men.
Langa’s book ends with a call for the urgency to create ‘safe spaces’ for ‘listening, hearing, and action’, calling for proactive educational measures, encouraging conversations around masculinity, and support for mothers as role models for emotionally healthy sons.
To end the book club’s discussion, the professor emphasised that the “responsibility is on all of us, what is it that you are doing in your private space?”
FEATURED IMAGE: Dr. Malose Langa’s book, “Becoming Men: Black Masculinities in a South African Township.” Photo: Ekta Seebran
A student was fatally shot during a protest at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha campus.
The tragedy unfolding at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) is more than just a case of a violent protest. It is a symptom of a long-standing problem of neglect, unfulfilled commitments, disregarded voices, and the worsening conditions many students endure while pursuing their education.
A protest about poor living conditions at a student residence quickly spiralled into chaos, as three students were shot (one killed and three who sustained minor injuries). A 54-year-old suspect has since been arrested, it is alleged that he was a residence manager at the university. Initially, the institution then rushed to control the narrative, focusing on whether the deceased was a registered student and highlighting that the protest turned violent and broke residence rules.
But we ask a much deeper question: would students have taken to the streets, would tempers have flared, would any lives have been put at risk if student accommodation were safe and truly dignified?
Across many universities in South Africa, student accommodation is in crisis. Insufficient space, maintenance issues, unsafe buildings, and lack of proper oversight have become commonplace. Many students, particularly those from working-class backgrounds, leave home with big dreams only to arrive at residences in horrendous conditions or no accommodation at all.
So, when these students sleep in unsafe, unhealthy, dilapidated buildings that go years without maintenance, is it actually a surprise that frustration boils over?
If a protest can escalate into gunfire, regardless of who pulled the trigger, then there is a visible failure in how institutions protect both students and staff. A campus should be a space of learning, safety and open dialogue.
Violence does not just happen, it grows where people are unheard, unseen and uncared for. If the conditions in the residences were decent, and students had a safe place to sleep, perhaps there would have been no protest and certainly no bloodshed.
Higher institutions must come to a realisation that these student accommodations are not just buildings, beds and bathrooms. It is about whether students feel safe, respected and valued in the place they call home for years of their academic lives.
FEATURED IMAGE: Abena Mahlahlane. Photo: File/Paul Botes
The multi-award-winning artist continues to prove that he has mastered the art of capturing his listeners’ emotions with his sound.
Since debuting in 2018 with his album “USHUN WENKABI”, Big Zulu’s versatility has made him one of the most complete creators in South Africa’s music industry – and his latest offering is one worth listening to.
Big Zulu’s fifth studio album, ICALA LE MPUMELELO dropped on April 11, 2025, featuring several artists including Shwi Mntombazane, Nkosazana Daughter, Zakwe, Siya Ntuli, Zeh McGeba, Zee Nxumalo, Aymos, Maseven, Emtee, Toss, Sir Trill, Xowla and Zakwe – on songs ranging from hip hop to afro pop.
Big Zulu’s music is the kind that one effortlessly falls in love with. After listening to the album only once, I was captured and able to pick the tracks that stand out the most.
Unlike some artists who make music based on trends, Big Zulu invests in making music that has a message, resulting in longevity of his work because what he sings about is relatable.
In the album’s opening track titled “ICALA LE MPUMELELO” the artist tells a story that many in South Africa relate to – raised by a caring grandmother who worked as a maid to provide food on the table, taught him survival skills, then succeeding against all odds.
“MTHULISE”, “MINA NGEDWA” and “MBALI YAMI” demonstrate the artist’s consistent devotion to love songs. Track 2, MTHULISE, stands out as an emotional and sad song. The artist sings about the challenge of being in a relationship with someone who is an orphan because when they cry, you also cry.
Big Zulu takes listeners on an emotional rollercoaster – from sadness to feeling like turning up in a club with friends vibing to “iNkululeko”, a rap track featuring Toss & Sir.
In a song already released in March, “ABAZAZI BAFUNANI” featuring Emtee, Big Zulu appears to have turned their rivalry into a beautiful collaboration.
This is certainly an album worth listening to.
Vuvu Rating 7/10
FEATURED IMAGE: Big Zulu’s album cover. Photo: Big Zulu‘s Instagram
Johannesburg's underground punk rock scene has always been about more than simply music. From the beginning, it's been a site of rebellion against injustice and a community for those who dare to go against the norm. In this episode of We Should Be Writing, Mbali Khumalo takes you into this world, with guests from the […]
