For just R65 a pop, readers came from far and wide to stock their bookshelves. This year, Fourways Mall in Johannesburg was the host of the annual book bonanza.
All books on sale are priced at R65.
National and international book lovers make their way to the sale.
With just over 24 hours left, Exclusive will put a full stop on its annual warehouse sale. Starting on July 24, 2025, the nine-day sale was
established to both decrease excess stock and financial barriers to accessing literature in South Africa.
Exclusive Book’s customers looking for books during the sale. Photo: Sechaba Molete
Initially, books went for just R35 and were sold out of a warehouse in Kramerville. Now, malls have become the sale’s newest hosts and prices have been bumped up to R65 a book. Despite this increase, customers still feel they are getting a bargain, as average book prices in-store range between R400 and R800.
“I love reading and I just love the escapism of it. Unfortunately, as a student, it’s not very affordable to buy books every single month. So, this is really nice! To be able to get five books for the price of one,” said final year BCom management student from Varsity College, Tatenda Mudzwana.
Fourways Mall’s crowded centre court reflected Mudzwana’s sentiment.
“There are actually people who come from as far as Limpopo and even ones who cross the border from Zimbabwe, Malawi and Kenya,” said Exclusive Book’s manager, Mapula Mlikhwa.
Fourway’s Mall patron looking at the warehouse sale. Photo: Sechaba Molete
Despite the attention the sale has garnered thus far, some customers do not think that Exclusive Books can be credited with equaling the playing field for literature lovers in South Africa’s unequal economy.
A customer who refused to be named believes that the sale being in Fourway’s is an inherently exclusionary decision.
“Not everyone can get here. A guy from Thembisa can’t easily get here. A barrier to access still exists because of its location. The concept is good, but if you really want to reach people who can’t buy a book for R650, you also need to get to where those people are situated,” he explained.
Exclusive Book’s prepared paper crates for the customers who could afford to fill them. Tomorrow morning will be the last day the trestle tables will be restocked, a window sales manager, Mlikhwa suggested is best for the final shop.
FEATURED IMAGE: Exclusive Book’s customers looking for books during the sale. Photo: Sechaba Molete
As South Africa’s graduate unemployment climbs, students and experts question whether education is still the bridge to a better future.
Graduate unemployment rose from 8.7% to 11.7% in the first quarter of 2025.
Students from top universities say passion-led study choices often clash with harsh job market realities.
Experts warn of rigid hiring practices and a lack of state-driven job creation.
Picture this – you’re sitting in a lecture hall waiting for your final class of the year to begin. The lights cast uneven shadows on tired faces, some bored, others gripping pens a little too tightly. Your thoughts drift to unanswered job applications, the ones you stayed up late to finish, the ones that vanished into inboxes with no reply. As you walk out and pass the campus library for what might be the last time, the weight of uncertainty settles in. Soon, this place won’t be part of your daily life anymore, and then what? It’s not just you. Across the country, graduates and students alike are facing the sharp edge of South Africa’s job crisis.
A Degree, But No Guarantee
The latest data from Statistics South Africa shows graduate unemployment has climbed from 8,7% to 11,7% in just three months. For those with only a matric or less, the odds are worse. These are the everyday struggles of young people who hoped education would be the bridge to a better life. Their ability to find work is not just about personal success, it also shapes whether the country sees a return on its investment in higher education. When graduates work, they don’t just earn a living, they help fuel the economy and expand what the state can provide. Right now, many are left standing at the edge of that promise, unsure of what comes next.
Holding a tertiary qualification amplifies the chances of finding work in Africa’s most industrialised economy, but even that is starting to slip. According to the World Bank, South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, with joblessness hovering at 33%, second only to Eswatini.
Wits University’s Great Hall stands as a symbol of academic excellence in Johannesburg, but for many graduates, the path beyond its steps remains uncertain. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
Education vs Reality
Wits University sits in the heart of Johannesburg, a city often described as the engine of the country’s economy. Matshinye France Richia, a final-year postgraduate LLB student, walks those campus corridors with a quiet mix of confidence and caution. “I was honestly naive to the employability of the career I was choosing,” he says. Like many others, he chased a dream, to become a lawyer, without fully grasping the realities of the field. He believes that being at a top university and maintaining a strong academic record could give him an edge, but he admits the legal profession is crowded. Still, switching courses was never an option. “All I told myself is that I would do things differently so as to stand out.”
In Bloemfontein, the country’s judicial capital, known as the city of roses, for the blooms that line its streets, Juanique Botha is nearing the end of her social work studies at the University of the Free State. She walks the campus knowing she’s close to the finish line, but unsure of what lies beyond it. Like Matshinye, she followed her passion without thinking too deeply about what came after. “I knew social work was in demand back then,” she says. “But later I discovered that social workers don’t get paid a lot and work is scarce.” Her worry runs deeper than the paycheck, it’s the silence that follows graduation, the long wait for calls that never come. “Most graduates need connections to get a job,” she says, a quiet truth many young people know too well. Still, she’s not ready to turn away. For Botha, social work is not just a degree, it’s a calling. “It’s not for the money, but for the services you provide,” she says, holding onto the reason she started, even as the job market grows colder.
In the heart of the Cape Winelands, where vineyards stretch toward the mountains, Ave Konkwane is completing a master’s degree in general Linguistics at Stellenbosch University, one of South Africa’s top institutions, Ave had high hopes when he enrolled. “I thought as soon as I finish my degree, I will be very much employable,” he says. Now, close to the end, he finds himself staring into a narrow job market where most options seem limited to academia. “It seems as though there are no jobs that specifically require a Linguistics degree,” he explains, unless one becomes a lecturer or researcher. He once considered switching to law, but age, money, and practicality kept him on the current path. Despite his fears of joining the growing list of unemployed graduates, he holds on to hope. “If not employment, then I’ll equip myself with the skills to start a business,” he says.
Former UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng engages Wits students in a guest lecture. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
At the University of Cape Town, recently ranked 180th in the world by Times Higher Education, Dr Emma Whitelaw is one of the researchers working to unpack the deeper story behind South Africa’s graduate unemployment crisis. As a Carnegie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU), she studies inequality in post-school education, and what it really means to be a graduate in today’s economy. According to Whitelaw, graduate unemployment must be seen in the context of the broader labour market. “Graduates still face the same adverse conditions as other workers,” she says, “but degree holders continue to have the lowest unemployment rates when compared to other education levels.” The recent uptick in graduate unemployment, may simply reflect the seasonal influx of new graduates into the labour force each year, rather than a structural shift. There are still concerns. “It could signal that there are too many graduates with qualifications in specialisations that are not in demand,” Whitelaw notes.
She also points to a shift in who is graduating. As more students from disadvantaged backgrounds earn degrees, they may not have the same access to job-seeking networks or support. “Previously, graduates were more likely to come from families where those networks could help them find work,” she explains. Now, despite equal qualifications, some graduates, particularly black women, are more likely to remain unemployed. “From the data we have, it’s not yet clear whether this is due to labour market discrimination or the kinds of qualifications and institutions different groups are sorting into,” Whitelaw says.
Global Perspective on a Shrinking South African Job Market
Now based in the sunbaked heat of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a Middle Eastern powerhouse ranked 19th globally in GDP with an economy exceeding $1 trillion, Dr Martyn Davies watches South Africa’s graduate job crisis from afar with a mix of concern and frustration. A former senior partner at Deloitte, Davies now serves as Vice President of the City Excellence Division and Head of the Retail and Citizen Engagement sectors at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. Speaking from his new home, Davies doesn’t mince words. “In a slow, no-growth economy, opportunities are not being created,” he says. “And that’s largely as a result of a lack of government initiative.” Without a proactive state creating an enabling environment for job growth, he warns, everyone pays the price, from high school dropouts to university graduates. “No good news here,” he adds. Even graduates who make careful, pragmatic choices face a rigid and limiting employment system, according to Davies. “South African HR departments are very, very narrow-minded,” he says. “They see your potential only through what you studied, not who you are or what you can become.” In his view, this culture stifles mobility and creativity. A journalism graduate, for example, is only seen as a journalist, not as someone with transferable skills, multilingual ability, or a strong work ethic. “They ignore all of that,” he says. “They don’t see the person, only the piece of paper.”
Degree of Uncertainty
Even students like Katleho Senyane, an honours Chemical Engineering student at Wits with a job lined up through a bursary, admit the system is fragile. “It’s no secret that the graduate unemployment numbers are scary,” he says, pointing out that even doctors and engineers aren’t spared. He believes the public sector could unlock mass employment, if the government steps up. As graduates flood a shrinking job market, one question remains: will the system catch up, or keep leaving even the best-prepared behind?
FEATURED IMAGE: Wits students sit attentively during a lecture, holding onto hope that their education will still open doors in a tough job market. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
The gathering served as both a sombre memorial and a rallying cry, amplifying demands for stronger protections for women.
Wits University held a candlelight vigil for Olorato Mongale on May 29, 2025.
Speakers called for action against gender-based violence.
A national study shows that 1 in 3 women in South Africa have experienced physical or sexual violence.
Students, staff, and community members stood shoulder to shoulder, their candles casting a glow over the Great Hall Piazza in remembrance of a slain student.
The Wits Students’ Representative Council held a candle lighting ceremony on May 29, 2025 to honour Olorato Mongale, a Master of Arts in ICT Policy and Regulation student, whose body was found in Lombardy East after she went missing following a first date on Sunday.
Students gather in solemn silence, candles in hand, during a nighttime vigil at Wits University. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
The event brought together the university community to demand justice and action against gender-based violence, following reports that Mongale was brutally killed within two hours of leaving on a date. Speakers included student leaders, Dean of Student Affairs Jerome September, and Dr. Lucienne Abrahams, director of the LINK Centre at Wits University, who condemned the ongoing violence faced by women and demanded urgent action from university management and government.
“It is a very somber moment, as we come together to celebrate Olorato’s life but also speak out against GBV,” said September. Abrahams echoed the urgency, saying the frequency of such violence reflects a deep and systemic failure that requires immediate attention. She added, “There are many takeaways, and those takeaways are going to unravel themselves over time.”
According to Wits student Amu Botes, who attended the vigil, the tragedy highlights the limits of vigilance by. “Even today, my mom called me and said, ‘Please be safe.’ But the truth is, we try — we cover up, we stay sober, we stay on campus or at home — and still, it’s not enough,” she said. “We face harassment daily, and no one cares until we’re raped, killed, or turned into a headline. This is a call for men to hold themselves accountable and for the justice system to act.”
Wits SRC President addresses students during a solemn candlelight vigil held on campus. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
Mongale’s death is not an isolated incident — it is part of a much deeper crisis facing women in South Africa. A pivotal study released in November 2024 by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) offers an unwavering look at the scale of gender-based violence in the country. The First South African National Gender-Based Violence Study reveals that 35.5% of women aged 18 and older — about 7.8 million — have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, while more than 1.5 million faced such violence in just the past year. The report underscores how GBV continues to devastate individuals and communities, with its impact felt in homes, on campuses, and across society.
SABC reports that Philangenkosi Makhanya, the prime suspect in Mongale’s murder, was killed in a confrontation with police in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban, on Friday morning. Two additional suspects have since been arrested in connection with the case.
FEATURED IMAGE: With candles in hand, attendees listen intently to the speaker during a moving candlelight vigil at Wits University. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies.
Timothy Omotoso’s departure after a controversial acquittal highlights deep concerns about justice and accountability in South Africa.
The deportation of the televangelist Timothy Omotoso on May 18, 2025, marks yet another worrying pattern in South Africa’s criminal justice system: powerful people slipping away before full accountability is achieved.
Omotoso and his co-accused were acquitted on 32 charges of rape and human trafficking on 2 April 2025. However, instead of facing continued public scrutiny, Omotoso accepted voluntary deportation to Nigeria, just one day before the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed its intention to appeal the ruling on May 19, 2025.
If the appeal is successful, South Africa would need to seek Omotoso’s extradition, which is often an uncertain process, given the country’s poor track record with high-profile cases.
This follows earlier failures, where the Gupta brothers remained abroad after their extradition was mishandled. Shepherd Bushiri fled to Malawi and has never returned.
These examples reflect a justice system where influential people evade accountability with ease. These unjust cases have left South Africans with a recurring sense that justice only applies selectively.
The Omotoso case cuts even deeper because it intersects with South Africa’s gender-based violence (GBV) crisis. Cheryl Zondi, one of the first witnesses to testify how she was raped at 14 by Omotoso, expressed her concerns, stating that “evil prevails in this world.”
Zondi’s courage, and the collective trauma relived by sexual assault survivors, was sidelined by the court’s technicalities and the prosecutor’s unpreparedness.
Even more heartbreaking is the murder of Pamela Mabini, a community activist who supported victims in the Omotoso case. She received death threats and was eventually gunned down, a tragic reminder of the cost of seeking justice in this country.
The deportation of Omotoso before further legal accountability could unfold reflects poorly on our criminal justice system.
It is not just about one man leaving the country, it’s about how systems of justice are ignored, and how suspects can escape scrutiny by deporting them rather than pursuing accountability and justice.
The NPA’s leave to appeal came after the 10-day deadline had passed, raising further questions about whether proper procedures were followed.
South Africa’s fight against GBV cannot be won if high-profile people are allowed to walk away without consequences. Justice must be seen, felt, and established.
FEATURED IMAGE: Likho Mbuka. Photo: File/Paul Botes
A new political society has its sights set on changing the dynamic of student representation in the university’s decision-making processes.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Student Movement is officially registered as a student society.
They plan to represent marginalised societies on campus.
Some students see MKSM as a chance for deeper political engagement.
As of May 20, 2025, the uMkhonto weSizwe Student Movement (MKSM) was officially registered as a political society at Wits University.
The Dean of Student Affairs at Wits University, Jerome September, confirmed that the movement met the requirements for registration. These include a constitution aligned with that of the Student Representative Council (SRC), a motivational letter, and at least 50 student signatures.
“Should there be a challenge in terms of the application, feedback is given, and they are allowed to appeal. The MKSM met the requirements and was thus approved,” he said.
Wits convenor, Mthembeni Mzobe, said the movement faced delays and only received approval during the moratorium period, which temporarily restricts political activity on campus.
“We arrived late. Now we need to sort out documents while other student organisations are hitting the ground,” he said.
Despite the delays, Mzobe said MKSM plans to engage communities often excluded from mainstream campus politics. “We will approach churches and traditional societies on campus. They have constituencies but no representation,” he added.
In an interview with Wits Vuvuzela, Regional MKSM convenor Nkuna Gift said their goal is to “empower students and provide a platform for their voices,” while aligning with the party’s national vision of economic transformation and social justice.
The national deputy coordinator of MKSM Siphesihle Sibande engages with students in front of the Umthombo Building. Photo: LikhoMbuka
In discussion with various students on campus, many welcomed the formation of MKSM, they said it reflects the diversity of political views on campus.
Third-year student Sindiswa Zondo said “It would be ignorant to think there can be space constraints. Wits students come from all walks of life.”
When asked whether MKSM would be contesting in the upcoming SRC elections, Mzobe declined to comment but said they would “expand political representation” on campus. The 2025 Wits SRC elections are expected to take place in September.
FEATURED IMAGE: A member of the MK Student Movement wears the party’s T-shirt on Wits campus. Photo: Likho Mbuka
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
Anglo American, African Rainbow Minerals, and Oppenheimer Memorial Trust donate millions but is it philanthropy or power play?
Mining-linked donations are funding new buildings and research at Wits University.
Some students and experts worry these gifts give companies too much influence.
The debate is growing over who controls public universities and whose values are reflected.
What do Duncan Wanblad, Patrice Motsepe and Nicky Oppenheimer have in common? They represent corporate interests that have embedded themselves into the heart of Wits University. With millions tied to South Africa’s contested mining industry, these power players are funding high-profile projects that promise innovation and progress.
Oppenheimer’s family trust committed R15 million over five years to fund the African Future Studies Initiative, Motsepe’s African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) sponsored R20 million into research for the engineering school, and under Wanblad’s leadership, Anglo American spent R90 million to transform Wits’ planetarium into the corporate-branded Digital Dome. Their philanthropy raises a pressing question: When mining companies fund public universities, do academics look through a telescope or a company lens?
The uncomfortable truth
Behind the gleaming new facilities and bold promises lies an uncomfortable truth – corporate donations to universities are not always neutral acts of generosity. The Oppenheimer family made their fortune from diamond mines that fuelled colonial exploitation. Just last month, ARM faced protests over claims it sold coal to Israel, GroundUp reported. Anglo American, on the other hand, promotes sustainability goals while remaining one of the world’s biggest coal producers, according to its website. These companies pour millions into the institution while their mines keep digging. Do they shape the future or protect a violent and extractive past?
The Wits African Rainbow Minerals Building, renamed in 2023 after a R20 million donation from one of South Africa’s largest mining companies. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
What’s given?
Headquartered in the economic hub of London with a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Anglo American’s R90 million commitments granted the company naming rights to the new digital dome that opened to the public early this year, placing its brand at the centre of a major academic and public institution. In 2024, the company was ranked 654th on the Forbes Global 2000 list of the world’s largest companies.
Speaking about their shared legacy of advancing both mining and education, which has shaped Johannesburg and South Africa, Anglo American South Africa said, “The relationship between Wits University and Anglo American started in 1896 when the university, then known as the South African School of Mines in Kimberley, offered services to De Beers.
The new Wits Anglo American Digital Dome is more than just a facility – it’s a symbol of what’s possible when we unite in our vision to shape a better future through education, technology and innovation.” At the same time, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi (FRS), Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University, told Wits News: “Through the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, we hope to continue inspiring people from various disciplines, including those working in climate modelling, artificial intelligence and the digital arts.”
The Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, unveiled in 2024, was funded through a R90 million donation from the mining giant. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
In 2023, Wits University announced a partnership with one of the nation’s leading coal suppliers, African Rainbow Minerals. The JSE-listed corporation’s R20 million endowment is backing research that connects mining to the future — exploring energy transitions, automation, and the digital technologies that are transforming how resources are extracted and utilised. This partnership saw the company replace the then Chamber of Mines Building on the Braamfontein West Campus, facing the M1 highway, renaming it to the Wits African Rainbow Minerals Building. ARM selected Wits University for this partnership because “it is one of the globally respected academic institutions and the home of the Mining Precinct, a key hub where industry leaders can engage and ensure the mining sector’s contributions are recognised by both students and the broader academic community,” ARM said in a statement.
Plaque outside the Wits African Rainbow Minerals Building, unveiled in 2023 to mark the renaming of the former Chamber of Mines Building following ARM’s donation. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
In the third quarter of 2021, the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) donated R15 million to the African Future Studies Initiative at Wits University. The partnership was announced as a five-year commitment to support university research focused on challenges in Africa. The OMT was founded in 1957 by Harry Oppenheimer to honour his father, Ernst Oppenheimer. The memorial trust, established by the Oppenheimer family, is connected to Nicky Oppenheimer — the family’s heir and Africa’s third-richest person, with a net worth of $10.5 billion, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings.
At the time of the announcement, Tracey Webster, Chief Executive Officer of OMT, told Wits News, “The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust has a long tradition of investing in higher education and building the local academy. Given the ever-changing context we live in, it is imperative that we focus on developing a generation of researchers, scientists and academics that will ensure South Africa remains competitive and relevant in the 21st Century.” These contributions follow earlier markers of the family’s legacy at the university, including the Ernest Oppenheimer Hall of Residence, established in 1967, and the Oppenheimer Life Sciences Building. The trust did not respond to a request for comment from Wits Vuvuzela.
This bar graph shows the value of donations made to Wits University by major mining-linked donors between 2021 and 2024, highlighting contributions from the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, African Rainbow Minerals, and Anglo American. Graphic: Rivaldo Jantjies
Who Really Benefits from University Donations?
Professor Imraan Valodia, Professor of Economics, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Climate, Sustainability and Inequality, and Director of the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies at Wits, said donations to universities often come with multiple motivations. Some alumni give because they benefited from the education they received. Others do it for tax reasons or because they want their names attached to buildings or projects. “A third reason may be the companies that have benefited from having a university related to their business feel that they need to contribute to that university,” he said, pointing to the long-standing relationship between Wits and the mining sector.
While this funding can support important academic work and help students, it also raises questions about influence. “There is of course, always a danger that by accepting these sorts of donations, universities may become beholden to these wealthy people’s interests,” Valodia explained. He noted that Wits has a Naming Policy to guide how donations are handled and believes that the university’s academic and management decisions remain independent. However, he warns that the risks are real, especially when donors or even governments try to shape what universities teach or research. This is now playing out in the United States, where debates at Harvard and Columbia University highlight how both private and political interests can pressure universities.
Tlhompo Thogomusi, a fourth-year LLB student and chairperson of the Wits EFF Student Command, sees these donations as more than just financial support. He argues that philanthropy from mining magnates is “a form of tokenism,” used to legitimise their power and wealth while “distracting from the exploitative nature of their business practices.” For Thogomusi, this isn’t just about naming rights — it’s about the consolidation of class power and ideological control. “Exploitation is a fundamental aspect of this relationship,” he says, suggesting that the financial support from powerful donors helps shape the university’s intellectual space and may even silence criticism. In this view, such relationships are not neutral; they reflect the broader struggle over who gets to shape public knowledge and values.
Inside the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, launched in 2024. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
Living with it
The deals are signed in boardrooms, but the consequences play out in lecture halls. For many students, the university’s partnerships with mining giants aren’t abstract — they are part of daily life. Walking past buildings named after billionaires whose wealth came from extractive industries feels jarring, especially for students from communities affected by mining. According to a student who asked to remain anonymous, “It’s hard to sit in a lecture about inequality in a building named after someone who profited from it.” The university’s efforts to position itself as a future-facing institution are complicated by a past — and present — that many students are still reckoning with.
The money flows in, new buildings fill the skyline, and the questions keep piling up. In a city built on the profits of mining, the past still casts a long shadow. As universities align with major industry players, students and academics are left wondering who really shapes the future, and who pays the price.
FEATURED IMAGE: The Oppenheimer Life Sciences Building at Wits University, named after one of South Africa’s most prominent mining families. Photo: Rivaldo Jantjies
Local reality television mirrors a deeper societal truth, where marriage is still seen as a prize, men are the gatekeepers, and women carry the emotional cost of being “chosen.
The media frequently reflects societal values, challenges, and hidden realities. In South Africa, reality television programmes such as Makoti: Are You the One?Marry Me Now SA, andYou Promised to Marry Me highlight a lingering social problem: the imbalanced power dynamics in romantic relationships.
These programmes show that women are still required to demonstrate their value for marriage, whereas men possess the authority to determine whether that commitment takes place. Amid tears, conflicts, and public appeals, these shows expose a cultural truth where being “chosen” is a woman’s responsibility and a man’s choice.
South Africa’s obsession with marriage reality shows reveals more than just romantic drama, it exposes a deep-rooted gender power imbalance that places men as the ultimate decision-makers and women as the hopeful, often desperate seekers.
These shows are popular for a reason. Many South African women, especially in their late 20s and early 30s, are navigating a cultural terrain where marriage is still seen as the ultimate stamp of success. The ticking biological clock, family pressure, and patriarchal norms all converge to create a powerful sense of urgency and anxiety within these women.
In Makoti: Are You the One?, women go to their partner’s family homes for 21 days to prove they’re ready to be wives, performing household tasks, enduring awkward family interrogations, and sometimes facing humiliation.
Marry Me Now SA features women taking charge by proposing to their boyfriends after secretly planning the whole thing- only to sometimes be met with rejection.
You Promised to Marry Me, the Moja Love hit sees scorned women confront men who ghosted them after making promises of marriage. Each episode is a theatrical unmasking of betrayal, entitlement, and emotional manipulation.
These all mirror the way South African society often places a woman’s value in her ability to be chosen. They mirror the way many men are socialised to delay commitment, weaponize uncertainty, and maintain control. And they mirror the way we, as Africans, celebrate the idea of marriage but often ignore the emotional labour it demands from women to “earn” it.
Although these women are not forced to go on these shows and are driven by hope, love, or even desperation for closure, that choice is shaped by a deeper imbalance where men still hold the final say in whether a relationship becomes a marriage.
Polygamy reveals that men are the gatekeepers of marriage, and women are left negotiating love on uneven ground. I believe that is often used as a cultural excuse to justify emotional neglect, with women expected to accept sharing a partner in the name of tradition, even when it hurts.
Marriage, in this world, is not a mutual milestone, it’s a trophy, and women are expected to compete for it.
While it’s easy to dismiss these shows as mindless entertainment or scripted drama, why are women constantly put in positions where they must prove themselves? Why do so many of these shows feature women doing the proposing, begging, or exposing while men remain emotionally unavailable, detached, or even smug?
Of course, not all men are commitment-phobic, and not all women want marriage. But the overwhelming narrative across our screens still casts men as the guards and women as the petitioners. This has real consequences for how viewers, especially young people, understand relationships, self-worth, and gender roles. Over time, these messages shape how young people view love not as a partnership, but as a performance where one is always auditioning to be chosen.
Serious journalism is losing ground as short-form videos increasingly become the public’s primary source of news
Graphic content and privacy violations raise serious ethical concerns
Popularity on the app overrides accuracy
TikTok delivers fast, engaging news but lacks fact-checking
TikTok is designed to promote short videos, catering to a shorter attention span among its target audience. In a few scrolls on the app, one can learn about natural disasters in other countries, corruption, and bombing of ATM’s etc.
Scale showing the preferred platforms for news consumption among younger generations. Photo: Dikeledi Ramabula
At first the app was used for comedy, dance trends and lip-syncing challenges but now TikTok is changing the way media works. As more users make use of it for news, an important question emerges: is this good for journalism?
The answer is complicated. Comment sections of TikTok news creators like Jaxx Amahle, Amani Dube and Dylan Page, have people saying, “I don’t watch news at all, I follow you to get latest updates” and some say, “You make news sounds fun. That is why I follow you because generally news is boring”.
TikTok’s reach is indisputable, with the dominant presence of Gen Z, it has the power to shape public opinion faster than traditional outlets. In time of crisis, from the war in Gaza to wildfires in California, the app has outpaced traditional media providing unfolding, raw, and unfiltered events. The users offer real time flow of information that is immediate and feels authentic.
However, this is where the danger lies. On TikTok there is no fact-checking, which makes it easy for inaccurate information to spread faster. The accounts that have a large following and number of likes, are most likely to be seen as credible meaning people believe what is shared on such accounts without questioning.
It is difficult to tell the difference between what is true and what is not from TikTok citizen journalists. This comes with several risks because if individuals don’t recognize when something is false, a lot of damage can be done like the spread of misinformation, damage to reputation etc.
Some of these creators share information inaccurately and unethically. For example, they often reveal the names of sexual assault victims, along with where they go to school or work.
Sometimes, while scrolling through the app, I come across graphic footage of people bleeding to death at accident scenes, all because so-called “citizen journalists” feel the need to show every detail. Imagine being a parent and opening the app only to see your child dead in such a scene—how does one ever heal from something like that?
What is undeniable is that many find TikTok a convenient and fun platform to get news. But it is also true that some of the so-called news may be misinformation or disinformation. Thus, good fact-based journalism remains relevant regardless of the increasing influence of platforms such as TikTok.
FEATURED IMAGE: Scale showing the preferred platforms for news consumption among younger generations. 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
“No means no” was just the beginning — last Thursday at Wits, the School of Arts and Gender Equity Office joined forces to challenge silence, spark dialogue, and rethink consent in a powerful campus event.
WSOA students reflected on blurred boundaries in movement and performance training.
GEO outlined intersectional harm and shared tools for survivor support.
The seminar encouraged open dialogue, aimed to build a safer, conscious campus culture.
A GEO branded stress ball. Photo: Bontle Malowa
“A Conversation on Sexual Harassment” brought together students and staff for an open dialogue on how harassment manifests in the classroom, rehearsal spaces, and beyond. While the GEO presented definitions and data, it was the personal testimonies that brought the discussion to life.
First-year theatre student Jade Scheepers said, “Amongst students, consent is rarely asked, especially in movement classes.” She appreciated how the seminar acknowledged that harassment “hits differently” depending on one’s identity and experience.
The GEO emphasised that gender-based harm includes verbal, non-verbal, and physical misconduct, and it disproportionately impacts students across intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. Intern Bhekamndeni Mkhwanzi explained that GEO’s role goes beyond policy: “It’s about building an ecosystem where survivors feel seen, heard, and supported.”
The university collects and tracks all GBH/V-related complaints, analysing trends to inform and improve intervention initiatives. It provides a safe and confidential space with full-time counselling support for complainants and victims, ensuring they receive the care and guidance they need. Complainants and victims are confidentially advised of their available options, and formal complaints against staff or students accused of GBH/V are managed through an independent disciplinary procedure. Additionally, the university actively engages in advocacy efforts to promote gender equality.
First-year theatre student Sharon Nienaber, the session was particularly relevant to arts students, who often navigate blurred lines of physical contact during theatre and performance training. “This wasn’t just an academic talk, it was a reckoning,” she said.
Mkhwanzi says it is working to improve peer counselling, anonymous reporting, and trauma-informed support. As one student put it, the space offered “validation” and a renewed call for safer, more conscious creative spaces,” said Saijal Pather first year theatre student. The seminar provided a clear and comprehensive definition of Gender-based-harm (GBH) as “any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature—verbal, non-verbal, or physical.” It also underscored the significance of intersectionality, highlighting how harassment disproportionately affects individuals whose identities intersect across race, gender, sexuality, disability, and religion.
By the end of the session, the seminar had done more than educate. It had sparked a collective discomfort necessary for change and opened the door to ongoing conversations.
FEATURED IMAGE: Wits School of Arts students in the seminar. Photo: Bontle Malowa
Wits University’s ongoing biometric access system failures continue to frustrate students and staff, despite earlier promises of improvements.
Wits University’s biometric system continues to malfunction, causing daily access disruptions for students and staff.
Campus control is in the process of replacing the old system.
System failures lead to late arrivals, restricted access to resources, and safety concerns.
Nearly a year after the University of the Witwatersrand acknowledged challenges with its biometric access control system, students and staff are still facing ongoing disruptions that are affecting campus life and safety.
In May 2024, Wits Vuvuzelareported on the instability of the campus control system due to “unexpected software challenges.” At the time, the university proposed interim solutions, including software upgrades and the installation of additional servers.
Almost a year later, the situation has shown little improvement. Students and staff continue to experience difficulties when entering or exiting campuses.
Deputy Director of Campus Control Services (CPS), Mafihla Maleka, confirmed that CPS is currently in the process of replacing the old access control system with “a new, upgraded system.”
“This transition is expected to take approximately fourteen months to complete,” said Maleka. “During this period, Wits patrons may continue to experience some inconvenience when entering or exiting campus premises.”
To help ease the burden during this transitional phase, CPS has stationed personnel at various access points to manually assist with entry and exit.
Students like Reneilwe Kgosietsile and Minentle Mbatha have expressed their frustrations. They say the disruptions often cause them to arrive late for lectures and tests. A major complaint is the random enforcement of student cards, even though the biometric system doesn’t rely on them.
“I don’t live at res. When I forget my student card at home, I must go to extreme lengths to prove that I am a student for security to let me in,” said Mbatha. She also noted that this discourages students from accessing important campus resources. “It even becomes a whole process just to go to the library without your card.”
Security personnel have also voiced concerns. One guard, who requested anonymity, explained that the malfunctions are due to “network issues.” This has implications beyond inconvenience. “What will happen if a student is being chased to be mugged and when they get to the gate it’s not working and there’s no security?” the guard asked.
As the university continues the 14-month system upgrade, the Wits community remains hopeful for a swift resolution. For now, patience is wearing thin and the call for more reliable solutions is louder.
FEATURED IMAGE: A photo of a non-functional gate at Wits. Photo: Nthabiseng Baloyi
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, […]
