Everaldo Matonse at work in his studio at the BAT Centre, an arts collaboration and community space in downtown Durban. Matonse grew up in Maputo, Mozambique and came to Durban in 2003 to chase his dream of being an artist. He has worked from his studio in the BAT Centre since 2006 where he makes intricate wood prints inspired by the culture that he was raised in.
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Photo of the day: 1 March 2018
Located on Hambridge Drive in Durban is “ICare”, a non-profit organisation dedicated to addressing the challenges facing street children in South Africa. Pictured is ICare’s project manager, Lucia Shange. Having grown up in foster homes herself, Lucia has a keen concern for children’s issues and works to realise street children’s potential. The ICare team runs a preparatory programme at their starter site, where participants are introduced to values of discipline, self-awareness, and trust, before transitioning into a 12-week rehabilitation program at a temporary housing centre. ICare’s end goal for participants is to reintroduce them into family life, to provide funding for a stable education and to inspire young men to achieve successes they may not have thought possible. “Hard times don’t last long, good times last forever,” Shange tells those in her care.
— Madeline Harvey
Learn more about ICare, its partners, and how to get involved Here.
Photo of the Day: 28 February 2018
Today the students from the Spring 2018 SIT programme based in Durban, South Africa, spoke with Sophie Macmanus from Open Data Durban. Open Data Durban is a non-profit open-information-advocacy organization based in the city that aims to ensure easy access to information for citizens. Sophie gave us an overview of the purpose of the group and also explained some of the projects they’re working on.
— Jackie Flynn
The Revival of South Africa’s Rand
Main image: Currency tracker website xe.com provides a graphic representation of the upward movement of the rand in recent months.
By: Kamilah Tom
DURBAN – Following the resignation of Jacob Zuma as South Africa’s president and the swearing in of Cyril Ramaphosa as the country’s new head of state, the rand on Friday reached its strongest level in three years.
The dramatic gain, at one point reaching R11.50 to the US dollar, followed the appointment of the new president on Thursday evening, when the former trade unionist turned businessman was sworn into office.
President Ramaphosa, 65, has promised to fight to undo the corruption that the country has endured while under Zuma’s leadership and to gain the confidence of foreign investors by repairing the country’s failing state-owned entities.
The rand is expected to continue to rise following Ramaphosa’s delivery of the State of the Nation Address this evening. The government has indicated that the country’s 2018 Budget speech will be delivered in parliament next week.
Photo of the Day: February 16, 2018
Authors Christie van der Westhuizen and Melanie Judge in conversation about their writing at Ikes Books and Collectables in Durban. Van der Westhuizen is the author of the recently released book, Sitting Pretty: White Afrikaans Women in Postapartheid South Africa and Judge has recently published Blackwashing Homophobia: Violence and the Politics of Sexuality, Gender, and Race.
– Rebecca Redelmeier
South Africans await next developments in day of high drama
*Watch: Zuma Responds on National TV
Main image: President Jacob Zuma seen during an interview live-streamed on the national broadcaster, in which he said he felt he had been unfairly treated.
By Hannah Green
South Africans were glued to news networks today as the ruling African National Congress party issued President Jacob Zuma a formal recall and an ultimatum: resign by the end of today, or face a vote of no confidence in Parliament tomorrow.
This comes after weeks of internal dialogue in the ANC about removing Zuma from office. This prolonged uncertainty has left many South Africans eager to see a resolution, and to finally reclaim sleep lost following several nights of standing by for news.
“#ZumaExit stole hours of sleep and anticipation from me! I feel like I am binge watching a reality show…a really bad reality show,” reads a tweet by @uncleIsaiah16.
“Can’t eat, can’t sleep. TV analists [sic] go on & on. We need & deserve closure & a country we can survive in,” writes @SowterTracy.
President Zuma was expected to hold a media briefing at 10 a.m. today, but this did not materialize. Instead the president held an unannounced television interview with a single journalist on the public broadcaster, during which he said he disagreed with his party’s decision to request him to resign with immediate effect and insisted he had been provided with no reasons for his recall.
Zuma Responds on National TV
A further statement from the president was expected to be delivered before the midnight deadline.
Cape Town Villas
AISHA HAUSER
“Beautiful weather, scenic views, white, sandy beaches and luxurious villas – more than enough bait for tourists to flood drought-stricken Cape Town.
As one of the most visited coastal cities on the continent, the Mother City’s lavish accommodation may be its greatest drawcard.
According to Ruth Munitz, manager of SeeffSHORTSTAY, Cape Town is seeing a rise in the popularity of flats and villas.”
See full story below:
Fees Must Fall protest resurface at UCT
AISHA HAUSER
This week, student protests against rising tuition fees at UCT reemerged – contributing to a hectic first week for student journalists at The Times.
Protests, spurred by the delayed release of a financial report on the feasibility of free tertiary education by the President, resulted in the disruption of academic activity at UCT, causing management to cancel all class and exams Thursday and Friday. In addition to demanding the release of the financial report, protesters are calling for the clearance of students’ historical debt that prohibits them from continuing their studies, removal of all private security from campus and investigation on alleged sexual/physical abuse by the officers, and an inquiry into the underpayment and mistreatment of cafeteria workers.
On Wednesday afternoon, I had the opportunity to travel to UCT and report on the protests with a full time reporter at the times. I witnessed classes being disrupted, spoke to students about their take on the feasibility of free education, and attended a mass meeting organized by the SRC to outline student demands and hear students’ concerns before going to a senate meeting with management.
Here are the links to the resulting news stories:
- Protests shut down UCT
- Protesting UCT students won’t back down
- UCT seeks urgent court order banning violent protests
News of the Day: September 26, 2017
With the African National Congress national elective conference only a few months away, can the ANC rally behind whoever is elected? Can the party prevent factional splits until December arrives?
After continued criticism of the president, and a vote of no-confidence in August, former MP Makhosi Khoza has chosen to resign from the ANC. Is Khoza an outlier in the ANC constituency or the manifestation of a greater discontent within the ANC as a whole?
Come December the ANC will have at least six individuals contending for party leader. By the end of the conference one individual and one faction will rule the ANC. From there the ANC will be tasked with reuniting, opposing factions conceding to the majority, and the possible replacement of President Zuma. Failure to reunite could cost them their first loss in South Africa’s 2019 general election.
https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/zapirocartoon/goodbye-anc/
Out of the Office
Our team will be in Mozambique for the remainder of the week and will not be able to make new posts. See you all next Monday!
