Kids & Parents Entertained at Baba Indaba

Sthembiso Sithole

SABC Baba Indaba held a three day exhibition aimed at exposing young families to early childhood development project and to raise breastfeeding as awareness. Despite the weather being cold, expecting parents, parents, nannies and grandparents came out in large numbers to witness the exhibition at the Expo Centre Nasrec near Soweto.

Organiser and show director Natalie Naude says this year breastfeeding was a hug part of the exhibition. “We decided to have breastfeeding as part of the show because we wanted to spell the myth about breastfeeding,” explains Naude.

We Still Continue to Blame Foreigners For Stealing Jobs We Refuse To Do

Gift Ngobeni

Between 2000 and March 2008 at least 67 people died in what was identified as xenophobic attacks. In May 2008 a series of riots left 62 people dead - although 21 of those killed were South African citizens some of whom who had been mistaken for foreigners. One dictionary definition of xenophobia is an unreasonable fear, distrust, or hatred of strangers, foreigners, or anything perceived as foreign or different.

Leaders of the country fought for a free South Africa, former president of the country Nelson Mandela said South Africa belongs to everyone who lives in it. During the anti-apartheid struggle, the very same leaders went to exile in neighboring countries most of which the attacked foreigners come from. Most South Africans went to countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Angola to name a few. Clearly most attackers have forgotten about this.

Young, Pregnant, HIV Positive & Shocked by the State of Public Hospitals

Every day we are encouraged to get tested in order to know our HIV statuses so we can live healthy lives but what I have found is that health professionals seem not to be properly trained to deal with the disease. I often hear people who go to public hospitals talk about the torture and abuse they go through when they are getting tested and it’s even worse for some should they test positive.

I found out that I am HIV positive in 2009 and in order to protect myself I will remain anonymous. The test was done by a private doctor which helped me not go through the similar abuse many often report when returning from hospital or clinic. My doctor guided me and gave me all the relevant information I needed at the time. As a teenager it wasn’t easy but because of a private doctor I was sheltered from all the stresses many go through.

Fun Day Had By Lecturers As They Say Goobye To A Colleague

Kabelo Johnty Chabalala

Humanities lecturers at the Tshwane University of Technology gathered at the Soshanguve South Campus Sport Field to celebrate the faculty’s first fun day. Known to fuss about students’ assignment deadlines and how they should improve their marks if they are not performing well – the educators had a chance to play a bit of cricket, partake in a 100 metre fun run and even compete in a potjie kos competition.


Faculty Dean, Dr Stanley Mukhola believes the day strengthens unity on campus. “This day was long overdue. We have been looking forward to this gathering as colleagues. You guys are committed teammates that show dedication and support.”

Youth Dances & Celebrates Achievements But Stresses the Need for Good Quality Education

Sthembiso Sithole

Traditional Zulu dancing showing the youth
hasn't forgotten traditions.

Young and talented School children gathered at the Constitutional Hill, Johannesburg Thursday to celebrate Youth Day with song, dance and debate on their future and the state of young people in South Africa today. The event was organised by Constitutional Hill in partnership with Tsibogang Lebone Development Initiative.

Matshidiso Mkhatswa from Likazi Central high school was the first to go on stage and shock the crowd with her speech called: “What Ubuntu in peace making and Reconciliation mean to me”.

During her piece she quoted Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu when he said “ubuntu is the spirit of togetherness, we must move beyond the spirit of Apartheid. A country without Ubuntu is no country at all.”

Photos of Youth Day Celebrations in Constitution Hill, Johannesburg

Interesting BBC Programme on Lagos' Version of Venice

Let's School You a Bit About 1976

Sthembiso Sithole

Iconic photo of Mbuyazi Makhubu carrying the body
of Hector Pieterson with the 13-year-old's sister on the side

Many of us have heard our parents talk about 16 June 1976 which was a turning point in the fight towards a free and democratic South Africa. They often tell us that pupils from five schools in Soweto near Johannesburg walked out of the gates in what was supposed to be a peaceful march as they were fighting for a good, adequate education system. Some of us seem to know the story until this point. We also know of the first boy who died, 13-year-old Hector Pieterson. Much of his story is in the Hector Pietrerson Museum in Soweto. Many young people don’t really know the 1976 story before and beyond these points.

I want to take you back to the memories of the dark days of this beautiful land and give you an overview on the causes of the uprising, what happened proceeding the day and how the government of the time dealt with it. I also believe that while it is important to look back in history we should also think carefully about what the South African youth today thinks about the challenges facing us – some of which are unemployment, HIV/Aids and the lack of understand of how political, financial and business structures can be accessed in order for us to truly prosper. The youth of 1976 was fighting for an adequate education system but the youth of 2011 is also fighting for an adequate education system that will prepare them for the future.

Young People Ensure Children Have Food & Clothes This Winter

Sthembiso Sithole

Young people who started a group on social network, Facebook, with the help of home care organisation, Thola Ulwazi, and members of the corporate sector have embarked on a campaign to improve the lives of orphaned children in Soshanguve Township.

Over the weekend the group called Difference Makers donated food parcels to orphanages. This was done with the assistance of a local BP service station, Tropika and a police station. Difference Makers founder, Sergeant Mnisi, says they have been visiting home based care centres since 2009.

Young Sowetan Working Hard to Achieve Ultimate Success

Sthembiso Sithole

While many young South Africans who live in townships sit around and do nothing with their days, a 25-year-old Sowetan, Vusi Makhubo, is showing them that one doesn’t need to come from a wealthy environment to live out their dreams.

Makhubo has taken savings from a small job he does selling clothes at Mr Price to save up for DJing equipment and has also started a T-shirt printing business. He says well known Soweto entertainer, DJ Mbuso encouraged him. “I used to go to Dj Mbuso’s shop and see how he runs his music and t-shirt business, that is how I got my inspiration and I realised that he is one of the black people who is doing his best to make a living out of his abilities.” he says.

Poet's perseverence for Change

At the closing dinner of the School of Authentic Journalism 2011, scholars and professors were privileged to have had dinner with the great poet, Javier Sicilia.

His son is one of thousands of innocent victims of Mexico's drug-related organised crime. Sicilia lead a silent protest for the fight for justice against the drug violence in May.

This video, by Dateline, peaks into the well organised movement lead by Sicilia where many of the community joined in on the march.