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.

Journ'Tau Investigation Leads to Completion of House

Sthembiso Sithole

Senini Chauke excited that Jou'Tau published the story
leading to the construction of his house.

On 18 May 2011 Journ’Tau published a story on a 70 year old man, Senini Chauke, whose house hadn’t been completed by Xazulula Construction Company Renovation. The construction company had been tasked by the council in Soshanguve to build houses for several community members.


After the publication of the story the council has tasked the same company to complete the construction of the house and Xazulula has gone back to do the work they had initially neglected.

Young Girl Tells Her Story of HIV

Shocked By Community Watching Man Beating Up Woman on Roadside

Tlaki Baloyi

It is a normal Sunday afternoon and I have just accompanied a relative to catch a taxi. She had visited my mom but unfortunately for her she didn’t let her know beforehand and my mother had already gone to church by the time she arrived.

As I was on my way back home after accompanying her I stumbled upon a scene no one ever wants to witness, but is all too common in our country. A man started beating up a lady he was with. For a moment there I was thankful that there were people, mostly adults, on the street as they would stop this barbaric behavior taking place in broad daylight on a day taken as holy by most South Africans. As I was standing there, waiting and hoping that at least one of the many men there would do something about it I realised that they were all standing, watching and analyzing and no one was willing to intervene.

Egypt: How We Did it When the Media Would Not

This video was done by the team of Narco News and the School of Authentic Journalists 2011.

Africa Day Not Adequately Promoted in South Africa

Sibusiso Banda

Today, 25 May 2011, we are celebrating Africa Day. This is one of the most important days in the African continent’s history. During the past few years we have seen Johannesburg starting to celebrate the day, largely ignored in South Africa’s past as the country was going through apartheid.


This year I have not seen a single poster or heard even a two minute feature on radio or television.