The Stories
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Every year, the full-time Honours in journalism class at Wits University undertake an in-depth research project which allows them to put into practice their newly-acquired journalism skill under the supervision of a group of mentors. This year’s topic, the Johannesburg CBD, was chosen for its complexity despite its close proximity to the regular beat of the class. The class was divided into four groups and assigned a theme. The theme shaped the nature of the story pitched by each student journalist.
The students had a total of a month to complete this project, two weeks to find, research and write up a 2000-word feature in consultation with their group mentors, and another two weeks to compile the multimedia elements. They also uploaded all this content to this website.
PROJECT MENTORS:
The groups were mentored by Kenichi Serino, Ruth Becker, Lizeka Mda and Gus Silber. The project was coordinated by Dinesh Balliah who also designed this site.
GROUP ASSIMILATION:
Join the writers as they interpret this theme to include everything from how to green the concrete jungle, finding reading spaces and safe spaces to worship. As they search for elusive English as a second language and adapt and reclaim traditional shweshwe fabric. In motion there is energy and assimilation is a constant motion.
- Giving birth on the streets of Joburg, by Nasya Smith
- Democracy is Dialogue, by Aarti Bhana
- Entertaining the Angels, by Wendy Mothata
- A Greenhouse in the Urban Jungle, by Tendani Mulaudzi
- Shweshwe: The fabric of the inner city, by Shannon Correia
- The sole survivor speaks English, by Hazel Kimani
GROUP DEGRADATION:
Arguably the word most associated with the Johannesburg inner city. Our writers find the flip side of degradation in the traditional sense of the word. Visit the Joburg Art Gallery and the chess players in Joubert Park. Meet the migrants trying to be legal and the peddlers selling beauty and happiness from a city pole. And meet the young skateboarders living inside one of the city’s most famously regimented space.
- Art fights for inner city relevance, by Laura Pisanello
- Checkmates, Stalemates and Zugwangs, by Zanta Nkumane
- The Drill Hall Defenders, by Kyle Oberholzer
- The cosmetic medical economy of the inner city, by Nozipho Mpanza
- Migrants: No room at the inn, by Nokuthula Zwane
GROUP RESILIENCE:
Resilience is a rubber band that keeps bouncing back until it breaks. Or it’s a ball bouncing higher or lower or dribbling. it’s flexible and it keeps coming back. These are the resilient traders of the Joburg inner city as they find ways to sell their wares. These are waste pickers making a living from discards. They are hairdressers and traditional healers and some are gamblers looking for a lucky break.
- Hairdressers of Kerk Street, by Lwandile Fikeni
- Vumani bo! Seers and sangomas in the city of gold, by Nobathembu Zantsi
- Luck and loss in the CBD, by Sisa Canca
- The waste pickers of the urban landscape, by Leanne Cumming
- Sex work as survival, by Ayanda Mgede
GROUP REJUVENATION:
Rejuvenation speaks of life, water and energy. The energy of birth, the energy of taking on a role defying social stereotypes. The life-giving photography in Joubert Park, rejuvenating photographer and subject. And rejuvenating yourself by faking it until you make it. These are stories of birth and rebirth.
- Driving in a man’s world, by Olwethu Boso
- The reality of fake goods, by Nadia Omar
- Shutterbugs in the park, by Candice Wagener
- The green lungs of the inner city, by Mokgethwa Masemola
- Trading against all odds, by Tebogo Tshwane