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, we discuss the DA’s internal candidate selection process, coalition politics in Johannesburg, and whether voters should be asking not if Zille is qualified but whether she is the right leader for the city at this moment. 

Finally, we take to the streets to hear directly from Johannesburg residents about whether they believe Helen Zille could be the mayor the city needs. 

Listen as we break down the politics, the strategy, and what this all means for the future of Johannesburg.  

Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should Be Writing is a podcast brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela, a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and follow @Witsvuvuzela on TikTok and Instagram.    

Show Notes:    

Hosts: Lulah Mapiye and Bonolo Mokonoto  

Produced, written and edited by: Lulah Mapiye and Bonolo Mokonoto 

Music:  Stoic - Magic

Johannesburg's underground punk rock scene has always been about more than simply music. From the beginning, it's been a site of rebellion against injustice and a community for those who dare to go against the norm.

In this episode of We Should Be Writing, Mbali Khumalo takes you into this world, with guests from the iconic 1980s rock band Bright Blue, Dan Heymann and Ian Cohen, and one of the bands defining South Africa's punk rock genre today, Lefokolodi. They share how their music is not only about self-expression but about using their voices to change the world.

Show Notes:

Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should Be Writing is a podcast brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela, a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and follow @WitsVuvuzela on Tik Tok and Instagram.

Hosted, produced and written by: Mbali Khumalo

Sound editing and episode artwork by: Mbali Khumalo

Music credits:

Alex Productions - Punch

DeltaX-Music - Dune

Lefokolodi - Butt Hurt

National Wake – Everybody

Rage Against The Machine - Killing In the Name

Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop

Archival audio credits:

2/10/78 New South African Prime Minister Pieter Botha Press Conference - Associated Press Archive

Cry Freedom (1978) directed by Richard Attenborough

“Where did punk start?” directed by Lech Kowalski

Johannesburg's underground punk rock scene has always been about more than simply music. From the beginning, it's been a site of rebellion against injustice and a community for those who dare to go against the norm. 

In this episode of We Should Be Writing, Mbali Khumalo takes you into this world, with guests from the iconic 1980s rock band Bright Blue, Dan Heymann and Ian Cohen, and one of the bands defining South Africa's punk rock genre today, Lefokolodi. They share how their music is not only about self-expression but about using their voices to change the world.

Show Notes:   

Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should Be Writing is a podcast brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela, a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and follow @WitsVuvuzela on Tik Tok and Instagram. 

Hosted, produced and written by: Mbali Khumalo

Sound editing and episode artwork by: Mbali Khumalo

Music credits:

Alex Productions - Punch

Bright Blue - Weeping

Lefokolodi - Butt Hurt

National Wake – Everybody

Rage Against The Machine - Killing In the Name

Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop

Archival audio credits:

2/10/78 New South African Prime Minister Pieter Botha Press Conference - Associated Press Archive

Cry Freedom (1978) directed by Richard Attenborough 

“Where did punk start?” directed by Lech Kowalski

This narrative podcast episode is an open letter to a man named Ntate Johannesburg ( Ntate Jozi) who represents The City of Gold. Podcast host, Sechaba Molete gives us a glimpse of the lessons he's learnt about Johannesburg as he reads Ntate Jozi his letter. This thought-provoking audio experience is a just a click away!

Meet e-meter, once the shiny star of Scientology’s auditing rooms, now a dusty relic with plenty of shocking memories to share, and tons of time to do it.

Tired of sitting on a mantal, waiting to be used, this old machine spills all the tea from its hay day in the thick of Scientology schemes.

Behind the tales, however, lies a deeper truth abouth faith, fear, and the fragility of humanity.

Show notes:

Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should be Writing is brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela, a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and follow @WitsVuvuzela on TikTok and Instagram.

This episode was inspired by my own experience of the auditing session, coupled with similar stories sourced online.

Hosted, produced, and written by: Ekta Seebran

Sound editor: Ekta Seebran

Music: Holiday Weasel by Kevin MacLeod | https://incompetech.com/

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Will we ever have peace and friendship within and across our borders? In this episode of We Should Be Writing, the Vuvu team takes on the final promise of the Freedom Charter: There shall be peace and friendship. We unpack how this vision clashes with the growing issue of xenophobia in South Africa today.  

Our guests include a researcher from the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, and a first-generation South African student whose Congolese and Angolan roots bring lived experience to the conversation. We start with her unique story of belonging, before moving into the groups and movements targeting foreign nationals, like Operation Dudula and March on March. Finally, we look back at the history of how our neighbours supported the anti-apartheid struggle and ask why the ties between South Africa and their citizens have soured since 1994.  

Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should Be Writing is a podcast brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela, a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and follow @Witsvuvuzela on TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram.   

Hosts: Mbali Khumalo, Kamvelihle Mtwazi, Phenyo Selinda 

Producer: Mbali Khumalo  

Writers: Kamvelihle Mtwazi, Mbali Khumalo, Phenyo Selinda 

Sound editor: Phenyo Selinda, Kamvelihle Mtwazi 

Music: Tyler, The Creator x Kaytranada Type Beat “Magic” by Stoic 

Are all equal before the law in South Africa? In this episode of We Should Be Writing podcast, hosts Bonolo Mokonoto and Anganathi Jack take listeners on a journey through two very different Johannesburg magistrate courts: the Randburg Magistrate and Hillbrow Magistrate courts.

Marking 70 years since the adoption of the Freedom Charter, they explore what legal equality really means today through vivid on-site observations, man-on-the-street interviews, and a breakdown of the current South African court system. 

Through candid conversations and interviews with everyday South Africans, the hosts highlight the knowledge gaps about the judicial system and reflect on whether “all shall be equal before the law” is a reality or still an aspiration. 

Tune in for a clear, engaging discussion on justice, inequality, and the ongoing journey toward true equality in South Africa’s courts. 

Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should Be Writing is a podcast brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. 

Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and Follow @WitsVuvuzela on TikTok and Instagram. 

Show Notes: 
Hosts: Bonolo Mokonoto and Anganathi Jack 

Producers: Bonolo Mokonoto and Anganathi Jack 

Writer: Bonolo Mokonoto  

Sound editor: Anganathi Jack 

Editor: Bonolo Mokonoto and Anganathi Jack 

Music: Stoic, [Free] TYLER, THE CREATOR X KAYTRANDA TYPE BEAT “MAGIC” 

Graphic Design: Ekta Seebran and Anganathi Jack 

In this episode, we explore the first principle of the Freedom Charter: “The people shall govern,” and ask what it means in modern South Africa. Through the voice of Thoriso Mogoru, a student who voted in the 2024 national elections and the insights of political analyst Prof. Daryl Glaser, we look at the gap between the promise of democracy and the lived realities of governance. From the optimism of universal suffrage in 1994 to the frustrations of youth who feel unheard, we trace how this principle continues to inspire, challenge, and shape the country’s political landscape.  

Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should Be Writing is a podcast brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela, a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and follow @Witsvuvuzela on TikTok and Instagram.    

Show Notes:

Hosts: Abena Mahlahlane (Narrator) and Nthabiseng Baloyi (Interviewer)   

Produced, written and edited by: Abena Mahlahlane and Nthabiseng Baloyi 

Music: Stoic, Thandi Zulu (Sabela), Hugh Masekela (Siwelele Mama)

In this episode, “In South Africa our Land”, hosts Sechaba Molete and Lindelwa Khanyile are joined by Mihle Kunju, Law School Council Chairperson, for a conversation about the constitutional promise that “all shall be equal under the law.” While South Africa’s Constitution is celebrated as one of the most progressive in the world, the reality on the ground often tells a different story. In this episode, we explore how high-profile cases reveal cracks in the system: from the Gupta family’s ability to manipulate power structures during the state capture era, to former President Jacob Zuma’s repeated delays in facing justice, to the Thabo Bester prison escape, which exposed corruption and unequal treatment within the correctional system. Beyond these headlines, we unpack how ordinary South Africans experience inequality daily, whether it’s through unequal access to quality legal representation, overburdened Legal Aid services, or a justice system that moves faster for the wealthy and powerful than it does for the poor and marginalized. Through sharp legal insight and grounded reflections, Mihle helps us ask the hard but necessary question: Is equality under the law a lived reality in South Africa, or is it still just a constitutional dream waiting to be fulfilled?

Show Notes:

Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify,Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should Be Writing is a podcast brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela, a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and follow @WitsVuvuzela on TikTok and Instagram.

Hosted, produced and written by: Lindelwa Khanyile and Sechaba Molete

Sound editor: Sechaba Molete

Theme music: Stoic - Magic

Graphics and artwork: Lindelwa Khanyile/ Canva

In this episode, we explore the theme of equality inspired by the Freedom Charter's principle: "All national groups shall have equal rights." We engage in a heartfelt conversation with Ndumiso Ngcobo, a member of South Africa's LGBTQ+ community, as he shares his personal journey navigating identity, rights, and societal intersections.

Show Notes:

Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should Be Writing is a podcast brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela, a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and follow@Witsvuvuzela on TikTok and Instagram.

Guest: Ndumiso Ngcobo

Hosts: Dikeledi Ramabula and Nomfundo Zungu

Produced, written and edited by: Dikeledi Ramabula and Nomfundo Zungu

Music: Stoic & Senzeni na South Africa