We Should Be Writing

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

Are the doors of learning and culture open to all? In this episode of We Should Be Writing, education is under the spotlight. Under discussion: the ongoing struggle to open the doors of education, which were once closed for the black majority; unfulfilled promises and how to elevate non-academic learning pathways.  

In conversation with guests, Irfaan Mangera and Ewan Dawkins, our hosts unpack the legacy of a 70 year principle from the Freedom Charter, which promises quality education for all. Tough questions about South Africa's education system, the power of youth activism, policy reform and the value of vocational and technical training are on the table.

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.    

Show Notes:    

Hosts: Likho Mbuka and Zanele Maduma 

Produced, edited and written by: Likho Mbuka and Zanele Maduma

Guests: Irfaan Mangera and Ewan Dawkins 

Music: Neon Nights By Patrick Patrikios  

In this episode, we explore the promise of “work and security”, a principle from the 1955 Freedom Charter. We want to find out how and if things have changed for the better or worse, for domestic workers in present day South Africa.  

We also take to Wits University's main campus to hear from ordinary South Africans about the impact and the role that domestic workers have played in families across the nation. This episode reminds us that we’ve come a long way in bettering the lives of the women we see as second mothers, but we still have a long way to go in the fight for fair wages, security and ultimately, dignity.  

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.    

Voice actors: Thandi’s voice- Nolwazi Mabaso; Child’s voice- Iminathi Mabaso  

Cover image: Generated by Gemini AI 

Hosts: Nthabeleng Phayane and Lulah Mapiye 

Produced, written and edited by: Nthabeleng Phayane and Lulah Mapiye 

Music: Original by African Africa Afrobeat  

In this episode of We Should Be Writing, Bontle & Katlego discuss the Freedom Charter’s principle which is “The People Shall Share in the Country's Wealth”. We unpack the distribution of wealth, the management of public funds and the two major industrial complexes in South Africa: Mining & Banking.

Our hosts also briefly discuss the current state of unemployment in South Africa and if it's a detriment to all or can it possibly be a benefit to others? From social grants, ‘tenderpreneurs’, to how banks and mines play a historical role in keeping the rich at the top and the poor at the bottom-this episode touches on it all.

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.   

Production: 

Hosts and producers: Bontle Malowa & Katlego Makhutle 

Writers: Katlego Makhutle & Bontle Malowa 

Sound Editors: Katlego Makhutle   

Theme Music: Stoic-Magic 

Graphics & Artwork: Google Gemini Ai