We Should Be Writing

Does the cold of the concrete feel less painful than the loneliness of knowing no one is looking out for you? In episode one of Season 6 of We Should Be Writing, the Wits Vuvuzela team presents "The Charter That Sleeps on Stone" an intimate and heartbreaking exploration of homelessness in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Narrated from an unusual partner, we follow the story of Themba, a homeless man who lost everything after the 2020 factory closures and economic collapse. Through poetic storytelling, we witness his daily struggles for survival on the streets of Braam.

Hosts Lukholo and Ekta weave in devastating statistics: South Africa's homeless population has quadrupled since 1996, with 55,719 people now living without shelter, while the Freedom Charter's 70-year-old promise of "houses, security and comfort" remains unfulfilled for so many. This episode confronts the harsh reality that while political freedom was achieved, economic freedom and basic human dignity remain elusive for thousands living in the shadows of our cities.

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: Lukholo Mazibuko and Ekta Seebran

Sound editors: Lukholo Mazibuko and Ekta Seebran

Executive producer: Katlego Makhutle

Music: [Free] Tyler, The Creator x Kaytranada Type Beat “MAGIC”

Another season of We Should Be Writing is ready for your ears, here's a teaser of what the next nine weeks have in store.

Societal expectations and experiences can often place pressure on people’s relationships. With Valentine’s Day coming up we have asked individuals questions about their views on certain relationship dynamics especially when it comes to the most anticipated day of the year for some lovers, Valentines Day. Viewers shared their beliefs and Siyanda and Katlego talk about the answers.  

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, X, Facebook and Instagram.  

Writer: Katlego Mtshali and Siyanda Mthethwa 

Editor: Katlego Mtshali and Siyanda Mthethwa 

Sound engineer: Siyanda Mthethwa 

Producer: Katlego Mtshali and Siyanda Mthethwa 

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed the Expropriation Act which resulted in President Donald Trump posting a tweet about how the South African government is confiscating land from certain classes of people, therefore he will stop all future funding for South Africa as this, according to him is a human rights violation. In this episode, Siyanda and Katlego break down the newly passed Expropriation Act and address the Trump’s accusations and how they would impact South Africa.  

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, X, Facebook and Instagram. 

Writer: Katlego Mtshali and Siyanda Mthethwa 

Editor: Siyanda Mthethwa and Katlego Mtshali 

Sound engineer: Siyanda Mthethwa 

Producer: Katlego Mtshali and Siyanda Mthethwa  

South Africa has invested over R60 billion in its transport infrastructure over the last 30 years! While you can certainly see some of that investment, major modes of transport are just not keeping up with how urbanised Johannesburg and its surrounding areas are becoming.  

Here on The Next Stop, I am joined by Olga Mashilo and Lunga Jacobs and we break down what progress has been made in the last 30 years for the average commuter and what’s held the government back from achieving its goals. 

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, X, Facebook and Instagram.    

Host, producer and writer: Thato Gololo 

Guests: Olga Mashilo and Lunga Jacobs 

Music: STARTUP by Alex Productions; Blue Boi by Music Lakey 

For many young South Africans, 'mother tongue' and 'home language' are a trigger, pointing out their inadequcy. The episode begins with the host, Siyanda Mthethwa, bringing the audience into a memory where he recalls being laughed at for misunderstanding a greeting in IsiZulu. The episode explores the intersection between language, culture and identity.

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, X, Facebook and Instagram.  

Host, producer, writer and editor: Siyanda Mthethwa 

Guests: Thato Gololo, Freddy Letsaolo  

Music: - Pixabay-  Podcast smooth jazz instrumental music; Good night lofi cozy chill music.  

In this episode, we dive into Johannesburg’s service delivery crisis, exploring how unreliable access to water, electricity, and sanitation has affected residents’ daily lives and health. Dr Ebrahim Harvey, political analyst and News24 contributor, discusses the origins of these municipal failures, highlighting key policy decisions and the socio-economic consequences for vulnerable communities. And, together, we examine the broader impacts on the city's economic stability and the pressing need for reform to reshape the future of essential services in South Africa. 

Show Notes:

Listen to this podcast and all other episodes from the Wits Vuvuzela on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Soccer and the City is brought to you by Team Vuvu, the 2024 Journalism Honours class. Follow @witsvuvuzela on X, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, and visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our exciting work.

Host, writer, producer and editor: Rivaldo Jantjies 

Music: Sourced from Pixabay   

Acts Across Ages is a light-hearted fictional podcast exploring the dynamic relationships three generations have with theatre. Gogo, a baby boomer born between 1946 and 1964, recalls the world of live performances in her youth, eager to understand how theatre has evolved. Her granddaughters, Tendi, a Gen Z, and Mpumi, a Gen Alpha, bring their own perspectives on today’s theatre – from the thrill of live shows to the convenience of streaming performances on devices.  

Together, they debate what theatre means in an era where “live” and “digital” often collide, revealing what the art form represents across generations and what it truly means to them today.  

Show Notes:

Listen to this podcast and all other episodes from the Wits Vuvuzela on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Soccer and the City is brought to you by Team Vuvu, the 2024 Journalism Honours class. Follow @witsvuvuzela on X, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, and visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our exciting work.  

Writer, Editor, Sound engineer, and Producer: Ofentse Tladi  

Rhythm and Rights explores the intricate relationship between music, law, and social change. Join us as we delve into the evolving landscape of music copyright laws in South Africa, from the apartheid era to the present day. Through conversations with industry experts and musicians, we uncover the struggles and triumphs of protecting creative rights in a democratic South Africa. 

In this episode, we speak with Tsenolo Ntsane, Operations Manager at the Music Publishers Association of South Africa (MPASA). We explore the organisation's mission, the crucial role of copyright in protecting musicians' rights, and the consequences of neglecting its importance. Our conversation also delves into the significant impact of democracy on music copyright in South Africa, shedding light on the progress made and challenges still faced by musicians in the post-apartheid era. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the intersection of music, law, and social change. 

Football in Johannesburg has gone through many changes, and it keeps evolving.  It goes by various names, ‘football’, ‘soccer’, and ‘diski’ among many others, its everchanging monikers show all the different flavours of the beautiful game. This episode looks at the football landscape in Johannesburg and how soccer development has evolved in SA over the past 30 years. Lock in for a deep dive into the heart of football in the City of Gold! 

Show Notes:

Listen to this podcast and all other episodes from the Wits Vuvuzela on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Soccer and the City is brought to you by Team Vuvu, the 2024 Journalism Honours class. Follow @witsvuvuzela on X, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram, and visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our exciting work.  

Host: Kamogelo Kungwane 

Guests: Bevan Fransman, Gwynne Barry 

Producer, writer, editor: Kamogelo Kungwane 

Music: Black Powder dark Trap Beat (PixaBay) 

Sound effects: Vuvuzela sounds; Cape Verde vs South Africa AFCON 2023 Match Highlights (YouTube video); Tshabalala vs Mexico Goal celebration (YouTube video)