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A certain milestone
Stellen-Buzz with SMF
August 15, 2025
Dear reader,
A new physiological phenomenon was discovered in the BAHons Journalism class this week. Some of us have developed caffeine immunity, or, at least, a very strong resistance. The amount of coffee being consumed at the moment is not serving its purpose anymore and, as students, the financial supply is not meeting the demand.
Despite the incessant tiredness, we have reason to celebrate – we are finally done with our last-ever news week! No more desperate mid-week scrambles to find stories to write about, and no more disappointed sighs from our news editor, Ishmael. We are officially moving on to bigger things, i.e. the SMF Project. Picture 26 novice journalists completing both a website and print project in under two months. Truly inspiring and not at all frightening.
This week, we were producing news under the guidance of Carina van Wyk, a misinformation expert and former head of education at Africa Check. In addition to the thorough checking of all our articles, she also gave us a lunch-hour talk about the dangers of dis- and misinformation. In the spirit of truth and transparency, I must clarify that the first sentence of this newsletter is intentionally hyperbolic. But we will nevertheless be extremely grateful for a large donation of Nespresso pods to the journalism department.
By the end of this week, SMF News will host an article on every imaginable happening that has occurred around Stellenbosch in the past 10 days (except the ones wrapped in too much red tape…). Please enjoy the sufficient update.
Anke Spies, newsletter editor.
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The weekly rundown:
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Three local pro-Palestinian groups recently hosted their first collaborative picket to raise awareness about the human rights crisis in Palestine. This is according to Alia Timol, founder of Palestine Somerset West Solidarity Team. |  By Lienke Norval |
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 Deur Kobus Erasmus | Die Departement Afrikaans en Nederlands het onlangs ’n middaguurgesprek gehou met professor Mark Sanders, ’n professor in die vergelykende letterkunde aan die Universiteit van New York. |
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’n Toneelstuk van Hoërskool Parel Vallei is onlangs as die beste produksie by ’n plaaslike toneelfees aangewys. |  Deur Danielle Schaafsma |
Visual of the week
The heart of a community
“Langrug Community Centre opened as a soup kitchen in 2012, according to Janet Johnson, chairperson of the centre. ‘There were people in the community who identified that children weren’t getting hot meals, decent food, during the weekends,’ said Johnson. ‘That was where the idea of a soup kitchen began and, since then, it’s just grown and grown and grown.’”
By Reid Donson
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A challenge for the last news week:
“The Cloetesville Library recently honoured its top 3 readers in both their children’s and adult categories. All together, the top readers have borrowed 240 books from the library so far this year! That’s truly incredible. I thought it was important to highlight this good news that comes from Cloetesville. I also decided to write this article in Afrikaans, making it my first attempt at writing in Afrikaans. This was more challenging than expected, but I have no regrets!”
- Hannah Abrahams
Get to know me!
What is your favourite song and who is your favourite artist?
Elohim Adonai by David Dam.
What is your favourite film?
I have a lot of faves. The last one I enjoyed was Lift.
What is your favourite book, and what are you currently reading?
My favorite is To Hate Adam Connor by Ella Maise. I am currently reading Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper.
What is your favourite place you’ve ever visited and why?
Mozambique, specifically Inhaca Island. The Indian Ocean is sooo warm you can swim all day, and the friends I made during that trip literally set my standards high.
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Queen Vashti, so that I can give her her flowers.
If you weren’t studying journalism, what would you be doing?
Studying Media: Conception and Production at Hochschule RheinMain and working in film.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
When I feel extremely stressed to the point that I can’t handle it anymore, I change the appearance of stuff, i.e., cut my hair, rearrange my bedroom, declutter my wardrobe.
What is your current guilty pleasure?
Watching The Ramsey Show on YouTube. Listening to people’s problems makes me feel good about myself.
What do you do if you’re not busy working?
Video calling my family and annoying them.
What do you want to achieve this year?
I need to get my driving license, hey.
What we’re watching: | What we’re listening to: |
 | My Way Frank Sinatra  |
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