Beating around the Bosch

with

Dear Reader,

Welcome back to the grind! We’re a week ahead of most of you, and while you were eking out your last dregs of reprieve, we got busy oiling the cogs of the truth-telling machine. This was lubricated by a fascinating lecture by Max du Preez, who told us how he invested every cent he had in starting Vryeweekblad, so broke that they asked members of a gang to source computers for them. We cranked into (reluctant) action by being asked to form groups and pitch an idea for a documentary in two days – I think it’s safe to say we are now blasting full steam ahead. 

Monday started with a workshop hosted by Wilhelm Verwoerd and Ayanda Nyoka, an initiative started by the Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and Reparative Quest (AVReQ). This initiative aims to transform the culture at Stellenbosch University, however it was clear that it does this by healing people individually. With our desks pushed against the walls of the classroom, and our chairs arranged in a circle, we shared stories of family members – some no longer with us. There were tears shed by those sharing stories, and more shed by the empaths in our class. There was also laughing. This proved to be quite a blow for Ubaid, our multimedia editor, who laughed so hard he fell backwards off of his chair.

Starting this week, therapy may have been more necessary than we all expected. This week we started shooting for our documentaries (which will be screened at the Neelsie Cinema on 6 August). As usual, we had to become fairly adept at new and unfamiliar skills in a matter of days. This time it was handling tripods, sound equipment and valuable video cameras, which felt much like handling a newborn baby – a wondrous, yet utterly terrifying experience. With two cameras shared between six groups and a week to film, all of us equally frantic, I am surprised we came out the other end of this week unscathed, and still one big happy family (I think).

Nicola Amon, newsletter editor

Visual of the Week

📸Some BTS from SMF News’ Aurelia Mouton:

This photo almost didn’t happen. The doors to the Conservatorium, where the photo was taken, were locked and at first I couldn’t get in. Luckily I had a very charismatic classmate with me who convinced a staff member to let us in. They were kind enough to take us to one of the instrument storage rooms and show us this shiny trombone. I took this photo laying on my stomach on the floor and with my camera battery on its final leg. The rest is history.

Read the story here

📚Good reads from SMF News this week📚

SASSA withdraws assistance in Cloetesville

The gang violence in Cloetesville has resulted in the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) no longer making use of the Eikestad Hall, located on Lang Road in Cloetesville. Lara Smith spoke to Mario Slingers on the issue of gang violence in the Cloetesville community.

Kayamandi’s AmaZink celebrates Mandela Day with book fair

AmaZink Live, a restaurant and events venue in Kayamandi, recently hosted a book fair in celebration of Mandela Day, where locals of Kayamandi could collect books and stationery that had been donated to AmaZink. Sherie Vollenhoven spoke to Kay Mhlakaza, operations manager at Amazink, about the inspiration behind the event and the impact it had on the community.

Die Bloemhof Accelerando Koor wen Europese trofee

Mandisa Maphisa het met die kultuurbestuurder van die Hoër Meisieskool Bloemhof (HMBS) gepraat oor die trofee wat die Accelerando Koor in Europa gewen het. Die koor is ook vereer as die koor met die beste stemtegniek.

Grammy winner debuts at SU Conservatorium

The Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival recently celebrated its 19th annual iteration at the Stellenbosch University Conservatorium. Aurelia Mouton interviewed Grammy Award winning conductor, Michael Repper, on his South African debut performance at the festival.

🎶What we’re listening to:

Word of the Week

Sequacious (si-KWAY-shuss)

~ Given to following another person, especially without reason

“We aim to never be sequacious in our truth-telling”