Beating around the Bosch

with

Dear Reader,

Pravin Gordhan spent his life serving his country, first as an anti-apartheid activist and then as one of state capture’s most vocal opponents after he was fired from his position as finance minister in 2017.

His unmoving loyalty to living in service of South Africa has garnered reverence from across the country, now polished and given an extra shine by his recent passing.

When someone passes away, it is the resounding impact that they have made that comes to define them. Their loudest echoes are what is heard years after their death, and the rest of the noise and bustle of their day-to-day life, their worries and fears, quarrels with their spouse and dinners with their in-laws, all fade away.

Here are some echoes that we still hear.

James Earl Jones 

January 17, 1931 - September 9, 2024 

Some may call him the voice of their childhood – he voiced both Mufasa in The Lion King and Darth Vader in Star Wars.

Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson

July 9, 1947 - April 10, 2024

Representing a milestone in the dramatisation of the news, the trial of O.J. Simpson was watched by millions as if it was a reality TV show – fitting, considering it launched the fame of the Kardashians (Robert Kardashian was his defence attorney).

Donald Sutherland 

17 July 1935 - 20 June 2024

With a career spanning more than half a century, he is renowned for his diverse roles in films and shows such as M*A*S*H, The Hunger Games, and Don’t Look Now. He put the “act” in activism, protesting against the Vietnam War alongside Jane Fonda.

Sandile ‘Mapaputsi’ Ngwenya

The Kwaito legend who fused pantsula, pop and hip hop with kwaito, making unforgettable contributions to the South African music scene.

Nicola Amon, newsletter editor

Visual of the Week

📸Some BTS from SMF News’ Aurelia Mouton:

This photo happened by accident, as most of my photos do. I intended to take photos of Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), the venue where the International Youth Think Tank (IYTT) would be hosted, but I ended up having such an insightful and surprisingly fun conversation with Professor Urban Strandberg. He had all the energy of the youth delegates under his guidance, along with the wisdom of a well-seasoned academic. He was expressive, witty, and open; the perfect subject for a quick snap profile. I chose this photo because I truly believe that Strandberg represents all the values of the IYTT and the Nobel Symposium.

Read the story here

📚Good reads from SMF News this week📚

First female dean for SU arts faculty

A recent article by Bayanda Gumede reports that Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has named Professor Vasti Roodt as its first female dean, starting January 2025. Following her appointment, various role players have praised her for her dedication to engage with students.

New ‘hope haven’ for refugees and asylum seekers at SU

Ntokozo Khumalo reports that Rahma Djuma and Juliet Saleh have created the SU Refugee and Asylum Seeker Student Support Network (SU-RASN) at Stellenbosch University to support refugee and asylum seeker students and to raise awareness about their unique challenges.

Maties win silver at e-sports championships

Stellenbosch University's e-sports team finished second in the University Sport South Africa E-Sports Championships, reports Eugene Marais. This was after team selections were impacted by a rescheduling of the tournament.

🎶What we’re listening to:

Word of the Week

Venerable [Ven-err-uh-bull]

~An individual or institution that is respected and revered, sometimes because of achievement, intelligence, or character; but just as often as a result of being around a long time.

“One need not be a venerable figure to make a mark on this earth, only determined.”