Some Burn Too Bright: Remembering Tshidiso Moletsane

The winner of the 2022 Sunday Times Award and finalist of the UJ Prize for South African Writing, Tshidiso Moletsane’s novel Junx (2021) made an indelible mark on the South African literary scene with its powerful portrayal of a young Black man frantically attempting to escape his mental anguish while roaming the nightly streets of Johannesburg, sinking deeper and deeper into his own depression, yet never losing his self-deprecating humour. Far from being a city of gold, the Joburg of Junx is “a city in enormous discomfort, a city in mourning” (94) —a city symbolic of larger struggles that continue to shape Black life in South Africa. As it offers an unflinching lens onto post-apartheid society, Junx ultimately suggests that the consequences of white supremacy, anti-Blackness, and racial inequality are nothing less than devastating for poor Black South African youth

Selective Violence-Blindness in the Word and the World: Analysing Roots, Exploring Interventions

While, in theory, largely opposed to violence, the Church, conceived broadly, has historically and in contemporary times been complicit in the legitimation of various forms of violence. To makes sense of this, this paper theorises the concept of selective violence-blindness as a phenomenon operating within the church to legitimise violence enacted upon certain bodies. It does this through analysing and drawing connections between two examples. The first highlights hegemonic readings of Hagar’s story in Genesis 16 to highlight selective violence-blindness in engagements with “the word”. The second centres hegemonic readings of the genocide in Gaza to highlight selective violence-blindness in engagements with “the world”. The paper begins with an exploration of these phenomena. It then offers a framework with which to analyse some of the factors producing this selective violence-blindness. Subsequently, the paper names and analyses three of these factors: coloniality, theological grand narratives, and a failure to recognise discourses as sites of struggle. Finally, drawing on scholars of black theology, Palestinian liberation theology, and black feminism, the paper proposes ways of addressing these factors through liberatory readings of both “the word” and “the world” that make visible and problematise the violence enacted upon certain bodies

An Analytical Review of Kim Berman’s Art Therapy Training in South Africa: Pedagogical Strategies for Social Action During and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic

Recent interest amongst local and international art therapists in the expediency of art therapy in the advancement of social justice, has grown. This paper offers a critical review of Kim Berman’s most recent chapter in the Routledge Handbook of Arts and Global Development, published in August 2024. The paper summarises Berman’s pedagogical philosophies of social action within the context of the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) pioneering art therapy (AT) programme which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it offers insights into Berman’s selected methodology and the findings thereof. The paper seeks to provide an overview of Berman’s work, emphasising her contribution to the pedagogy of art therapy and social justice. Limitations are briefly discussed, and suggestions for future investigation offered

Effects of Non-Tariff Measures on Agricultural Export Performance in COMESA

Both classical and neo-classical economists have long held the convention that free trade is a significant generator of welfare of nations. Despite, the exploitation and discriminatory application of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs) as some form of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), which are an alternative to tariffs, has substantially expanded and is persistently constraining the path towards absolute free trade. This growing incidence has invoked the recognition of the compelling need to enhance the transparency of existing NTMs and promote research on their impact in developing countries as well as within and outside regional groupings such as COMESA. This study employs the gravity model to study the effects of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) measures on intra-COMESA exports. The findings indicate that NTMs have diverse effects on exports within the COMESA region. On one end, SPS measures are export enhancing whilst TBT measures negatively affect intra-COMESA agricultural export volumes. Given the results of this research, COMESA members are encouraged to reduce the application of TBT measures in order to stimulate exports within the bloc, and to expand the application of SPS measures so as to promote the trade in agricultural products

Strategic Curriculum Redesign: A Triad Approach with Action-Mapping, Design Thinking, and Change Management

As new academics within a university’s CTL unit, we were assigned to teach the core module (Foundations) for the Certificate of Teaching in Higher Education. Recognizing that the existing course fell short of desired standards, consistency, and rigor, we initiated a deliberate process of improvement. In this practice paper, we present a single case study that demonstrates how the fusion of action mapping and design thinking facilitated change management, ultimately leading to a redesigned Certificate. Our approach leveraged Cathy Moore’s action-mapping model, which proved transformative. By combining it with Design Thinking principles, we created a structured, learner-centric framework for curriculum design - one that fosters active and engaging learning experiences. At its core, action-mapping involves identifying performance-based objectives, designing relevant activities, and integrating formative feedback. Throughout this process, we navigated the challenges of change management - consulting stakeholders, addressing resistance, and ensuring buy-in from faculty. The redesign process yielded a revised Foundations module (focused on didactics), an additional core module (Learning by Design, emphasizing pedagogy), and a completely revamped Certificate. This creative and sometimes ‘messy’ process aligned curriculum design with the practical challenges faced by lecturers, leading us as curriculum designers on an enriching journey of self-discovery. The implications of this integrated approach go beyond this case study and offer guidelines and a framework that can be adopted by other higher education institutions to navigate curriculum redesign. The alignment of performance outcomes, design empathy, and strategic change management principles facilitate curriculum innovation, particularly in response to evolving educational standards and student expectations

‘Living Rugged, Dying Brutal’: Understanding Gang Lifeworlds through Death

This study examined death rituals as a frame to understanding the meaning of life and the afterlife from the perspective of gang members, and how these meanings frame the violent sub-culture of gangs. Utilizing a case study analysis of the Iceland and Deebam gangs, the two leading gangs in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, we identified a collection of material and non-material deathrituals which are separately embedded in the ideological orientations as well as practical activities of both gangs. Our findings showed that the meaning of life and death is drawn from a belief system that holds a promise of ‘life after death’ or of ‘dead gang members having lasting feasts with their gods’. Such post-death privileges are believed to be a reward for gang loyalty often manifestedthrough the ‘ruggedity’ or ‘brutality’ of the deceased gang members while alive. This implies that upon demise, membership and social status of gang members transcend to the afterlife. We argued that it is these belief systems amongst gang members that frame the forms of death rituals that are usually characterized by swearing by the gods, promise of revenge and other forms of rugged or brutal show of violence that incentivizes/sustains the violent sub-culture and precarity of the gang life

Confronting Toxic Masculinity in South African Society: A Review of Jeffery Rakabe’s Led by Shepherds: An Initiate’s Memoir (Jacana Media 2025)

As South Africans, we have all wondered what lessons are imparted during initiation; how do they help boys become men? While it is common lore to protect the challenges that young boys face, the protection means that it also gets clouded in silence, making it difficult to interrogate its effectiveness

Exploring Critical Measures for Developing Market Intelligence Culture in Construction Companies

In today\u27s highly competitive environment, integrating market intelligence (MI) is paramount to enhancing organisational decision-making processes. Despite its significance, measures for improving MI culture remain underexplored in the construction marketing literature. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify critical measures for improving MI culture within construction companies. Employing a sequential exploratory mixed-method approach, twelve key measures were initially derived from exploratory interviews and subsequently validated through an extensive review of relevant literature. The 215 construction companies that assessed these measures classified them as either \u27very critical\u27 or \u27critical.\u27 Factor analysis identified \u27top management commitment\u27 and \u27active internal marketing\u27 as the principal measures. It is recommended that construction companies allocate sufficient financial, technological, and human resources to nurture and sustain a strong MI culture. Furthermore, companies should view employees as internal customers, recognising their crucial role in improving MI culture. By fostering a robust MI culture, construction companies can strengthen decision-making capabilities and secure a competitive advantage through more accurate forecasting of market trends, customer preferences, and optimised pricing strategies. This study is the first to explore this subject within the construction industry, laying a foundation for future research