South Africa must shift from consumption to investment

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan says South Africa’s economic growth is inadequate, and the government must shift from a culture of consumption to investment. He was addressing the public on South Africa’s national development imperatives whilst ensuring fiscal sustainability – challenges and choices – at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on Thursday, 25 April 2013

Lights! Camera! Action! Eusebius McKaizer’s UJ visit on Kwêla

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) hosted author, presenter and political analyst Eusebius McKaizer to discuss his book, A Bantu In My Bathroom, on 23 and 24 April 2013. This is part of the UJReads campaign that aims to encourage the UJ community to read the same book and participate in a discussion

The future is now : new roles and relationships for academic libraries

Welcome to this very exciting conference focusing on the changing roles and relationships of academic libraries which goes hand in hand with the rapid development of information technology. Last year, when we started planning for the conference we came to the conclusion that the title ‘The Future is Now’ expresses our experience of being overtaken by technology, in a unique and innovative way. However, when we did a Google search on the phrase we found that it was a widely used phrase which gives expression to the global village’s experience that developments which we thought lie in the future are overtaking us as a result of the rapid development of Internet and mobile technologies. Despite its lack of originality, we decided to stick to the title, because there was no better way of saying what we wanted to say. I repeated the Google search about a year later, when I was busy writing this welcome note to you, and this time carefully noted the number of hits: 128 000 000. Most significantly I found two websites relating to the impact of information technology on the world of libraries within the first 20 hits. One was the website of an eponymous ALA conference on libraries and museums in the virtual word held on 5 and 6 March 2010 (http://www.opal-online.org/finindex.htm). The conference dealt with the use of Second Life in libraries and museums. The other was an article on the launch of Elsevier’s ‘Article of the Future‘ project (http://www.cell.com) on 7 January 2010. Both these hits underlined the impact of technology on our world and the need to consider the way forward as a result of it. George Will said that ‘the future has a way of arriving unannounced’. It is the sincere hope of the Conference Organising Committee that this conference will help prevent the future of taking us unawares. We believe that your presence here will inspire and motivate you to explore the new technologies and harness it to sustain and improve on academic libraries’ proud tradition and history of moving with the times. - Dr Anette van Vuren, Conference Chair

Armed and dangerous : from undercover struggle to freedom

The Department of Politics in partnership with the Library and Information Centre cordially hosted a discussion with Ronnie Kasrils based on his book – Armed and dangerous – from undercover struggle to freedom. “Now in its fourth edition, Armed and dangerous is the first-hand account of Kasrils’s years in both the liberation struggle and in government.

Miners shot down : a documentary on the Marikana massacre by Rehad Desai

A documentary on the Marikana massacre by Rehad Desai Followed by a discussion: Marikana – what it means for South Africa’s Future? Panelists for the discussion: Prof Peter Alexander, South Africa Research Chair in Social Change, University of Johannesburg Prof Mary Galvin, Department of Anthropology and Development, University of Johannesburg Mr Ronnie Kasril

A discussion with Ahmed Kathrada - based on his memoirs

Ahmed Kathrada’s Memoirs give an insight into his remarkable life during which he observed and actively participated in the shaping of South Africa’s history

Book discussion: Justice: a personal account by Judge Edwin Cameron

The UJ Faculty of Law in partnership with the UJ Library would like to invite you to meet Judge Edwin Cameron, the author of the book: Justice: A Personal Account Cameron worked as a human rights lawyer during apartheid and was appointed a judge to the South Africa’s Constitutional court since January 2009. In his book he critically examines and defends the role of law in South Africa’s continuing transition drawing on his own life experience including childhood, hardships, struggles with sexuality and stigma

Towards social and economic inclusion of youth in a post-Covid era : invitation

The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) and the University of Johannesburg jointly hosted a three-part webinar series to highlight the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns on young people’s lives. As well, it considers solutions for their social and economic inclusion in the post-COVID recovery period. The brochure describes the webinar and participating presenters