Dear Humanities Colleagues

This week we celebrated Youth Day (16 June 2020) and a number of our colleagues published pieces commenting on the rise and role of the youth, especially during this pandemic. Here is our latest list of media highlights: 

 • Siona O’Connell’s (School of the Arts) documentary “The Wynberg 7: An Intolerable Amnesia” was part of the “IOLYouth Day Film Festival: Pause and watch your rise” and she was interviewed about the film and its impact on Radio 786  

 • Karen-Leigh Harris (History) appeared on Aubrey Masango’s show on 702 in the podcast “Kwantu Feature – Mfecane/Difaqane Wards” 

 • Abdi Samatar (Political Sciences) appeared on Newzroom Afrika and eNCA to discuss his article “America’s Mirror Image: South Africa!” published on the UP website

 • Reineth Prinsloo’s (Social Work and Criminology) article on “Abandoned babies: Early intervention and care can help prevent abandonment” was published on the UP website and her piece was quoted in “COVID-19 hampers installation of more baby safes around Durban” on IOL and “Baby safe moved to allay fears” in the Daily News

 • Debjyoti Ghosh’s (Sociology) article “To drink or not to drink – that is not the question: Alcohol consumption in India and South Africa in the time of COVID 19” was published in Sexuality Policy Watch

 • Sithembile Mbete’s (Political Sciences) opinion piece “Why high hopes over Electoral Act judgement are misplaced” was published in the Business Day she also appeared on eNCA to analyse President Ramaphosa’s address on the new lockdown regulations

 • UP Archives launched the #UPStaySafe competition to capture life during the lockdown – the competition runs from 22 May – 22 June 2020

I would also like to draw your attention to some publications members of our Faculty have been involved in:

 • Antony Goedhals (English) published a new book “The Neo-Buddhist Writings of Lafcadio Hearn: Light from the East”

 • CSA&G launched two publications at a virtual Youth Day event Just Leaders and Social Justice Stories: Young People Reflect on HIV, Sexualities, Gender, Race and Inequality.

I would also like to acknowledge Alf Nilsen (Sociology) who was awarded a NIHSS grant to pursue a research project to study “Growth, Inequality and Protest in a Rising South: Mapping the New Political Economy of Global Development”.