Our former editor, Sylvia Vollenhoven, is a firm believer that telling our stories in our own voices is essential to building a healthy democracy. She advocates that storytelling enhances individual well-being and that it is connected to each person discovering their destiny. This section on our website is rooted in this approach.

“Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter”.
~ African Proverb

The Journalist’s sub-section Kau Kauru, roughly translated to “making a noise with voices” in the /Xam language of the Bushman people of the Northern Cape, is home to the voices of students across South African universities.

The pieces in this section are as diverse as the various melodies in any choir. To celebrate our 100th edition, we will be sharing our most viewed stories and some of the unique pieces from this section. These range from features, personal stories and opinion pieces.

One of the most viewed pieces on our website is a feature on Siya Xuza by Keabetse Magano. In this piece Magano perfectly documents the events which led to Xuza having a star named after him. The second piece we share is a collective opinion piece by various students on xenophobia. This story captures how they felt about the xenophobic attacks which erupted in Durban a few years ago.

Allowance is not only a stipend received in the confines of households and work spaces. A piece by Nothando Hlophe, Growing demand for girlfriend allowances,  is a feature looking at Vat ‘n Sit 21st Century style.

Kau Kauru also contains pieces of art. In this edition we carry a poem by Khotso Dineo Mashile titled ‘I am a South African’. In this art piece, Mashile pens down her views on how identity is deeper than race.

Finally, we share a piece on one of the biggest stories of our generation. The call for free education has been one of the most significant protest movements in democratic South Africa. Lessons of fees must fall is an analysis piece by Trevor Shaku.

Kau Kauru has also carried the voices of contributors who told stories which would have been suppressed, ignored or left untold by many. These range from body shaming, mental illnesses, the #MeToo movement and sexuality. If we could, we would have republished them all. Do take time to read these incredible pieces.

Long may the voices in this section be heard. May they continue to be loud, make a noise and to disrupt comfortable narratives which remain silenced. May they echo well into the next 100 editions.