Litnet

As we move into the busy festive season, aware that this is a challenging time for many, the AVBOB Poetry Project celebrates the work of Stephanie Saunders, a poet whose work gently makes fun of human beings’ desire for power, love and certainty. Her debut collection, Open Stephanie, was published by Peter Slingsby earlier in 2024.

"Over the past few weeks water services in Cradock in the Eastern Cape highlighted the plight of small towns when these services fail. It is reminiscent of a water sector adage that 'the problem is not the pipes; it’s the institutions that manage the pipes'."

"But ultimately what helped me uncover Fairuz and all my characters in general, was working to discover our shared humanity." Trudy van Rooy gesels met Naomi Meyer oor haar rol in die kykNET Silwerskermfees-film Hier.Na, wat vanaf 16 Desember 2024 op DStv BoxOffice vir stroming beskikbaar is.

"Map cards for Africa is basically built on three narrative levels: firstly, the story of Ilze Brüggemann’s reconstruction of a postcard collection, which belonged to her grandmother with the same name; secondly, the clarification of terminology regarding postcards, stamps and maps; and thirdly, a lesson in history and geography, mostly in the South African context."

"Polite society is very much concerned with the appearance of things – how things seem to be – and not how things really are. Therefore, polite society is living a non-reality in real time and making the thing that is not real seem real, and that act of alchemy actually makes a lot of violence that everyone has to be silent about, otherwise the illusion will be destroyed."

Sarah Scrimgeour en Jac Hamman, regisseurs van die animasieprent Tabby McTat, ’n verwerking van Julia Donaldson en Axel Scheffler se gelyknamige prenteboek, gesels met Maryke Roberts: "Oor die algemeen probeer ons om ’n film te maak wat toeganklik is, maar nie afgewater is op enige vlak nie."

The late Hugh Hodge, founder and for many years master of ceremonies at Off the Wall (Cape Town’s longest-running poetry platform), was a master of this form. For many years, he sent a haiku via SMS to his friends almost every day. Although as yet unpublished, they are fondly remembered by those who knew and loved Hugh.

"Who would not be angry? One day, you are descended from royalty; the next day, you are a nobody with absolutely no idea who your parents are."

"Almost everyone in the book, including the unreliable narrator, is delusional in their own unique ways. As the causes of delusion are revealed, we see that at the head of the hydra’s hands of delusion is the greatest delusion this country has ever undertaken: apartheid."

To usher in the summer, the Baxter’s festive season line-up for 2024 features comedy, music and dance with top South African artists, culminating in the hugely popular and exciting New Year’s Eve party on 31 December.   

"At this juncture in our country’s history, the words of Thomas Hardy come to mind when one thinks of the Springboks: 'Happiness is but an occasional episode in a general drama of pain.' Thanks to the Springboks for being the happiness in our lives."

"What I didn’t know was that when I arrived in Amsterdam, Breyten was wandering around Hillbrow with a false French passport and the assumed identity of Christian Galaska."

Download the complete Summer School brochure here. The Summer School has added four free sessions to the programme. Most of the authors are UCT alumni and staff. This will give you an opportunity to meet and engage with them.

In The truth about Cape slavery, Patric Tariq Mellet argues that modern South Africa – its economy and politics – is shaped and established on the foundation of chattel slavery just like the United States of America. Cape slavery, rather than minor, was a crucial feature of maritime capitalism. This then moved to become the cornerstone of the Cape’s agricultural economy. Read an excerpt here.

"How and when will we find the simplification and Google Understanding Translate to help overcome the language and lexicon barriers to human understanding of universal or global issues?"

"As a government agency, we take our mandate from our country’s Constitution to work actively and diligently toward implementing social cohesion, human rights, equity, equality and the mainstreaming of accessibility for all persons impaired by disabilities, among other duties."

The Springboks made history in France in 2023 when they became the only team to win the Webb Ellis Trophy four times. Who can forget how the Boks won by only one point in three games? Released on the anniversary of this milestone, Twice the glory by Lloyd Burnard and Khanyiso Tshwaku investigates how this remarkable victory was achieved.

Graham Hopkins gesels met Maryke Roberts oor My fair lady wat van 12 Desember tot 12 Januarie in die Kunstekaap Operahuis opgevoer word voor dit na Johannesburg en Durban reis: "Kuns is universeel en goeie kuns weerspieël die mensdom, onbeperk deur tyd en konteks. Ons moet ’n eng, hier-en-nou beoordeling van teater vermy."

It is with deep sorrow that the Breytenbach family announces the passing of Breyten Breytenbach earlier today, Sunday 24 November 2024.