Litnet

"When we discussed the idea of the book and chat club, we imagined books as a way for people to connect – a way to say 'hello' from South Africa to Ukraine. That’s how this project was born."

Andile Bhali attended the Etienne van Heerden Veldsoirée from 25 to 27 July 2025. Here is a selection of his photographs.

"Africa is not merely a matter of geography. It is a wound still healing, a question still posed, a promise yet unfulfilled. For those of us who believe in her future, that work of memory and of resistance remains unfinished."

"Feeling overwhelmed with all the shows on offer? Here is a list of highly rated shows to watch, covering varying genres."

"[M]emory, especially in societies shaped by violence and historical injustice, is never singular or linear. It is shaped by power, trauma, resistance, silence and ongoing struggles for recognition. Memory is often contested and fragmented, because different groups remember differently, and what is remembered or forgotten is deeply political."

You are warmly invited to a panel discussion on Postcolonial opera, William Kentridge and the unbounded work of art by Juliana M Pistorius.

"The dangers of the queer hook-up scene are at the heart of this psychological thriller, and as it unravels, the audience bears witness to how a case of sexual assault inspires a Grindr serial killer."

"The book succeeds admirably in mapping the spiritual geography of our black lives, especially how our indigenous cosmology, shaped by centuries of ancestral wisdom, gradually morphed into what is now termed 'religion' with the advent of Christian missionaries."

"Ultimately, I think all stories are fundamentally stories of power. Power is at the very heart of drama and conflict. There are those who have it and those who want it. I can’t think of a short story I have written that didn’t explore power in some way. The most interesting power struggles are those that characters experience inside themselves."

On the railway takes readers through South Africa’s rich railway history, from Estcourt to the grand steam engines on narrow gauges. David Williams highlights luxurious trains like the White and Blue Trains, and the vital role of goods trains in the economy. He explores engineering feats that tamed tough terrains and the growth of railway towns. The book also addresses racial segregation, the decline of the rail network, and reflects on the past and uncertain future of South African railways.

"I see electricity as a character as well, as the story accentuates the power of electricity by showing how it controls and affects life. Lack or scarcity of electricity disrupts society and causes issues that affect everyone. Electricity empowers and connects people; it’s a power that nobody should be denied."

"Paige uses her real-life Good Book Appreciation Society (GBAS) page, which she founded on Facebook, as a cornerstone of Book people. At the moment, GBAS has almost 24 000 members who post their opinions/reviews of books they have read, often sparking heated debates about personal likes and dislikes."

"I will return to the Veldsoirée because it serves this purpose. It is a safe space for expression, sharing of knowledge and engagement with people smart, critical and open to dialogue."

Cape Town Opera brings Rossini’s beloved comic masterpiece The Barber of Seville to Theatre on the Bay from 5 to 17 August 2025 in a vibrant new production directed by acclaimed theatre-maker Sylvaine Strike.

"We are so blessed to live in a country with minds like the ones encountered here."

"As for escapism, the literary world has always been an excellent, reliable form of escape. Not only can you lose yourself in a riveting scene in the right chapter, but that form of escape also happens to expand your mind with words you’ve never encountered (and have to google), perspectives you’ve never considered – with a new world of intellectual curiosities."

"Significant reform and skills improvement are needed if more deterioration in service delivery and public trust is to be avoided, but the political obstacles to municipal reform are significant. Many municipalities experience regular turnovers of mayors and senior officials, often due to party infighting, especially within coalitions."

"Humour, in my story, was used as a tool to lighten what could otherwise be considered a volatile social issue, while still taking the bull by the horns."

"[I]f you wouldn’t put it on a billboard, you should not let it exist in digital format. Digital content is vulnerable content; it is dangerous content, it can be recorded, it can be shared."

"I love humour in books. Especially the 'tongue-in-cheek' variety. There’s even more to come in book two. I think it’s important to balance some of the darker aspects of the thriller genre with moments of levity."