Often, we speak about the “legacy of Apartheid” in loose terms without interrogating what it really means for apartheid to persist in real ways in our modern contemporary society. We tend to focus on Apartheid in its most vivid form of oppression, and celebrate the events of 1994’s transition to democracy as an absolute victory. But have we ever stopped to discuss Apartheid in its intricacy; its more nuanced and subliminal form that would suggest that the victory we venerate as absolute, wasn’t the all-out win for South Africans that it painted to be? 

In this episode, we sit down with renowned academic and thought leader, Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh to discuss an important pillar of South Africa’s democratic state: freedom. He walks us through the idea of freedom we maintain to this day, versus the detailed reality of what it actually is, as outlined in his most recent book “The New Apartheid” and why the deliberate ommission of nuance in its real definition is detrimental to our pursuit of it. This is supported by potential reasons for why we maintain this idea of freedom, as well as how we ought to look at it if we are to build an absolute democracy. 

Special Note: We apologise for the inconsistency in sound quality during this episode, as well as the technical difficulties (40:00) we ran into while recording. 

Buy The New Apartheid by Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh here: https://www.exclusivebooks.co.za/product/9780624088547 

Hosts: Thami Pooe- https://www.linkedin.com/in/thami-pooe/ Guest: Dr Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh- https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sizwe-mpofu-walsh-128a0563/ 

Crew: 
Executive Producer: Thami Pooe. 
Marketing & Operations: Mokoena Moloto. 
Production Coordinator: Thabo S. Masilela. 
Videography: Altru Visuals. 
Video Editing: Yanga Mazwai (Altru Visuals). 
Audio-Mixing: Thato Motsusi. 

Special Thanks To: University of Johannesburg Library. 

 "We have to go from what is essentially an industrial model of education, a manufacturing model, which is based on linearity and conformity and batching people. We have to move to a model that is based on more principles of agriculture. We have to recognize that human flourishing is not a mechanical process- it's an organic process. And you cannot predict the outcome of human development. All you can do, like a farmer, is create the conditions under which they will begin to flourish."- Sir Ken Robinson

 This is the concept that sets the foundation for this special episode of Tshimong Talks. A conversation about the changing needs of education in the Technological Era, and what we as South Africa and our education system should do to meet those needs. 

In this episode, we speak to Tshimong Co-founder, Professional Learning Designer and Educational Researcher, Bongani Masilela. We have a conversation about the needs of 21st Century education, while reflecting on the pitfalls of the current system. Bongani takes us through his research and experience in technological education and how this could be a solution to our current problems. 

Debating has long been viewed and used as a tool to build skills such as critical thinking, among others needed to grow as a citizen of one’s country, and the world at large. Among the youth of South Africa, for decades, it has played an imperative role in building them up to be the most efficient versions of themselves and citizens geared with the knowledge needed rebuild our beautiful nation

In this episode, our hosts Busi Mkhumbuzi-Pooe and Thami Pooe, are joined by two seasoned debaters, and Tshimong’s own alumni: Sthembiso Mathenjwa and Munaka Munyai as they share with us how debating played its part in their lives through new methods of educating themselves and others; garnering a sense of citizenship and a patriotic loyalty to their country; as well as what it has done for their personal transformation.

CREDITS

Hosts
Thami Pooe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thami-pooe/
Busi Mkhumbuzi-Pooe: https://www.linkedin.com/in/busisiwem...

Guests
Sithembiso Mathenjwa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sthembiso...
Munaka Munyai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/munaka-mu... 

Crew
Executive Producer: Thami Pooe
Marketing & Operations: Mokoena Moloto
Production Coordinator: Thabo S. Masilela
Videography: Altru Visuals
Video Editing: Yanga Mazwai (Altru Visuals)
Audio-Mixing: Thato Motsusi

Special Thanks To: University of Johannesburg Library