UP Journals (Univ. of Pretoria)
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Prayers, Politics, and Peace: the Role of Religious Institutions in Conflict Onset and Prevention in Mozambique and Tanzania
No full textThis study examines the divergent trajectories of Islamist militancy in Mozambique and Tanzania by analysing the role of formal and informal religious institutions in conflict onset and prevention. While Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province has been engulfed in a protracted insurgency since 2017, neighbouring Tanzania has largely avoided sustained terrorist violence despite similar risk factors. The study traces the historical evolution of Islamic governance along the Swahili coast, the marginalisation of Muslim communities under colonial rule and the post-independence establishment of national Islamic councils. It argues that institutional decay and fragmentation in Mozambique created a vacuum exploited by extremist actors, while internal reform and strategic engagement by Tanzania’s Islamic council (BAKWATA) helped foster religious cohesion and mitigate violence. By highlighting the importance of institutional credibility, inclusivity and alignment between formal and informal religious actors, the study offers critical insights into how religious governance structures can contribute to or help prevent the escalation of violent extremism in fragile contexts
Media coverage of sidelined voices (youth, women, and persons with disabilities): Magnifying the political environment during Namibia’s 2024 elections
No full textThe 2024 Namibian election cycle was marked by a series of intriguing dynamics that influenced the country\u27s political landscape. Central to the 2024 electoral period is the political parties’ manifestos, often regarded as the most important document in an election year. As the election date approached, the combination of delayed manifestos, unresolved party disputes, and a fragmented political landscape raised significant questions about the future of Namibia\u27s democracy. Challenges experienced by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) on the 27 November 2024 resulted in President Nangolo Mbumba extending the election period. The ruling delivered on 28 February 2025 is expected to shape future electoral processes in Namibia. Following a closely contested election which saw the ruling party lose its majority by a large margin, and with analysts predicting loss of power for the party in the next election, what will the party do differently to ensure electoral victory in 2029? Will it be ‘business as usual’, or will there be an improvement in the material conditions of the ordinary person? This paper examines Namibia’s 2024 elections coverage of young people, women, and people with disabilities, by looking at how different media houses covered issues related to the three categories. These three categories, which are often under-represented, and their issues underreported in the media, arguably helped shape the 2024 election results. Further, the paper interrogates different perspectives by looking at the political environment that underpinned political activities during Namibia’s 2024 elections
Design and research: the 1992 conference of design educators
No full textThe role of research in design as well as the academic-theoretical versus the creative-applied divide, have long been the topics of debate in both practising and educational arenas. The annual conference of the Design Education Forum held in Pretoria during July, examined some aspects of research and considered the contribution of design education to its development in South Africa
Industrial design: Vision and reality
No full textTwo leading designers discuss the problems and challenges that face industrial design consultancies as South Africa enter a new era in its history. In the absence of a national strategy and a supportive infrastructure, boldness, imagination and alternative ways for design and development are called for
Form follows façade: The architecture of W H Grant 1920 - 1932
No full textThe Scottish-born architect William Hood Grant (1879-1957) designed a significant number of buildings in and around Cape Town. This article considers the façades of some of Grant\u27s (and his contemporaries\u27) commercial buildings in the Central Business District (CBD) during the inter-War period, tracing the genealogy of stylistic changes from the highly derivative classicism of the teens and 1920s to the \u27modernistic\u27 Art Deco style of the 1930s. It considers the iconographic meanings of the façades in terms of the construction of, firstly, the notion of an appropriate response to the South African (and more specifically Capetonian) urban context, and, secondly, the concept of ‘modernity\u27 as the sine qua non of corporate expansion and identity in colonial South Africa
Caring about queer-feminist artists on social media. Thinking with critical friendship: Arts activisms and gender-based violence through transnational perspectives
No full textIn this article, I examine the challenging working conditions of queer-feminist artists on the social media platforms Instagram and Facebook, with a focus on gender-based violence, harassment, as well as automated discrimination carried out by the platforms and their algorithms. Based on interviews with five artists – Anahita Neghabat, Julischka Stengele, Natalie Assmann, Sophia Süßmilch, and Stefanie Sargnagel (based in Austria and Germany) – I analyse the platforms’ categorisation and classification of content as “undesired”, their opaque algorithmic rulings, and their practice of gaslighting users. Taking the artists’ experiences seriously and linking them to (social) media studies and feminist theory on public space, epistemology, and friendship, I reflect on methodology and knowledge production: I explore how the various forms and impacts of gender-based violence and automated discrimination against queer-feminist artists on social media can, on the one hand, be made visible and be discussed without reproducing violence, and, on the other hand, be transferred into academic discourse using a caring approach to epistemology
Lighting up resistance: Dalit Women Fight projections and the power of ambient activism: Arts activisms and gender-based violence through transnational perspectives
No full textThis article highlights the transformative potential of projection activism in sparking feminist discourse and advocating for equity, emphasising its role in occupying and redefining public spaces to challenge and dismantle oppressive structures. Using as a case study the Dalit Women Fight projections (2015) on the Brooklyn Bridge and on the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations building in New York, curated by the US-based activist collective The Illuminator, the article illustrates the potent role of ambient activism in a ddressing g ender-based v iolence a nd a dvocating for feminist equity. By occupying public spaces with powerful visual narratives, the projections serve as a catalyst for public discourse on feminism, particularly spotlighting the pervasive issue of caste-based sexual violence against Dalit women in India. Therefore, this article aims to delve into how projection activism, by showcasing political content outside institutionalised actions, transforms spaces into vibrant arenas of protest. Here, the built environment itself becomes a dynamic participant in the collective dissent, turning ordinary urban landscapes into powerful stages for social and political expression
Disorienting dilemmas, self-efficacy and well-being: Exploring student teachers’ perceptions of unpreparedness to teach English
No full textThe transition from student to teacher can be a challenging journey. This article explores how perceived unpreparedness – experienced as a disorienting dilemma – influences final-year student teachers’ self-efficacy and overall well-being. Using an interpretive paradigm and a qualitative approach, data were generated through questionnaires, visual representations, and focus group discussions with twelve student teachers at a South African higher education institution. A conceptual framework is developed by merging Mezirow’s transformative learning theory and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. The case study reveals that while most student teachers initially felt prepared to teach English, self-examination of their preparedness based on teaching practice experiences exposed feelings of anxiety, low self-confidence, and self-doubt, impacting their self-efficacy. The findings reveal that enhancing student teachers’ self-efficacy is essential for their well-being, as higher self-efficacy promotes resilience, confidence, and preparedness for teaching. Emotional health and psychological support are critical for fostering student teachers’ sense of hope, resilience and self-efficacy. Addressing these challenges can help higher education institutions foster self-efficacy development, ensuring that student teachers transition from uncertainty to confidence. This article advocates for a holistic approach to teacher preparation, highlighting the role of higher education institutions, student affairs, and counselling services in strengthening self-efficacy and reducing anxiety through targeted support.
