Does the cold of the concrete feel less painful than the loneliness of knowing no one is looking out for you? In episode one of Season 6 of We Should Be Writing, the Wits Vuvuzela team presents "The Charter That Sleeps on Stone" an intimate and heartbreaking exploration of homelessness in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Narrated from an unusual partner, we follow the story of Themba, a homeless man who lost everything after the 2020 factory closures and economic collapse. Through poetic storytelling, we witness his daily struggles for survival on the streets of Braam.
Hosts Lukholo and Ekta weave in devastating statistics: South Africa's homeless population has quadrupled since 1996, with 55,719 people now living without shelter, while the Freedom Charter's 70-year-old promise of "houses, security and comfort" remains unfulfilled for so many. This episode confronts the harsh reality that while political freedom was achieved, economic freedom and basic human dignity remain elusive for thousands living in the shadows of our cities.
Show Notes:
Listen to the We Should Be Writing podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. We Should Be Writing is a podcast brought to you by Wits Vuvuzela, a project of the Honours in Journalism class at the Wits Centre for Journalism. Visit www.witsvuvuzela.com for more of our work and follow @WitsVuvuzela on Tik Tok and Instagram.
Hosted, produced and written by: Lukholo Mazibuko and Ekta Seebran
Sound editors: Lukholo Mazibuko and Ekta Seebran
Executive producer: Katlego Makhutle
Music: [Free] Tyler, The Creator x Kaytranada Type Beat “MAGIC”
