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Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Haidar Eid on writing about Gaza: ‘Resistance means existence'
From the margin: Academic and author Haidar Eid is a refugee from Gaza and uses his writing to tell the story of oppression and genocide. In December 2023, He left his extended family behind, including his brother and sister, as well as his colleagues at the university where he worked. He has lost 65 relatives, 38 colleagues and many students since Eid said he hesitated to check his WhatsApp out of fear of learning of another loss of a loved one stuck in the throes of Israel's genocide in He refers to it as an 'incremental genocide' in his latest book, Banging on the Walls of the Tank: Dispatches from Gaza, a reference to a form of resistance through people writing their own narrative. Eid is an academic in literature and cultural studies. He used to teach at the Al Aqsa University in Gaza, Palestine, before it was turned to rubble. He obtained a PhD from the University of Johannesburg and is an associate professor at the University of Pretoria. His latest book is a collection of essays and articles he wrote and published during the Israeli onslaught on Gaza and the 'hermetic blockade' that was imposed on it since 2007. It follows his 2023 book, Decolonising the Palestinian Mind , and his 2017 publication, Worlding Post-modernism . He draws on the South African experience with apartheid to inform his framework of Israel's system of oppression of Palestinians, which he said has reached new heights of injustice and dehumanisation. 'Occupation is only one form of oppression of the Palestinian — you have occupation, you have apartheid and you have settler colonialism, and now you have genocide.' He explains in his book, which chronicles his experiences from the 22-day war in January 2009 to his reflections in October 2024 (one year after the 7 October attack) of how Israel has managed to convince the international community not to do anything. The 22-day war started on 27 December 2008 and ended on 18 January 2009 — and was the cause of the deaths of 1 300 Palestinians, including children, women, medics, journalists, foreigners and older people. Eid recalled the moment Israel launched an attack. 'It was 11:10 and I was driving past the peace headquarters in Gaza. Ten minutes after that, they attacked. Had I been 10 minutes late, you know, what would have happened? 'They attacked, and they chose the time when there were school shifts — so kids were leaving school and that's why so many children got killed; 270 people within three minutes got killed — that continued for 22 days.' Eid is also one of the founders of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and he argues in his book about the movement's strength and ability to isolate Israel and grant Palestinians their basic human rights. Their three demands are: the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the implementation of the United Nations resolution calling for the right of return and the end of apartheid in Israel and the end of racist laws. The BDS movement, and the global recognition of Palestinian struggles and rights, which was also signalled by South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice and the election of Zohran Mamdani into the New York State Assembly in June — a vocal supporter of Palestine's right to exist — have inspired Eid to conclude Palestine is having its South African moment. He said the Sharpeville massacre on 21 March 1960, when police opened fire on protesters, killing 69 people, was South Africa's watershed moment, which gave momentum to the global boycott and divestment movement against the country's oppressive regime, and soon, that will be the case for Gaza. Banging on the Walls of the Tank traverses the attacks that happened in 2012, 2014 and again in 2017 — when he joined the Great March of Return. He recalls in his book the losses he had to endure, including his parents, who both died in 2005, his neighbours and their children, his students and colleagues at the universities where he taught; and many of these were even before the 7 October attack. He remembered the moment he spoke to one of his students just three hours before he was killed. 'They were doing their master's and they had two little babies. They had left their house in Jabalia in the north and moved with his in-laws to a refugee camp, and then they killed him together with his in-laws and his daughters and his wife.' Visibly heartbroken as he went through the lists of people who died as a result of Israel's attack on Palestine, he said he still has the hope of returning to his village, Zarnuqa, one day. 'I'm a refugee. My parents, before 1948 they were living in a village called Zarnuqa. Both of my parents died in 2005. I was not allowed to go to the funeral because I was not in Gaza. 'My father died in January, my mother died in May, both dreaming of the day when they would return to their village. If you come now and ask my two little kids, just like this, 'Where are you from?', they would say, 'I'm from Zarnuqa.' They inherit this concept of right of return and this is what gives me hope.' He said his writing about his experiences with Israel's regime is both a tool of resistance and remembrance. 'To be able to write, it's important to give a voice to the voiceless. This is not my personal story. It's a story of every single Palestinian. 'For us, resistance means existence. Existence means resistance, it's mutual. For us to exist, we have to resist. We are resisting because we want to exist.' Eid said that as a matter of principle, he never wanted to leave Gaza; but he did so for the sake of his children. And now he watches everyday as his home disappears into the dust. He said he has 'survivor's guilt' but what is crucial for him now is to keep amplifying the story of Gaza, the resilience of Palestinians and to fight for its right to exist as a sovereign state. 'In other words, I'm using international law as a tool of struggle in my search for freedom and equality; and this way, if you noticed, when you asked me about BDS, I said: freedom, equality and justice. Equality. That's the solution to apartheid.'
The Herald
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald
UJ ranked best university in sustainable development in Africa
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been ranked as the best university in sustainable development in Africa and 23rd in the world. This is according to the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ratings, which assess universities against the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs). Western Sydney University in Australia was ranked number one in the world for four consecutive years, followed by Manchester University. The University of Pretoria came in at number 63 in the world. UJ is now ranked among the top 30 universities in the world out of 2,318 institutions evaluated. It ranked in the global top 100 for ten SDGs, with three in the top 10. This includes ranking number two in the world for SDG 1 (no poverty); number four for SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth); and number four for SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals). UJ vice-chancellor and principal Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi said this was a testament to the university's commitment to reimagining higher education as a driver of change. 'These results not only underscore UJ's steadfast commitment to sustainable development, equity and impactful partnerships but also highlight the university's growing influence in tackling global challenges through research, teaching and community engagement,' Mpedi said. 'Our ranking reflects the focused efforts driven by our s trategic plan 2035 , which is built on three key pillars: societal impact and sustainability, global footprint and partnerships, and technology for the future. These pillars guide our trajectory over the next decade and underpin our dedication to creating a more just, equitable and sustainable future for all.' In a separate global ranking, the university was named the third best university in South Africa after the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits). 'Together, the two results signal UJ's rising reputation and consistent excellence across multiple global performance metrics.' TimesLIVE
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
The Customer Experience Africa Awards Return to Honour the Continent's Brightest in Customer Experience (CX)
After a powerful comeback in 2024, the Customer Experience Africa Awards (CXAs) are officially back for 2025 and bringing together the very best in customer experience from across the continent for a night of recognition, celebration, and connection. Taking place on Tuesday, 12 August 2025 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, the CXAs serve as the official opening of the CEM Africa Summit; Africa's leading platform for CX professionals. Last year's event drew over 70 applications and a full house of CX champions, industry leaders, and visionaries. This year, excitement is already building with entries rolling in from across the continent, including submissions from ABSA Kenya and the University of Pretoria, the latter entering the brand-new Government&Public Sector category. This year's CX Awards have already attracted entries from leading brands such as ABSA Kenya, ICX Kenya, QContact, Telviva, Wonga Digital, BOS Technology and more, a powerful reflection of the industry's growing commitment to customer excellence. Judged by CX Leaders from Across the Continent Joan Ntabadde Kyeyune – Senior CX Consultant, Steadfast Quality Solutions Benson Mukandiwa – Trustee, Customer Experience World Games (CXWG) Qaalfa Dibeehi – Managing Partner, Human2Outcome Chantel Botha – Founder, BrandLove Customer Experience Charlie Stewart – CEO, Rogerwilco Entries are assessed across four core criteria: Challenge&Market Context Strategy&Execution Impact&Measurable Results Scalability&Industry Relevance Spotlight on Past Winners The 2024 CXAs celebrated game-changing work across sectors, including: Liz Okomba, NCBA Bank – CX Leader of the Year Digital Solutions Group – Best Customer Experience Team NCBA Bank – Best Overall CX Solution Kim Dalton&Greg Van Der Plank, ABSA Bank – Breaking Barriers in CX Multichoice – Best Use of AI Bilha Maina, NCBA Bank – Rising Star in CX Telviva – Best Contact Centre Platform Their stories inspired a room of 300+ CX professionals and reminded us of the power of people-led transformation. Deadline Extended: 7 July 2025 Entries are open to individuals, teams, public sector departments, start-ups and multinationals across Africa. A free Tips&Tricks entry guide is available to help applicants structure their submissions. Submit your Application: Download the Tricks&Tips Guide: Sponsorship Opportunities A limited number of category sponsorships and on-site activations remain available. Sponsors benefit from on-stage visibility, branding across CXA campaigns, and direct access to Africa's leading customer-focused brands and professionals. The CXAs are not just about awards - they're about spotlighting the real people, ideas, and initiatives shaping customer experience across Africa. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vuka Group. To apply, book tickets or enquire about sponsorship e mail:
The Herald
06-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald
First-ever mass vaccination of poultry in SA to combat bird flu
Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen on Thursday announced the first mass vaccination of poultry in the country to protect the local flock from avian flu. He also announced that the department had also ordered vaccines to combat foot and mouth disease. 'Our vaccination team, comprising poultry specialist vets from the University of Pretoria, along with the Agricultural Research Council, has received a list of farms to be vaccinated from the poultry industry and is prioritising high-risk areas and commercial flocks to contain the virus and prevent further culling,' Steenhuisen said. He said the country had secured a vaccine supply, ensured cold chain capacity and was building traceability and reporting mechanisms as part of a wider preparedness strategy . In addition, 50 animal health technicians were appointed on short-term contracts to help with the vaccination rollout. Their induction and refresher training was expected to start next week. Steenhuisen said the department had also ordered foot and mouth disease vaccines to cover KwaZulu-Natal, while assessment, as well forward and backward tracing of the outbreak in Gauteng, was ongoing. More than 900,000 doses of vaccines were ordered and the first batch is expected to arrive next week. 'These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks, but also about building permanent infrastructure to manage future risks. 'More broadly, we are establishing a biosecurity council that will bring together the police, veterinarians, scientists, the Border Management Authority and industry. We are rolling out a farm-to-fork national traceability system for livestock,' Steenhuisen said. He said Onderstepoort was being upgraded to restore vaccine self-sufficiency and rural veterinary services and emergency response were enhanced. The dip-tank model in partnership with traditional leaders was also being introduced. Steenhuisen praised Karan Beef for its quick response to the foot and mouth outbreak in its Heidelberg facility d uring a virtual meeting on Wednesday night with the company and departmental officials. The agriculture department said there were still signs of active virus circulation in the disease management area (DMA) in KwaZulu-Natal, with some outbreaks detected outside the DMA. A system has been put in place to assess the level of biosecurity on individual farms, with the intention of aligning the control measures to the biosecurity risks. TimesLIVE
News24
03-06-2025
- Business
- News24
How Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli bagged an actuarial science degree at 17
Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli began her university experience at 15. She found herself having to adjust to the large age gaps between herself and her university peers. Her family allowed her to have as normal a childhood as possible while encouraging her bright mind. ___________________________________________________________________________ While many at her age are still traversing through high school corridors, Mongiwa Hazel Ntuli has just bagged herself an actuarial science degree from the University of Pretoria at just 17 years old. The young and bright mind from Rosettenville, Johannesburg, started her first year at university at 15, having accelerated through primary and high school. How it all started Mongiwa explains, 'When I was in Grade 3, I mistakenly wrote a Grade 4 mathematics paper and scored the highest of all the actual Grade 4 students. My teacher identified this and allowed me to write more Grade 4 papers and saw that I performed exceptionally well.' Fast forward a few years and Mongiwa has pursued her passions in finance and mathematics, choosing actuarial sciences as a happy marriage of the two. Her undergraduate experience Mongiwa shares, 'Undergrad took up most of my time because I had to learn new study techniques because the ones I applied in high school were not sufficient anymore. I had a lot of help and a lot of tutors, which demanded a lot of my time. Spending so much time on my studies allowed me to learn to speak my mind more freely and to be more independent.' READ MORE | Meet the founder of Distinguished Living, an interior design business Undoubtedly, being the youngest in the lecture room is no easy feat and Mongiwa found herself having to find her place in the big world. She explains, 'I can learn about other people easily and I can observe their behaviour effortlessly, while blending in with the students around me. Disadvantages were instances where I could not engage with other people because of a larger, more intimidating age gap. Once people learned about my age, they started treating me more like a younger sibling than treating me like another student.' Mongiwa continues, 'I often felt out of place when attending big conferences or big events where serious topics are discussed and engagement was encouraged. There were highly intellectual people who I couldn't relate to or understand. They also didn't take into account that I only started learning about actuarial science relatively recently and didn't have an extensive background in that field.' Off the cuff What is the most important lesson you've learned from your journey so far? Never forget your roots but don't become your roots. What are five fun things that you like to do in your free time? I love watching medical or murder mysteries series, reading financial and/or self-help books and playing tennis. I also love spending time with my younger brother. He has an interesting point of view on life. I also like listening to music. If you could give advice to students aspiring to excel academically, what would it be? To never give up and to never stop learning. They should grab each and every opportunity they get and make sure that the decisions they make now don't come at the expense of the bright futures they could have. What strategies or habits have been crucial to your success? Making sure I talk to my guardians/family and remain grounded. Praying is a huge part of my life and connecting with other people from other cultures helps me define myself more. A strong support system Although Mongiwa was encouraged to keep her age a secret so as to not be treated differently, through it all, her family as her support system gave a chance to experience a normal, loving and fulfilling childhood. Mongiwa shares, 'I feel that my support system made it as normal as it could be. My age was not flaunted by my family members and I was protected by those around me. I never wanted to know another life.' On her greatest source of support and inspiration, Mongiwa says, 'Definitely my aunt who taught me that failure is not final and to keep going no matter what comes my way. There will always be opposition or adversity whenever you are successful at something. I just have to learn to ignore it and take pride that I am doing the best I can.' What's next for her? Mongiwa has plans to pursue honours and masters degrees and dive into the world of work. She explains, 'My short term goals are to actually pass my exams well enough to get an exemption and also have more job shadowing opportunities before I jump into anything long term. For the next few years I would love to have done something major for my guardians to show my appreciation, acquire some assets and have progressed in my academic and career life.'
