Jacana publisher Nadia Goetham (46) died from Covid-19 complications on Sunday afternoon, April 25, and hearts broke across social media.
With her brother Ian not yet informed, her many authors and friends used the social media platform she loved to spread their heartbreak with broken heart emojis and no names. When Ian Goetham announced his sister’s death with the words “Our hearts are shattered”, the Internet went viral with Nadia-grief as all those she had touched paid tribute.
Terry-Ann Adams, the writer from Eldorado Park, whom Nadia encouraged to publish a memoir tweeted a conversation between them: “Me: I will never write a memoir. Nadia: We’ll see. Me: But my life is not interesting. Nadia: “You’ll write that memoir.” Her book,
We are delighted to introduce The Empty Chair, a new podcast series from PEN South Africa about writing, freedom of expression, censorship, resilience and solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For these first five episodes, we have drawn together an eclectic and electric group: novelists, poets, performance poets, journalists, constitutionalists and academics, who together offer us remarkable insights that are piercing, funny, courageous, explanatory and hopeful – all working to help us make sense of this strange and disorientating time.
We hope you will join us for these conversations. The trailer for The PEN SA Empty Chair podcast is now available on our website at https://pensouthafrica.co.za/pen-sa-podcast-the-empty-chair/ as well as on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Some urgency, little credibility, plus five highlights from Vrye Weekblad Here s what s hot in the latest edition of the Afrikaans digital weekly 12 February 2021 - 07:28 By TimesLIVE President Cyril Ramaphosa greets MPs before his fifth State of the Nation address. Image: Esa Alexander
The 2021 State of the Nation Address by President Cyril Ramaphosa was a subdued affair without much ceremony, writes Max du Preez in today’s issue of Vrye Weekblad.
It could have been brilliant and inspiring if his government’s credibility in respect of delivering on its promises hadn’t been so bad; if we couldn’t remember that he said more or less the same thing last year and the year before; and if we’d been able to forget for a moment that he was also the president of the ruling party, a party that is increasingly devouring itself.
The Daily Vox
This year might not have been the greatest for book releases with COVID-19 meaning the cancellation of many book events. Added to that bookstores and libraries were closed for long periods during the lockdown. But despite that, many interesting and fascinating books were released during this year. Here are some of the best books of 2020 – all written by women.
If you’re looking for an in-depth look at gender-based violence
Try Nechama Brodie’s Femicide in South Africa
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Try Women in Solitary by Shanthini Naidoo
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Try Iman Rappetti’s Sermons of Soul
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