The Art of Research by witsmarketing

Novel study provides glimpses into clinic managers’ working conditions

Private diaries revealed the unsatisfactory working conditions of South African Primary Health Care clinic nursing managers. If not addressed, these concerns can derail necessary and imminent healthcare system reforms.

Orcid ID: 0000-0002-1244-8799

Further information: https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v7.25323

A collage of colourful diary pages with handwritten notes, sketches, and photos of health care workers and patients in different settings.

Presented in association with the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, this programme forms part of #theArtofResearch, an initiative of research communication specialists Jive Media Africa The support of the Carnegie Corporation for the Carnegie Diversifying the Academy (CTDA) program at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, towards this science communication output is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at, are those of the author and are not to be attributed to the Carnegie Corporation or the CDTA.

“The clinic was full and staff members were not enough. I was juggling the dispensary, [patient] consulting, had to solve patients’ minor queries and attend to my supervisor.” These were the words of a Free Statebased Primary Health Care (PHC) clinic nursing manager, a role crucial to providing PHC services in South Africa and managing the network of more than 3,000 government PHC clinics and community health centres.

Yet, researchers at Wits specialising in health policy and systems found a general lack of appreciation of clinic managers as

a critical component of the health workforce. Studies have concentrated on hospitals, rather than on PHC facilities, or nurses rather than clinic managers. However, it is the clinic nursing managers that will play a critical role in coming major health system reforms.

My study explored the work experiences of PHC clinic nursing managers using reflective diaries, an innovative method of capturing the lived work experiences of managers at the PHC level. They allow for confidentiality and anonymity, often impossible with other qualitative

research methods. For my study, fifteen nursing managers kept diaries for six weeks with a predefined set of questions.

The diaries revealed that PHC clinic nursing managers want a positive working environment for effective service delivery. They want responsive emergency medical services, good referral systems, adequate medicines, human resources, a supportive management environment including budget control, accurate health information systems, leadership and governance and to experience positive emotions in clinics.

Problems include shortages of human resources like nurses, pharmacists and cleaners, staff absenteeism and lack of professionalism, unsupportive management, leadership and governance problems and the detrimental emotional impact of clinic management. There is an opportunity for policy makers to address the root causes of health system deficiencies and co-create inclusively for an enabling work environment.

Should these concerns not be addressed, demotivated PHC clinic managers could derail health sector reforms because they are unlikely to be able to be the necessary champions for these changes.

Dr. Pascalia Munyewende is a senior researcher, social scientist and science communication expert at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Dr Abdul-Khaaliq Mohamed is a lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, with a special interest in EEG analysis and brain-computer interface for bionic hand control.

Orcid ID: 0000-0002-1526-1364

Further information https://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/ S2405896321023557; https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/ items/3604eb7d-aaf0-4fdc-9d95cad2978d4d0d

Thinking about brainwaves to control robotic hands

Survivors of strokes may lose the privilege of moving their limbs — and with that the ability to independently perform daily tasks that many of us take for granted.

Research to deepen our knowledge of the brain is a crucial building block in building the human-machine interfaces of the future that could allow stroke survivors to regain some control of their bodies.

Elna, a survivor of a stroke, blushes as water trickles down the side of her mouth. Her caregiver gently wipes away the dribbled water, and then puts down the cup. Elna reflects on times gone by when she was responsible for giving her own children water from a cup.

She begins to daydream. Visions of mind-reading helmets signalling the smooth motion of robotic arms and wheelchairs play through her mind. She drifts back to reality,

remembering a recent conversation that she had with a rehabilitation specialist. “The technology of a brain-computer interface is just not yet where it needs to be,” he said. “Unfortunately, it’s not yet able to reliably use your thoughts to control a bionic hand or move a wheelchair.”

But, researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand are working to make this a reality.

With my team of students, we are developing new and innovative ways to extract more information from the brain via sensors placed on the scalp using electroencephalogram (EEG). Our research aims to enhance brain signal interpretation without the need for risky surgery. We are

using complex algorithms and modelling techniques to map the flow of information between key brain regions.

We hope to provide new insights into how the brain controls movements to the community of researchers working in the field of brain-computer interfaces and neuroscience. My vision is that my research will empower stroke victims, like Elna, to live more independently. Why not envision a future where Elna can seamlessly control her own robotic hand to once again drink water from a cup without someone’s help? This is after all a task that many of us take for granted.

The electroencephalogram (EEG) head cap with flat metal discs (electrodes).

Mr Sikhumbuzo Maisela is an entrepreneurship and management lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Orcid ID: 0000-0002-6134-8655

Further information https://link.springer.com/ article/10.1007/s12134-023-01079-9

Lessons from immigrant spaza shopkeepers can help prevent the escalation of xenophobic violence

A study in customer experience shows that lessons in success from immigrant entrepreneurs can benefit local spaza shop owners, and prevent the outburst of violence due to loss of clientele.

In South Africa’s informal retail sector, local Spaza shopkeepers are losing business to immigrant entrepreneurs, of which there has been an influx in recent years. While native-owned informal grocery businesses have struggled, immigrant-owned shops in Johannesburg townships have demonstrated remarkable success. Already facing daunting challenges to preserve their livelihoods, this has resulted in significant economic losses to the South Africans. Unfortunately, their mounting frustration, driven by the need to make a living, has culminated in vicious outbursts. The resulting violence against immigrants by South Africans has attracted widespread,

global attention.Recognizing the urgency of the situation, I undertook a study to inform South African entrepreneurs about the drivers of immigrant success with the intention to help them safeguard their businesses and effectively compete with immigrant entrepreneurs. While other research on this topic primarily focused on shopkeepers, I explored the customer viewpoint. The study was conducted in the Johannesburg township of Alexandra, where I engaged with 400 households to unravel the factors driving consumers towards immigrant shops.

My research revealed that South African consumers are drawn to immigrant shopkeepers because they provide more affordable

and convenient services to township communities. Immigrant shopkeepers show commitment to their businesses, prioritize customer satisfaction and deliver value that resonates with their clientele.

Drawing upon these insights, I propose that South African shop owners should adopt the successful strategies employed by immigrants to attract customers, instead of resorting to conflict.

A further insight is that the government could play a role in facilitating knowledge-sharing initiatives between immigrants and local business owners, to foster integration, social cohesion, and economic empowerment through informal entrepreneurship.

Failure to implement these interventions may perpetuate tensions between immigrants and South Africans, and deprive the country’s historically marginalized and economically excluded population of the opportunity to learn and engage in entrepreneurship, which could significantly alleviate their economic plight.

Immigrant Entrepreneurship Can Save South Africa’s Spaza Shops and Prevent Violence

Mites are an environmentally friendly solution to South Africa’s Tamarisk invasion

Two newly discovered mites may be viable solutions to controlling the alien invasive Tamarisk plants that have been established in South Africa’s Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State, and Northwest provinces.

Dr Sivuyisiwe Situngu is a lecturer in the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She has a special interest in Acarology (the study of mites and ticks) and community ecology.

Orcid ID: 0000-0001-8891-5528

Further information http://dx.doi.org/10.24349/n4ay-b8yb

South Africa’s indigenous biodiversity and agricultural landscapes are being destroyed by a Tamarisk invasion. It is one of many alien invasive plants that have settled in the country. Tamarisks, or salt-cyders, are widely distributed in temperate and subtropical regions in South Europe, Asia, and Africa. In countries like South Africa, with dry climates, tamarisks are considered weeds and can become highly invasive due to their outstanding salt and water resistance and competition with local plants. And, the plant has now established itself in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Free State, and North West provinces.

We are already seeing a concerning

and significant decrease in the density of native vegetation in the area where the Tamarisk invasion occurs. This loss of biodiversity leads to degradation and encroachment of our agricultural landscapes and, consequently, might mean that we will not be able to produce enough food to feed South Africa’s population in future.

However, scientists at the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences at Wits University are now looking at mites as potential biological control of the alien invasive plants. Specialists in acarology (the study of mites and ticks), we discovered and described, with our international collaborators, two new

species of gal mites that damage Tamarisk plants. The discovery is incredible because we can use these mites as potential biological control agents to eliminate the widespread alien invasive plant.

We want to embark on a journey to study the ecology of these tiny bugs both in the field and in the laboratory. This will allow us to test if they can establish themselves in the alien plants and cause the necessary damage to lead to a decline in the Tamarisk population.

To do this, funders must prioritise this type of impactful research. This research is essential and failure to conduct it will lead to further degradation and biodiversity loss.

Researchers at Wits University are investigating mites associated with South Africa’s wild Tamarix, in hopes of finding a biological control of the alien invasive Tamarix plants from Eurasia.

Dr. Sonti Pilusa is a senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. She is passionate about prevention care and support for people with chronic conditions and disabilities.

Orcid ID: 0000-0003-0606-9669

Further information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC8063775/

The Urgent Need to Enhance Community Health Care for People with Spinal Cord Injury

People with spinal cord injury often develop complications that seriously affect their health and well-being and can even lead to death. To prevent this, community health care for people with disability must improve.

Imagine you were involved in a car accident and when you wake up, you are told you will never be able to walk again due to a spinal cord injury. You do your best to live a new life using a wheelchair but you still suffer greatly from secondary complications like pain, fatigue and bed sores that worsen the disability. Imagine you would have to be admitted to hospital again, sometimes for months on end. This is the story of thousands of people with spinal cord injury. Many die due to preventable health

Community health care for people with disability must improve.

complications after their injury.

As a researcher in rehabilitation and disability at WITS, I have made it my mission to bring awareness to rehabilitation care and help people with disabilities manage their medical conditions through self-care strategies. Interviews with people with spinal cord injury revealed not only the physical impact of secondary complications but that these were enormously impactful on their lives and health, as illustrated by their stories of fear, embarrassment and

shame. We found that their plight can be alleviated by improving access to community rehabilitation care, empowering those with disabilities to care for themselves and to live a healthy lifestyle.

Rehabilitation services at the primary health clinics, correct assistive aids, and accessible health information can empower individuals with disabilities to live healthy lives.

If we don’t establish health services with the disability in mind, more lives will be lost.

Prof. Betty Maepa is a researcher in the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit and an Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Orcid ID: 0000-0002-2249-7615

Further information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC5415967/

New drug development against viruses is going viral

To design safer and more efficient treatments against viruses, WITS University researchers have modified a virus that does not cause disease to stop the replication of a virus that causes liver failure in humans.

Pandemics caused by new viral infections such as COVID-19, and infections from viruses that have afflicted humankind for decades such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), the virus that infects the liver and causes hepatitis B disease, can devastate people’s lives.

Not only are these only two examples of viral infections that still have no cure but the existing treatments often have several side effects. Available treatments for viral hepatitis, the seventh leading cause of death in the world, do not cure the disease and they often need to be taken daily for life. As a result, patients do not take their medication as prescribed and the symptoms return.

The situation calls for more innovative strategies to design drugs against viral infections. Without this, most patients chronically infected with HBV will succumb to liver failure.

At the WITS University, as specialists in gene therapeutics and vaccine development, we have modified a non-disease-causing virus to act against a diseasecausing virus. As a result, we could develop an experimental drug made from an unrelated virus to stop the replication of HBV.

A once-off administration of the viral drug halted HBV replication in laboratory studies for nine months

Researchers are working on innovative ways of designing drugs against viral infections.

without obvious signs of undesirable effects. Clinical application of this drug may reduce non-adherence and make it easier for the human’s natural defence mechanisms to clear the infection.

This long-term effect and a good safety profile of the viral drug is an exciting leap in the development of safer and more efficient treatments against viruses, including newly emerging viruses.

Dr Chia-Yu Chen is a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, with a research focus on malaria vector control.

Orcid ID: 0000-0002-8989-691X

Further information: https://doi.org/10.3390/ tropicalmed9040084

Beating Malaria at its source: one strengthened mosquito at a time

Symbiotic, or naturally occurring, bacteria in the midguts of mosquitoes can strengthen mosquito immune systems, making them less likely to transmit malaria. This method, paratransgenesis, can reduce the transmission of malaria.

IPresented in association with the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, this programme forms part of #theArtofResearch, an initiative of research communication specialists Jive Media Africa The support of the Carnegie Corporation for the Carnegie Diversifying the Academy (CTDA) program at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, towards this science communication output is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at, are those of the author and are not to be attributed to the Carnegie Corporation or the CDTA.

n a rural African village, a pregnant mother and her young family face the burdens of malaria every day. She and her children under five years old are among those at the highest risk of dying or suffering severely from the illness. And, they live in the region that accounts for 95% of all Malaria deaths in the world –according to the most recent World Malaria Report, 608 000 cases were reported in Africa in 2022 alone. In the blink of an eye, they can become part of the 249 million reported cases of malaria. For this young family, malaria needs to be eliminated soon.

Although people think of malaria as a disease distant from us, South

Africa is a malaria-endemic country. At the Wits Research Institute for Malaria, we are investigating an emerging tool for the eradication of malaria called paratransgenesis. The female mosquito transmits the parasite that causes malaria. Paratransgenesis targets bacteria in the midgut of the female mosquito which will have taken blood from an infected person. Importantly, a malaria-transmitting mosquito is a mosquito that cannot fight off the parasite infection. The natural bacteria in the midgut of a mosquito are involved in the immune system of the mosquito. Thus, if we can tweak the bacteria in the midgut of a mosquito, it is possible to make

mosquitoes that have strengthened immune systems that are less likely to transmit malaria. You can think of paratransgenesis as biocontrol for mosquitoes.

The first step is to screen for potential bacteria that can be used for paratransgenesis. We have already been screening potential bacteria in mosquitoes that transmit malaria in South Africa. Finding a suitable bacteria may take time, but we are steadily making progress towards eliminating malaria once and for all.

Once we do, malaria may soon be a nightmare from the past for this young family, and many others like them.

Rural villages in Africa bear the brunt of malaria, placing them among the most vulnerable to fatalities and illness from the disease.

The influence of South Africa’s overlooked black classical musicians must be heard

Colonial and apartheid policies in South Africa unsuccessfully aimed to erode the contribution of black classical musicians in South Africa. However, their influence was overlooked in the new dispensation, post1994. Documenting their historical involvement will afford these artists the recognition they deserve.

Dr Shadrack Bokaba is a postdoctoral fellow in the Wits School of Arts, a producer of theatre and music concerts, an arts administrator, and a violinist.

Recent research https://shap.org.za/people-andpartners/research-team/

Bokaba, S. (2024). Orchestral Manoeures and the Status of the Arm’s Length Principle in Post-Apartheid South Africa. Nkondo, M., Khoza, R. (eds). The South African Handbook of Agency, Freedom and Justice (Volume 2). University of Kwazulu-Natal Press, pp441/pp.452

Black musicians have long enriched classical orchestral music in South Africa, regardless of the odds. Explicit and implicit policies aimed at changing and eroding cultural traditions and promoting cultural assimilation amongst Africans have been at play in South Africa for around a century and a half before the end of apartheid. However, black classical musicians used performance to subvert this established political order and to challenge colonialism and apartheid.

In 1994, South Africa’s new democratic dispensation ushered

in the country’s first official cultural policy, but black classical musicians’ contributions appear to have been deliberately overlooked or deprioritised.

As a result, the historical contribution of black musicians to classical music is under-recognised. Dr Shadrack Bokaba, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Wits School of Arts, is researching and documenting the historical contribution of black musicians to orchestral classical music in South Africa. He is also a classical musician and arts administrator

who has lived some of the history he is recounting. He aims to analyse the conditions that enabled these musicians to practice their art. He also wants to scrutinise the government’s funding model.

He also aims to establish a dialogue between professional musicians and academia, to potentially enrich practice with scholarly reflection.

Lastly, the work aims to inform South Africa’s cultural policy by highlighting findings that government’s funding approach is inconsistent.

Unlocking Potential and Optimising Nutrition: Making Early Childhood Development Accessible

Children who are cared for at home may not have access to regular and nutritious meals, which puts them at a disadvantage. To prevent this, Early Childhood Development centres must be made more accessible to all children under five years of age.

COrcid ID: 0000-0001-5278-4490

Further Information:

https://www.mdpi.com/16604601/20/3/2572

https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph20032572

hildren under five need nutritious foods, responsive caregiving and a healthy environment to grow and reach their full potential. But caregivers with a poor socioeconomic status, if they are, for example, unemployed can result in the household being food insecure, preventing the children from accessing the necessary healthy foods and nutrition.

During my research on child health and nutrition, I found that children who are cared for at home during the day are more malnourished compared to children who are cared for in schools or creches.

However, some parents keep their children at home rather than sending them to schools or creches because they cannot afford these early childhood Development (ECD) centres. Many ECD centres are not regulated in the same way as public schools because the government see them as part of the private sector. As a consequence, they do not benefit from government-funded free education and school feeding schemes for children who come from poor households. The ECD centres do not have access to the same benefits as primary and secondary schools. It is even worse for unregistered centres. A cumbersome registration

process prevents them from applying for the R17-a-day nutrition grant, so they have to rely on school fees from parents, which not all parents can afford, or some cannot always pay. As a result, some parents keep their children at home rather than sending them to the centres.

The study’s findings suggest the need for innovative strategies to address the challenges of caregiving that negatively affects children’s

Children under five need a healthy environment to grow and reach their full potential.

nutrition. We recommend that ECD centres be made accessible to poor children to ensure that no child is kept at home regardless of the household’s financial status. This will ensure that children have safe spaces and nutrition to improve their development outcomes. Failure to provide this will result in a society with widened disparities, missed developmental opportunities, and reduced overall child well-being.

Matshidiso Sello is a PhD student with a research focus on child health and nutrition at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Dr Gillian Mahumane is a Lecturer in Biopharmaceutics and a Researcher in Pharmaceutical Science at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Research Unit (WADDP) University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Orcid ID: 0000-0002-1734-3689

Further information: https://doi.org/10.1039/C8BM00422F

Rekindling movement with the symphony of neural regeneration

Groundbreaking research on biomaterial scaffolds offers new hope for people affected by neural damage and acts as a beacon of human ingenuity and resilience.

Imagine waking up one day to find your body not responding as it once did, your movements sluggish, your senses dulled. For millions worldwide, this isn’t a fleeting nightmare but a stark reality due to neural damage caused by accidents or illnesses. The human nervous system is an intricate network, a labyrinth of pathways that control everything we feel, think, and do. Repairing it once damaged is a challenge akin to retracing steps in a complex maze, where every turn must be precise, and every pathway correctly reconnected. The difficulty lies not just in the complexity but in the body’s reluctance to heal these delicate tissues.

Yet, amidst the shadows of despair, a glimmer of hope shines through the groundbreaking work on biomaterial scaffolds for brain tissue regeneration being conducted at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit.

A testament to human resilience and ingenuity, tissue engineered three-dimensional scaffolds are crafted from materials compatible with the human body. They serve as temporary structures around which the body can weave its own paths, rebuilding the damaged networks. The scaffolds act as the guiding lights through the neural labyrinth, guiding the body’s innate healing power. As these tiny scaffolds dissolve, they leave behind a legacy of renewed connections.

For those once trapped in the silence of their own bodies, the impact is profound. Lives have been reclaimed and people have returned to the embrace of their loved ones. Many have stepped back into the world with renewed hope. These are not just personal victories but milestones in the collective quest for healing. As we stand on the brink of this new dawn, biomaterial scaffolds represent more than a scientific breakthrough; they symbolize a bridge between despair and hope, a promise of new beginnings for millions. In this journey of regeneration, we also find a reflection of our own resilience, and a reminder that even in the face of daunting challenges, there lies the potential for rebirth and renewal.

A graphic depicting the intricacy of the human nervous system.

Dr Kofi Aning Jnr is a post-doctoral researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. His research area is in nation branding - a field dedicated to examining the practice of promoting nations to enhance their competitive identity, and attract tourists and investments.

Positioning Ghana as the “Diaspora Mecca”

Nation branding through cultural heritage can position a country as an attractive tourist destination to people who share a similar lineage and who wish to reconnect with their identity.

Countries in the Global South such as Ghana have struggled for years to position themselves as attractive tourist destinations.

Researchers from Wits University have examined how nation branding can be used to enhance a nation’s image and strengthen its appeal to tourists. We investigated if the “Year of Return – Ghana 2019” campaign demonstrated the potential of nation branding. The watershed campaign celebrated 400 years after the TransAtlantic slave trade. It positioned Ghana as the “Diaspora Mecca” and it

Axim, a coastal town on Ghana’s West Coast, boasts a picturesque beach that attracts tourists seeking scenic beauty.

aimed to build a connection between people in the diaspora and their ancestral home.

The campaign included themed tourist experiences and events that evoked nostalgic feelings of heritage and ancestry. The massive influx of tourists from the diaspora confirmed that the magic of this campaign had its desired effects.

Tourists from far and near are still thronging to Ghana to experience and celebrate the rich lineage of greatness, whilst enjoying the scenic beaches of Axim, the ancient castles

in Cape Coast, and the thrilling Kakum Canopy Walkway. This demonstrates the potential of nation branding.

Governments in Africa can take a cue from this, and embrace nation branding as a game-changing strategy to boost tourist arrivals and repeat visits.

Failing to brand the nation can lead to missed opportunities in seizing a share of the global tourism market, leading to a loss in tourism revenue, and global attention.

Letta Mahlohonolo Ntuli is a laboratory assistant and a PhD candidate at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Her research focuses on sweat wearable biosensors for glucose monitoring.

Orcid ID: 0000-0003-3915-3445

New diabetes monitoring is no sweat

Non-invasive diabetes monitoring will allow people to check their sugar levels without the painful practice of pricking themselves for a blood sample. This will help them better manage the illness.

Diabetes is the second leading cause of death in South Africa.

Luckily, diabetic people can monitor their sugar levels throughout the day to manage the illness and help prolong their lives. However, the available devices to do so are costly and, generally, people get weary of pricking themselves. It can be painful and sometimes scary, especially if you must do it many times a day.

Scientists have been working hard to find better ways to check blood sugar levels. Such methods are called “non-invasive” or pain-free

because they don’t involve breaking the skin. For example, did you know that you can use sweat from your skin to read blood sugar levels, instead of pricking your finger?

I have been studying this option by using special machines that can read sugar levels through the skin. These machines collect sweat and then read how those signals change based on the sugar levels. For my PhD research, I am studying wearable sweat biosensors for glucose monitoring.

It’s kind of like how a radio can pick up signals from far away, but

instead, these machines pick up signals from inside your body. The biosensor devices can be worn on your skin, like a patch, or even as jewellery. They use tiny sensors to monitor changes in your sweat which is able to tell the changes in your body, including changes in sugar levels, and then send that information to your phone or another device.

Should such devices, which are pain-free and low-cost, be available to everyone in society, the number of deaths related to diabetes will lessen.

Wearable biosensors uses sweat to monitor blood glucose levels.

The poetics of Lefifi Tladi

Lefifi Tladi’s work should be brought back to the fore of South African discourse. If so, our story will be enlightened with the added histories of the oppressed for a truthful take on the country’s reality.

SOrcid ID: 0000-0003-1060-6236

Presented in association with the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, this programme forms part of #theArtofResearch, an initiative of research communication specialists Jive Media Africa. The support of the Carnegie Corporation for the Carnegie Diversifying the Academy (CTDA) program at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, towards this science communication output is hereby acknowledged. Opinions expressed and conclusions arrived at, are those of the author and are not to be attributed to the Carnegie Corporation or the CDTA.

ince the mid-1960s, the poet, painter and teacher Lefifi Tladi has been striving to teach the ideas of selfrespect, knowledge and humanness among the oppressed South Africans. Together with friends, Tladi initiated a love for African-centred literature, visual arts and music in an attempt to instil a sense of awareness among local communities.

These affirmative activities brought him into contact with the pioneers of Black Consciousness in South Africa. Unfortunately, these initiatives also put him at odds with local law enforcement authorities. Subsequently, he left the country for Botswana in 1976 where he continued with these self-empowering initiatives. Again, in Botswana, his unwillingness to become a card-carrying member of his compatriots’ political party put him at odds with the formation. After over three years in Botswana Tladi received a scholarship opportunity to study art in Sweden where he stays to this day. He left southern Africa when his star as a painter and poet began shining.

My research attempts to insert Tladi’s work and ideas into South Africa’s cultural discourse. Through writing and portrait painting, I engage in a process that repeats Tladi’s portrait, poetry and art while explicating my studio methods. I attempt to insert the multitalented artist into the psyche of the country’s discourse through workshops that discuss his art and political explorations. I am writing journal articles, essays for exhibition

catalogues and lectures that focus on his work. I am also working on a monograph about his life and work.

My processes attempt to make known a parallel South African history transcending the current popular discourse. Imbued with the knowledge of Tladi’s journey, the world can realise and understand another South African

history. It calls for the inclusion of histories of the people whose material experience intertwines with these happenings for a broader and truthful take on the country’s reality.

A failure to acquire knowledge of this history perpetuates the lie about the inadequacies of poor people and their abilities.

Dr Kolodi Senong is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. His research focuses on painting and biography.

Oil canvas of Lefifi Tladi.