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The Student News Site of St. Joseph's University

The Hawk News

The Student News Site of St. Joseph's University

The Hawk News

The Student News Site of St. Joseph's University

The Hawk News

Jodi Lawerence, an administrator at the Sophiatown Heritage Centre, tells visitors about Sophiatown's history during a tour of the museum's rooms. PHOTO: SHAILA BHAYROO/THE HAWK

Sophiatown museum shares history of struggle, resistance

Maximus Fisher ’25, Staff Writer August 4, 2024

Sophiatown, South Africa – Behind a white cement wall splashed with a colorful mural, a brick house on Toby Street in the Johannesburg suburb of Sophiatown tells the story of resilience.  The house,...

Chacko Shabalala operates a clothing business using business management and sewing skills he acquired during his time at the Napier Centre, a residential after-care facility. PHOTO: HANNAH PAJTIS '26/THE HAWK

‘A voice for the voiceless’

Kiley O'Brien, Assistant Features Editor July 18, 2024

Durban, South Africa – Chacko Shabalala’s story is one that keeps staff at the Denis Hurley Centre focused on their mission to help men living on the streets in Durban. Growing up in a relative’s...

A customer visits one of two refillery stores that Wakanda Food Accelerator set up in shipping containers in the township of Alex as part of a project called Gcwalisa. PHOTO COURTESY OF WAKANDA FOOD ACCELERATOR

Fit to be king

Lilli Dellheim '25 M.A., Special to the Hawk July 13, 2024

Johannesburg, South Africa – Miles Kubheka, a food entrepreneur and systems-change enthusiast, has a history of finding inspiration and solutions hidden in plain sight.  “I think I knew I wanted...

A volunteer participates in a June 29 beach cleanup at Anstey’s Beach in the Durban suburbs. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK '26/THE HAWK

Youth drive cleanup along Durban beach

Anna Kalafatis '22, Staff Writer July 11, 2024

Durban, South Africa – About 30 volunteers gathered June 29 at Anstey’s Beach for a beach cleanup sponsored by the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA).   Eight-year-old...

Amanda Cokile, Lilita Mkulungu, Sihle Mkulungu and Milisa Kuse (left to right) work on their paintings at a June 29 Cycling Friends' Sip & Paint event. PHOTO: SHEKINAH DAVIS, M.A. '24/THE HAWK

Bicycle shop event encourages young people to ‘unplug’

Lilli Dellheim '25 M.A., Special to the Hawk July 10, 2024

Cape Town, South Africa – It’s a Saturday night in late June in Cape Town, and what’s usually a quiet bicycle shop is blasting Amapiano and Afrobeat music, audible from the sidewalk as over 50 participants...

Precious Maleka (left), a social worker at LIV Thokomala, and Khethiwe Mtshali (right), a foster mother, play a game outside the home where Mtshali currently cares for four children. PHOTO: LILLI DELHEIM, M.A. '25/THE HAWK

Foster mother provides forever home to vulnerable children

Hannah Pajtis, Features Editor July 7, 2024

Vosloorus, South Africa – Khethiwe Mtshali’s home looks like any house filled with children: school portraits positioned on counters, My Little Pony toys atop the TV, well-adored teddy bears nestled...

A project is displayed in the alleyway at Mimosa School, where children have been engaged in research and ideas for how to improve the space. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK '26/THE HAWK

Young students tapped for public alleyway project

Maximilian Murphy '26, Special to the Hawk July 5, 2024

Auckland Park, South Africa – About 25 children and a handful of parents gathered June 11 in the alley at the back of a suburban elementary school for an update on a beautification project the children...

Khalil Ebrahim Saloojee (left) and his father Suliman Saloojee (right), outside their company headquarters in Anchorville, each credits the other with different talents that help make the family business successful. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK '26/THE HAWK

Family clothing business threads perseverance with community care

Shekinah Davis ’24 M.A., Special to the Hawk July 4, 2024

Anchorville, South Africa — When the Saloojee family opened their first men’s clothing store in 1972 in the mining town of Westonaria, about 30 miles from Johannesburg, they had to find a white man...

Donning their Durban Sharks kits for the first time following their capping ceremony, the U16 Sharks players hone their skills during a training session. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK '26/THE HAWK

‘There is a future for girls’ rugby’

Maximus Fisher ’25, Sports Writer July 3, 2024

Durban, South Africa – Forty-six athletes took a step towards a better future for women’s rugby June 23 at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park Stadium, home to the Durban Sharks, a professional rugby union...

Mafusi Molefi (left) and Michèle Schiess (right) discuss one of Ma Tiger's latest projects: a garden that helps feed children at Mautse Primary School. PHOTO: MAXIMUS FISHER ’25/THE HAWK

Listen to them roar

Mautse, South Africa — After witnessing survivors of gender-based violence, substance abuse and child neglect struggle with a lack of adequate support from local and provincial government structures,...

Makatleho (Anna) Maseko cooks a pizza at Kasi Pizza, her garage-turned-pizza restaurant in Mautse, a township in the Free State province. PHOTO: MAXIMILIAN MURPHY '26/THE HAWK.

Township pizza spot runs on hard work, dreams

Hannah Pajtis and Lilli Dellheim '25 M.A. July 1, 2024

Mautse, South Africa - On the first day she opened Kasi Pizza at the end of 2022, Makatleho (Anna) Maseko sold every one of the 80 pizzas she had prepared in her small kitchen. Maseko operates Kasi...

Dr. Elsa van Biljon, a veterinarian for Cluny Animal Trust, operates on a patient in Cluny's mobile truck. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK '26/THE HAWK

‘Without them, it would be a disaster’

Anna Kalafatis '22 and Zach Podolnick June 29, 2024

Fouriesburg and Mashaeng, South Africa – When his dog, Foster, was hit by a car, Josia Maseko thought he might lose his beloved pet.   Maseko, who lives in the Black township of Mashaeng, took his...

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