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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

Muniera Hassen (right), SBC dialysis and cataract administrator, speaks to Mr. Martin, a patient who has been receiving dialysis treatment at Sabera's Dialysis clinic for two years.
PHOTO: MAXIMUS FISHER ’25

‘They saved my life’

Ryan Dailey ’25, Special to the Hawk September 6, 2024

Johannesburg, South Africa – For Johannesburg residents with chronic kidney disease, the Sultan Bahu Centre in the suburb of Mayfair is a place of hope, and necessity. Founded nearly 40 years ago,...

Joash Paul said education should be one of the government's top priorities: "The education system is in shambles." PHOTO: KILEY O'BRIEN '25.

‘The youth are tired’

Zach Podolnick, Staff Writer/Photographer August 31, 2024

Johannesburg, South Africa – On a clear winter’s day in late May, 19-year-old Raquel French did something that felt momentous to her: She cast a ballot in South Africa’s general elections. “I...

The family home of Rochelle Smith, Yolanda Spalding and Siritta Varnicker is on a street close to a tailing mountain in Riverlea. On windy days tailing dust ends up on top of and inside houses like theirs. PHOTO: ZACH PODOLNICK '26/THE HAWK

Mine dumps expose community to health issues

Anna Kalafatis '22, Staff Writer August 28, 2024

Johannesburg, South Africa  –  A series of yellow mountains looms over the township of Riverlea, about six miles west of Johannesburg. The mountains, known as tailings, are the result of waste materials...

Phumzile Nkosi, curator and manager of the Phansi Museum, plays an accordion, one of many musical instruments in the museum's collection. PHOTO: LILLI DELLHEIM, M.A. '25/THE HAWK

‘Down below’ museum preserves southern African art

Ryan Dailey ’25 August 5, 2024

Durban, South Africa – Phumzile Nkosi often breaks into song when she takes visitors on a tour of the Phansi Museum. Or she will demonstrate Zulu ceremonial dances related to some of the artifacts and...

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,...

Reverend Nokuthula Dhladhla became the first openly queer person to be ordained in the Metropolitan Community Church, a Protestant Christian denomination. PHOTO: KILEY O'BRIEN '25/THE HAWK

Queer clergy at global nonprofit advocate for LGBTQ+ community

Hannah Pajtis, Features Editor July 31, 2024

South Africa  – When Reverend Nokuthula Dhladhla was a teenager, she lived in fear of what would happen if her church discovered she was a lesbian. She sat through sermons preaching about the sinfulness...

Selvan Naidoo, director and curator of the 1860 Heritage Centre in Durban, discovered evidence that his family had been among the first indentured laborers from India who were transported by the British colonial government to South Africa in the 1860s. PHOTO: KILEY O'BRIEN '25/THE HAWK

Durban museum highlights history of indentured labor

Maximilian Murphy '26, Special to the Hawk July 29, 2024

Durban, South Africa – When Selvan Naidoo takes visitors on a tour of the 1860 Heritage Centre in Durban, which he directs, he recounts a story about searching archives for information about his ancestors.  In...

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...

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