The debut novel by south african crime writer md villiers was shortlisted for the crime writers association debut dagger and is a compelling read. Anton harber whose book, diepsloot, is due to be published in may postcard image info. Anton harber is the caxton professor of journalism at wits university. It is made up of fully governmentsubsidised housing extensions 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10. Harber was the caxton professor of journalism at his alma mater, the university of the witwatersrand. Great texts anton harber institute for creative arts. The study is about people coming from somewhere else, trying to find a space to call home, to start a life in the city and.
The annals of the american academy of political and social science 2014 652. We are watching every day the emergence of a new media ecology, driven by social media and forcing the traditional media to experiment and innovate as they struggle to keep up the pace, says anton harber, diepsloot author and caxton professor of journalism at wits university, explaining why he is interested in the media coverage of the oscar pistorius murder trial. Troublemakers the best of south africas investigative journalism jacana, 2101, edited by anton harber and margaret renn. Our readers share their thoughts on anton harbers book diepsloot, albertina sisulu and more a group areas act for writers.
In little more than a decade, diepsloot has transformed from a semirural expanse to a dense, seething settlement of about 200 000 people. View anton harbers profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. Anton harber political journalist spent six months in one of the poorest, most densely populated informal settlements. An illustrated history and anton harbers diepsloot. Diepsloot ebook by anton harber 9781868424221 rakuten kobo. His book challenges the stereotypes of how people live, highlights the enormous challenges this presents for our country. Some people believe anton harber should never have written diepsloot. Anton is the caxton professor of journalism adjunct at the university of the witwatersrand, johannesburg. In a little more than a decade, diepsloot has transformed from a semirural expanse to a dense, seething settlement of a. It is in this postapartheid township that journalism stalwart anton harber spent four months, eating, talking, watching and reporting for his book diepsloot, launched in. Acclaimed journalist, anton harber, returns with diepsloot, an intimate study of life in an informal settlement in postapartheid south africa. Harber is totally unaware of his whiteness in a black space and two unexplored possibilities present themselves. Diepsloot, afrikaans for deep ditch, is a densely populated township in the north of johannesburg.
The book diepsloot is a must for any south african who wants to know how his country really functions behind the news headlines and propoganda and how his fellow south africans live on a daily basis. Reporting the south african hiv epidemic jacana, 2010. Anton harber is the caxton professor of journalism and media studies and director of the journalism programme at the university of the witwatersrand in johannesburg. Diepsloot cannot be ignored if you are a student of. I read this book while actually working in diepsloot, cooperating at a small, inexpensive private school called leap. Anton harber is a revered journalist and is an adjunct professor at the university of the witwatersrand, a columnist for business day, and the coeditor of two books about hivaids and investigative journalism in sa and author of the third book about diepsloot. What he delivers is a penetrating portrait of diepsloot. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series. Its portrait of groundlevel politics mostly a grubby fight for government jobs and contracts is eyeopening, as is the account of a nighttime police patrol. The book reveals the problems and challenges of overcrowded formal and informal living with minimal services. If you want to understand where this country is headed, you need to listen to the people of diepsloot, a seething settlement where people are finding their solutions to prob. In this wise and deeply reflective book, the editor and writer anton harber immerses himself in a township not far from johannesburg. Anton harber october 27, 1958 is a south african journalist.
Apr 27, 2011 anton harber whose book, diepsloot, is due to be published in may postcard image info. He graduated from the university of the witwatersrand career. His latest venture is in nonfiction e publishing, za. Respected journalist anton harber spent several months there, meeting the people, drinking in the taverns and probing the bitter local political battles. Anton harber, now adjunct professor of journalism and media studies at wits university, has been a journalist and editor for 36 years. Read diepsloot by anton harber available from rakuten kobo. Harber writes in a readable, accessible manner about the people he meets and how they see their lives, hopes and futures at a specific moment in time circa 2010. Anton harber takes you inside, meeting the people, probing the bitter local political battles, and asking what and area like diepsloot portends for the future of south africa. Jun 28, 2011 a dear friend invited me to dinner at the troyeville hotel in johannesburg, where jacob dlamini was to interview anton harber on the latters book, diepsloot one author interviewing another. Andile mngxitama finds blind spots in anton harbers. He is an adjunct professor of journalism at the university of the witwatersrand, a columnist for business day, and the coeditor or author of three books. Harber said the book diepsloot considers the community as an indicator of where south africa is headed, examining such issues as violence, mob justice, xenophobia and poverty, as.
Jul 14, 2011 some people believe anton harber should never have written diepsloot. Troublemakers the best of south africas investigative journalism jacana, 2101, edited by anton harber and margaret renn introduction the troublemakers. Diepsloot by anton harber meet your next favorite book. A postapartheid creation lying to the north of johannesburg, diepsloot is talked about as a place of fear, vigilante justice, xenophobic violence and a haven for criminals and undocumented foreigners. The authors are both journalists, and their books make interesting companion pieces that deal with a past that seeps into the present, and threatens to contaminate the future. South africas fiesty investigative reporters jacana, 2010 and what is left unsaid. May 26, 2011 it is in this postapartheid township that journalism stalwart anton harber spent four months, eating, talking, watching and reporting for his book diepsloot, launched in early may he answered our. He patrolled with volunteer crimefighters at night. Anton harber says oscar pistorius coverage shows new media.
Anton harber 10th global investigative journalism conference. Anton harber reuters institute for the study of journalism. He was the chair of the south african conference of editors in 1991, the. Harber writes a regular column in business day and blogs at za. It is located in the newly formed region a formerly regions 1 and 2 of the city of johannesburg metropolitan municipality. Ask most people about diepsloot and they will talk of vigilante justice, political unrest, poverty and unemployment, a scene of recent political protests and xenophobic violence, a haven for criminals and undocumented foreigners in the middle of one of the countrys wealthiest areas. Apartheidstyle housing in a postapartheid township. Harber coedited two editions of the the az of south african politics penguin 1994 and 1995, the troublemakers. Author and editor anton harber reveals why he chooses journalism, on thursday 18 october, in the final 2012 event in the gordon institute for. Jonathan ball cape town johannesburg, south africa, 2010 isbn 9781868424214 isbn 9781868424214 softcover, 15x23cm, 231 pages. Book awards book club selections books by author books by series coming soon kids books new releases teens books this months biggest new releases.
Harbers book diepsloot was published by jonathan ball in may 2011. I could hardly believe what i was reading in andile mngxitamas. Anton harber takes you inside, meeting the people, probing the bitter local. Jan 01, 2011 i really enjoyed anton harber s journalistic investigation into the world of diepsloot. It is part of the post apartheid world of migrancy to the city. Diepsloot township is not far from the wealthy suburbs of dainfern and steyn city, gauteng, and was established in 1995 as a transit camp for some of the people who had been removed from zevenfontein informally known as esgodiphola, a squatter camp right next to chartwell that had been there since the late 80s. His latest venture is in nonfiction epublishing, za. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He was in 200910 chair of the freedom of expression institute and a director of the institute for the advancement of. Anton harber caxton professor of journalism adjunct.
Anton harbers diepsloot, a slayer of township stereotypes. Great texts anton harber awardwinning author and editor, professor anton harber, will discuss why he chooses journalism in the final 2012 great textsbig questions public lecture harber will examine the changing work and role of journalists in the perfect storm created by new technology, and state and commercial pressures. Anton harbers diepsloot, a slayer of township stereoty. Read unlimited books and audiobooks on the web, ipad, iphone and android. Anton harber talks to maggie marx about his recently. There are no cartoon characters and no posturing allowed. Video of mob murder in a johannesburg shantytown shocks. Anton harber is the caxton professor of journalism at the university of the. But while intellectuals blathered on, harber did what no one else has done. Of frogs and fractals, a public lecture at the university of johannesburg, 4 august 2011. However, the book never rises to the level of real social science. Diepsloot is a well written and researched account of a specific burgeoning settlement on the outskirts of johannesburg. Two decades of contestation over the nature and extent of transformation in the south african news media have left a sector different in substantive ways from the apartheid inheritance but still pa.
Anton harber is the caxton professor of journalism at the university of the witwatersrand in johannesburg. An account of the rise of a new wave of investigative journalism in south africa. In little more than a decade, diepsloot has transformed from a semirural. Diepsloot is the first study of its kind that seeks to understand change as it is lived on the ground, and not as it is talked about in the media and corridors of power. He is an adjunct professor of journalism at the university of the witwatersrand, a columnist for business day, and the coeditor or author of three books early life. Awardwinning author anton harber at gipcas great texts. Anton harber 2011 describes diepsloot as a place mirroring the general countrys political and social dynamics including the burning issue of sevice r delivery.
See the complete profile on linkedin and discover antons connections and jobs at similar companies. Jonathan ball publishers recently produced two fine, thoughtprovoking nonfiction works. I read this book while actually working in diepsloot, cooperating at a. He is the coeditor of two books about hivaids and investigative journalism in south africa, and the author of a third book about diepsloot. Read diepsloot by anton harber for free with a 30 day free trial. He was the chair of the south african conference of editors in 1991, the chair of the national association of broadcasters in. Harber has had a long career in journalism, media management and the training of journalists. Harber has been called the slayer of stereotypes and indeed he is.
I really enjoyed anton harber s journalistic investigation into the world of diepsloot. He graduated from the university of the witwatersrand. Diepsloot, by anton harber vorgestellt im namibiana buchdepot. Anton harber was born on october 27, 1958 in durban, south africa. He spoke to politicians, church members and artists. His book, diepsloot, was published by jonathan ball in may 2011, and won the recht malan prize for nonfiction writing. He went into diepsloot, spent a lot of time there and wrote the book. I really enjoyed anton harbers journalistic investigation into the world of diepsloot. A dear friend invited me to dinner at the troyeville hotel in johannesburg, where jacob dlamini was to interview anton harber on the latters book, diepsloot one author interviewing another. It is made up of fully governmentsubsidised housing extensions 4, 5, 6, 9, and 10, brick houses built by landowners extensions 2.