USAID Supports Investigative Journalism
USAID supports the South African Government’s Anti-Corruption Strategy for the public, private and civic sectors to join forces to expose and prevent corruption. Investigative journalism raises public awareness. USAID South Africa’s program is the only one of 15 in Africa that directly trains practicing journalists.
The stamping of feet, lifting of fists and cries for freedom echoed through Soweto’s streets on June 16, 1976. The children of South Africa’s liberation struggle fought for human rights that day 30 years ago. World media reported the news. Thembi Majombozi was one of these children. Today, she continues fighting for human rights through journalism.
“Our country has made very positive developments to transform,” says Thembi, who was 15 at the time of the Soweto uprising. She is now a journalist, “interested in moral issues in society,” tackling welfare concerns of poverty, women’s rights, children and those with disabilities.
Thembi describes herself as a voracious reader and says that thoroughness is lacking in current journalism. She is one of 12 working journalists participating in the USAID-supported Investigative Journalism Workshop (IJW) at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg. USAID sponsors a similar training program at Rhodes University. USAID Director, Dr. Carleene Dei, recently presented graduating Rhodes journalists with certificates.
Thembi envisions using her new journalistic skills in social and community development. She is currently investigating the secondary victimization of domestic violence and abuse victims. Her main focus is “victims of femicide”. South Africa has the world’s highest rate of female homicide (femicide) by an intimate partner, with a woman being killed every six hours by her partner.
Journalism is changing, but Thembi still says little serious investigative reporting is taking place. She believes that the IJW will help overcome those gaps.
Through the development of investigative journalism in South Africa, Thembi sees journalists making an impact socially, professionally and politically. She considers the progress significant locally, in the rest of Africa and throughout the world.
