za Magazin - 20 Jahre Demokratie © Eli Weinberg, Crowd near the Drill Hall on the opening day of the Treason Trial, Johannesburg, December 19, 1956. Times Media Collection, Museum Africa, Johannesburg

20 years of democracy

2014 was a special year for South Africa: not only did the country celebrate 20 years of democracy, but it was also an election year. Together with South African and international partners, the Goethe-Institut marked this anniversary with various events.

Simon Gush - RED © Masimba Sasa / Goethe-Institut Johannesburg

The red Mercedez Benz
Simon Gush explores Democratic South Africa

Artist Simon Gush talks about the red Mercedes-Benz that workers gave to Nelson Mandela in 1990, the ensuing strike at the car manufacturing plant, and the power balance 20 years into South Africa's democracy. [more …]
We People Who Are Darker Than Blue. Istanbul, 2013. © Thabiso Sekgala We People Who Are Darker Than Blue. Istanbul, 2013. © Thabiso Sekgala

Welcome to Paradise
Post-apartheid South Africa in Pictures

Thabiso Sekgala is one of the few younger photographers whose work is featured in The Rise and Fall of Apartheid. We spoke to him about South African photography, European perceptions of African art and his latest exhibition in Berlin. [more …]
Europeans Only, 1956. © Peter Magubane Europeans Only, 1956. © Peter Magubane


Peter Magubane on his Iconic Work

Peter Magubane talks to Percy Mabandu about the day he took the famous and evocative "Europeans Only" photograph 58 years ago. [more …]
Fred Khumalo Photo © Christine Fourie

Author Fred Khumalo on Democracy
A 20-year Retrospective

Mary Corrigall spoke to renowned South African author Fred Khumalo about the significance of the 20 year anniversary of the country’s democracy and how the literary imagination has evolved in that time. [more …]
Pied Piper, 2013 © Courtesy of the artist and Stevenson Gallery

Ke Lefa Laka
A Family History

Young South African photographer Lebohang Kganye talks about Ke lefa laka, a photographic research into the history of her family. She says "The work refers to apartheid, an era that’s behind us. But it also speaks to the present that is very much impacted by apartheid." [more …]
Alternative-Kidz © Musa Nxumalo

Culture in Another South Africa
20 Years After Democracy

Where is South African culture after 20 years of democracy? Looking back, the so-called post-apartheid moment promised the beginning of a “better life for all.” [more …]
Gabi Ngcobo Gabi Ngcobo © Palesa Motsomi

Reinterpreted
The Gospel According to Chris Hani

An art exhibition at GoetheonMain saw young artists responding artistically to an interview with anti-Apartheid martyr and South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani. Marelise van der Merwe spoke to curator its curator Gabi Ngcobo. [more …]
Chris Hani 1992 © Rainer Leist


"Another Country" explores signature portraiture

Along with an exhibition, photographer Reiner Leist’s new book of photographs "Another Country" explores signature portraiture.      [more …]
David Goldblatt © Lily Goldblatt


A conversation with photographer David Goldblatt

World-renowned South African photographer David Goldblatt in conversation with writer Neelika Jayawardane. [more …]