Tshepo Moloi will be in discussion with Clive Glaser, Professor of History at Wits, and David Lebethe, lawyer and founding member of the branch of the South African Student Movement at Bodibeng High, in Kroonstad, in 1973.

WHEN
Wednesday 2 September 2015, 17:30 for 18:00
WHERE
Cafe Fino – Restaurant at Origins Centre, Wits University
Yale Rd, Braamfontein.
Free Parking at Origins Centre from 5pm.
RSVP by Monday 31 August
[email protected]

Place of Thorns examines the tumultuous and often fractious politics in Kroonstad’s black townships. In spite of the town’s relative obscurity, the author found a rich tradition of civic and political life in its townships and provides a persuasive explanation for the violence unleashed in the 1990s after decades of relative political ‘quiescence’.

I was born and raised in Kroonstad, a Free State town known more for its famous sons and daughters such as Gabriel Setiloane, Pallo Jordan, Ivy Matsepe, Mosioua Lekota and Antjie Krog. This important book tells us about the other heroes and heroines of the town who didn’t find the limelight, but fought a hard struggle for dignity, justice and freedom over generations. This lesser known part of my hometown’s history has cried out to be documented for a long time, and now it is done in an authoritative, engaging way.
— Max du Preez, South African author, columnist, documentary filmmaker and founding editor of Vrye Weekblad