kameraad mhambi

Mhambi started out at Mhambi.blogspot.com in April 2006. It was born out of a need to try and make sense of political and social upheaval in South Africa: The unraveling of a dream, the fading of the rainbow nation.

I chose the word Mhambi, because it means traveler in isiZulu. I am currently part of the South African diaspora but have not settled in any particular country.

This blog mainly covers current South African social & political events, but does at times meander to take in other issues as well, like art, photography, technology and film, as well as history.

My name is Wessel van Rensburg and I work as a web producer & documentary maker. Besides this blog I keep another on Social Media and Digital strategy called ZuluZulu.

I used to work as an investigator and evidence analyst for the South African Truth & Reconciliation Commission, where I specialised in investigating a number of high profile massacres that took place in the early 90’s.

Before that I was a young activist and the editor of the University of Pretoria’s student newspaper - Die Perdeby - circa 1994. Hence my keen interest in the South African transition.

I studied law in Pretoria (Tswane) , but I also have a degree in Hypermedia at the University of Westminster (London).

Motherland Azania

PS: The picture in the masthead of this blog is of General De la Rey, one of South Africa’s great leaders. He embodies courage, integrity, and a human touch.

In the masthead he wears Che Guevarra’s iconic beret, but although he was a decorated war hero, De la Rey was against war, so his beret has a dove as an emblem.