Hubo Studio Puts South Africa on the Global Architecture Map

Hubo Studio Puts South Africa on the Global Architecture Map

South Africa has yet another reason to celebrate. Johannesburg-based Hubo Studio has been named a global finalist in the prestigious Architizer A+ Awards often referred to as the “Oscars of Architecture.” The studio is not only representing the country on the world stage, but also redefining how educational spaces are designed.

In a recent interview on Bush Radio’s The Morning Cruise, founder Asher Marcus described the recognition as “unbelievable and surreal.” Hubo Studio has been shortlisted among the top five small firms globally, standing out among thousands of entries.

This achievement builds on their growing international reputation, following a win at the World Architecture Festival in Miami often dubbed the “World Cup of Architecture.”

For Hubo Studio, this recognition is about more than awards. It’s about showcasing South Africa’s creativity, innovation, and potential in shaping global design conversations.

Hubo Studio’s success lies in its fresh, human-centered approach to architecture. The team is:

• Young, passionate, and mission-driven
• Focused on transforming education through design
• Collaborative even working directly with children

One of their most distinctive practices is co-designing with learners, ensuring that the spaces they create are shaped by the very people who use them.

Their philosophy is simple: design should serve people  especially children  in meaningful, empowering ways.

At the heart of Hubo Studio’s recognition is the Red Hill Early Learning Centre, a flagship project that has been ranked among the top five educational spaces in the world.

Unlike traditional schools, Red Hill breaks away from rigid classroom structures. Instead, it introduces a “mini-city” concept, where:

• Learning happens through exploration and curiosity
• Spaces are open, flexible, and interactive
• Children can move, collaborate, and discover freely

This innovative environment challenges the outdated idea of keeping learners confined to desks and corridors. Instead, it creates a dynamic ecosystem where education becomes an experience rather than a routine.

 

As Markers explained, poorly designed spaces with limited light, bad acoustics, and restricted movement can leave children feeling frustrated and disengaged. In contrast, well-designed environments:

• Promote calmness and focus
• Encourage creativity and collaboration
• Support emotional and cognitive development

At its core, Hubo Studio is not just an architecture firm  it is a multi-disciplinary team that includes educators and designers working together to reimagine education.

Their mission is to:

• Push schools beyond traditional limits
• Unlock new ways of teaching and learning
• Prepare children for an unpredictable future

By designing adaptable, inspiring environments, they aim to nurture lifelong learners who are confident in navigating the unknown.

Hubo Studio is currently in the running for the Popular Choice Award, and public votes play a crucial role.

• Click on the Architizer Awards links on the website
• Vote in all three categories
• Sign in (required)
• Vote every 24 hours until 15 May 2026

If Hubo Studio wins in June, it could be a game-changer not just for the firm, but for education and design in South Africa. It would strengthen their influence in shaping future school environments and open doors for broader collaboration with both public and private sectors.

Hubo Studio’s journey is a powerful reminder that African innovation belongs on the global stage. Through bold ideas and purpose-driven design, they are not only building spaces  they are shaping the future of learning.

And as South Africans, this is a moment to rally behind one of our own and help them bring the award home.

Written by Esethu Thetha

Presenter: Dane Van Rhyn

 

Unheard Voices: Professor Gertrude Fester on Survival, Solitary Confinement, and the Power of Memory

The history of South Africa is a tapestry woven with stories of immense resilience, yet many of the threads specifically those representing the voices of women in the anti-apartheid struggle remain overlooked. In a recent moving interview on Bush Radio, Professor Gertrude Fester joined us to shed light on these hidden narratives and discuss her powerful memoir, Prison Notebook V2957/88.

Professor Fester, whose prisoner number serves as the title of her book, spent harrowing days as a political detainee, including a significant period in solitary confinement. Her story is not just one of survival, but a call to action for women to document their own histories.

When Professor Fester was placed in solitary confinement in 1988, she was stripped of everything even pen and paper. Faced with the prospect of six months in total isolation, she had to find a way to keep her mind intact against a system designed to "demoralize and dehumanize."

"The first thing I decided was that I will compose a play in my head," Fester recalls. "Whatever happens, I’ll compose a play, I’ll compose a poem, and then I’ll say it the next day and edit it."

Her "audience" consisted of the birds that visited the bars of her exercise cage. She even found inspiration in the distant sounds of the Wynberg Mardi Gras festival drifting over the prison walls, using the music to anchor herself to the world outside. For Fester, creativity was not a hobby; it was a psychological shield against the trauma that led many of her peers to despair.

One of the most poignant moments of the interview touched on why women must tell their own stories. Fester pointed out that even in the formation of the ANC in 1913, women were excluded from membership, leading Charlotte Maxeke to form the Bantu Women’s League.

She highlighted a critical gap in South African historiography:

• The Documentation Gap: Many academic texts on the United Democratic Front (UDF) barely mention women, despite women’s organizations providing the very structures and offices the UDF relied upon in the Western Cape.

• The Burden of Memory: "It’s important to document," Fester insists. "I’m very lazy, I don’t always want to write, but I think you must."

Fester’s book extends beyond her time in South Africa, including a profound chapter on her five years in Rwanda. She was deeply moved by the Rwandan approach to reconciliation following the genocide, specifically their "Memorial Time" (April 7th to July 4th), where confessions and the search for the disappeared are prioritized.

This experience even led her to attempt a conversation with her own former interrogator. While the encounter was fraught with the former official remaining defensive and unrepentant Fester chose to include his entire three-page email in her book's appendix, allowing the reader to see the raw, unfiltered reality of the past.

Fester is candid about the role faith played in her survival, admitting that it was the only thing that prevented her from succumbing to suicidal thoughts during her darkest hours. However, she is equally clear that "freedom" in the modern South African context remains a complex, unfinished project.

She spoke of intergenerational trauma and the "woundedness" that still permeates the country. "We think we are free, but we’re not free," she noted. "We are still imprisoned by poverty and unemployment."

Professor Gertrude Fester’s journey serves as a vital reminder that while the laws of apartheid have changed, the work of healing and documenting the truth continues.

• Email: GertrudeFester@gmail.com

• WhatsApp: 082 373 4419

Listen to the full interview on Push Radio for more insights into the "Rainbow Trial" and the enduring spirit of South Africa’s women activists.

Unheard Voices

Survival, Solitary Confinement, and the Power of Memory

South African history is filled with powerful stories of resilience, but many voices—especially those of women in the anti-apartheid struggle—remain underdocumented. Recently, Professor Gertrude Fester joined Push Radio to discuss her harrowing experiences and her memoir, Prison Notebook V2957/88.

The Architecture of Survival

Spending 104 days in solitary confinement in 1988, Professor Fester was stripped of even basic writing materials. To survive, she turned to the only thing they couldn't take: her mind.

"The first thing I decided was that I will compose a play in my head... I'll compose a poem, and then I'll say it the next day and correct it."

She describes composing poems to the birds that visited her exercise cage and finding a connection to the outside world through the distant sounds of the Mardi Gras festival in Wynberg.

The Importance of Women's Stories

Fester emphasizes that women have always been at the forefront of the struggle, yet their contributions are often omitted from historical texts. She notes that women’s organizations provided the very structures the United Democratic Front (UDF) relied upon, yet these contributions frequently go unmentioned in academic records.

Lessons from Rwanda

Having taught in Rwanda for five years, Fester was deeply moved by their approach to reconciliation. She highlights their "Memorial Time" as a model for addressing trauma—a process of confession and seeking the truth that she feels is still missing in many aspects of the South African transition.

A Microcosm of South Africa

Reflecting on the "Rainbow Trial," where she was one of 14 accused, Fester notes the starkly different paths the survivors have taken. While some moved into high-ranking government positions, others have struggled to find permanent work since 1994. For Fester, this disparity is a microcosm of the country's broader challenges with poverty and unemployment.

Connect with Professor Gertrude Fester

To learn more or get in touch regarding her work and history:

• Email: GertrudeFester@gmail.com
• WhatsApp: 082 373 4419

Etafeni Day Care Center

 

Hope and Healing in Nyanga: The Impact of Etafeni Day Care Centre

In the heart of Nyanga, one of the oldest townships in Cape Town, stands a beacon of hope for vulnerable children and families — Etafeni Day Care Centre.

For years, the community of Nyanga has faced difficult social and economic challenges, including high unemployment, poverty, crime, and the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS. Despite these hardships, local community members and organisations continue working tirelessly to uplift lives and create a brighter future for the next generation.

Etafeni Day Care Centre has become one of the key pillars of support in the community. Built in partnership with local residents, the centre was created to address the needs of vulnerable children, their caregivers, and the wider community that supports them. Today, the centre serves as a safe and welcoming space where people can access care, support, development programmes, and opportunities for growth.

What makes Etafeni truly special is its holistic approach to community development. Through more than 12 different programmes, the organisation focuses not only on childcare, but also on health, education, emotional wellbeing, skills development, and poverty alleviation. The centre is constantly active, filled with children learning, caregivers receiving support, and community members building hope for a better tomorrow.

The organisation’s vision is clear — to create a flourishing community in Nyanga by working together with stakeholders and residents to promote wellbeing, break the cycle of poverty, and create lasting positive change.

While Nyanga has often been associated with crime and hardship, organisations like Etafeni are helping rewrite that narrative. Through compassion, partnership, and community-driven solutions, they are proving that transformation is possible when people work together.

However, this important work cannot continue without support. Etafeni relies heavily on donations and contributions to sustain its programmes and continue serving vulnerable families. Every donation helps provide resources, care, and opportunities to those who need them most.

As communities across South Africa continue to confront social and economic inequalities, centres like Etafeni remind us of the power of community, resilience, and collective action.

In a place where many challenges exist, Etafeni continues to stand as a symbol of hope, healing, and empowerment for the people of Nyanga.

Morning Cruise at Bush Radio 89.5 FM: Celebrating 30 Years with Mzananda Animal Clinic

 

 Morning Cruise at Bush Radio 89.5 FM: Celebrating 30 Years with Mzananda Animal Clinic

As we celebrate three decades of broadcasting excellence at Bush Radio 89.5 FM, we are excited to spotlight our partnership with Mzananda Animal Clinic. This organization is making a significant impact in the Khayelitsha community, providing vital veterinary services to pets and their owners.

 Name: Mzananda

-Role:Event Organizer and Fundraiser

Organization Mzananda Animal Clinic

Location: Khayelitsha

Mzananda is a registered veterinary non-profit organization (NPO) dedicated to improving animal welfare in the Khayelitsha area. Serving approximately 1,500 pets per month Mzananda operates mobile clinics that provide essential services such as:

- Hospitalizations

- Surgeries

- Sterilizations

- Vaccinations

- Education on pet care

 The Kalatina Night: A Celebration for a Cause

This Saturday, Mzananda will host its third annual Kalatina at the Two Oceans Aquarium. This event promises to be a night to remember, featuring:

Entertainment: Performances by the Isebanisi Africa choir

Auctioneer: Guy McDonald

MC: Purple Hudson

Food: Delicious offerings to delight attendees

Purpose: Fundraising to support Mzananda's operations

 Importance of the Event Fundraising: The primary goal of the Kalatina is to raise funds necessary for Mzananda's day-to-day operations. This allows the organization to continue providing services like sterilizations and vaccinations.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZFxoIz2fFc

 Community Outreach Funds raised will also support educational programs aimed at teaching pet owners about responsible animal care.

Mazananda emphasizes the importance of animal welfare, stating:

 Animals deserve love and care, just like humans.

Awareness of animal rights is crucial, and educating the community can help foster a culture of compassion toward pets.

How You Can Get Involved

While tickets for the Kalatina are limited, businesses and individuals can still support Mzananda:

1. Last-Minute Donations If brands wish to contribute prizes for the auction, they can contact Mzananda directly.

2. Social Media: Follow Mzananda Animal Clinic on social media to stay updated on future events and initiatives.

 3. Email Contact For inquiries or last-minute tickets, reach out to [fund@mzananda.co.za](mailto:fund@mzananda.co.za).

Everyone is Welcome!

The Kalatina event welcomes everyone who wishes to support animal welfare, not just animal lovers. It’s a great opportunity for businesses, friends, and families to come together for a good cause.

Written by Esethu Thetha

Presenter: Luntu Xhametshata

 

Morning Cruise on Bush Radio: Intyatyambo Yesizwe Empowering Young Mothers in eMfuleni

Morning Cruise on Bush Radio recently spoke with Intyatyambo Yesizwe, a community organization working in eMfuleni to support young mothers and raise awareness about teenage pregnancy. The conversation highlighted the realities many young mothers face, the importance of community support, and the practical ways the organization is helping young women return to school and rebuild their lives.

Intyatyambo Yesizwe is an NGO founded in 2019, starting with just 10 young girls and growing to support over 350 young mothers today. Their work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief:

A young mother’s potential does not end when she falls pregnant. With the right support system, she can continue building her future.

A major part of Intyatyambo Yesizwe’s mission is prevention through awareness. The organization visits schools and speaks directly with young girls about:

 

• The importance of staying focused on education
• The real-life challenges that can come with teenage pregnancy
• Making informed choices and thinking ahead

What makes these visits especially impactful is that young mothers from the organization often share their personal experiences, speaking honestly about the difficulties they encountered and encouraging learners not to repeat the same path.

During the interview, Intyatyambo Yesizwe emphasized that many young mothers come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and pregnancy can add pressure to families already struggling financially.

Some of the most common challenges mentioned included:

• Financial strain at home after the baby arrives
• Mental health struggles, often linked to stress, stigma, and lack of support
• Single-parent realities, where the father is absent
• Feeling “stuck”, especially when education is disrupted

 

This feeling of being stuck was described as very common, particularly when young mothers do not have a strong support system.

Intyatyambo Yesizwe actively works to help young mothers return to education and stay on track. Their support includes:

 

• Advocating at schools so pregnant learners can continue their education
• A yearly Back-to-School program, providing:
• Stationery
• School uniforms
• Assistance with school fees (where needed)
• Support for baby essentials, depending on each young mother’s situation

Their goal is clear: to ensure young mothers do not get left behind, but instead are supported to “bounce back” and continue building their lives.

A key message from the interview was that communities and families must reduce stigma and replace judgment with support. The organization called for:

• Encouragement instead of emotional harm
• Less stigma and more compassion
• A home environment where young mothers are supported, not shamed

The interview stressed that harsh words and judgment can deepen a young mother’s struggles at a time when she already feels isolated.

For young listeners tuning in, the advice was simple and direct:

Think before you act. Make choices that protect your future.

Intyatyambo Yesizwe can be reached via WhatsApp at:

📱 063 007 4609

They also shared that they are currently running a nappy drive, responding to increased need during wet weather. Community members who are able to contribute are encouraged to support by donating nappies to help young mothers, both those at school and those at home.

Morning Cruise on Bush Radio thanks Intyatyambo Yesizwe for sharing their story and for the important work they continue to do in eMfuleni.

Written: by Esethu Thetha - Facebook profile: Esethu Thetha 

Presenter: Luntu Xhametshata