Alfred Qabula was a central figure in the cultural movement that emerged among working people in and around Durban in the 1980s. The movement was an innovative attempt to draw on the oral poetry developed among the Nguni people over many centuries. Qabula was a forklift driver in the Dunlop tyre factory in Durban at the time this book was developed. He used the art of telling stories to critique the exploitation of black workers and their oppression under apartheid.

A Working Life, Cruel Beyond Belief is the first book in the Hidden Voices series and is Qabula’s testament, telling the powerful story of his life and work. It also contains a generous selection of his poetry. The Hidden Voices Project emerged out of an interest in intellectual left contributions towards discussions on race, class, ethnicity and nationalism in South Africa. Specifically, the project seeks to examine and make available writings on left thought under apartheid. The aim is to look at hidden voices – voices outside of the university system or academic voices suppressed by apartheid pressures. Before and during the apartheid years, many universities were closed to existing local ideas and debates, and critical intellectual debates, ideas, texts, poetry and songs often originated outside academia during the period of the struggle for liberation.

South Africa is a country rich in pathways, tracks and roads – both tar and gravel. It is also a country of wonderful stories, blessed with a varied, colourful and contested history.

For more than a year veteran journalist Luke Alfred walked South Africa’s roads through cities, countryside and everything in between.

Early One Sunday Morning I Decided to Step Out and Find South Africa tells the stories of some of the country’s most interesting and sometimes forgotten places.

Desiree Ellis has been associated with Banyana Banyana, the South African women’s national football team, for 30 years – initially making her mark as a player (1993–2002), before transitioning to coaching. Taking the experience of 32 caps, including captaining the team when South Africa won the inaugural Cosafa Women’s Cup in 2002, she went on to become the most successful women’s coach in South Africa.

After a stint as assistant coach to Vera Pauw, Desiree was officially appointed head coach in 2018 and continued adding to her outstanding resumé. A high point came in 2022 when she coached Banyana Banyana to the Wafcon title in Morocco. The win also earned the team automatic qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

But Desiree’s inspiring football journey began many years before on the streets of Salt River in Cape Town where she developed the strength and skills that earned her the nickname ‘Magic’ on the field. Back then soccer boots were only dreamed of and it was her Bata Toughees school shoes that suffered the wear and tear, often to the despair of her hardworking parents. In the early days of the Athlone Celtic women’s side, it was a family affair: (Uncle) Eddie took on the role of coach, (Mom) Natalie’s seamstress skills saw them all kitted out, and (Dad) Ernest handled everything else, from transport to scheduling games.

When Desiree’s talent and dedication saw her become a serious contender at league and then provincial level, and finally gave her a chance to play with and against the world’s best, there was no stopping her. As South Africa emerged from sporting exile after the dark days of apartheid and stepped up to the international stage, Desiree proved to everyone who believed in her that dreams can come true.

Sitting high in the branches of a tall tree in the forest, there is a den made from bits of wood, and rope, and Grandma's old parasol. But for one child it is much, much more -- it's a castle, a pirate ship, an igloo, a plane.    A place to dream.    Joyful and lyrical, This is My Treehouse observes the endless adventures our imaginations can take us on, and the sanctuary offered by a space to call our own.    With tender text from award-winning author Guillaume Guéraud, and stunning visuals from graphic novel artist Alfred, this evocative story celebrates the playful wonder of childhood. 

In 1889, David Eccles chartered the Oregon Lumber Company, an organization that produced many mills and railways and whose influence was felt from Salt Lake City to Northern California and Idaho. Through family connections, Eccles was also involved with many other logging enterprises, and he influenced the growth of the Inter-Mountain region as well as the Pacific Northwest. Sumpter Valley Logging Railroads is a pictorial history of the Oregon operations, focusing on the operations along the Sumpter Valley Railway. It explores the rails, mills, and people, as well as the logging practices of a bygone era.

Taking off the wraps once more, but this time the action moves to China for round three of the Mummy adventure. For 2,000 years the ruthless Chinese Dragon Emperor (Jet Li) and his vast army of warriors have been frozen in time, cast in clay, waiting for their moment to rise again. When young archaeologist Alex O'Connell (Luke Ford) is duped into bringing the ancient warlord back to life, he soon realises he has to call in the only people he knows with experience and knowledge of how to battle the undead - his parents, father Rick (Brendan Fraser) and mother Evelyn (Maria Bello). As the emperor attempts to re-unite with his massed warriors and finally fulfil his dream of world domination, Alex and his family, along with mystical, high-kicking sorceress Zi Juan (Michelle Yeoh) and a rival cast of undead, have to pull out all the stops to keep the evil tyrant from achieving his ends.

Founded in 1653, the town of Huntington is situated on what is known as the Gold Coast of Long Island. The incorporated villages within the town are Huntington Bay, Lloyd Harbor, Asharoken, and Northport. Huntington has always attracted a population that has created a foundation of diversity. Settlement-era properties, castles of the Victorian period, and main streets still adorn the town as witnesses of the people who lived here and a community that is still thriving. A few of the castles and mansions that once existed in the town have disappeared, some by wear and tear and others through neglect. Still others have been converted into academic institutions and museums. Around Huntington Village shares photographs that give meaning to the events in the lives of the people who lived here.

The poignant true story of a Jewish family who hid in an attic for two years before they were captured by the Nazis. The film follows the life of celebrated diarist Anne Frank (Millie Perkins), as remembered in hindsight by her father Otto (Joseph Schildkraut). Shelley Winters won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and the film also garnered Oscars for Best Black and White Cinematography and Best Art Direction, in addition to receiving a further five nominations.

Three classic films starring comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. In 'The Dancing Masters' (1943), Stan (Laurel) and Ollie (Hardy) are owners of a dance school, but are evicted for non-payment of rent. To raise money, Ollie tries an insurance scam which involves inflicting injuries on Stan, but the inept pair soon find themselves mixed up with local gangsters. Watch out for appearances by long-running Marx Brothers' foil Margaret Dumont and a youthful Robert Mitchum. In 'A-haunting We Will Go' (1942), Laurel and Hardy unknowingly offer to help a bunch of crooks smuggle a wanted man past the police in a coffin. Unfortunately, the casket gets mixed up with one used by a stage musician, leading to a comic chase. Finally, in 'The Bullfighters' (1945), Stan and Ollie are two detectives looking for a female criminal in Mexico. Stan gets mistaken for a famous matador and is forced to show his prowess in the bullring.

The world's wackiest Volkswagen is back in action in this family comedy. Maggie Peyton (Lindsay Lohan), the first Peyton to graduate from college receives a graduation present from her dad (Michael Keaton). But instead of a 250Z, she instead receives a Volkswagon Bug (Herbie) who soon takes over all of Maggie's driving. After having her best friend Kevin (Justin Long) restore Herbie, she goes to the car show and beats all-time racer Trip Murphy (Matt Dillon). He demands a rematch and attempts to discover the secret behind Herbie. After losing a big race to Trip because of Herbie's stubbornness, Maggie enters the Daytona 500. But will Herbie win?