{"id":4323,"date":"2025-04-15T09:26:48","date_gmt":"2025-04-15T09:26:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/?p=4323"},"modified":"2025-04-15T11:32:22","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T11:32:22","slug":"born-free-is-higher-education-a-national-crisis-podcast-episode-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/15\/born-free-is-higher-education-a-national-crisis-podcast-episode-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Born Free: Is higher education a national crisis \u2013 Podcast episode 3"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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This week on <\/span>Born Free<\/span>,<\/span> Otsile Nkadimeng and Khumo Kumalo tackle a decade-long crisis that continues to weigh heavily on the shoulders of South African students: <\/span>the burden of student debt<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

From the powerful eruption of the <\/span>#FeesMustFall<\/span> movement in 2015 to the renewed protests earlier this year, they trace the painful cycle of financial exclusion and frustration that resurfaces year after year. Why do meaningful solutions remain just out of reach? What structural and policy failures keep generations of young people locked in the same fight for access and dignity?<\/span><\/p>\n

In this episode, they unpack the layers of the crisis\u2014its history, its human toll, and the unfulfilled promises that fuel student anger and activism. Whether you’ve walked this road or want to better understand the struggles within our higher education system, this conversation brings clarity, context, and the voices that demand change.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Khumo Kumalo<\/b> is the visionary behind <\/span>Misunderstood<\/b> and the dynamic co-host of <\/span>Born Free<\/b>. Named one of the <\/span>Mail & Guardian\u2019s Top 200 Young South Africans of 2024<\/b>, he is a bold voice in the country\u2019s evolving political discourse.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the author of <\/span>Newsletter<\/b> 94 <\/b>(formerly Misunderstood), Kumalo delves into South Africa\u2019s complex history and shifting political landscape, reflecting on the dreams and realities of a post-apartheid nation. His passion for debate and current affairs was ignited at <\/span>St John\u2019s College<\/b>, later taking him to <\/span>Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia<\/b>, where he continued to sharpen his perspective on leadership and social change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kumalo isn\u2019t just asking questions\u2014he\u2019s challenging narratives, sparking conversations, and pushing South Africa\u2019s youth to rethink what it truly means to be <\/span>Born Free<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Otsile\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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Otsile Nkadimeng<\/b> is a <\/span>published author, policy writer, and changemaker<\/b>, balancing his role as a <\/span>second-year university student<\/b> with a deep commitment to youth empowerment. Recognized by <\/span>News24<\/b> for his impact and awarded the <\/span>Young Nelson Mandela Award in 2023<\/b>, he is shaping conversations on democracy, governance, and sustainability.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the <\/span>Executive Director of SoWeVote<\/b>, a platform he co-founded, Nkadimeng is making it easier for young South Africans to access critical information about politics and democracy. His advocacy extends beyond borders\u2014he serves as a <\/span>Youth Advisor to the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria<\/b> and is a <\/span>fellow at the International Youth Think Tank<\/b>, where he contributes to global youth policy discussions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Passionate about sustainability, he has co-founded and led multiple initiatives aimed at environmental and social progress across South Africa. Whether in civic engagement, international diplomacy, or grassroots activism, Nkadimeng is at the forefront of youth-led change, proving that young voices aren\u2019t just part of the conversation\u2014they\u2019re leading it.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Disclaimer:<\/b><\/p>\n

“Born Free”<\/i><\/b> is an opinion-based podcast and does not represent the views of M&G Media (PTY) LTD, its owners, affiliates, employees, or partners. The opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not reflect the editorial stance of the Mail & Guardian.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This week on Born Free, Otsile Nkadimeng and Khumo Kumalo tackle a decade-long crisis that continues to weigh heavily on the shoulders of South African students: the burden of student<\/p>\n

Continue reading <\/use> <\/svg>Born Free: Is higher education a national crisis \u2013 Podcast episode 3<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4323"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4323"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4326,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4323\/revisions\/4326"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/burn-the-priest.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}