Canon Collins Trust

07/09/2026

Some of Kimberly Mabaso’s earliest memories are tied to a single word: *kwerekwere*.

She heard it in school corridors and playground conversations before she understood the politics of immigration or xenophobia. She understood its message immediately: “You are not one of us.”

Kimberly was two when her family moved from Zimbabwe to South Africa. At six, during an outbreak of xenophobic violence, she remembers sleeping on the beach with her family because it felt safer than sleeping at home.

As she grew older, Kimberly came to understand the limits of documents. Passports, permits and birth certificates can confirm where someone was born and whether they are legally entitled to remain in a country. They cannot persuade others to see the person holding them.

In “Papers, Please,” Kimberly examines the invisible borders created through language, suspicion and assumptions about who belongs. She argues that xenophobia persists because we continue to draw boundaries around empathy and reduce people to their nationality before recognising their humanity.

Her deeply personal essay was shortlisted for the 2026 Canon Collins Essay Competition and has now been published by African Arguments.

Read “Papers, Please”: https://africanarguments.org/2026/09/papers-please-canon-collins-2026-essay-shortlisted-finalist/

Congratulations, Kimberly, on sharing a story that challenges us to look beyond papers and see the person.

This piece was a shortlisted finalist for the Canon Collins 2026 essay competition. The annual competition invites essays that demonstrate thought leadership and offer fresh perspectives on issues affecting southern Africa.

31/08/2026

“When the law stops being a shield and becomes a shroud, democracy itself is at risk.”

In When the Grave Digs Itself, Canon Collins Scholar, Sandas Madziva examines Zimbabwe’s Constitution Amendment Bill No. 3 and its implications for elections, judicial independence, civic participation and constitutional democracy. He argues that extending political terms, removing the direct election of the president and restricting communication with foreign entities would consolidate executive power and weaken the public’s ability to hold government accountable.

This urgent and deeply personal essay reminds us that a constitution is a promise between the dead, the living and the unborn. Defending that promise requires citizens, scholars and institutions willing to question power and speak clearly when fundamental rights are threatened.

Sandas Madziva is one of the two winners of the 2026 Troubling Power Essay Competition. He is also a PhD candidate in law at North-West University, with research interests in international trade, investment and business law.

Read and share: https://mg.co.za/thought-leader/2026-08-27-zimbabwe-when-the-grave-digs-itself/

24/08/2026

The recording of our webinar, The Role of the Church: A Webinar on the Crisis Facing African Migrants in South Africa, is now available.

Held on 19 August 2026, the discussion brought together Bishop Paul Verryn, Dr Thandi Gamedze, Dr Precious Simba and Ivor Baatjes to reflect on the crisis facing African migrants and the responsibility of churches, religious communities and scholars in responding.

The conversation addressed questions of justice, dignity, solidarity and practical action at a time when African migrants continue to face serious challenges across South Africa.

The webinar was hosted by the Religious Justice Initiative in partnership with the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape and the Canon Collins Trust.

Watch the recording and share it with your networks, congregations and communities.

Watch:

What role should the Church play in responding to the crisis facing...

24/08/2026

FINAL REMINDER: APPLICATIONS CLOSE TODAY

Applications for the Tom Queba and Pegasys Scholarships for Social Change close today, Monday 24 August, at 3:00 pm UK time.

If you have started an application, finalise and submit it now. Complete every section, upload all the required supporting documents and check that your application has been received successfully.

Do not wait until the final hour. Heavy traffic may slow the application portal or cause technical issues that affect your submission.

Submit your application as soon as possible: https://canoncollins.org/scholarships/tom-queba-scholarships-for-social-change/

22/08/2026

TOM QUEBA SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE APPROACHING

Applications for the Tom Queba and Pegasys Scholarships for Social Change close on Monday 24 August at 3:00 pm UK time.

If you have started your application, use this time to complete every section, upload all the required supporting documents and submit it as soon as possible.

Please do not wait until the final hour. Increased traffic may slow the application portal or cause technical issues that could affect your submission.

Finalise and submit your application early, then confirm that it has been received successfully.

Apply here:https://canoncollins.org/scholarships/tom-queba-scholarships-for-social-change/

21/08/2026

RMTF APPLICATIONS CLOSE TODAY

Today is the final day to apply for the Ros Moger and Terry Furlong (RMTF) Scholarships for Postgraduate Study.

Applications close today, Friday 21 August, at 3:00 pm UK time.

If you have started an application, please finalise and submit it now. Check that you have completed every section and uploaded all the required supporting documents.

Do not wait until the final hour. Increased traffic may slow the application portal or cause technical issues that could affect your submission.

Submit early: https://canoncollins.org/scholarships/canon-collins-rmtf-scholarships-for-postgraduate-study/

19/08/2026

MEET ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS: DR THANDI GAMEDZE

You are invited to:

THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH
A webinar on the crisis facing African migrants in South Africa

Join, Dr Thandi Gamedze and fellow speakers later this afternoon for a critical conversation on the crisis unfolding across South Africa and the role religious communities and scholars should play in responding.

Date: 19 August 2026
Time: 16:30–18:00
Platform: Zoom

Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Sgizyy-ZRaq9TMVsnzT7mQ #/registration

Hosted by the Religious Justice Initiative, in partnership with the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape and the Canon Collins Trust.

We warmly invite you to join the conversation and share this invitation with your networks.

19/08/2026

MEET ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS: IVOR BAATJES

You are invited to:

THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH
A webinar on the crisis facing African migrants in South Africa

Join, Canon Collins Trust Executive Director, Ivor Baatjes and fellow speakers later this afternoon for a critical conversation on the crisis unfolding across South Africa and the role religious communities and scholars should play in responding.

Date: 19 August 2026
Time: 16:30–18:00
Platform: Zoom

Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Sgizyy-ZRaq9TMVsnzT7mQ #/registration

Hosted by the Religious Justice Initiative, in partnership with the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape and the Canon Collins Trust.

We warmly invite you to join the conversation and share this invitation with your networks.

18/08/2026

MEET ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS: BISHOP PAUL VERRYN

You are invited to:

THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH
A webinar on the crisis facing African migrants in South Africa

Join Bishop Paul Verryn and fellow speakers for a critical conversation on the crisis unfolding across South Africa and the role religious communities and scholars should play in responding.

Date: 19 August 2026
Time: 16:30–18:00
Platform: Zoom

Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Sgizyy-ZRaq9TMVsnzT7mQ #/registration

Hosted by the Religious Justice Initiative, in partnership with the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape and the Canon Collins Trust.

We warmly invite you to join the conversation and share this invitation with your networks.

18/08/2026

MEET ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS: DR PRECIOUS SIMBA

You are invited to:

THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH
A webinar on the crisis facing African migrants in South Africa

Join Dr Precious Simba and fellow speakers for a critical conversation on the crisis unfolding across South Africa and the role religious communities and scholars should play in responding.

Date: 19 August 2026
Time: 16:30–18:00
Platform: Zoom

Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Sgizyy-ZRaq9TMVsnzT7mQ #/registration

Hosted by the Religious Justice Initiative, in partnership with the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice at the University of the Western Cape and the Canon Collins Trust.

We warmly invite you to join the conversation and share this invitation with your networks.