Its value cannot be overemphasised

The African Investigative Journalism conference came at the right time. It was at the time when I needed all the motivation I could get for my in-depth research.

The showcase of Somali killings, housing problems in Eastern Cape by the Taco Kuiper Award winner,The Daily Dispatch, the expose’ on the sale of bloody diamond in the United States’black market and the illegal prostitution in Ghana were but some of the sources of encouragement which fueled my interest in investigative journalism.

It was great to learn that people in these amazing projects were not driven by financial considerations. It was purely out of the love for journalism.

“If you are in journalism for money, just know that you are not going to make it. You must be driven by the desire to effect change in the world,”BBC’s Andrew Jennings said.

Although not very investigative in nature, my research efforts in Sandton on Thursday were robust. I literally went house to house for interviews, and also spoke to every person I met on the street.

The aim was to have all my questions answered. I was motivated by what the Business Report deputy editor, Ntyatyi Petros, said at the conference.

“The problem with our journalists is that they are lazy to go out there and speak to ordinary people for information. There is a tendency among journalists to prefer phone interviews, something which compromises the quality of journalism,” Petros advised delegates.

My visit to Sandton yielded positive results. I was able to see the Jukskei River in Sandton. The distinction in terms of its water quality in Sandton and Alexandra township was striking. I starred at the water in disbelief that it was from one of the dirtiest rivers in the country. It was relatively clean.

I met a Malawian chap called Ephraem who walked with me throughout.

“I am staying with my cousin who is a gardener in this household. I am currently unemployed. I don’t mind walking with you the whole day,” the amazingly nice Ephraem said.

My excursion was pretty enjoyable. I told him about the South African politics in exchange for his sharp presentation on the state of Malawian politics.

“I voted for Bingu wa Mutharika. He is an extraordinarily kind man,” he said.

What I liked the most about Thursday was that my walk covered almost the entire Sandton area. I got amazing pictures which I have no doubt that will earn me more marks for the research. I also got to know some places I did not really know. Killing two birds with one stone, is it not?