The Botsotso literary journal started in 1996 as a monthly 4 page
insert in the New Nation, an independent anti-apartheid South African
weekly and reached over 80,000 people at a time - largely politisized
black workers and youth - with a selection of poems, short stories and
short essays that reflected the deep changes taking place in the country
at that time. Since the closure of the New Nation in 1999, the journal
has evolved into a stand-alone compilation featuring the same mix of
genres, and with the addition of photo essays and reviews. The
Botsotso editorial policy remains committed to creating a mix of
voices which highlight the diverse spectrum of South African identities
and languages, particularly those that are dedicated to radical
expression and examinations of South Africa's complex society.