Lutho Jita

Fellow: Masters Fellow, UK-SA Bilateral Digital humanities chair in culture and technic

I am a Masters student in the Department of Historical Studies and a fellow under the UK–RSA Bilateral Digital Humanities Chair in Culture and Technics. My research interests are shaped by a strong focus on social injustices and the lived experiences of marginalised communities.

My Honours research examined how the long and complicated restitution process in Protea Village exposes the deeper limitations of South Africa’s land reform framework. Through this work, I demonstrated that true restitution requires more than the return of land. My Masters research shifts toward African urban histories, focusing specifically on Z Memani Street in Nyanga, Cape Town. I aim to give life to this street and uncover the untold stories embedded in marginalised urban spaces. Drawing on my own experience growing up in the neighbourhood, I use the street to explore the complexities, challenges, and evolving character of African cities in the modern era.