IT was little more than a year ago that the great idea to add some colour to the Berea Mail offices was born, and a grand mural fit the criteria. The Berea Mail design team pitched many ideas and, in the end, it was Sharon Trollip’s design that spoke to the Caxton brand.
“The design had to speak to the DNA of the Caxton papers, with each element representing the whole team,” said Trollip.
When one takes a first glance at the mural, they will see a man unveiling the newspaper logos and many elements that describe the Caxton Durban branch, a gesture that Trollip believes truly depicts what role all these publications do for the communities they serve.
Also read: Completed mural beautifies Glenwood area
Caxton Durban’s business manager, Nicole Vosser pointed out that as much as all of the elements on the wall have great significance, the hands describe the Caxton team best. “The hands represent unity and ubuntu, from how we see and treat each other to how we serve our community of readers,” she said.
Vosser encourages visitors to take advantage of the artwork by taking a selfie with the mural as a backdrop. Another special feature on the wall is the image of the Highway Mail office’s adopted cat, Ginger, which represents the feral cat community that has found a home on the premises.
The powerful mural was painted by graffiti artists, Brendan Lyle (AKA Uno Bear) and Jade Pieters (AKA Tonto). According to Lyle, height was one of the challenges faced when executing the job as the piece had to be painted on the second floor of the building.
“Howling wind was a little annoying as it would blow away the spray paint and rattle the scaffold. But, in saying that, overcoming obstacles makes the mural that much more memorable,” he said.
Also read: From drab to fab – Highway Mail’s mural is underway
When asked what his favourite element is, he agreed with Vosser and said it was the hands.
“Hands are difficult to get right, but they always look amazing. The graffiti hands turned out so cool. I love how only one hand is in colour. Alone, life is boring. Together, we can share imagination and create beautiful things. As the hands join, colour creeps in and adds vitality,” he added.
He added that graffiti has a similar role to newspapers as it serves the same purpose of spreading a message to the people. He deemed the project as an unforgettable experience and was glad to share it with a fellow artist, Jade Pieters.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za). At the time of going to press, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations. 
