Gurus in the South African banking industry have set a huge mountain to climb for informal traders… writes Godfrey Sigwela. They want the spaza shops and hawkers to stop using cash in their businesses. Financial experts attribute their idea to the fast developing digital world, in which new digital ways of banking can be used […]

I love South Africa. I tried to leave once. I managed 10 months… writes Tammy Southby, the woman behind the best new South African blog on the block – Sunshine Simplicities. We lived abroad in a beautiful, Victorian house in Chislehurst, Kent. One day a lady overheard my accent in the store. She commented that […]

The mood among South Africans has soured. The latest findings from the representative survey that’s done every year by the country’s Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) shows some disturbing new trends. By Joleen Steyn Kotze, University of the Free State and Benjamin Roberts, Human Sciences Research Council The most marked are: a decline in levels […]

Crime has free rein in one of Cape Town’s poorest suburbs. By Sandiso Phaliso Freedom Day dawns in Philippi, Cape Town, with daily gunshots, murders, robberies, car-jackings and the intimidation of City of Cape Town contract workers. Crime has free rein here in one of Cape Town’s poorest suburbs: dustbin collectors have withdrawn services in Philippi […]

The recent arrival of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presidential entourage, in the Eastern Cape, inspired many people… writes Godfrey Sigwela. Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane welcomed his valuable guests at Bulembu Airport without any problems. It appears that he had a solid strategic plan. He did not violate any of the Home Affairs department regulations… […]

Despite electricity shortages in South Africa, some shack dwellers are getting connected to electricity, while certain organisations are demanding they be exempted from load shedding (planned power cuts)… writes Godfrey Sigwela. Shack dwellers also deserve a better life and need light. However, citing Eskom’s daily load shedding cry, how did Eskom manage to manoeuvre and […]

Recaptured in Tanzania and brought back to South Africa, convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Friday. He was charged in connection with his escape from G4S-run Mangaung Correctional Centre on 3 May 2022. The case was postponed until May so that the prosecution can complete its investigation. By […]

As South Africa faces a dire shortage of snake anti-venom treatment, locals have been warned that relying on traditional myths and using homemade concoctions to treat snakebites is far too dangerous… writes Godfrey Sigwela. Sucking the snakebite or burning it all make the snake wound worse. Professor Timothy Hardcastle, an expert from The National Snakebite Advisory […]

South African homeowners will not be automatically granted special loans to purchase solar roof panels. Instead they will have to go through an assessment process before getting the loans… writes Godfrey Sigwela. Consumers are also being encouraged to report any irregularities that might happen when dealing with a credit provider issuing loans to buy solar […]

I have lived in Germiston for a long time. This is the first year I have thought of moving out… writes Viv Vermaak.  I have never felt so disturbed by the way our country is headed. Nor so afraid or alone. It is not because Ekurhuleni’s municipal infrastructure is falling apart, so much so that […]

Going to the beach is central to tourism entertainment. Dozens of tourist from diverse communities in SA and around the world like to gather on one of South Africa’s beautiful beaches… writes Godfrey Sigwela. And afterwards, they return to their respective accommodation and/or go out to restaurants. Some like working out in the gym while […]

South Africa’s national election is due next year. Usually the road to the national elections is characterised by a number of controversial voting campaigns… writes Godfrey Sigwela. Some political leaders like to visit churches, asking for the divine intervention in order to win the elections. While others choose to offer food parcels to attract votes. […]

Seriously South Africa, what have you guys put in your water? asks British tourist Jo Nunn. A bunch of us Brits came over for an escorted trip last July (with Jaco Powell from Cape Fox Tours). We stayed for three weeks and visited the Kruger National Park, eSwatini, St Lucia, Durban, Cape Town and surrounding […]

Samantha Jacobs is fast becoming one of South Africa’s favourite social media columnists. Here’s her latest column about a chance meeting at the height of Covid… A plane, a pandemic and a man with a plan – by Samantha Jacobs In the height of COVID I flew in to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) for business. Armed […]

When two bulls fight, it is the grass that suffers most. That’s why there is still no success in developing the township economy in the Eastern Cape… writes Godfrey Sigwela Opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has not stopped firing missiles at the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC). And out of that tussle, any […]

Bread happens to be a source of food to thousands of families. But the farmers behind the scenes, producing wheat and turning it into flour, are usually forgotten and given no recognition… writes Godfrey Sigwela. And, unfortunately, soon these very sources of food – like AgriSA farmers – may collapse and close down. The repercussions […]

There is a very real but hidden issue that needs to be addressed. As uncomfortable as it is for everyone to think about and to accept, it is time to get serious about the sexual abuse of boys and men… writes Mia Ziervogel, Dossier. There is no more time to ignore this, the silence around this has […]

News about the Hawks investigation into South Africa Post Office boss, Nomkhitha Mona, has created concern amongst some social grants beneficiaries who are worried they won’t receive their grants… writes Godfrey Sigwela. The fears followed their excitement after the budget speech in which they were promised they would receive increments. But this led to worry […]

Just by watching television, many people’s needs are being satisfied while viewing their favourite program. BUT when the electricity goes off, they spend hours gazing at the standby mode of their television or decoder, frustrated by load shedding and these non-stop blackouts. By Godfrey Sigwela. Eskom has added another stress by running an advertising campaign […]

This morning, the Constitutional Court – in a unanimous judgement – dismissed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s application for direct access to the Constitutional Court to overturn the Section 89 panel’s report on the Phala Phala scandal… writes John Steenhuisen, Leader of the Democratic Alliance. The report had concluded that there exists prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa […]

In my line of work, I get to meet the most wonderful people. And as one spends time chatting about projects over the years, one becomes friends, and sharing of stories start… writes Mia Ziervogel, Dossier. The women I speak about in this piece, are women at the top of their fields, they are creative, […]

Samantha Jacobs is becoming well known on social media for her honest opinions on the current state of South Africa, the world, and just life in general. Here’s her latest admission – she doesn’t always return her shopping trolley: I didn’t return my grocery cart. I am mentioning it since a meme on Facebook has […]

While Felicia didn’t know much about 4IR last year, along with more than 100 of her peers – women over 50 years of age living in some of the most crime-ridden areas of the Western Cape – she can now not only code successfully but also train other people in her community. The unlikely demographic […]

The Zwelethemba High School (ZHS) robotics team is gearing up to jet-off to Massachusetts in the United States of America (USA) in a couple of months. The Einsteins, as they are affectionately known, have been selected as one of the best performing teams to participate in the US Robotics Open Tournament in June… writes Khwezi […]

As South Africans grapple with the tragic ending to the hunt for the escaped tiger known as Sheba, this exquisitely written piece by Facebook Author RALPH SIBANDE has us all in tears. Grab a tissue and read to the end… AN INTERVIEW WITH SHEBA AKA SASHA By Ralph Sibande (republished on SAPeople with Ralph’s kind […]