Lost in Joburg, found in sound
Stripping films of their original scores, ‘Sounding Pictures’ invites musicians and audiences alike into a charged, unpredictable experiment in collective interpretation
Top Stories
Cryptic Crossword JDE 519
Welcome to the only South Africanised weekly cryptic crossword.Clue of the week:24 Monk changed ending of House of the Rising Sun (7)
China’s 20 year journey in sound
China isn’t chasing trends, he’s building legacy, one intentional set, one emotional transition and one timeless story at a time
The bassists who built Soweto’s distinct sound
The story of South African jazz-fusion is incomplete without the bassists whose innovations quietly carried the music forward
Maarif foundation: from a footprint to a legacy
In the mid-19th century, Sultan Abdulaziz appointed Abu Bakr Effendi as his emissary on a humanitarian and diplomatic mission to the Cape at the Ottoman Empire’s cost. Effendi opened schools to educate the community and attained the desired peaceful relationship among the community despite theological differences. He wrote the first substantial and meaningful work in […]
Tunisia’s olive oil diplomacy a celebration
Ambassador of Tunisia HE Karima Bardaoui, hosted an immersive showcase of Tunisia’s olive oil diplomacy at the Tunisian Embassy in Pretoria. The initiative places one of the nation’s most treasured resources at the heart of international engagement. The event brought together members of the diplomatic community to experience a refined blend of heritage, sustainability and […]
27 February 2026
The Mail & Guardian Digital Edition – 27 February 2026
Our Constitution is failing the poor
Equality without repair isn’t justice. Our Constitution is good at finding people who break the law. It is much less effective at fixing the damage that the violations cause
ART VS THE STATE: Artist Gabrielle Goliath takes on Gayton McKenzie in appeal against high court judgment
Artist Gabrielle Goliath will appeal against a high court ruling upholding Arts Minister Gayton McKenzie’s cancellation of her Venice Biennale participation, with an artwork called Elegy, which addresses femicide and genocide. Her legal team is contesting the judgment’s implications for artists’ rights.
What South Africans think of municipalities
Reports have highlighted that a significant number of elected councillors struggle with basic literacy and comprehension
Budget 2026: Between reform and reality
South Africa has been given a narrow window to turn the ship around. Whether this Budget becomes a footnote or a foundation depends on what happens next — in Cabinet, in the SOEs, in municipalities and in the daily grind of governance
Editorial: A decent budget but let’s see…
On paper, Godongwana presented a credible framework that marks a turning point for South Africa
Budget: debt peaks but growth lags
The projected economic growth trajectory remains insufficient to address structural unemployment
The state’s role in corporate capture of our food systems
Hunger in the country persists not because the system is failing but because it is functioning according to a set of rules that reward scale, concentration and profit
Poor upkeep behind water crisis, civil engineers say
They have stressed the need for skilled oversight and preventive maintenance
Elections and power in the digital age
These prosecutions mark a rising pattern: as elections approach across Africa, the distance between digital civic space and state power grows
RATES & TARIFFS: The City of Cape Town has valued your property: Here’s how to challenge it
Homeowners in Cape Town should by now have received their updated municipal valuation, which has knock-on effects for multiple aspects of their monthly bills. Here’s what to know if you’re unhappy with the result.