Vuyelwa Maluleke’s ‘The Blue Album’ and the language of return
A one-woman performance that confronts memory, violence and complicity, as Vuyelwa Maluleke reclaims language to tell a black queer township story on her own terms
Top Stories
Earth Day in a time of war: Nuclear risk can no longer be ignored
Earth Day should remind us that the planet is protected by political courage, international accountability and the choices states make about the systems they build and defend
‘Michael’ plays the hits but avoids the hard questions
The long-awaited ‘Michael’ biopic dazzles with iconic recreations and a star-making performance but struggles to uncover the man behind the legend
Freedom in South Africa is incomplete until all SADC nations achieve genuine democracy
If we are to honour our freedom, we must also stand in sympathy with our neighbours, whose struggles remind us that democracy is never guaranteed. Their pain must be felt as our own and their hopes embraced as part of our shared destiny
No freedom without water
Across South Africa, communities are marking Freedom Day under the weight of an escalating water crisis, where unreliable supply, contamination and ageing infrastructure continue to undermine basic rights and deepen inequality
Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni Shines in Sierra’s Gold, Wins Best Actress
In a triumphant comeback, Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni captivates audiences and critics alike, winning Best Actress for her raw and magnetic performance in Sierra’s Gold
The great white farmer myth distorts black agrarian input
When foreign governments, organisations or political networks speak about offering South African farmers land, visas or farming opportunities abroad, they should define farming skill through competence rather than ownership
Criticism of Rand Water’s Zanzibar investment is misguided
AfriForum cannot, on one hand, criticise state-owned entities for their perpetual reliance on bailouts and on the other hand, also criticise them when they engage in secondary activities that generate revenue
Freedom in our lifetime
We will tell our fallen heroes that when they ran to the world in anguish seeking help against the racist Nationalist regime, at present, the world looks to us for help
We stand with Cuba, our friend
The protests rejected this. They insisted that what we are seeing is the expansion of a single logic: imperial in character, colonial in structure, even when it speaks the language of democracy, security and humanitarian concern
WATER UN-SAFETY: Municipality downplays threat after E. coli detected in Despatch’s reservoir
Nelson Mandela Bay spokesperson says Despatch residents should not panic after the discovery of E.coli contamination in one of the town’s reservoirs. There is no health hazard, he stressed.
Broken strategies stunt SA economy as other countries separate politics from state
Cadre deployment has, in part, caused economic decline in South Africa over the past 30 years as peer emerging markets such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Poland have thrived.
IN THE DOCK: Court hears of cover-ups and body disposals as Ekurhuleni officials apply for bail
Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla and deputy police chief Julius Mkhwanazi face grave allegations in court, including murder cover-ups and corruption, as they seek bail.
SAPS SHAKEUP ANALYSIS: Police finance boss Dimpane — who warned about irregular expenditure problems — ‘replaces’ Masemola
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed the police’s chief financial officer, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, to stand in for suspended cop boss Fannie Masemola. She has previously warned that there is ‘a culture’ of senior police managers not seriously dealing with irregular expenditure.
School safety: Rise in targeted attacks on Gauteng’s school leadership sparks safety fears
Recent fatalities in Gauteng’s East Rand have highlighted a growing trend of violent attacks directed at school principals and senior management. As the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union warns of a ‘targeted’ pattern of violence linked to school governance and financial oversight, those on the ground describe a state of ‘constant fear’ and a ‘nightmare’ of inadequate protection.
OUR CITY NEWS: Toxic tide — dangerously polluted waterways in Joburg and throughout SA threaten public health
With pollution levels far exceeding international standards and the deterioration of wastewater treatment plants, the rivers and streams in and around the City of Johannesburg are not safe for people or animals.
RED ALERT: ‘You can’t serve two bosses’ — ANC and SACP clash over independent election move
The ANC and SACP clash over a contentious ultimatum that requires members with dual affiliations to declare their political intentions, amid fears of a growing rift between the parties.
BUSINESS REFLECTION: After the Bell: The rational MADness behind in-store promotions
In a market shaped by evolving consumer expectations, retail giants Clicks and Pick n Pay are navigating fierce competition by enhancing their loyalty programmes. But, as big fuel price hikes loom, stores might find that shopping programmes and cards and promotions are not the only ways to compete in the retail space.
RAIL REVIVAL: Creecy unveils National Rail Master Plan to fix SA’s economic spine
Minister Barbara Creecy’s new plan may finally exorcise the demons of the nine wasted State Capture years – and South Africa may get back on the rails again.
GROWTH TRAJECTORY: Reform engine stalls at street level as municipal failures blunt SA’s progress
South Africa’s economic reform story is increasingly one of two speeds — steady progress at the centre, and stubborn dysfunction on the ground.