South Africa Mail & Guardian
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTDaveyton teenager reaching for the stars through science and innovation
George Tsoametsi, an 18-year-old from Daveyton's Chief Albert Luthuli township, is making waves in science. Despite limited resources, this aspiring astrophysicist and robotics leader is challenging assumptions about where innovation can emerge, insp...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTWe must question who benefits from black people turning against one another
Makashule Gana of RISE Mzansi questions the systemic failures in South Africa's immigration system, highlighting the ease of illegal entry versus the difficulty of legal processes. He argues against blaming migrants and calls for government accountab...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTViolence at home is linked yet protection is not
South African law acknowledges the link between violence against women and children in the same homes, but current systems often split these realities, leaving families to navigate fragmented support. This article highlights the urgent need for integ...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTBafana Bafana's victory over South Korea is about more than football; it is a lesson in believing again
Bafana Bafana's unforgettable victory over South Korea sparked joy and a renewed sense of hope across South Africa. After years of unfulfilled promise, this win signals a potential turning point for the national team, inspiring a nation grappling wit...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:31:55 GMTReconfiguring South Africa's Education System for Meaningful Participation in an AI-Driven World
South Africa's education system faces scrutiny for its inability to equip graduates with industry-aligned skills, contributing to youth unemployment. As AI and digital technologies reshape economies, a recent Frank Dialogue explored how the country c...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:42:53 GMTCelebrity Drive South Africa Celebrates South African Excellence at Sun City
In an extraordinary celebration of luxury, culture, tourism and purpose, Celebrity Drive South Africa transformed the iconic Sun City Resort into a stage for the very best this country has to offer. What unfolded over the course of the weekend was no...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:20:53 GMTKZN public works unleashes more artisans as it sets its sights on slashing R25m annual outsourcing bill
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure is recruiting its own artisans to cut down on exorbitant outsourcing costs, which previously exceeded R25 million annually. MEC Martin Meyer is spearheading the initiative to address the...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:09:40 GMTMalawi’s gold reserve strategy reversed amid forex difficulties
The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) sold approximately 590kg of artisanal gold in 2026 to secure funds for fuel imports, despite previous commitments to retain it as a strategic reserve. This move, made during severe fuel and foreign exchange shortages,...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:07:39 GMTPiece of cutting-edge journalism resonates, 50 years later
A powerful 1976 article by veteran journalist Dr. Mothobi Mutloatse, titled ‘Leaders Lash "Stupid" Education System’ and published in the Weekend World, is being included in a school textbook. The piece, written just before the historic Soweto Up...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 12:05:35 GMTForeign academics are not the problem South African universities need to solve
A parliamentary briefing by Minister Buti Manamela has reignited the debate around foreign academics in South African universities. While public concern about employment is understandable amid rising graduate unemployment, data suggests foreign natio...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:59:49 GMTCoatings and paints industry set for growth
The Coatings For Africa 2026 exhibition in Johannesburg concludes with local manufacturers expressing optimism about the projected $892 million growth in Southern Africa's paints and coatings industry over the next five years. The event brought toget...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 11:53:03 GMTEFF calls for Thoko Didiza's head over handling of Ramaphosa impeachment
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has tabled a motion of no confidence against National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza, accusing her of failing to uphold Parliament's constitutional obligations during the Section 89 impeachment proc...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 10:31:37 GMT'The law is clear': Sasha Stevenson fights back as vigilantes try to keep migrants out of clinics
Sasha Stevenson, Executive Director of SECTION27, reflects on over a decade of fighting for human rights in South Africa. From securing healthcare access for migrants against vigilante groups to holding the state accountable for the Life Esidimeni tr...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:59:38 GMTAffordable rental housing belongs in the infrastructure conversation
Affordable housing is fundamental to how cities operate, influencing access to work, education, and overall quality of life. This article explores how investment in quality rental and student housing, particularly in South Africa, can drive inclusive...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:53:06 GMTFifa’s mandatory hydration breaks: Ruining football’s soul, one three-minute pause at a time
Fifa's mandatory three-minute hydration breaks are transforming football, eroding its continuous flow and turning it into segmented television content. This piece argues that these pauses, enforced regardless of conditions, damage game momentum and s...
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:33:33 GMTFrom Kaya’s Founding Vision to a Fresh New Chapter
DJ Fresh's highly anticipated arrival at Kaya 959's breakfast show marks a significant moment for South African radio, reflecting the station's ambition to connect culture, business, and leadership for its influential audience. This move continues Ka...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 23:17:37 GMTSouth Africa pins tourism hopes on new Air Europa route to Spain
South Africa anticipates a significant boost to its tourism and trade sectors with the launch of Air Europa's new direct flight service between Johannesburg and Madrid. This route is expected to increase Spanish visitor arrivals by over 50% and enhan...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:30:00 GMTMashaba plans special unit to arrest illegal immigrants
ActionSA president and Johannesburg mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba has pledged to establish a dedicated police unit to arrest undocumented foreign nationals in the city if elected. In an interview, Mashaba stated this unit would be among his first ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:30:00 GMTThe Freedom Charter turns a rocky 71
As the Freedom Charter marks 71 years since its adoption, this article reflects on its profound vision for a society founded on equality, citizenship, and shared prosperity, and its continued relevance in contemporary South Africa.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:30:00 GMTAfter 13 years, Skyjack is still surprising itself
The title arrived after the music. Shane Cooper had already written the composition when he stumbled across a line in a poem by the 13th-century Persian poet Rumi. The poem was called Cry Out in Your Weakness. The line that stopped him in his tracks ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:29:00 GMTTrust questions IDC equity to ‘outsiders’
The R2.1 billion Club Med deal faces scrutiny as Chief Jiba Magwaza of the Magwaza Royal Trusts in KwaZulu-Natal criticizes the involvement of Tinley Leisure Women Investments (TLWI), arguing it fails to benefit the local rural community. An IDC audi...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:29:00 GMTMatlala secures eight-year plea deal as state witness
Businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has pleaded guilty to fraud, corruption and money laundering charges linked to the R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) healthcare Medicare24 tender after reaching a plea agreement with the National ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:25:00 GMTDA shake-up triggers internal revolt
Democratic Alliance leader Geordin Hill-Lewis's proposed reshuffle of Government of National Unity deployments has met with significant internal resistance, as party members reportedly refuse to vacate their positions, exposing deep tensions within t...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:25:00 GMTBehind the March and March hype
In the current hype surrounding 'mabahambe' (they must go) in South Africa, we risk losing an important opportunity for serious intellectual and analytical engagement. This piece argues that the conversation should shift from who must leave to why so...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:20:00 GMT‘Gliding Through The Gallery’: Mpumi Mayisa's mission to democratise art
Gliding Through The Gallery, founded by Mpumi Mayisa, is transforming the art scene in Johannesburg by making galleries accessible and welcoming to everyone. What started as social media videos has evolved into a thriving community, fostering a deepe...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:15:00 GMTMthatha-born artist’s exhibition opens in New York this Friday
Mthatha-born ceramic artist Zizipho Poswa is set to open her major survey exhibition, iMbewu (The Seed), at Southern Guild New York. The exhibition traces a decade of her artistic journey, exploring themes of womanhood, ancestry, and cultural memory ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:10:00 GMTMthuthuzeli November reimagines ‘The Bacchae’ as an African choral ballet
South African dance phenom Mthuthuzeli November commands the rehearsal room with gentle authority. The choreographic language he’s created melds the controlled structure of ballet with the fluidity of contemporary movement where shoulders are loose...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:05:00 GMTR1.5bn lost to cheap sugar imports
South Africa's sugar industry has lost an estimated R1.5 billion due to a surge in cheap sugar imports, primarily from India, Guatemala, Brazil, and Thailand. Despite a recent deal saving Tongaat Hulett and thousands of jobs, stakeholders like SA Can...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:05:00 GMTAugmenting apartheid memory through art and exhibition
Elias Ditaba Sewape, at nearly 80, presents his first museum solo exhibition, "Ditaba – 80 Albert Street," at the William Humphreys Art Gallery in Kimberley. Through painting and printmaking, Sewape reconstructs his experiences as a police officer ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTInvestors at risk of biases
How investors interpret shifts during periods of uncertainty depends on recent and generational experience. When these go unchecked, they harden into biases that obscure opportunity and magnify risk. Horacia Naidoo-McCarthy of Allan Gray explains how...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTFrom R170k to R890k: How the Mercedes-Benz A-Class grew up
A sentimental journey comparing the 2006 Mercedes-Benz A170 Avantgarde, a car that introduced the author to motoring, with its modern descendant, the 2026 A200 Night Edition, highlighting two decades of automotive evolution.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTPesticides found in our every day foods
Independent testing by the African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) found pesticide residues in 86% of commonly consumed foods in South Africa, including those for infants. The report highlights shortcomings in the country's pesticide regulatory system ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTEditorial: Thank you, Bafana Bafana
Thapelo Maseko's solitary goal against South Korea has etched his name in history, as Bafana Bafana qualify for the last 32 knockout stages of the 2026 Fifa World Cup for the first time, reigniting national pride in South Africa.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTTanzania is paying its own way and investors are taking note
Tanzania unveils its most ambitious budget yet, a record $23.8 billion spending plan for 2026-27, largely financed by domestic sources. This move signals a strategic shift towards self-reliance and sustained growth, drawing significant interest from ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTA broken home looking for a villain to blame
As many marched to demand the removal of undocumented migrants from South Africa, the message was clear: migrants must go. But this article argues that the anger is misdirected, settling on the most visible targets instead of confronting the real iss...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTUnite, from Soweto to the Sahara
South Africans are protesting unemployment, poor services, and crime, but their anger is misdirected. This article argues that African immigrants are not the enemy; the real culprits are billionaires, corporations, and ruling elites who perpetuate a ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTSA needs law, order and unity, not violence and hatred
South Africa grapples with serious challenges surrounding immigration and xenophobia. This moment demands calm leadership to address public concerns about jobs, crime, and illegal immigration, while preventing anger from escalating into violence.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTCitizens in immigration governance needed
South Africa's immigration debate is highly polarised, focusing on border security and crime. However, the core issue is the state's limited capacity to monitor compliance. This article proposes citizen-based monitoring as a solution to enhance gover...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTLessons for SA from the township economy
Migration and employment are often discussed through competition, but the success of South Africa's township economy reveals a more fundamental question: Why do some entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive while others struggle? This article explores the s...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTResolve the crisis without Afrophobia
Businessman and ANC activist George Dingizulu Moyo, rooted in Alexandra's struggle and with Zimbabwean heritage, reflects on South Africa's immigration crisis. He advocates for secure borders and law enforcement while urging against Afrophobia and vi...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTEthiopia: In the final phase of dialogue
Ethiopia, a nation with a rich history of independence and unique socio-political culture, is now in the final phase of an unprecedented national dialogue. The Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission (ENDC) aims to build consensus on critical issues, ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTGig Guide: The Joy release
Precious
,
One Night with NdufromtheClan
and Vimbs Mavimbs debut
Late Bloomer
The Joy usher in a new era with a single and show
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:00:00 GMTSouth Africa’s crisis of state authority and when citizens begin deporting people
South Africa is grappling with a crisis that extends beyond immigration, questioning the very essence of governance. Anti-immigration groups like Operation Dudula and March and March are increasingly acting as self-appointed law enforcers, compelling...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMTAllegations of irregular appointment of a law firm and inflated legal bills rock a North West municipality
Cash-strapped Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality has exceeded its legal budget by more than R4.5 million, with total legal expenditure reaching R7 570 321.48 despite an allocation of only R3m. Municipal records further reveal that R4 754 429 of the...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:16:53 GMTThe missionaries are back – this time with American money
South Africa's abstention from an African inter-parliamentary charter defining marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman highlights a tension between its progressive Constitution and its foreign policy. The article questions why the nation, a...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:12:33 GMTWhen survival becomes the business plan: how a 21-year-old designer is building a future beyond unemployment
The story of youth unemployment in South Africa is often told through percentages, economic forecasts and reports about a shrinking job market. But behind the figures are young people waking up before sunrise, sending out applications that go unanswe...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:10:48 GMTTake me back to now: How travel reminds us that the good life happens in real life
Explore how travel offers a unique sense of presence and clarity that we often long for, especially in our always-on society. This piece delves into the concept of 'nowstalgia' and how intentional journeys can help us find meaning beyond the digital ...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:04:56 GMTIn a crisis, an airline’s character is revealed
Many South African travellers have been hesitant to book with Emirates and Qatar Airways due to the Middle East situation. However, Flight Centre's data shows these airlines are now offering significantly more affordable fares and flexible booking op...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 08:49:39 GMTProfessional affordable treatment for substance dependence disorder
Substance dependence disorder can affect anyone, but recovery is achievable with professional, effective, and affordable treatment. Discover how quality rehabilitation is becoming more accessible, offering a path to lasting change and a future free f...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:51:07 GMTBafana Bafana’s knockout breakthrough: Pride, caution and the long road ahead
South Africa is erupting with joy as Bafana Bafana achieve the impossible, advancing to the FIFA World Cup knockout phase. After decades of heartbreak, this moment feels like a long-awaited sunrise for the nation.