5 Common Period Myths in South Africa
Menstruation is still shrouded in shame and secrecy, and period myths are symptomatic of that. We spoke to the self-proclaimed Minister of Menstruation, Candice Chirwa, about South African period myths and taboos. Demystifying menstruation is a fulltime job, and not one we take lightly. Menstruation activist, academic and author, Candice Chirwa, has come up against her […]
With floods and electricity shortages, South Africa’s economy is threatening to go into reverse
South Africa’s economy picked up momentum in the first quarter of the year, but historic flooding in a key province and the threat of unprecedented power cuts are putting the brakes on its recovery. The port city of Durban and the wider KwaZulu-Natal province in eastern South Africa were besieged by the country’s worst flash […]
Rule Of Law In South Africa Protects Even Those Who Scorn It
Yet another war of words is being waged in South Africa, ostensibly over the role of the courts in delivering the change envisaged in the constitution. As usual, given that most attacks on court judgements have come from leading members of the governing African National Congress (ANC), the opening salvos were fired by a member of […]
Fighting Abuse of Women in Western Cape Farmlands
In part one of a four-part series on gender-based violence and grassroots activism, we look at an anti-GBV community-response team in the small Western Cape town of Klapmuts. It is a tall order for an organisation with no funding to provide protection and safety for female victims of gender-based violence (GBV) 24 hours a day. […]
Parliament On Fire Breakout At Precinct
Parliament’s Presiding Officers wish to confirm the breakout of a fire on the Parliamentary precinct this morning. The cause of the fire has not yet been established and investigations are underway by the relevant authorities. The fire has affected both the Old Assembly Wing and the National Assembly Wing of the buildings of Parliament, which […]
‘Manhood’ Initiation Ceremony Kills 23 South African Teenagers
A traditional initiation rite in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province has left 23 Xhosa teenagers dead. Provincial premier Oscar Mabuyane has called for those responsible to be charged with murder. The dead succumbed to dehydration or sepsis from circumcision at the start of the ceremony, which lasts between two and six months. Almost a thousand […]
Pfizer Vaccine Provides Protection Against Hospitalization in Omicron Patients
A new study out of South Africa shows that Pfizer’s two-dose COVID-19 vaccine provides a high degree of protection against hospitalization from the fast-spreading omicron variant. The real-world study, conducted by the South African Medical Research Council and Discovery Health, the country’s largest private health insurance administrator, was based on more than 211,000 positive COVID-19 […]
Lindiwe Mabuza: Feminist Icon Who Used Art To Fight For Democracy In South Africa
As the tributes continued to pour in for South Africa’s Lindiwe Mabuza, who passed away on 6 December 2021, it was clear that she will be remembered for the many different roles she occupied during her lifetime. She was called ambassador, diplomat, feminist, poet, writer, freedom fighter, leader and educator, amongst others. Born in 1938 in Newcastle, South Africa, she was undoubtedly […]
‘Improve Broadcast Codes to Help Strengthen Gender Equality in Media’
The media has the power to influence, spread information and messages across countries and across the entire world, it is the most powerful sector that serves to inform, influence and entertain. As the world concludes the marking of the 30th anniversary of the Global 16 Days Campaign which raises awareness about gender-based violence, different media […]
Ramaphosa Criticises Greedy Western Countries for Handling of Omicron Variant
President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticised travel bans imposed on parts of Africa by western countries because of the outbreak of Omicron, a variant of Covid-19. Ramaphosa, who was speaking at the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security, said the travel bans signalled western hypocrisy. According to News24, the president said that “another disappointment thrown our […]
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