A rural Eastern Cape village school, Nqileni, made history as the first public school in the province to achieve a 100% pass rate in the 2023 matriculation exams. This incredible feat, fueled by dedicated teachers and resilient students, shattered expectations and challenged the narrative of underperforming rural schools.
The “She Hacks” coding bootcamp is empowering young women from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter the tech field. This free initiative equips them with coding skills, mentorship, and career guidance, opening doors to a future filled with digital possibilities.
Entrepreneurship:
Lungile Liswani, a young entrepreneur from Soweto, is revolutionizing the township fashion scene with his vibrant sneaker brand, “Mashu.” His designs, inspired by local culture and infused with global trends, are breaking down fashion barriers and putting Soweto style on the map.
Nokwanda Mafu, a social entrepreneur, is tackling food insecurity in her community through her innovative “Yebo Grocery” initiative. This network of community-run mini-markets provides affordable fresh produce and groceries, promoting food access and economic empowerment.
Social Justice:
The #EndGBV movement continues to gain momentum, pushing for stronger legal frameworks and societal awareness to combat gender-based violence. Their relentless advocacy is breaking the silence and empowering survivors to seek justice.
The Khayelitsha Art Hub is giving a voice to young people from the township through its vibrant murals and community arts projects. Their kreativiteit is challenging stereotypes and sparking conversations about social issues, transforming public spaces into canvases for social change.
These are just a few examples of the many South Africans who are breaking barriers and making a difference in their communities. Their stories of resilience, innovation, and dedication inspire hope and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.
National minimum wage increase: The government announced a rise in the national minimum wage to R27.58 per hour, effective from March 1st, 2024. (Source: News24, IOL)
Powerball jackpot winner: The winner of the recent R121 million Powerball jackpot has claimed their prize. They reportedly spent only R45 on the winning ticket. (Source: IOL)
Labour department halts mall construction:Construction of a mall in Johannesburg has been halted by the Labour Department due to safety concerns. (Source: TimesLIVE)
Pick n Pay recalls peanut butter: Pick n Pay has recalled three brands of peanut butter due to high levels of aflatoxin. (Source: TimesLIVE)
New Ramsar wetland site: South Africa has gained its 30th Ramsar wetland site, located near Dullstroom in Mpumalanga. (Source: TimesLIVE)
Body of car-hijacking victim found: The body of a man who was hijacked two weeks ago has been found.(Source: TimesLIVE)
Man arrested for terrorizing family: A man who allegedly terrorized his family for decades has been arrested.(Source: TimesLIVE)
Other:
Musa Keys, Boity Thulo attend event: Celebrities Musa Keys, Boity Thulo, and others attended a recent event in South Africa. (Source: TimesLIVE)
Daily Maverick: July 2021 unrest reports criticized: The Daily Maverick criticizes the reports on the July 2021 unrest in South Africa. (Source: Daily Maverick)
IOL: Woman released on bail after using stolen Eskom cables: A woman has been released on bail after being caught using stolen Eskom cables. (Source: IOL)
Communities:
Unfortunately, your request to search for news specifically within South African online communities is a bit broad for me.To give you the most relevant results, I’d need more information about which specific communities you’re interested in,such as:
Region: Are you looking for news from a specific province or city?
Topic: Are you interested in news about a particular issue or event within the community?
Online platform: Are you looking for news on Facebook groups, Twitter threads, local news websites, or other online platforms?
ICYMI: [ICRC] Pretoria (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the government of South Africa (DIRCO), and the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) with support from the British Red Cross Society and the Commonwealth Secretariat will co-host the 6th Commonwealth Red Cross and… Read more: Members of the Commonwealth and Red Cross and Crescent to Discuss Ihl in South Africa
ICYMI: Intense swells of cold water from the depths are killing sharks, rays and other creatures, researchers say A climate-disrupted ocean is pushing sharks, rays and other species to flee ever-hotter water in the tropics, only for them to be killed by increasingly intense upswells of cold water from the depths, a study has found.… Read more: Climate crisis increasing frequency of deadly ocean upswells, study finds
ICYMI: [The Conversation Africa] South Africa’s Constitutional Court stands out as one of the few government institutions that have protected and advanced the constitutional vision of a participatory democracy and social justice. Many other government institutions which ought to have allied themselves with the court have been weakened or have failed to deliver.http://dlvr.it/T5YjT2
[ICRC] Pretoria (ICRC) – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of the government of South Africa (DIRCO), and the South African Red Cross Society (SARCS) with support from the British Red Cross Society and the Commonwealth Secretariat will co-host the 6th Commonwealth Red Cross and Red… Read more: Members of the Commonwealth and Red Cross and Crescent to Discuss Ihl in South Africa
Intense swells of cold water from the depths are killing sharks, rays and other creatures, researchers say A climate-disrupted ocean is pushing sharks, rays and other species to flee ever-hotter water in the tropics, only for them to be killed by increasingly intense upswells of cold water from the depths, a study has found. One… Read more: Climate crisis increasing frequency of deadly ocean upswells, study finds
[The Conversation Africa] South Africa’s Constitutional Court stands out as one of the few government institutions that have protected and advanced the constitutional vision of a participatory democracy and social justice. Many other government institutions which ought to have allied themselves with the court have been weakened or have failed to deliver.http://dlvr.it/T5W8gz
ICYMI: [SAnews.gov.za] Limpopo Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha has welcomed the sentencing of five men, who murdered the Mayor of Collins Chabane Municipality, Moses Maluleke, in July last year.http://dlvr.it/T5TQPT
[SAnews.gov.za] Limpopo Premier Stanley Chupu Mathabatha has welcomed the sentencing of five men, who murdered the Mayor of Collins Chabane Municipality, Moses Maluleke, in July last year.http://dlvr.it/T5RdcY
ICYMI: [The Conversation Africa] Our world is awash with data. A 2019 article published by the World Economic Forum estimated that, by 2025, abouthttp://dlvr.it/T5PLHG
ICYMI: Despite criticism for the use of potentially harmful chemicals, companies are still selling the products around the world It was just before Christmas, and eight-year-old Gloria Moraa sat holding a mirror as her aunt painted her curls with chemicals that would straighten every strand. “All the young girls would get matching hairstyles for the… Read more: The truth about hair relaxers: in the US, lawsuits over cancer. In Africa, soaring sales
ICYMI: [DA] While thirteen days with no loadshedding is very much a welcome development, the sad reality is that there are many communities across the country that have been left in the dark because transformers in those communities are either not working or are not being replaced fast enough after they have been vandalised or… Read more: Communities Continue to Remain in the Dark As 1 135 Transformers Across the Country Are Not Working
[The Conversation Africa] Our world is awash with data. A 2019 article published by the World Economic Forum estimated that, by 2025, abouthttp://dlvr.it/T5LvJW
Despite criticism for the use of potentially harmful chemicals, companies are still selling the products around the world It was just before Christmas, and eight-year-old Gloria Moraa sat holding a mirror as her aunt painted her curls with chemicals that would straighten every strand. “All the young girls would get matching hairstyles for the holidays,… Read more: The truth about hair relaxers: in the US, lawsuits over cancer. In Africa, soaring sales
[DA] While thirteen days with no loadshedding is very much a welcome development, the sad reality is that there are many communities across the country that have been left in the dark because transformers in those communities are either not working or are not being replaced fast enough after they have been vandalised or damaged.http://dlvr.it/T5JQmS
ICYMI: [New Times] President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on Saturday, April 6, arrived in Kigali where he joined other leaders including South Sudan President Salva Kiir, Czech Republic President Petr Pavel, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, for the 30th commemoration of the 1994… Read more: Kwibuka 30 – South Africa President Ramaphosa in Rwanda for 30th Anniversary of 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi
ICYMI: [New Times] President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on Saturday, April 6, arrived in Kigali where he joined other leaders including South Sudan President Salva Kiir, Czech Republic President Petr Pavel, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, for the 30th commemoration of the 1994… Read more: Kwibuka 30 – South Africa President Ramaphosa in Rwanda for 30th Anniversary of 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi
ICYMI: [New Times] President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on Saturday, April 6, arrived in Kigali where he joined other leaders including South Sudan President Salva Kiir, Czech Republic President Petr Pavel, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, for the 30th commemoration of the 1994… Read more: Kwibuka 30 – South Africa President Ramaphosa in Rwanda for 30th Anniversary of 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi
[New Times] President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on Saturday, April 6, arrived in Kigali where he joined other leaders including South Sudan President Salva Kiir, Czech Republic President Petr Pavel, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, for the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide… Read more: Kwibuka 30 – South Africa President Ramaphosa in Rwanda for 30th Anniversary of 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi
ICYMI: Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula resigned on Wednesday amid accusations she solicited bribes when she was defence minister South Africa’s former parliament speaker has been arrested as part of a corruption inquiry, the latest scandal to hit the governing ANC party ahead of elections in May. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who resigned her speaker post on Wednesday, was formally… Read more: Former speaker of South Africa’s parliament arrested in corruption inquiry
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula resigned on Wednesday amid accusations she solicited bribes when she was defence minister South Africa’s former parliament speaker has been arrested as part of a corruption inquiry, the latest scandal to hit the governing ANC party ahead of elections in May. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who resigned her speaker post on Wednesday, was formally detained… Read more: Former speaker of South Africa’s parliament arrested in corruption inquiry
ICYMI: Gillian Dalley and Wiesner Vos reflect on Ade Adepitan’s article about visiting a whites-only town in South Africa and the subsequent trolling he faced I saw Ade Adepitan’s film about his visit to a “whites-only” town in South Africa. It was observant, astute and shocking. Its revelation of the depth and subtlety of the… Read more: The moral response to racism and hatred | Letters
Gillian Dalley and Wiesner Vos reflect on Ade Adepitan’s article about visiting a whites-only town in South Africa and the subsequent trolling he faced I saw Ade Adepitan’s film about his visit to a “whites-only” town in South Africa. It was observant, astute and shocking. Its revelation of the depth and subtlety of the racist… Read more: The moral response to racism and hatred | Letters
ICYMI: An eight-year-old child was the sole survivor after a bus carrying 46 people fell from a bridge in South Africa into a ravine and caught fire. The child, who has not been named, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, the transport ministry said in a statement late on Thursday. The vehicle had been… Read more: Bus plunges from bridge into ravine in South Africa – video
ICYMI: Eight-year-old is only survivor after vehicle fell and caught fire and is taken to hospital with serious injuries An eight-year old child was the sole survivor after a bus carrying 46 people plunged off a bridge in South Africa, fell into a ravine and caught fire. The child, who has not been named, was… Read more: 45 dead as bus plunges from bridge into ravine in South Africa
An eight-year-old child was the sole survivor after a bus carrying 46 people fell from a bridge in South Africa into a ravine and caught fire. The child, who has not been named, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, the transport ministry said in a statement late on Thursday. The vehicle had been heading… Read more: Bus plunges from bridge into ravine in South Africa – video
ICYMI: Dublin to back South Africa’s case in the international court of justice that stopping food and other essentials getting through may constitute ‘genocidal intent’ Ireland is to seek to widen the definition of genocide to include blocking humanitarian aid in a landmark international court of justice (ICJ) case against Israel. The Irish government will… Read more: Gaza: Ireland joins battle to include the blocking of vital aid in definition of genocide
ICYMI: Dublin to back South Africa’s case in the international court of justice that stopping food and other essentials getting through may constitute ‘genocidal intent’ Ireland is to seek to widen the definition of genocide to include blocking humanitarian aid in a landmark international court of justice (ICJ) case against Israel. The Irish government will… Read more: Gaza: Ireland joins battle to include the blocking of vital aid in definition of genocide
ICYMI: Dublin to back South Africa’s case in the international court of justice that stopping food and other essentials getting through may constitute ‘genocidal intent’ Ireland is to seek to widen the definition of genocide to include blocking humanitarian aid in a landmark international court of justice (ICJ) case against Israel. The Irish government will… Read more: Gaza: Ireland joins battle to include the blocking of vital aid in definition of genocide
Eight-year-old is only survivor after vehicle fell and caught fire and is taken to hospital with serious injuries An eight-year old child was the sole survivor after a bus carrying 46 people plunged off a bridge in South Africa, fell into a ravine and caught fire. The child, who has not been named, was taken… Read more: 45 dead as bus plunges from bridge into ravine in South Africa
Dublin to back South Africa’s case in the international court of justice that stopping food and other essentials getting through may constitute ‘genocidal intent’ Ireland is to seek to widen the definition of genocide to include blocking humanitarian aid in a landmark international court of justice (ICJ) case against Israel. The Irish government will intervene… Read more: Gaza: Ireland joins battle to include the blocking of vital aid in definition of genocide
ICYMI: Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula denies allegations she took bribes over three years while defence minister South African prosecutors said on Monday they intend to charge the parliamentary speaker with corruption, alleging she took $135,000 and a wig in bribes over a three-year period while she was defence minister. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the speaker of the National Assembly,… Read more: Speaker of South African parliament accused of taking $135,000 and a wig in bribes
ICYMI: [Daily Maverick] We have been blessed with not one, but two Zumas to possibly lead us after the elections. One nation, two Spears! What a time to be alive?!?!http://dlvr.it/T4d9Zj
ICYMI: [Daily Maverick] We have been blessed with not one, but two Zumas to possibly lead us after the elections. One nation, two Spears! What a time to be alive?!?!http://dlvr.it/T4d9Zj
ICYMI: Her song Water made the South African a global star, while her undulating dance moves inspired TikTok challenges. Now the 22 year old is ready to take her ‘popiano’ sound to the next level Tyla may have 4.3 million followers on Instagram (called the Tygers), but she isn’t yet used to the equivalent real-world… Read more: ‘It’s sunny, with music bumping, and everyone in ripped clothing’: how Tyla set a new pop mood
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula denies allegations she took bribes over three years while defence minister South African prosecutors said on Monday they intend to charge the parliamentary speaker with corruption, alleging she took $135,000 and a wig in bribes over a three-year period while she was defence minister. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the speaker of the National Assembly, has… Read more: Speaker of South African parliament accused of taking $135,000 and a wig in bribes
[Daily Maverick] We have been blessed with not one, but two Zumas to possibly lead us after the elections. One nation, two Spears! What a time to be alive?!?!http://dlvr.it/T4ZXCP
Her song Water made the South African a global star, while her undulating dance moves inspired TikTok challenges. Now the 22 year old is ready to take her ‘popiano’ sound to the next level Tyla may have 4.3 million followers on Instagram (called the Tygers), but she isn’t yet used to the equivalent real-world level… Read more: ‘It’s sunny, with music bumping, and everyone in ripped clothing’: how Tyla set a new pop mood
Her song Water made the South African a global star, while her undulating dance moves inspired TikTok challenges. Now the 22 year old is ready to take her ‘popiano’ sound to the next level Tyla may have 4.3 million followers on Instagram (called the Tygers), but she isn’t yet used to the equivalent real-world level… Read more: ‘It’s sunny, with music bumping, and everyone in ripped clothing’: how Tyla set a new pop mood
Her song Water made the South African a global star, while her undulating dance moves inspired TikTok challenges. Now the 22 year old is ready to take her ‘popiano’ sound to the next level Tyla may have 4.3 million followers on Instagram (called the Tygers), but she isn’t yet used to the equivalent real-world level… Read more: ‘It’s sunny, with music bumping, and everyone in ripped clothing’: how Tyla set a new pop mood
ICYMI: [VOA] Johannesburg — South Africa’s governing party has gone to court to try stop a newly created rival party from contesting May elections.http://dlvr.it/T4Rjty
[VOA] Johannesburg — South Africa’s governing party has gone to court to try stop a newly created rival party from contesting May elections.http://dlvr.it/T4NwG7
ICYMI: My father, Lee Harris, who has died aged 87, ran what is believed to have been London’s first “headshop”, selling cannabis-related accoutrements. He established the business in the early 1970s in London, and called it Alchemy. Attracting customers from all over the world, it was a popular institution for more than four decades, until… Read more: Lee Harris obituary
ICYMI: Ade Adepitan is a charming presenter, but his ‘chilled-out’ approach to entering a ‘whites-only’ South African town is utterly feeble. At points, his passivity is borderline offensive Not every attempt at documenting real events ends up fulfilling its intended purpose. Capturing the Friedmans started as a sweet tale about clowns and ended up lamenting… Read more: Whites Only: Ade’s Extremist Adventure review – a woeful failure to challenge racism
My father, Lee Harris, who has died aged 87, ran what is believed to have been London’s first “headshop”, selling cannabis-related accoutrements. He established the business in the early 1970s in London, and called it Alchemy. Attracting customers from all over the world, it was a popular institution for more than four decades, until he… Read more: Lee Harris obituary
ICYMI: [SAFA] Malawi found the opening goal in the fourth minute of the first period through Dala Simba Dala. South Africa equalised through a magnificent bicycle-kick by Sizwe Mkhize.http://dlvr.it/T4Dfxs
ICYMI: Ran der Merwe’s documentary returns the director to the Northern Cape where he grew up, but glosses over trauma and injustice Situated in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, Calvinia is a rural town blessed with a magnificently scenic landscape, where towering mountain ranges give way to far-reaching plains. It is also the… Read more: Calvinia review – jarringly nostalgic look at a South African childhood
ICYMI: Cheri Nel cannot afford Vertex’s Trikafta medicine, so she is suing to end ‘patent abuse’ and allow a generic version Cheri Nel has a blunt message for the multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical company Vertex: “Any person that dies from today – that’s on you.” Vertex makes a “miracle drug” called Trikafta that can transform the lives… Read more: South Africans take on big pharma for access to ‘miracle’ cystic fibrosis drug
Ade Adepitan is a charming presenter, but his ‘chilled-out’ approach to entering a ‘whites-only’ South African town is utterly feeble. At points, his passivity is borderline offensive Not every attempt at documenting real events ends up fulfilling its intended purpose. Capturing the Friedmans started as a sweet tale about clowns and ended up lamenting harrowing… Read more: Whites Only: Ade’s Extremist Adventure review – a woeful failure to challenge racism
ICYMI: My friend Saul Reichlin, who has died aged 81, worked for six decades as an actor, writer, producer and director, but was most in demand for his rich, warm vocal tones, which he lent to many video games and audiobooks. He narrated more than 245 books, including The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, voted… Read more: Saul Reichlin obituary
[SAFA] Malawi found the opening goal in the fourth minute of the first period through Dala Simba Dala. South Africa equalised through a magnificent bicycle-kick by Sizwe Mkhize.http://dlvr.it/T4Dfxs
[SAFA] Malawi found the opening goal in the fourth minute of the first period through Dala Simba Dala. South Africa equalised through a magnificent bicycle-kick by Sizwe Mkhize.http://dlvr.it/T4Dfxs
[SAFA] Malawi found the opening goal in the fourth minute of the first period through Dala Simba Dala. South Africa equalised through a magnificent bicycle-kick by Sizwe Mkhize.http://dlvr.it/T4Dfxs
[SAFA] Malawi found the opening goal in the fourth minute of the first period through Dala Simba Dala. South Africa equalised through a magnificent bicycle-kick by Sizwe Mkhize.http://dlvr.it/T4Dfxs
Ran der Merwe’s documentary returns the director to the Northern Cape where he grew up, but glosses over trauma and injustice Situated in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, Calvinia is a rural town blessed with a magnificently scenic landscape, where towering mountain ranges give way to far-reaching plains. It is also the birthplace… Read more: Calvinia review – jarringly nostalgic look at a South African childhood
Cheri Nel cannot afford Vertex’s Trikafta medicine, so she is suing to end ‘patent abuse’ and allow a generic version Cheri Nel has a blunt message for the multibillion-dollar pharmaceutical company Vertex: “Any person that dies from today – that’s on you.” Vertex makes a “miracle drug” called Trikafta that can transform the lives of… Read more: South Africans take on big pharma for access to ‘miracle’ cystic fibrosis drug
My friend Saul Reichlin, who has died aged 81, worked for six decades as an actor, writer, producer and director, but was most in demand for his rich, warm vocal tones, which he lent to many video games and audiobooks. He narrated more than 245 books, including The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, voted best… Read more: Saul Reichlin obituary
ICYMI: [New Times] Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has confirmed his attendance at the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.http://dlvr.it/T4BXpn
ICYMI: [spotlight] Research into the link between disordered sleep and disease show an outsized burden on the most vulnerable. It’s sounding alarms for sleep equity to have a place on the public health agenda, reports Ufrieda Ho.http://dlvr.it/T48XzS
[New Times] Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has confirmed his attendance at the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.http://dlvr.it/T48XhG
ICYMI: [Nyasa Times] The extradition case on Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary has been adjourned to 15th May, 2024 when the defense lawyers will continue cross-examining Sibongile Mzinyathi Director of Public Prosecution for Gauteng, South Africa.http://dlvr.it/T45yN6
[spotlight] Research into the link between disordered sleep and disease show an outsized burden on the most vulnerable. It’s sounding alarms for sleep equity to have a place on the public health agenda, reports Ufrieda Ho.http://dlvr.it/T45y0w
ICYMI: [Green Connection] It has been an interesting few days at the Africa Energy Indaba, currently in Cape Town, an event The Green Connection says “exposes the elitist approach to solving South Africa’s electricity crisis and reveals that government is completely out of touch with the needs and wants of the people, and climate change.”http://dlvr.it/T43G5N
[Nyasa Times] The extradition case on Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary has been adjourned to 15th May, 2024 when the defense lawyers will continue cross-examining Sibongile Mzinyathi Director of Public Prosecution for Gauteng, South Africa.http://dlvr.it/T43Fmm
Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, happening virtually from 22 to 28 September 2023. This prestigious festival features a stellar lineup of local and international jazz artists. Tickets are available online.
Oppikoppi Online Music Festival, happening over the Easter weekend in April 2024. This alternative rock festival is a South African institution, and the online version promises to be just as electrifying as the real thing. Tickets are available online.
For foodies:
The Big Ask Food Festival, happening online from 22 to 24 September 2023. This virtual event brings together some of South Africa’s top chefs and restaurants for a weekend of deliciousness. Tickets are available online.
