Cape Times 2026-01-05

If you have been living in slick buns, barely-there make-up and neutral everything, consider this your official heads-up. According to Pinterest Predicts, 2026 is shaping up to be the year we finally move on from the clean-girl aesthetic that has ruled our feeds for what feels like forever. In its place comes drama, excess and a very loud return to self-expression. Pinterest Predicts is not about wild guesses. It is built on billions of searches and years of data, and over the past six years, 88 per cent of its predictions have come true. That makes it one of the most reliable crystal balls in fashion and beauty. So if you love knowing what is coming next, this is your sneak peek into a far more expressive 2026. Fashion is…

Parenting in 2025 sometimes felt like standing in quicksand. No matter how hard we pushed forward, technology’s relentless grip on our children pulled us back. As a mother, I’ve watched our family dinners interrupted by the siren call of TikTok notifications, quiet evenings replaced by endless scrolling, and the glow of screens spilling into my kids’ bedrooms at night. And I’m not alone. A recent poll by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital found that 83% of parents believe mental health among children and teens is declining, with screen time and social media topping the list of concerns. These findings aren’t just numbers; they’re a reflection of the gnawing guilt, worry and helplessness that so many of us feel. Technology isn’t going anywhere. But as parents, we must ask: how do…

In South Africa, the festive season often hides a heartbreaking reality for thousands of domestic animals. While most families are celebrating, local shelters such as the SPCA, Domestic Animal Rescue Group (DARG), TEARS and other animal shelters face a devastating surge in pet abandonment. Every December and January, animal welfare organisations in Durban, Gauteng, Cape Town, and across the country face immense pressure. This surge is caused by everything from the “Christmas puppy” phenomenon to animals fleeing in terror from New Year’s fireworks, pushing these organisations to their breaking point Recently, two dogs were rescued from the Wilgespruit River in Muldersdrift, Cape Town. “We suspect the dogs were thrown into and swept downriver from the Peter Road bridge in Honeydew,” said DA councillor Shan Cochrane. Elmien and Daniel Parker from…

South African media personality and reality TV star, LaConco (born Nonkanyiso Conco), recently shared advice on Instagram that has sparked conversation. In a selfie posted to her Instagram Stories, she wrote: “I don’t even want the question that says, ‘what’s your skin routine?’ because most of you ngeke nikwazi ukwenza engikwenzayo (You will never be able to do what I do).” She then later outlined her top three steps for achieving clear skin. Firstly, she advised committing to celibacy for at least two years or more. Secondly, she recommended taking cold showers or baths consistently. Thirdly, she suggested training at the gym five times a week, with each session lasting between one hour and one hour and 30-minutes. “I don’t know if you will manage number three, but my list…

FORMER South African ambassador to Venezuela, Bheki Gila has weighed in on the capture of that country’s leader by the US, saying the Donald Trump-sanctioned attack was fueled by his ambitions to control Venezuela’s largest proven oil reserves. The US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores at the weekend with Trump justifying the actions as necessary to combat “narco-terrorism”, accusing Maduro of leading the “Cartel of the Suns” and facilitating the flow of drugs into the US. Maduro was indicted in the Southern District of New York on charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation and weapons offences. Trump also announced that the US would “run” Venezuela temporarily until a “judicious transition” of power could be arranged. He also stated that US oil companies would be involved…

SOUTH Africa should brace for a strong American response for its call on the United Nations Security Council to urgently address the US’s military strike on Venezuela, says political analyst at the North West University, Professor Andre Duvenhage. The message sent by the US’s strike on Venezuela to many countries is that “the Americans are prepared to act and this is also applicable to South Africa”, he said. “By no means I am going to argue that the Americans are right by taking over the government of Venezuela because to me that is, in a way, similar to the Russian attack on Ukraine and I am against that attack by the Russia against Ukraine on principles of sovereignty and the same applies to America taking on Venezuela. Although, I think…