Innehållsförteckning för 2025-11-22 från Weekend Argus Saturday

The first trailer for Disney’s live-action Moana has been released, sparking excitement among fans. However, opinions regarding the outcome of the movie production are divided. Although the movie’s development was known after Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson announced his casting last year, the release date remained a mystery. Now that the trailer has been released, fans are eagerly anticipating the seemingly distant date of July 26, 2026. The first trailer has successfully showcased the representation of Polynesian culture, generating excitement among fans eager to see their beloved movie and character realised in live-action. However, the change to Moana’s hair, alongside the overall character editing, has led to fan concern. Many express dissatisfaction, suggesting the characters now appear AI-generated. Catherine Laga’aia, who will play Moana, has naturally curly hair. Fans were enthusiastic…

With rising rates of obesity and diabetes in South Africa driven by diet, urbanisation, and sedentary lifestyles, fatty liver disease is no longer a “silent” or rare condition. It’s a growing public-health concern that can quietly damage the liver over the years. Often symptomless in its early stages, this condition, where fat accumulates in the liver, is increasingly common in people with metabolic disorders. If left unchecked, it can lead to scarring (cirrhosis) or even liver cancer. Awareness is key: knowing the risk factors, understanding the symptoms, and making lifestyle changes can all help people protect their liver before irreversible damage occurs. What is fatty liver disease, and why is it so common now? Fatty liver disease (also known as hepatic steatosis) occurs when excess fat builds up inside liver…

When we talk about the climate crisis, we are usually shown scary graphs of global temperatures rising, confronted with images of melting ice caps, and given warnings of a burning planet in the distant future. But in Africa, climate change is not unfolding as an abstract graph or distant future threat. It has already arrived in the form of empty boreholes, failed harvests, flooded homes, unbearable heat, and the slow unravelling of childhoods. Across the continent, children are being forced from their homes by current climate impacts. While most will move across districts and provinces within their states, increasingly, children are also crossing borders in search of safety and survival. The laws meant to protect such children, however, were designed for a different time - when displacement meant fleeing war…

karen.singh@inl.co.za In an impressive display of solidarity and urgency ahead of the G20 Summit, thousands gathered across South Africa to draw attention to the pressing issue of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in honour of those who lost their lives as a result. At 12 noon yesterday, participants dressed in black lay down in silence for 15 minutes. The nationwide shutdown was spearheaded by the advocacy group Women for Change (WFC), which has been persistently calling for this issue to be declared a national disaster, with a petition backed by over 1.1 million people worldwide. The organisation shared on social media that the country faces one of the deadliest GBV epidemics globally. “In just one year, 5,578 women were murdered – a 33% increase from the previous year.” WFC urged…

One of South Africa’s most iconic and frequently visited natural landmarks, Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), is at the centre of a furore over safety, trail maintenance, and resource allocation. The #SaveTableMountain coalition has raised concerns over rising crime, deteriorating infrastructure, and inadequately maintained trails, arguing that hikers, outdoor enthusiasts, and even park staff face growing risks. The coalition points to a decline in visible security resources as a major concern. While in 2021 SANParks reported having 52 Visitor Safety Rangers, including 16 dog handlers, current figures indicate there are now 40 SEAM team members and just two K9 security dogs. Questions have also been raised about the handling of the K9 programme, where four volunteer-funded dogs were reassigned elsewhere, prompting criticism about resource allocation within the park. The coalition’s…

Drakenstein Municipality has defended the reinstatement of a traffic warden accused of extorting an Uber driver, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the GOOD Party, which says the official should not be back on the road while “clear and compelling evidence” exists against him. GOOD Drakenstein councillor and caucus chairperson Keagen Gertse said the party had formally written to the Municipality’s political and administrative leadership seeking clarity after learning that the warden had resumed duty. “The GOOD Party in the Drakenstein Municipality has urgently written to the political and administrative leadership seeking clarity regarding allegations that a municipal traffic warden attempted to extort an Uber driver earlier this year, in June 2025,” Gertse said. He said it was alleged that the warden demanded money from the Uber driver,…

The Southern Cape Region of the Mercedes-Benz Club of South Africa is set to celebrate a monumental milestone in automotive history – the 140th anniversary of the motorcar. This occasion will be marked by the exhibition of an exact replica of the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen, the world’s first automobile, at the George Museum from December 15 to January 5. The original Motorwagen, crafted by visionary inventor Carl Benz in 1885 in Mannheim, Germany, was patented on January 29, 1886 and made its public debut at the renowned Benz & Cie. factory just a few months later. At an impressive top speed of 16 km/h, the Motorwagen represented a revolutionary leap forward in transportation. Between 1886 and 1894, approximately 25 units of this pioneering vehicle were produced, with Benz later developing…

Michael James Organisation will be offering an established pear export farm in Wolseley for public auction. The Motala Farming (Pty) Ltd property, known as Duivels Berg, will be sold in a liquidation matter on December 3 at 11am at the MJO offices at 63 Victoria Street, Somerset West. The farm has exceptional agricultural potential and breathtaking views of the Witteberg Mountains. It features Forelle and Packham’s Triumph pear orchards and has an existing infrastructure and irrigation system. Ample water sources offer an excellent foundation. There is also a farmhouse with solar panels, a manager’s house, multiple labourers’ cottages, an office, a farm stall, honey processing facilities, and two large sheds/workshops with fenced yards. This 57 1497HA farm is perfectly positioned for revitalisation into a profitable horticultural or mixed-use operation. The…

Dr John Kani received the Living Planet Award in the individual category for his work as the longest-serving trustee of the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, and for his donation of time and famous voice (whom many will remember as the voice of Rafiki in the remake of the Lion King) in support of WWF’s work. This is the first time that Dr Kani’s contribution to the environmental cause has been acknowledged. Over the course of a long and prestigious career, Dr Kani has received many awards, more recently an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2023 for his services to drama and theatre. Alongside his service with the WWF Nedbank Green Trust, he generously contributed audio and visual material to several WWF campaigns. These include Earth Hour, a global…

South Africa faces a growing measles crisis as childhood vaccination rates continue to fall, leaving thousands of children vulnerable and driving outbreaks across multiple provinces. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has confirmed that measles outbreaks are ongoing in several provinces, including Gauteng, the Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, the Northern Cape and the Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality. Between week one and week 45 of 2025, 1,795 laboratory-confirmed measles cases were reported nationally, with 114 new cases added in the last week alone. Gauteng remains the most affected province, recording 745 cases, while the Western Cape reported 52 new cases in week 45. Rubella infections continue to rise as well, with 1,698 cases detected nationally by week 45. Against this backdrop, the Western Cape Department of Health and…

Try and get a reservation at South Africa’s most popular caravan parks for next month and you’d be hard-pressed to find one available. We’re a nation that loves to hitch something behind our vehicles and head into the outdoors, and whether it’s a packed campsite next to the ocean, one of our beautiful national parks or a remote park, you’ll find some sort of attachment behind a car ranging in price from a few thousand rand to more than a million rand. Off-road caravans, road caravans, off-road trailers, and small Venter-type boxes bouncing around merrily behind cars are common over the holiday season. And while we place a lot of emphasis on getting our cars ready before a long trip, caravans and trailers tend to be forgotten until it’s…

By the time James Watson died earlier this month at the age of 97, he was one of the world’s most famous – and infamous – scientists. In 1953, he and three fellow researchers co-discovered the double-helix structure of DNA – a breakthrough that unlocked the secrets of how life works. The discovery revealed how a molecule could store and copy genetic information, providing a chemical mechanism for heredity, evolution and the immense diversity of life that gave rise to what Charles Darwin famously described as “endless forms most beautiful”. But Watson’s legacy is complicated by his later history of bigotry and racism, including years of denigrating comments about people of African descent, women and gay people. His views first gained widespread public notice in a 2007 interview when he…

With housebreaking incidents historically spiking up to 48% in December too many homeowners leave for their well-deserved breaks with a mindset of ‘it will not happen to me’. We believe that being prepared is the difference between celebrating with peace of mind and coming back to loss, stress, and a complex insurance battle. To help homeowners and travellers shield their assets, here is a five-point approach that addresses theft, property damage, and overlooked risks: Document absolutely everything Imagine returning from a week-long break to find your laptop and jewellery gone. Taking five minutes to photograph and note model numbers, serials, and approximate replacement costs can save weeks of stress and thousands in potential claims. Share these records with your insurer to make any future claims seamless. Confirm your coverage Verify…

Charles Leclerc delivered a reminder of Ferrari’s lingering bite under the neon glare of Las Vegas, posting strong times across both practice sessions and signalling that the Scuderia may not be ready to quietly bow out of a disappointing season. While McLaren’s “Papaya power” and Red Bull’s late-season resurgence have dominated the title conversation, Leclerc’s pace suggested Ferrari could still throw a wrench into the championship fight if circumstances swing their way. Leclerc topped FP1 in Vegas with a 1:34.802, edging out Williams’ Alexander Albon by 0.166 seconds. Albon’s impressive 1:34.968 put him second, while Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli took third with a 1:35.015, all on a green, slippery circuit that punished mistakes and rewarded confidence. The session belonged to Leclerc, though; his early pace established a benchmark even the…

Form, not sentiment, was the driving force behind the decision to welcome former national captain Dané van Niekerk back into the fold for the upcoming Proteas Women’s home white-ball series against Ireland, head coach Mandla Mashimbyi revealed. On Thursday morning, Cricket South Africa announced the squad for the series, which will be played in Cape Town, Paarl, Benoni, East London, Gqeberha and Johannesburg between 5 and 19 December. Van Niekerk has been selected for the national squad for the first time since September 2021, following the reversal of her international retirement, with the 32-year-old included in both formats after impressing for Western Province. Western Province all-rounder and captain Leah Jones has earned her maiden international call-up for the ODI series. Mashimbyi said her inclusion was a reward for strong all-round…

I’ve always been fascinated by Selena, full name Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. My first real introduction was the movie Selena with Jennifer Lopez (who did an amazing job, by the way). However, the Netflix documentary Selena y Los Dinos, produced by her brother A.B. Quintanilla and sister Suzette Quintanilla, hits differently. Watching it felt like peeking through someone’s personal scrapbook, only this one was full of music, family chaos, and pure magic. I was equal parts in awe and heartbroken. How does someone so insanely talented, funny, and beautiful get snatched away so young? It’s just … unfair. What grabbed me first wasn’t just her voice, which, let’s be honest, could literally make you stop breathing; it was her raw, effortless beauty. Even as a kid, shy and barely aware of her…

The US has overreached and now finds itself absent from the first G20 Summit to be held on African soil. Its attempt to strong-arm South Africa into abandoning its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice by boycotting the event produced almost no traction. Only Argentina aligned itself with Washington, a decision shaped by President Javier Milei’s ideological leanings and dependence on a USD 20 billion bailout. What was intended as a display of power by the United States became a stark revelation of strategic decline. More than 130 preparatory meetings were completed without disruption, and the Leaders’ Summit on 22 and 23 November will proceed with full international commitment. The entire episode has ended up demonstrating the country’s increasing irrelevance and waning status as a global…

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that conflicts, climate chaos, economic uncertainty, mounting debt, inequality and a collapse in global aid were inflicting massive suffering around the world. Speaking ahead this weekend’s two-day G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, Guterres said among the world’s largest economies, the G20 can hold enormous influence to ease suffering and ensure that economic growth is widely shared as well as set the world on a better, more peaceful course for the future. “Developing countries – in particular in Africa – are suffering from a perfect storm of shrinking fiscal space, crushing debt burden, and a global financial architecture that is failing to support – or even represent – them adequately,” Guterres stated. He said Africa must have a fair seat in every…

Growing outrage over gender-based violence (GBV) and systemic inequality has fuelled calls for a radical new political formation: an all-female, feminist-led party designed to put women’s issues at the absolute centre of the national agenda. The question of whether an exclusively female-led party could genuinely disrupt South Africa’s entrenched patriarchal political landscape has taken centre stage following recent calls for a Women’s National Shutdown. Amid escalating frustration over relentless GBV, systemic inequality, and the perceived failure of the current political establishment to safeguard women, activists and commentators are framing this idea as a potential turning point. The case for radical change For many, the current political environment is both insufficient and dangerous. Lucinda Evans, feminist activist and founder of the Cape Town-based non-profit Philisa Abafazi Bethu, believes the status quo…

What should be a routine drive along the N2 and R300 has become a nightmare. Families, tourists, and commuters now navigate what locals have dubbed the “Hell Way”, where stones and bricks rain down from bridges and roadsides, windscreens shatter, and drivers are left stranded in life-threatening situations. In the past year alone, dozens of violent attacks have left motorists injured, traumatised, and in some cases, dead. Among the most harrowing recent incidents, a family from Johannesburg, including a baby was targeted on 11 November when a stone struck their vehicle. The impact caused extensive damage, leaving the family severely traumatised. Two days later, a doctor from Somerset West was attacked near the Borcherds Quarry off-ramp. He sustained chest injuries and had to be admitted to hospital. Earlier this month,…

The haunting echoes of colonial history have been brought into sharp focus across Europe with the recent premiere of a powerful new documentary, UnRest. Directed by Professor Siona O’Connell from the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Humanities, the film compels audiences to confront the fundamental struggle for dignity and recognition embedded within post-apartheid archaeology. The documentary, which had its European premiere at Charles University in Prague, revisits a pivotal, contentious moment from 2003 when human remains – believed to belong to enslaved and displaced individuals from the 18th and 19th centuries – were unearthed at Prestwich Street in Green Point, Cape Town. Ancestors or artefacts?: the Prestwich Street struggle The discovery ignited a fierce debate, pitting institutional archaeologists against local community groups. The latter argued passionately for the remains to…

Nissan has pulled the covers off its new-generation Navara bakkie, and for the first time, it’s not an in-house product. The newcomer is very closely based on the Mitsubishi Triton. Rebadging bakkies is not a new phenomenon. For many years, the Mazda BT-50 was a close relative of the Ford Ranger, and today it’s built by Isuzu on D-Max underpinnings. The latest Volkswagen Amarok is built by Ford, carrying much of the Ranger’s DNA. The Peugeot Landtrek is essentially a Changan Hunter. Built alongside the Triton by Mitsubishi in Thailand through Nissan’s Alliance ties, the new Navara shares its middle and rear sections with the vehicle that it’s based on, right down to the body side creases and outer tail- light contours. The interior is also a close clone of…

With the unabated rise of the SUV, it’s no surprise that the Volkswagen T-Roc is currently outselling its Golf hatchback sibling in Europe. With this in mind, it would be foolish for Volkswagen to ignore the prospect that many fans of its performance models will be making the migration too. Although we have yet to hear about a GTI version of the compact crossover, the Wolfsburg-based carmaker has confirmed that there will be an R version of its second-generation T-Roc, which was revealed in late August. UK media were recently given a sneak preview of the performance model, although the wait will be long, with sales only expected to commence in 2027. According to Autocar, the new T-Roc R will share its Golf R sibling’s highly developed 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine,…

The outlook for consumers seems to be looking up, with inflation set to stabilise towards the end of the year, interest rates coming down, and a rand that has settled within a more predictable range. On Thursday, much as expected, South African Reserve Bank (SARB) governor Lesetja Kganyago announced that the interest rate would decline by 0.25 percentage points, dropping prime to 10.25%. After holding rates steady at the previous meeting, the Monetary Policy Committee’s unanimous decision takes the total decline in rates between last September and now to 1.25 percentage points. “This will lower the repayments on all sorts of debts, from credit cards and personal loans to car finance and mortgage bonds,” says Stephen Whitombe, MD of the FIRZT Realty group. According to Thys van Zyl, CEO of…

While the South African Revenue Service (Sars) has gradually introduced administrative penalties for late or non-submission of tax returns, starting with individuals and later extending to companies, trustees have so far remained penalty-free. Sars has been strengthening its enforcement measures and plans to extend penalties to trusts, recognising that hundreds of thousands of trusts are non-compliant. The implementation is scheduled for early 2026, leaving limited time for non-compliant trusts. Although exact figures are unavailable, estimates suggest that up to two-thirds of all registered trusts with the Master of the High Court are not registered as taxpayers, despite the legal requirement for all trusts to register with Sars, even if labelled as “passive” or “dormant”. Of the one-third that are registered, only about 50% are believed to have submitted tax returns.…

Islam Makhachev and his brother Kurban grew up poor in a remote village in Dagestan, a Russian republic tucked into the mountains between Georgia and the Caspian Sea. Their father farmed and drove a truck. Like many in Dagestan, both boys wanted to become great fighters, perhaps someday in the UFC, which they had seen on television. Both had promise and hoped to train with the great Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, a legendary Dagestani sambo and judo coach who was then preparing his son Khabib to become one of the UFC’s top champions. There was no way Islam and Kurban could afford to train together under Nurmagomedov. Kurban was older than Islam. If either of them was going to train to fight, it would be him. But Kurban had a feeling about…

Mamelodi Sundowns have mastered the art of reaching the final hurdle of the CAF Champions League, but they know that, in order to overcome that stumbling block, they need consistency from start to finish. Sundowns reached the continental showpiece semi-final two seasons ago and improved on that last term by reaching the final. That’s why they are eager to be third-time lucky this season. But that’s easier said than done. Sundowns can’t get carried away and think about conquering the continent at this early stage. They need to lay the perfect foundation, where they can build a solid continental campaign, starting in the group stage. The Brazilians will host St. Eloi Lupopo – who eliminated domestic rivals Orlando Pirates in the final round of the preliminary qualifiers – in their…

Travelling vlogs are all the rage these days, and that has a lot to do with the fact that you probably have most of the gear before you start. The main thing you need is a good camera, and with any smartphone from the last five or so years, the quality is good enough to start a travel channel on your platform of choice. In fact, most phones these days have excellent cameras and record in 4K, which is still cutting edge in 2025. At the core of any travel vlog, filming interesting or pretty scenery is the starting point, and capturing those scenes with decent equipment is paramount. However, there are a few pieces of equipment that can help ensure you get the best footage possible. Microphone: Most travel…

Researchers have found that feeling lonely in childhood can accelerate cognitive decline and dramatically increase the risk of dementia later in life. A major international study has revealed that adults aged 50 and older who experienced frequent loneliness or a lack of close friends in childhood face significantly higher rates of cognitive decline. Crucially, the emotional experience of loneliness, rather than the actual absence of friendships, proved to be the most powerful driver of dementia risk. The researchers noted that people who felt lonely as children entered midlife with poorer memory and weaker thinking skills compared to those who did not. Their cognitive abilities also deteriorated more quickly with each passing year. Even if loneliness fades in adulthood, its imprint may persist for decades. The study, conducted by scientists from…

The family of three-year-old Khy’ree Jordaan is struggling to come to terms with the little boy’s death after an off-duty law enforcement officer allegedly drove over him in Clarke’s Estate, Elsies River, before fleeing the scene. The horror incident happened on November 9 in Alard Road, where Khy’ree was sitting at his usual spot on the pavement with his friends, his mother close by enjoying a piece of cake from his auntie’s confirmation. What happened next would shatter the life of the bubbly, friendly, Spider-Man-loving toddler and leave his family devastated. According to Khy’ree’s grandmother, Jolene Jordaan, she and her husband were standing in the kitchen when they heard screaming from outside. “All we could hear was people shouting Khy’ree!,” she said. “When I ran out I saw his daddy…

South Africa’s justice system is facing a worsening threat, not just from criminals, but from dangers directed at the very people tasked with upholding the law. According to the latest national survey documenting magistrates’ perceptions, nearly a third of judicial officers reported being threatened or harmed in direct connection with their work. The findings paint a stark picture: courtrooms and surrounding facilities have become potential danger zones. Twenty-three percent of magistrates said they were threatened or harmed “once or twice” within a 12-month period, while a further 10% reported multiple incidents. The Western Cape emerged as the most dangerous province, with 39% of magistrates reporting threats, highlighting deep regional disparities in safety. Threats are not limited to criminal trials. Magistrates presiding over civil disputes – often assumed to be low-risk…

Colleen McHenry was leading a yoga class when a chicken named Turkey walked behind her and under a window curtain. McHenry soon learned the reason behind Turkey’s strange behaviour: The chicken had laid an egg in her brightly coloured diaper while roughly 50 yogis held their poses. This is an example of what you might find at chicken yoga, a class at a Tampa hotel that allows people to perform downward dog and child’s pose among rescued chickens in diapers. Yoga with animals – goats, dogs and cats – has become popular in recent years. But chicken yoga is another version, offered in a neighbourhood where dozens of wild chickens roam the streets, courtyards and sidewalks. “Sometimes it’s just so much silly fun that, yeah, people completely forget that they’re…

Cape Town is transforming into a major cultural and intellectual hub as the second annual Living Rights Festival takes place. Spanning diverse neighbourhoods, including Salt River, Observatory, Langa, and the city centre, the festival promises a vibrant and urgent search for solutions to pressing local and global issues. Organised by the Institute for African Alternatives (IAA), the event will draw together leading scholars, artists, activists, policymakers, and the general public in a bold, collaborative framework designed to tackle major contemporary challenges. “The Living Rights Festival is dedicated to advocating for peaceful coexistence, social justice, and human rights,” said Nazeema Mohamed, festival co-ordinator at the IAA. Through the synergy of art and academic discourse, we aim to motivate communities to confront and resist violence, militarisation, climate change, racism, and other threats…

Whether it’s carting garden refuse, moving house, going away for a long weekend or an extended holiday or a black-tie social event, there’s no doubt that we’re a bakkie nation as the monthly sales constantly remind us. No longer viewed merely as utilitarian bakkies, they have morphed into full-on lifestyle vehicles that we can’t seem to get enough of. I’ve used them for all of the above over the years, and the latest bakkie to join our long-term test fleet is the Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 double cab. The Ranger XLT is the company’s mid-specced offering, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the one to have. At R766 000, it has everything you need, and while models like the Ranger Wildtrak and Platinum offer an extensive range of…

AS the end-of-year holidays draw near, it’s a good time to review your short-term insurance policies to be certain that you are adequately protected and correctly insured. You may even consider shopping around for a better deal or, if you have remained claim-free for an extended period, renegotiate your premiums with your current insurer. You also need to check that insured assets such as your car and home have been properly maintained and that your car is in roadworthy condition. Maintenance failure or vehicle unroadworthiness can result in a claim being rejected. Although you should strive for getting good value for money from an insurer, it is advisable not to skimp on premiums by under-insuring or forgoing insurance altogether. Zanele Gigaba, transformation manager at the South African Insurance Association and…

South Africa is often called “the world in one country” for its diversity – and the same applies to its investment opportunities. Local investors can now access virtually the entire global market without leaving home, achieving true portfolio diversification across geographies, currencies, sectors and asset classes. Key Ways to Invest Offshore 1. Rand-denominated feeder funds These are local unit trusts that feed 100% of their assets into top global funds (e.g., Nedgroup Global Equity Feeder, Allan Gray-Orbis Global Equity Feeder). Accessible via familiar South African platforms (LISPs), they require no SARB clearance because the money never leaves the country. Returns are in rands, so you get full currency exposure without paperwork. Ideal for beginners. 2. Direct offshore investments (DIY) Using platforms such as Standard Bank Webtrade Global, Investec Global, EasyEquities…

Mitchell Starc said yesterday he was always confident in his ability to take wickets after bagging seven on the opening day of the first Ashes Test, with more of the same needed to keep Australia alive. The 35-year-old was a one-man wrecking ball against England at Perth Stadium, taking 7-58 to skittle them for 172. The tourists responded with their own fast-bowling fire, reducing Australia to 123-9 at stumps to leave the match finely poised. Starc began his destruction in the first over by removing Zak Crawley and was at times unplayable. “I mean, it’s always the plan, isn’t it? But it doesn’t always happen that way,” he said of his knack for bagging wickets in the first over. “I’ve just been pretty fortunate to have done it a few…

Building an immediate narrative of aspiration and confidence, Arsenal’s Spanish pair Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi insist that Arsenal’s superb start is not a fluke, but the result of a deep-seated determination to end the club’s wait for major honours. “Hopefully, this is the year, but what Martín says is also very important – that after so long, people haven’t given up… If you’re not here to win titles, I don’t think you’re in the right place,” said Merino. Zubimendi describes the core spirit of the change room as “resilience”, forged by past near misses. “Instead of pressure, that’s become a motivation for everything that’s coming. And honestly, I see the team more eager than ever, the coach, who’s been here for many years, more eager than ever. The ones…

Travel can be exhilarating, but it often comes with the challenge of disrupted sleep. Whether you’re navigating a cramped airplane at 30 000 feet or enduring the long hours of a road trip, fatigue can take a toll on your body and mind. According to Dr Charlene Gamaldo, medical director at the Johns Hopkins Center for Sleep, every individual has an optimal sleep window, generally from 11pm to 7am. This is known as your “circadian window”, and travel – especially across time zones – can wreak havoc on your internal clock. With the festive season approaching, when many South Africans will be travelling, it's essential to maintain a healthy sleep routine. Here are some expert tips for sleeping better during your travels: Adjust your sleep schedule before departure: Do this…

Townships are often seen as places fraught with challenges, yet they represent a vibrant part of South Africa’s cultural and historical tapestry. With approximately 532 townships scattered across the country, these areas are home to nearly half the nation’s population, contributing significantly to its economic landscape. For anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of South African life, nothing beats the authenticity of a township tour. These guided experiences offer a unique window into the past, present and future of communities that endured the oppressive legacy of apartheid but have emerged resilient and dynamic. A journey through the townships allows travellers to engage with a complex history while enjoying a modern cultural experience. Gauteng, with its largest township population, and the Western Cape are prime locations for these tours. Township…