South Africa is ‘safe to a large extent’ – and that’s the problem

Monty Quill|Published

When the Tourism Minister recently said South Africa is “safe to a large extent”, it sounded less like reassurance and more like the fine print you read before deciding not to board the plane.

A Christmas lesson from Angus

Lance Fredericks|Published

A small, seemingly ordinary moment with a dog becomes a lens for exploring resilience, adaptability, and ultimately the essence of Christmas: relationship and connection. ...

How my mix-tape made the trip shorter

Lance Fredericks|Published

From quirky road-trip playlists to soaring festive prices, this column explores the joys of sharing music, the unwritten rules of life, and the need for fairness ...

Inside the ANC’s quiet succession storm: Who’s really positioning for 2027?

Kamogelo Moichela and Simon Majadibodu|Updated

With the 2027 ANC conference on the horizon, speculation mounts over who might replace Cyril Ramaphosa, despite party leaders denying any leadership race.

Scrolling to our Doom: When smartphone FOMO fragments our brains

Lance Fredericks|Published

A thoughtful look at how constant smartphone checking is reshaping our behaviour, harming focus, weakening memory and diluting real conversation — supported by research ...

Window dressing will not win Kimberlites’ hearts

Lance Fredericks|Published

Kimberley shone for the recent marathon after another hasty city clean-up – impressive, yes, but also temporary. A light polish for visitors isn’t the long-term ...

LETTER: Justice for Mandy Bailey must send a message

Tumi Majola|Published

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The writer urges the court to impose a harsh sentence on Mandy Bailey’s murderer as a strong message against gender-based violence and femicide ...

LETTER: Unreported teen pregnancies expose deep systemic failures

Shaine Griqua|Published

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: The Shaine Griqua Advice and Development Centre warns that the Northern Cape faces a worsening crisis of unreported teenage pregnancies and ...

Toyota launches Hilux Custom Builds with factory-engineered, fully integrated conversions

Lance Fredericks|Published

Toyota South Africa has launched Hilux Custom Builds, a factory-engineered conversion programme offering OEM-tested, warranty-backed workhorse upgrades designed ...

A litter licence is the silly solution

Lance Fredericks|Published

As Kimberley sinks deeper into neglect, this column calls for leadership, accountability and a change in public behaviour, warning that young residents are growing ...

The secret life of baobabs: How bats and moths keep Africa’s giant trees alive

The Conversation|Published

A new study reveals that Africa’s baobabs rely on region-specific partnerships with bats and moths for pollination, with each tree population evolving unique floral ...

Exposing the kitchen’s gender paradox

Letter to the Editor|Published

A reader challenges the cliché that “women belong in the kitchen” by pointing out how the professional culinary world tells a very different story.

From Sutherland to the stars: Northern Cape telescope marks 20 years of science and social impact

The Conversation|Published

This article intertwines personal reflection and national pride as Vanessa McBride, who first dreamed of the stars as a rural schoolgirl, looks back on how the Southern ...

Locked and Loaded: Could untraceable 3D guns become South Africa’s next crime wave?

Sinenhlanhla Masilela|Published

Are ghost guns the next big threat to public safety in South Africa? As technology advances, these untraceable firearms, easily assembled from 3D-printed parts, ...

Our devices have stung our attention spans

Lance Fredericks|Published

A witty look at “second screening” – the growing habit of watching TV while scrolling phones – and how it’s quietly rewiring our brains, shrinking attention spans, ...

The Big Squeeze: Why salary increases in South Africa aren’t keeping up with life’s rising costs

Opinion|Published

This opinion piece argues that South Africans are being pushed deeper into financial strain as salary increases fail to keep pace with the rising cost of living, ...

Spandex isn’t going to solve anything

Lance Fredericks|Published

This opinion piece takes yet another look at Kimberley’s litter problem – from a now spotless Oppenheimer Gardens to a trash-strewn city — arguing that no superhero ...

The sparkle and the spill: Why Kimberley’s brand story is at war with reality

Opinion|Published

OPINION: The government’s glowing portrayal of Kimberley as a “sparkling city” clashes with the lived reality of water cuts, sewage spills, collapsing infrastructure, ...

Still picking on the weak: why bullying never graduates

Lance Fredericks|Published

Bullying in schools still haunts South Africa. This column reflects on initiation rituals, power abuse and how cruelty toward the weak defines our society’s moral ...

Hero one day, villain the next

Lance Fredericks|Published

From rescuing wandering ‘doggos’ to not noticing a runaway toddler, this personal story explores how attention, kindness, and awareness could shape our everyday ...