18 May 2022 Confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 have been increasing in South Africa in recent weeks. This has been largely driven by two offspring – known as the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-lineages – of the Omicron variant first identified in South Africa late last year. What’s notable about the most recent spike is that there […]
Featured News

South Africa’s state capture commission – after four years, was it worth it?
South Africans want guarantees to prevent a repetition of state capture or extensive corruption in future. Dirk Kotze, Professor in Political Science, University of South Africa – 13 May 2022 South Africa’s judicial commission into state capture, known as the Zondo Commission, recently handed over the fourth part of its voluminous and scathing findings to […]

The desperate state of Eskom
Jonathan Katzenellenbogen, Daily Friend – 11 May 2022 Eskom is in an increasingly desperate state. There is little hope that South Africa will have a secure and reliable electricity supply for years. Yet there is seemingly little urgency from the government for fixing what is a major and binding constraint on the economy. Eskom has […]

Former South African president predicts the end of the ruling party: history is on his side
Roger Southall, Professor of Sociology, University of the Witwatersrand – 4 May 2022 Former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe, one of the saner voices in the ruling African National Congress (ANC), has recently given voice to heresy. He has said that the time of the ANC in power is coming to an end. The party […]
News, Politics & Opinion

First Multi-Mission patrol vessel handed over to the SA Navy
Dean Wingrin, defenceWeb - 19 May 2022 The first of three new multi-mission inshore patrol … [Read More...]

SA’s racial policy to be officially tried by UN’s ILO – Solidarity
South Africa’s racial policy again classifies people according to race, that it is of permanent … [Read More...]

Newly established CAPE FORUM aims to help grow federalism in the Western Cape
Put the Cape’s future in Cape hands By AfriForum - 3 April 2022 The prominent Afrikaans media … [Read More...]
Finance

South African repo rate increased by 50 basis points to 4.75%
STATEMENT OF THE MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE ON 19 MAY 2022 Lesetja Kganyago, … [Read More...]

Repo rate up by 25 basis points to 4.25%
STATEMENT OF THE MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE Lesetja Kganyago, Governor of … [Read More...]
Science & Technology

Cancers, HIV, autoimmune disorders and genetic diseases could soon be treated with mRNA and DNA vaccines
The two most successful coronavirus vaccines developed in the U.S. – the Pfizer … [Read More...]

Five of the most exciting telescope pictures of the universe
The Webb telescope is about 100 times more sensitive than Hubble and is expected … [Read More...]
Interesting

The stripping of British citizenship: the UK government’s new bill explained
Clause 9 in the new bill exempts the government from giving notice if it is not … [Read More...]

First dictionary of South Africa’s Kaaps language launched – why it matters
29 August 2021 It’s been in existence since the 1500s but the Kaaps language, … [Read More...]
Nature & Animal Chat

Forever FYNBOS, the Cape South Peninsula
by Martin (aka Joe) Frylinck Once upon a time (some 10 years ago) I wandered … [Read More...]

Discovering the forest wonders of Africa – and the threats
Robert Nasi, Director General, Centre for International Forestry Research - … [Read More...]

What GPS trackers revealed about Cape Town’s baboon troop movements
Baboons demonstrated collective behaviour in natural spaces, but in urban spaces … [Read More...]
Lifestyle Art

Zinc is a metal essential to life – scientists have discovered a protein that helps keep cells alive when zinc levels are low
Andy Weiss, Postdoctoral Fellow in Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, … [Read More...]

An African violin from indigenous woods
Martina Meincken, Associate professor, Stellenbosch University - 9 December … [Read More...]
History and Biographies

Forever FYNBOS, the Cape South Peninsula
by Martin (aka Joe) Frylinck Once upon a time (some 10 years ago) I wandered … [Read More...]

Firing of the Simon’s Town 9″ Cannon
9 Inch RIFLED MUZZLE LOADING (RML) GUN MIDDLE NORTH BATTERY SIMON’S TOWN The … [Read More...]