This year marks the tenth anniversary since floods of xenophobic violence swept across the country in 2008, leaving 62 people dead, at least 670 wounded, some raped and more than 100,000 foreigners displaced. Yet the outbreaks continue today. Just last month four people were killed in Johannesburg after angry protestors looted and destroyed foreign-owned shops – bringing conversations around the treatment of foreigners back to the fore.

The 2018 Zimbabwe general elections were hailed a landmark test for whether democracy would prevail in the politically-divided country. But when the results were released, concerns of fraud surfaced and violent protests erupted, which then begged the question, just how successful were these highly-anticipated elections? 

‘A winner is a dreamer, who never gives up.’ – Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela former president of South Africa. On 100th anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, former American president Barack Obama reminisced about how peacefully Mandela guided his nation through negotiation and reconciliation and how his generous attitude towards his former enemies saved the country from more violence and war.

For generations, across cultures and continents, people have used music as a form of protest. Lyrics and melodies transformed into mediums for communication that in any other context would be suppressed and unheard. Musical activism has cemented its crucial role in history as being a way to unite individuals in their common goal to end war or oppression.

On 27 July, former President Jacob Zuma was seen dancing and singing with supporters after his third appearance in court this year on charges including corruption, money laundering and fraud. The appearance in the Pietermaritzburg High Court, which was ultimately postponed until November, was almost ten years to the day since Zuma was first seen in court on corruption charges in August 2008.

South Africa’s Constitutional Court is once again being asked to deal with a highly politically charged matter that affects the government of the country. The last time was over the question of President Jacob Zuma’s failure to repay state money spent on his personal homestead at Nkandla. This time the government’s Minister for Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, is at the centre of a storm over the payment of 17 million social grants.

Today’s lifestyle is fast-paced and demanding. We’re pulled in multiple directions and rush from one task to the next with little time factored in for our mind and body. The two things we neglect are the very things we can’t function without. Bring in Hotpod Yoga. This isn’t just yoga, and this isn’t just hot yoga. It is something quite unique – it’s yoga designed for the modern world, ‘working the body, calming the mind’.

Cheerful colours and chanting crowds once again greeted the Cape Town Carnival (CTC), reminding us how essential art can be as a form of communication. This kind of arts festival celebrates difference and brings people together. CTC not only relates to the politics of ethnicity and identity but also communicates the issues that affect Cape Town as a community. The theme of this year’s carnival, ‘Mother City, Mother Nature,’ reflected upon Cape Town’s latest concern: the drought.

Despite tough economic times, Where Rainbows Meet brought joy to over 500 children in the Vrygrond community in the lead up to Christmas, by hosting their fourth annual Christmas party…

This year, Where Rainbows Meet (WRM) celebrates their 10-year anniversary. The organisation has come a long way in the last decade, but their values and commitment have stayed constant and they have impacted the lives of over 10,000 community members in Vrygrond and its surrounding areas. Founder and director Mymoena Scholtz explains how back in 2008 the organisation started from nothing with nothing. Slowly, with the right team, she has built the training and development centre into what it is today.

Typically, on the weekend I find myself going to bed at 2am, not waking up then. But, indeed, this was no typical Sunday morning. Instead of snoozing until the late afternoon, in no rush to do anything, I found myself racing the sun up to the heavens, for, alas, it would be I who claimed the land above the clouds and gazed down upon the world below. The finest provisions awaited me at the head of the Table and I was ready to feast. And thus, the quest to summit Table Mountain began.

Have you ever thought to yourself: ‘Travelling is too expensive. How do I find the money to do it?’ Well, if so, you are not alone. The near universal reason people don’t travel is that they don’t have enough money. However, with a few tips and tricks, it is possible to save up enough for a low-budget trip.

As I set out for my fifth visit to South Africa, I was amazed to hear my friends ask the same odd questions as before. My approach to the journey was much like Ernest Hemingway, having never woken up in Africa feeling sad. My friends, on the other hand, were obsessed with unfounded fears. Although it might not be the first choice for many Europeans, travelling to South Africa is always an adventure and let me explain why.

The hardest part of travelling isn’t the plane ride 1,000 miles away by yourself, the foreign food, or the strange bed you sleep on. The hardest part of travelling is coming back home. It’s wonderful to explore the world, meet amazing new people, gain new experiences, and ultimately find yourself, but then reality hits when you return home. When you get back, it’s a high for about two weeks. Basically a celebrity, you are the revered person everyone wants to hang out with, and hear about your trip and your experiences, but what happens when you become just a regular person again?