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Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Tshwane nurses honoured on International Nurses Day

Nurses make up 56% of all healthcare providers in the country and are the single largest group of professionals supporting both public and private healthcare. Their role is not only central to the delivery of high-quality care but also to the broader functioning of the national health system, particularly through the implementation of the primary healthcare approach. Nursing is a multifaceted profession, with practitioners working across a wide range of disciplines, roles and levels of expertise, from emergency care and chronic disease management to advanced clinical practice, education and research.

Staff Reporter|Published

Heroes who don’t make headlines

I am sure my family and in-laws make up a large percentage of the teaching profession. There are many of them who have been teaching for decades, and they have played a role in educating the children of the community as foundation phase teachers (the ones who have to lay the basis with the little ones for a lifetime of learning), as heads of department (ensuring that there is proper teaching of the subject being done), and as principals (basically chief executive officer of the school). My aunt taught me in class (or grade) one and two – she probably should take most responsibility for the quality of this column.

Ashley Green-Thompson|Published

Poetic Licence

South Africa’s long walk to economic freedom is being blocked, not only by the ghosts of apartheid, but also by the DA in full daylight. Let’s call a thing what it is: their opposition to the Amendment Act is a political statement that says transformation must stop at the gates of privilege. It is about fear. Fear of a South Africa where opportunity doesn’t come with that same privilege that grew on the topsoil of the shallow, unmarked graves they buried our people in. The same privilege that was watered with our blood. The DA is fighting tooth and nail to continue eating from the fruits of those atrocities.

Rabbie Serumula|Published

The History of BDSM

The Kama Sutra, compiled between 400 BCE and 200 CE in India, is often misunderstood as just a sex manual. In truth, it’s a sophisticated treatise on relationships and pleasure. It includes chapters on biting, scratching, slapping, and other forms of erotic stimulation.  Crucially, it discusses mutual enjoyment, consent, and the understanding that not all acts are pleasurable for all participants—making it one of the earliest known texts to explore consent in erotic play.

Sharon Gordon|Updated

Mothers: first educators of humanity

On Mother's Day, we reflect on the profound influence mothers have as the first educators, shaping the character and values of future generations.

Flora Teckie|Published

Epigenetics explained: How your lifestyle affects your skin

For years, we’ve believed that genetics dictate how our skin ages. However, scientific advancements in epigenetics reveal that while genes play a role, external factors such as diet, sun exposure, pollution and stress can significantly influence skin health and ageing. This breakthrough understanding is reshaping skincare, offering new ways to maintain youthful, radiant skin.

Staff Reporter|Published

Survey reveals popularity of projectors as consumers create home cinema experiences

This trend is driven by lifestyle changes and tech advancements and highlights the demand for more flexible viewing. With only 11. 6% never having tried a projector, the data signals rising popularity and accessibility. In South Africa, while TVs still lead, a significant number have already embraced projectors for their clarity, scale and theatre-like experience.

Staff Reporter|Published

Black Sash urges government to turn SRD grant into meaningful Basic Income Grant

Black Sash has welcomed the ANC’s renewed commitment to converting the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant into a permanent Basic Income Grant (BIG), but warns that it must be more than a symbolic change.

Staff Reporter|Published

Qatar Airways revolutionises in-flight connectivity in African skies with ultra-high-speed Starlink internet

The reigning World’s Best Airline, as voted by Skytrax in 2024, also operates the largest Starlink-equipped fleet of Boeing 777s in the world. Starlink’s frictionless ‘one-click-access’ allows easy connection to the complimentary Wi-Fi service, which is a further enhancement of the five-star airline’s multiple award-winning on-board experience. The introduction of Starlink on the Cape Town route comes during Qatar Airways’ 20th year of operations in South Africa. This is the latest in a series of milestones that have continued to strengthen the airline’s ties with the country and the continent.

Staff Reporter|Published