Latest News & Developments
poverty
The hidden costs of SA’s gambling crisis
In March, an online betting platform shared a story of someone turning a R4 wager into an astounding R83,701. 54. While stories like this grab attention, the rise in online sports betting also brings important considerations.
Menstrual and reproductive health: Why it must be front and centre
In South Africa, period poverty is a stark reality. Thousands of school-going girls miss school each month because they cannot afford pads.
South Africa's Freedom Day: A Celebration or a Reflection of Ongoing Struggles?
Various organisations in South Africa, including unions and civil rights groups, refuse to celebrate Freedom Day, citing deepening social backlogs and ongoing struggles for dignity 31 years after democracy. This article explores the reasons behind this rejection and the socio-economic challenges that persist.
'Our people don't believe us anymore'- ANCYL blasts ANC over broken promises
Collen Malatji, President of the African National Congress Youth League, attributes the ANC's recent election defeat to its failure to tackle poverty and economic exclusion.
The human side of begging
Dr Raymond Perrier of the Denis Hurley Centre Trust talks about the complex realities of begging in South African cities, challenging common misconceptions and offering practical advice on how to respond compassionately while truly helping those in need.
Silenced by poverty: the reality of begging in Phoenix, Overport and Chatsworth
“People only see us only as beggars”
Treasury vs households: The fairness of South Africa's proposed VAT increase
South Africa's government proposes a VAT increase to address fiscal challenges, but experts warn it may disproportionately affect the poor and middle class, raising concerns about its impact on consumer spending and economic growth.
Is the VAT hike fair? Treasury vs household in South Africa’s tax debate
South Africa's planned staggered VAT increase from 15% to 16% is drawing criticism from economists and citizens alike, who argue that already-strained households will bear the brunt of the government's latest revenue-generating measure.
Macua accuses SAPS and NPA of corporate bias ahead of national inquiry
Macua has made submissions to the South African Human Rights Commission ahead of the national inquiry into illegal mining.
Feeding the Nation: A Klein Karoo Call to Action for Food Justice
At the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), discussions on food justice reveal a painful contradiction in South Africa: despite producing enough food, millions still suffer from hunger, says the writer
'Cyril Must Fall' | Tshwane protest march demands Ramaphosa's resignation, TMPD warns of traffic jams
Cyril Must Fall' protesters will march through Tshwane to the Union Buildings this Friday, causing significant traffic disruptions as the Defend South Africa movement demands Ramaphosa's resignation over alleged corruption, economic decline and the Phala Phala scandal.
Child trafficking crisis escalates globally
A shocking UN Human Rights Council report reveals an alarming surge in child trafficking worldwide, with four in 10 victims being children. Despite government efforts, trafficking networks are growing more sophisticated, using artificial intelligence to evade detection.
UN warns about child trafficking crisis that's escalating globally
A shocking UN Human Rights Council report reveals an alarming surge in child trafficking worldwide, with four in 10 victims being children. South Africa faces particular challenges, with approximately 30 000 children trapped in exploitation networks. Despite government efforts, trafficking networks are growing more sophisticated, using artificial intelligence to evade detection.
UN warns: child trafficking crisis escalates globally
A shocking UN Human Rights Council report reveals an alarming surge in child trafficking worldwide, with four in 10 victims being children. South Africa faces particular challenges, with approximately 30 000 children trapped in exploitation networks. Despite government efforts, trafficking networks are growing more sophisticated, using artificial intelligence to evade detection.
KZN Police Commissioner calls for social solutions to combat crime in Amaoti
KZN Police Commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi emphasises the need for social solutions to tackle the rising crime in Amaoti, following a recent wave of violence.
Poetic Licence: What separates a mining magnate from a zama zama
We are told that illegal mining is the crime of the desperate—the work of faceless shadows, scurrying underground like ghosts with headlamps. But the true ghosts, the ones who haunt South Africa’s stolen wealth, sit in polished boardrooms, cloaked in legality, their plunder protected by paperwork and power.
Julius Malema celebrates his birthday by supporting Tembisa Child Welfare Society with R200,000 donation
In a heartwarming birthday celebration, EFF leader Julius Malema has donated R200,000 to the Tembisa Child Welfare Society to support the organisation’s work in caring for abandoned and neglected children.
Budget 2025 | 'Jobs, not taxes': DA's campaign against 17% VAT proposal
The Democratic Alliance has launched a nationwide petition challenging the proposed VAT increase, arguing that South Africa's economic recovery depends on job creation rather than increased taxation.
How Ramaphosa’s VAT Hike Revives Apartheid’s Economic Chains
Apartheid’s legacy was economic exclusion, and the ANC is making sure it lives on. It is no longer about political power — it is about maintaining the same structures that once benefited the white minority, only now with a new elite in charge, says the writer.
Cyril Ramaphosa urges G20 to amplify African voices on climate and inequality
President Cyril Ramaphosa calls for urgent global collaboration to address Africa's unique challenges of climate change, inequality, and sustainable development at the G20 meeting.
Budget Delay | ANC, DA try score points on who rejected the VAT increase first
The 2025/26 National Budget Speech was postponed to March 12 after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana could not deliver it on Wednesday due to parties being at loggerheads over the proposed hike in VAT.
Ramaphosa admits budget postponement was over disagreements but promises a new one that works for all
President Cyril Ramaphosa called an emergency Cabinet meeting on Wednesday after the Democratic Alliance (DA) threatened to reject the budget if the proposal was approved.
Budget Speech 2025: Cosatu vows to reject VAT increase, warns it will push workers into debt
Pressure mounts on Finance minister Enoch Godongwana as trade unions warn against tax hikes on low income earners in the 2025 budget.
'Today wasn’t her turn to take lunch to school': Is the current Child Support Grant enough to sustain a child?
Despite the South African Child Support Grant's success in aiding millions, many families struggle to meet basic needs, raising questions about its adequacy.
How Social Grants shape lives in Mamelodi and De Doorns
Nearly half of South Africa's population depends on social grants, yet many families face dire challenges in meeting their basic needs amid worsening economic conditions.