Opinion Pieces

By Moahlodi Maphori 

When a new factory opens its doors, its impact reaches far beyond the production line. It acts as a spark for an economic chain reaction that breathes life into the surrounding community. What starts as a single investment quickly creates a wave of opportunities, enabling households to meet their basic needs and aspire to a better future.

For many South Africans, the Kruger National Park (KNP), affectionally known as Kruger to many, has been our window into the wild. Every visit to this iconic national treasure is an opportunity to interact with nature and possibly view the Big 5.

“Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all.” As former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reminds us, this is not merely an aspiration, it is an urgent call to action.

Just a few years ago South Africa’s energy situation looked bleak with power outages sometimes exceeding eight hours a day. Communities and businesses endured severe stages of load shedding, disrupting economic activity and eroding public confidence. It became distinctly clear that urgent and coordinated intervention was needed to change the trajectory of our electricity grid.

As we breathe a collective sigh of relief at the arrival of the long-awaited Easter Holiday period, all of us are worthy of a big slice of cake, for having made it through the first quarter of 2026.

The beauty of South Africa lies in our identity as a champion of peace, with the spirit of ubuntu serving as our defining signature to the world.

South Africa is choosing momentum over hesitation. At a time when global markets are marked by volatility and investor caution, the country is pressing ahead with its sixth Investment Conference - a signal that it intends not to retreat, but to compete.

Not so long ago, the ability to share information with large audiences was limited to a small group of people, such as journalists and broadcasters. Today, digital platforms have flipped the script, giving anyone with a smartphone and internet the power to reach a global audience.

Many decades later, the colonial and apartheid impact of land dispossession lingers on and continues to define the current skewed patterns of land ownership and access. Legislative measures, such as the Natives Land Act of 1913 and the Group Areas Act of 1950, facilitated the removal of many Black individuals from their ancestral lands, depriving them of their inherent rights to land ownership in their native country.

Water is a fundamental component of human dignity and a constitutional right rather than a service, writes Deputy Government Spokesperson, William Baloyi.

South Africa observes National Water Month in March at a time when frustration over the unreliability of water supply has made headlines.

South Africa in 2026 is a far cry from the country before 1994. Things such as human rights for all which now stand as one of the pillars of our democracy were unheard of for the majority. The apartheid state systematically worked to deprive black people, and enforced laws to maintain the status quo of white dominance throughout society.

By Andrea Naicker

As South Africans prepare to listen and watch the State of the Nation Address (SoNa) on 12 February 2026 at 7pm, the country does so at a time marked by positive developments which include the strengthening of the rand, consecutive quarters of economic growth and having consistent power supply from Eskom.

As the first school term of 2026 begins, there is a deeper responsibility that cannot be overlooked which is to deal with the safety and well-being of our children. Children are our future leaders, and they must always be protected, whether on and off the school grounds, be it on drugs, human trafficking, teenage pregnancy or road safety.

After a long year of hard work, most people take a break to relax the mind, body and soul. For many South Africans, this involves driving to different parts of the country during the festive season to spend time with family and friends.

As the year draws to a close and we stand on the threshold of a new year in 2026, the prevailing sentiment regarding our economy is one of confident optimism. Despite the formidable challenges our economy has navigated, we are now definitively turning the corner, accelerating towards a more stable and prosperous economic future.

Imagine a South Africa where every individual, regardless of ability, has equal opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully. This is the type of an inclusive society we are striving to build as we concluded Disability Rights Awareness Month on the 3rd of December.

The start of the month of December signals the start of the much-awaited festive season we have all been secretly yearning for - probably since the end of the last festive season!