Opinion Pieces

By Morapedi Sibeko

We have begun with a comprehensive review process of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government. The review of the White paper demonstrates our collective commitment to addressing the challenges facing local governance and shaping a future that aligns with the aspirations of all South Africans.

South Africa continues to face a host of interconnected socioeconomic and environmental challenges. These include the triple challenges of inequality, poverty, and unemployment, which are further compounded by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

In June this year, South Africa marked 70 years since the adoption of the Freedom Charter on 26 June 1955 by the Congress of the people. On that day, brave patriots assembled in a multiracial convention in Kliptown and adopted a document that remains the cornerstone to the founding of our Constitution and democracy.

Just as birthdays are traditionally marked with celebration and some reflection, South Africa’s Constitutional Court recently blew out the candles in celebration of its 30th birthday, having continued to make a positive impact on society.

As Youth Month draws to a close for 2025, let us continue to keep in our minds, hearts and behaviours the courage the young people of the 1976 Soweto uprising, where they protested apartheid’s oppressive education policies, sparking a movement for
equality.

In 1994, South Africa inherited an economy that was structurally designed to exclude the vast majority of South Africans. Apartheid’s distorted policies had created a dual economy: one of wealth and privilege and another of poverty and exclusion.

In South Africa, Youth Month is celebrated every June following a declaration by our first democratic President, Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. It is a time when we collectively honour the pivotal role that young people played in the struggle against Apartheid and the historic Soweto Uprising of 1976.

Murder, rape and mysterious disappearances are among the horrifying crimes committed against South Africa’s children.

As the world battles escalating environmental challenges, from climate change to biodiversity loss, one crisis continues to be overshadowed – that is land degradation. Every year, over 100 million hectares of productive land are lost or degraded, affecting the lives of more than 1.3 billion people globally.

On 22 May 2025, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the South African National Parks (SANParks) gathered in Midrand at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Gauteng, to mark not only the National Biodiversity Offset Conference, but also the International Day for Biological Diversity.

By Khumbudzo Ntshavheni

During President Ramaphosa’s recent working visit to the USA on the invitation of President Trump, AfriForum had definitely wished for a different treatment of our President or at the least a different outcome of the meeting. However, wishes are not horse or else beggars will be riding.

Immerse yourself in the enchanting allure of South Africa, affectionately known as Mzansi - a Xhosa word meaning "south" or "the southern part." Mzansi is a land where breathtaking landscapes, majestic wildlife, and vibrant cultural heritage converge to offer global travellers an extraordinary and unforgettable experience.

The recent decision by the United States to grant refugee status to 49 Afrikaners who claimed persecution in South Africa is unfortunate. More so as the assessment allowing refugee status appears to have been greatly influenced by a deliberate campaign of misinformation and propaganda, which is far removed from the reality in South Africa.

In recent weeks, pressing infrastructure challenges facing our public hospitals have been in the spotlight. The recent incidents including the patient complaint at Helen Joseph Hospital and two alarming fires at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital, have intensified the public discourse around the state of our healthcare facilities. As the MEC for Health and Wellness in Gauteng, I want to assure residents that we are committed to revitalising our health infrastructure for quality patient care.

It has been five successful years since government introduced a compulsory pre-entry programme for persons applying to be appointed as senior managers in the Public service – the Nyukela (Step-Up) senior management service (SMS) Pre-Entry eLearning course.

The eyes of the world are firmly focused on South Africa as President of the G20 and the host nation of the G20 Summit in November.

Human Rights Month may have drawn to a close, but the significance of human rights extends further than a mere month.

South Africa’s first democratic elections on 27 April 1994 signalled not only the end of the brutal system of apartheid, but also a change in the country’s international image.

With the smell of roses and perfume likely to fill the air more than at any other time of the year today, we ought to dedicate a stem or two from our Valentine’s Day flower bouquets as a token of love for our country.