Preventing Stunting — Lessons From a Western Cape Maternal Health Pilot
Rising food insecurity has left 17.5% of Western Cape children under five stunted, threatening cognitive development and long‑term health. In response, the Western Cape Government, DG Murray Trust, Shoprite and Grow Great launched the Khulisa Care pilot, a cash‑plus‑care model that provides monthly food vouchers worth roughly $28 and intensive community‑health‑worker support to nutritionally vulnerable pregnant women and low‑birth‑weight infants. Mid‑pilot data show over 1,000 mothers enrolled, an 80% voucher redemption rate, reduced food stress and improved infant weight gain, while exposing enrollment bottlenecks and fragmented data systems. These insights are shaping Khulisa Care 2.0, which will streamline enrollment, integrate workflows and emphasize beneficiary dignity.
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SPOTLIGHT: ‘Small Things, Great Love’: The Durban Safe House Where Babies Wait for a Home
South Africa reported 595 child abandonment cases in 2024, though officials admit the true number is likely higher due to unrecorded incidents. Baby Home Durban North, a six‑child capacity safe house founded in 2015, provides a family‑type environment for abandoned...
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THE INTERVIEW: The Glass Island: An Exploration of Humanity’s Failings Through Surreal Autobiography
Patricia Schonstein’s eighth novel, *The Glass Island*, arrives as a surreal autobiography that blurs speculative fiction with real‑world horrors. The five‑year project weaves historic figures like Primo Levi and contemporary crises—from the Gaza conflict to climate disaster—into a layered narrative...
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THE WEEKEND WRAP: Corruption Audits, Estate Battles, and SA’s ‘Juicy’ Economic Milestone
South Africa’s weekend news cycle was dominated by a series of high‑profile accountability probes and a surprising economic win. A SARS audit tied former PRASA chief Lucky Montana to the infamous R3.5 bn (≈ $189 m) "tall‑trains" procurement scandal, while a judge barred...
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CRYSTALLISING SUCCESS: Queen Bees Reshaping SA Beekeeping Industry
On World Bee Day, South Africa highlighted the rise of two women‑led beekeeping enterprises that are scaling operations and training other women. Lulu Letlape’s Bongi Bees grew from five to 100 hives and plans 500, while mentoring 40 women and handling...
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POLITICALLY AWEH: Why the Petrol Price Exploded and the Solution Government Is Blocking
The latest episode of Politically Aweh spotlights South Africa’s soaring petrol prices, linking the surge to geopolitical shocks such as the Iran‑related conflict and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Hosts KG and Zoe explain why Minister Gwede...
SpaceX Aims for 10,000 Annual Launches Within Five Years, FAA Says
SpaceX told the FAA it aims to scale to 10,000 launches per year within five years, a leap from the 170 missions it completed in 2025 that placed about 2,500 satellites in orbit. The goal supports a broader plan to...
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The Bond Reckoning Is About to Meet the AI Mirage
Bond markets worldwide surged this week as U.S. wholesale inflation confirmed that war‑driven price pressures are persisting, pushing 30‑year yields above 4% in Japan, near 6% in the UK and over 5% in the U.S. Short‑term rates also rose, with...
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CRISIS AVERTED: Reprieve for Talisman Foundation as Eviction Halted After Health Minister Motsoaledi Intervenes
South Africa’s Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi intervened to halt the eviction of the Talisman Foundation, a 200‑bed psychosocial rehabilitation centre in Johannesburg, for three months. The eviction threat had sparked fears of a repeat of the 2016 Life Esidimeni tragedy, prompting...
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TRANSPORT COSTS: SA Commuters Cut Back on Groceries as Taxi Fares Rise, Drivers Plead for Subsidies
Fuel prices in South Africa jumped by R6.53 per litre (about $0.34) after the US‑Israel war on Iran began, prompting the South African National Taxi Council to announce fare hikes of R2‑R6 for city trips and R10‑R30 for long‑distance routes....
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CONNECTIVITY: Minister Malatsi Remains Undeterred in His Ambition to Overhaul ICT Sector
South Africa’s communications minister Solly Malatsi used his 2026/27 budget speech to champion Low‑Earth‑Orbit satellite services as a shortcut to nationwide broadband, urging the government to let foreign operators operate now. In a rare show of alignment, the Independent Communications...
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GROWTH GAMBLE: Africa Must Turn Trust and Critical Minerals Into Factories, Jobs and Lasting Growth
Standard Bank chief economist Goolam Ballim warned that a geopolitical rupture is reshaping global supply chains, putting commercial trust at the forefront. He argues Africa’s mix of demographics, critical‑mineral endowments and rising Middle‑East capital could drive 4‑5% annual growth, with East...
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NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE: Department of Health Mulls over New Licence Approach After Constitutional Court Ruling
South Africa's Constitutional Court struck down the controversial "certificate of need" provision that would have let the government dictate where doctors and nurses could work. The Department of Health now says it will explore alternative licensing schemes modeled on Canada...
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WEATHERING EXTREMES: Scientists Challenge ‘Business as Usual’, Calling for Southern-Led Climate Scenarios to Tackle the Crisis
South Africa is battling floods, drought and early snowfall, underscoring a climate‑driven polycrisis that mirrors conditions across the Global South. A new paper in *One Earth* argues that the Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) guiding global climate policy are built on...
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African Leaders Push Credit Reforms at Nairobi Summit with France
African leaders at the Nairobi Africa Forward Summit urged reforms to credit‑rating methodologies, arguing that perceived risk inflates borrowing costs. French President Emmanuel Macron pledged support for a first‑loss guarantee to de‑risk African investments and will lobby for it at...