I was one of the thousands who watched Nelson Mandela, the South African liberation struggle hero, leave prison on 11 February 1990, and then mount the podium in front of Cape Town’s City Hall, expressing the hope that the apartheid government would agree to negotiations so that there might no longer be the need for […]

I think a lot of us were reeling yesterday from the President’s speech on Sunday night, writes Sam Cohen. Let’s remember today to be kind. If you have a friend who is a drinker, please be kind, they are angry and hurt. If you haven’t seen your family in months, please be kind to people […]

I left South Africa with my young child in October 2019 because of the worsening economy, minority group-killings and daily dangers such as high-jacking, robberies, theft and rape… writes an SA mom, who prefers to remain anonymous. It’s a daunting thing to raise a child under these circumstances… and not knowing with certainty if your […]

The big medical aid heist? To replace my current lenses will cost R6,000 – of which #Bankmed will ONLY pay R1,500 – thus leaving me to pay R4,500 out of MY own pocket… writes Gauteng publicist and regular SAPeople contributor Georg Knoke. Some background: I’m on one of the highest levels of medical aid cover, […]

This is one of the most iconic images in sporting history. It was shot by John Dominis, for Life magazine, during the medal ceremony for the men’s 200-metre sprint, at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City in October 1968… writes South African journalist and scriptwriter Gus Silber. In the middle, wearing the gold, is Tommie […]

I liked this ‘Back to School’ image because what I would really love right now is a road sign telling me exactly what direction to take… says South African GP Dr Rosie Carey (known as Dr Rosie to patients). Instead, my internal compass resembles one of those old city maps of Granada, with crooked narrow […]

As a philanthropist rather than a psychologist I know more about people helping each other than I know about why they do it. What I know at the moment is that we’re seeing much more in the way of actual help for those affected by coronavirus than I’ve seen for any other cause, anywhere in […]

The avalanche of cruel, thoughtless, badly informed, often racist sh*t after Cyril Ramaphosa’s latest speech leaves me astounded, angry, deeply saddened… writes well known motoring journalist, Peter Frost. Rational people who I believed to be considerate human beings overcome by the seduction of conspiracy after conspiracy. It’s as if a huge chunk of South Africa […]

So in my little housely enclave, I’ve been thinking about what my thoughts are IRO the lockdown, about the changes around the world, about freedom, and how it’s – if at all – changed much in my life… Here’s what I’ve come up with!… writes well known South African radio and TV personality Melanie Walker. […]

The consequences of the COVID-19 lockdown are yet to be fully determined and understood. But one thing we can be fairly certain of – in South Africa its impact will be shaped by the country’s inequalities. Our study reveals that half of the adult population survives with near-zero savings, while 3,500 individuals own 15% of […]

No one knows what is going on. So many versions of Level Four have circulated that we all have whiplash, and if you didn’t have an anxiety disorder before, you sure as shit have it now… writes Kim Nicola Stephens. Runners got their shoes all ready and prepped and then someone said NO JOGGING and […]

A piece written by an unknown author is going viral around the world, with an important message for all parents right now. Shared most recently by a hair stylist in the US, her post here has been shared over 443,000 times. This is the anonymous message: Child – “How old are you, Grandpa?” Grandpa – […]

A barefoot South African expat, Lindi Nolte, who grew up in Rustenburg and now lives in Canada, received a standing ovation recently for her breathtaking poem: A Love Poem to Our Earth… which is inspired hugely by her childhood in South Africa. Watch Lindi at the TedX talk below. The sun-loving Afrikaner begins the poem: […]

Many South Africans are feeling despondent, nervous about the unemployment ahead and wondering what the covid-19 ‘fuss’ was about… not realising that “only” 58 dead is because the President made a brave call for an early lockdown, averting the tragic fatal statistics seen in countries like Italy and Spain. And last night, watching President Cyril […]

Numbers tell stories. Usually, stories of people – often happy stories, like births, marriages, finishing school, getting a degree, getting a job. Even paying taxes. Sometimes they tell sad stories – death, divorce, disease, liquidations. Statistics do not provide a cold or inanimate way of dealing with the world – they are one key part […]

Albert Camus was a 20th century French Algerian thinker who won the Nobel Prize for his literary works. These days it is his novel The Plague that has naturally been receiving attention. In this essay I instead consider what Camus’ philosophical classic, The Myth of Sisyphus, reveals about the status of our lives with COVID-19. […]

Do you guys remember when a traffic official tried to get a bribe out of me? I do… writes Canadian expat living in South Africa, Phil Maloney. And I also wrote all about it here. To make a long story short, I got tired of being asked for bribes when I was on the road, […]

At the end of winter 2019, we have a lot to be negative about… writes Steve Hall. And not just in South Africa. Europe has no clue, Britain has no plan, and The US, it would seem, has no morals. If there was a single country doing well right now, their celebration will be short […]

I’ve had the opportunities throughout my life to travel extensively writes Dean Morris. I’ve traveled to 24 countries on 5 continents (not South America and not Antarctica), with notably several equatorial African countries in the mix. I have a model that anthropomorphises the different regions and my take is as follows: North America: rich old […]

Over the last seven years, I have travelled internationally for work to hundreds of cities. I expected that my exposure to other places would create the desire to leave South Africa and experience living overseas… writes Dean Gerber, CA (SA) who works for VAT IT Pty Ltd. In fact, it has had the opposite effect. […]

A few days ago, I got off a plane after a very tough whirlwind visit back to South Africa. I hit the ground running back “home” in New York with kids, work commitments, parent teacher meetings and frantic Halloween preparations writes Margaux Nissen Gray. I was out until late on Friday night and yet something […]

Growing up with a Grandfather screaming at the TV during every sports match (but mostly rugby) – his commentary definitely more valid than the commentators’ – I’ve learnt the rules… writes Zoë Cohen. I’ve learnt the passion, I’ve learnt the culture of not speaking during the match, I’ve learnt that my blood is Green and […]

The world celebrates International Day of the Girl Child annually on 11 October. It aims to acknowledge the needs and challenges of girls around the world whilst also promoting empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. But with all the focus around the Girl Child, are we missing an important piece of the puzzle: […]

PSA (Public Service Announcement), not for debate: will all those calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty – specifically for rape – please stop and USE YOUR NOODLES… writes South African Editor Helen Moffet. (I am not getting into the debate on capital punishment more broadly — many excellent commentators have already done so.) […]

Dear South Africans – many of you have had enough with the crime, corruption, and lack of opportunities you face every day… writes Canadian expat, living in SA, Phil Maloney. Nobody can fault you for wanting to leave. I’ve had several friends already pull the trigger, several more who are in the middle of planning […]