University of Cape TownIn the news
Thousands of mourners attended the funeral of Black Consciousness Movement (BCM) leader Steve Biko on September 25, 1977, in King William’s Town. Biko was murdered by the apartheid regime’s security police. From his formative years as a founding intellectual of the BCM alongside his close friend Biko, Barney Pityana has consistently pushed the limits of the status quo, says the writer.
POLITICS

Steve Biko's leadership: Barney Pityana's warning to a drifting nation

Nearly 50 years after Steve Biko’s murder, Barney Pityana’s voice — forged in struggle, scholarship and conscience — remains a stark reminder of the leadership South Africa has…

  • Edwin Naidu
8 min read
The Verulam building collapse in December last year resulted in 5 deaths and 11 injuries.
BUILDING COLLAPSE

Building collapses spur calls for tougher SA construction rules

Proposed reforms aim to strengthen South Africa’s building oversight system, but experts say better enforcement and municipal capacity are also needed.

  • Gcwalisile Khanyile
  • Ntsikelelo Qoyo
6 min read
R99 for a bag of onions? As prices jump 21%, behavioural economists explain why hikes on everyday staples trigger far more outrage than luxury splurges.
INFLATION

Onion prices surge 21%: Inside the mental squeeze on SA budgets

From winter harvest delays to consumer psychology: why price spikes on kitchen staples hit household budgets far harder than discretionary luxuries.

  • Lutho Pasiya
3 min read
Duduzane Zuma's appointment as first deputy president of the MK Party could boost youth engagement ahead of the November 4 election, analysts say.
MK PARTY

Duduzane Zuma’s appointment in MK Party: a potential game-changer for youth political engagement

Duduzane Zuma’s recent appointment as first deputy president of the MK Party could energise youth engagement in the upcoming local elections.

  • Gcwalisile Khanyile
5 min read