A recent National Food and Nutrition Security Survey by the Human Sciences Research Council revealed that 63.5% of South African households face food insecurity, leaving only 36.5% with enough nutritious food to stay active and healthy, reported News24. The survey highlights a concerning rise in stunting and wasting, particularly in the Northern Cape and Western Cape, and an obesity crisis in KwaZulu-Natal, where the obesity rate has reached 39%. South Africa faces a “triple burden” of malnutrition, including hunger, nutrient deficiencies, and obesity. The government is working on interventions like the National Food and Nutrition Security Plan to combat this crisis, but food waste also remains a significant issue, with 12.6 million tonnes of food wasted annually.
In a recent legal development, popular author and media personality Jackie Phamotse faced a verdict of guilt on four charges, including defamation, crimen injuria, and violating a protection order in a case involving prominent figure Basetsana Kumalo. According to Times Live, the case stemmed from Phamotse’s 2018 Twitter post alleging a scandalous video involving Kumalo and her husband, Romeo. The courtroom was filled with cheers from the Kumalo family as the judgment was delivered. Phamotse’s legal representatives tried to maintain privacy, but the court ruled it a matter of public interest. The case against Phamotse has been postponed for further legal proceedings.
Nolwazi Ngubeni is one of South Africa’s most talented, seasoned actresses. We’ve seen her face on shows that date as far back as the early 2000s. Her most recent character was Mbali Kubeka on eTV’s Scandal!
Mbali has gone from being Jojo’s loyal wife to becoming a conniving stalker who wants no one around her husband. She’s turned into a scheming manipulator, overly ambitious, driven and prepared to do whatever it takes to get her dream life. Coming from a modest home in Snake Park, Mbali always dreamt of a better life for herself.
When she met Jojo, she saw all of her dreams coming true and immediately began lying in order to become Mrs Kubeka. Jojo used to believe that Mbali was a flower in need of protection, but once he started to see who she really is, he wondered if he wasn’t the one in need of protection instead.
Despite her flaws, Mbali truly loves Jojo and her actions, while questionable, are fueled by her need to be with him and give him the family and future he also wants. When Mbali married Jojo, she placed all her ambitions in him and so without him, she is left with nothing. Mbali is unable to carry a child, which left a big scar on her own sense of femininity. These struggles birthed the manipulative, dangerous liar that she eventually became.
“Being on Scandal! has been one of the greatest joys of my career. I truly appreciate the immense support the producers, cast and crew have shown me. I walk away with fond memories as I prepare to take on the next phase of my journey. Thank you to all the viewers for watching and consistently supporting my work. Onwards and upwards,” she said.
The South African actress, casting director and producer, who became a household name when she was awarded a South African Film and Television Awards gong for her role in the 2008 production A Place Called Home, has earned her place on TV screens locally and abroad.
She also featured in the 2011 drama film Otelo Burning that earned her two nominations for best actress at the Safta and Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (best actress in a feature film). Nolwazi was also an actress in Single Guyz, Nothing for Mahala, Mzali Wami while working as a casting director in The Chemo Club, Farewell Ella Bella, MTV Shuga, AboMama, Umlilo and the multi-award-winning soap opera Rhythm City.
As she leaves Scandal!, the multitalented thespian will continue her journey as casting director in the new season of Mzansi Magic’s telenovela Umkhokha while also acting in another production that is yet to be announced.
The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) raises awareness on teen suicide as February 12–19, 2023, marks Teen Suicide Prevention Week to assist families in doing a mental health “check in” with teenagers.
Following a string of teen suicide reports across the country, the organization says it is pivotal to confront this maturing challenge.
SADAG is focusing on creating awareness that teen depression and suicide is a particular high risk in South African teens as the mental health impact of COVID19 has been immense, especially as they navigate a new world of online learning or delayed learning, social isolation, loss, grief and trauma, with increased anxiety and depression.
Psychiatrist and SADAG Board Chairperson, Dr Frans Korb, says “There is a myth that depression or suicide doesn’t affect teens or children, in fact it is very real and affects more young people than we know, with teens being a particular high risk for suicide. Depression is the leading cause of suicide, it doesn’t discriminate against age, gender, race, religion or socio-economic background.”
Social media has been flooded with the news of teenagers who have committed suicide, and those who have tried, as a result of bullying in recent years. This has sparked the uprising of many parents, teachers and even public figures to speak out against bullying and help raise awareness on this issue.
One such public figure is TV and radio personality, Hulisani Ravele. Hulisani spent a day at SADAG’s call center to support the team and used her platform to help raise awareness. “Check-in on a teen in your life and ask them how they are REALLY doing. 💛,” she wrote on Instagram.
There is still a lot of stigma and fear around suicide, and many parents and teachers are afraid that if they talk about suicide to teens that it would cause them to take their life. SADAG’s Operations Director, Cassey Chambers explains:
“Research shows that talking about suicide with a young person DOES NOT cause them to have thoughts of suicide or kill themselves. But NOT talking about it can lead to thoughts of suicide turning into actions. Talking about suicide and depression create an opportunity to discuss feelings and thoughts that might have otherwise remain hidden. Most teens who are thinking about suicide are actually honest and relieved when asked direct questions about their suicide thoughts or feelings.”
In the past, South African stories were always told by others and not us, but this norm has been slowly dying as South African creatives are writing their own books, singing their own songs, making their own fashion and certainly making their own films.
One of the many young creatives who is paving the way in this journey is Letlhogonolo Masipa, a film director from the Limpopo province.
Letlhogonolo’s recent short film titled “Memories Last for a Lifetime” which was shot in his home province of Limpopo has been chosen as an official selection at Kalakari Film Festival. The short film was also nominated for the Kalakari Film Awards that will be hosted in Indore – India on the 18th of March this year.
In a recent post, the artist celebrated this achievement by thanking everyone invloved in this project, including his grandparents. “Congratulations to the amazing cast and crew this one is for y’all. To my grandmother and my grandfather thank you for allowing me to tell your story,” he wrote.
My short Film “Memories last for a lifetime” has been chosen as an Official Selection at Kalakari Film Festival not only did it it get chosen as an official selection it was nominated for the kalakari Film awards that will be hosted in Indore – India 🇮🇳 on the 18th of March. pic.twitter.com/tYUYP2IvTV
The Kalakari Film Festival is an exclusive event of INDIA for upcoming artist and thinkers. It is an award function and art festival by Rishi Nikam, and is the most prestigious awards for the film, animation, visual effects, photography segment across the Indian sub-continent and beyond, including South Africa.
Letlhogonolo has a dream of becoming an Oscar-winning filmmaker, and in his words, “the Journey of getting it truly begins here” – we’d say he’s off to an amazing, inspirational start!
Award-winning multimedia entrepreneur and beauty/fashion influencer, Pamela Mtanga from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape is a force to be reckoned with. Whether it’s style, beauty, broadcasting, philanthropy, you name it, she’s got it!
In June last year (2022), Pamela was named top personality and influencer at the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards hosted by Pat on Brands. The bubbly public relations graduate is one of the country’s hottest beauty and fashion influencers.
Red is the color of love, and on this Valentine’s Day, we look back at 7 red looks that Pamela absolutely slayed!
Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman, Rihanna is pregnant with her second child.
The 34-year-old 2023 Super Bowl Halftime performer took the stage in Phoenix, dressed head-to-toe in bright red, revealing a baby bump, and becoming the first pregnant woman to star in the halftime show.
Rihanna pulled a Beyonce by rubbing her stomach and leaving the zipper of her outfit — a jumpsuit layered over a close-fitting bodysuit and sculpted bandeau — down to reveal her belly.
The Grammy winner and her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky, welcomed their first child in May 2022.
It’s been a while since Rihanna has had a performance or released new music, so of course her fans had a lot to say:
I've watched rihanna's super bowl performance like 10 times already😂 that's how much replay value her performance has. The simplicity in it made it a 100 times better. It's 100/ 100 for me. pic.twitter.com/p0L044FERb
The more I watch Rihanna's Super Bowl Halftime Show the more I love it. It was a personal moment, all the work for stage, transitions, dancers, outfits, everything was made in a way that makes it timeless.
Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, known professionally as AKA, was among South Africa’s best rappers. Besides rapping, he was a songwriter, music producer, and brilliant entrepreneur. There’s no doubt that AKA has been one of the few artists who have been responsible for the greatest, most timeless hits to ever come out of the African continent.
On the night of 10 February 2023, the 35-year-old artist was shot and killed outside a restaurant in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal. Many fans, friends, family and loved ones are still in utter shock and disbelief. One mourner whose pain is unimaginable, is his daughter.
AKA was a loving, devoted father to his one and only child, his sweet daughter with DJ Zinhle, Kairo. The pair has been inseparable since little Kairo was born.
Here are 5 of some of the sweetest moments Kairo shared with her superstar Daddy, AKA:
Most women love receiving flowers, let’s face it; they’re gorgeous, smell great most of the time, and they have the ability to light up any room. And what better month than February, the month of love!
If you’re a regular on Twitter, you might be familiar with Given Kazeni and his stunning bouquets of flowers from his business, Burgeon Flora. Given started his business in July 2022, and in just a few months he has garnered a huge clientele that gives him the nod with each delivery.
Oouuu New Drip Alert 🥺🤌🏾 limited to 150-200 stem Bouquets 🌹
Burgeon Flora, without a doubt, has a success story that keeps getting better, one bouquet at a time. However, Given is not an entrepreneur who doesn’t know humble beginnings. In September 2022 he took to Twitter to share some of the challenges of owning a business.
“Had to make one of these deliveries by Gautrain today. Uber-Gautrain-meter-meter-Gautrain-Uber. R510 one delivery. This tweet is solely so I can come back to it one day,” he wrote. And sure enough, two months later, his business was able to buy itself a delivery vehicle.
Congratulatory tweets came flooding in from all directions to Given, applauding him for his work ethic, professionalism and inspirational journey. So, whether you’re looking to brighten up your home, show love to someone special, or even congratulate a friend, Burgeon Flora has just the bouquet for every occasion!
Mandisa Matenjwa, 23, has hands that can transform any garden, and make it beautiful and serene. Growing up Empangeni in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province, Mandisa has always had a keen interest in agriculture, anyone looking for her as a child would find her in her grandmother’s garden, tending to it with absolute precision and care.
After passing her Grade 12 studies with very good grades (she was always an A+ student), Mandisa went on to pursue her Agriculture Degree at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, where she graduated in 2020.
“I was always interested in gardening and saw the importance of planting your own food from a very age. The decision to study agriculture was because I wanted to know more than just the upkeep of a garden,” Mandisa explains.
In 2021, Mandisa was awarded an internship at one of the biggest public trading retail companies in South Africa, Mr. Price headquarters in Durban. “I worked as an intern at Mr. Price the whole of 2021, where I took care of the garden. After they saw my dedication and passion for the garden, I was then offered the position to become the Agri-business manager – which means I’m responsible for buying the seeds, planting, pruning and just taking care of the garden. With the produce, I sell it to other employees, the canteen and restaurants,” she says.
“Mr. Price also helped me register my business, so the profit I make from selling produce helps my business. When I’m not working the Mr. Price garden, I offer consultation services to other people and business. Some people come to me to teach them how to take care of their gardens, so I first go check it out, then show them how to do just that,” Mandisa adds.
So, what’s the secret behind Mandisa’s healing hands? Pure love and water! “I use the same seeds, fertilizer and water that everyone uses. My only secret is that once you love something, it loves you back. I have passion for agriculture, I give it my all – I make sure I take care of those plants because I want them to take care of me, I want them to attract customers,” Mandisa reveals.
The most rewarding thing about Mandisa’s job is the number of opportunities it comes with, in a country where youth unemployment is sky high, she says she is blessed to have multiple streams of income.
The 23-year-old is currently busy with a business learnership, “I want to learn more about becoming a business owner, how to manage your business etc. I want to own farms in the future and be able to grow my own produce and sell to the whole of Africa,” she concludes before rushing off to another garden.
