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The Growing Popularity of Home Saunas In recent years, the trend of creating personalized wellness spaces at home has gained significant momentum. Among these wellness additions, the sauna stands out as a focal point for both health and relaxation. This comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know about adding a sauna to your home, …
When it comes to building muscle and supporting recovery after intense workouts, proper nutrition is key. For many fitness enthusiasts and athletes, incorporating supplements into their diet can enhance results and simplify meeting daily nutritional needs. Whether you’re focusing on gaining muscle, increasing strength, or fuelling your workouts, a well-rounded approach can make all the …
On World Pangolin Day, it is reported that globally, one pangolin is poached every three minutes either for illegal bushmeat use or to supply scales to the Asian market. Last week, China submitted a Pangolin Conservation In China proposal to the 78th Meeting of the UN CITES Standing Committee (3-8 February 2025), outlining its intention …
Vredenurg: Community Crust, a newly established nonprofit bakery, is on a mission to bring delicious baked treats and meaningful social impact to the local community. This innovative initiative aims to provide high-quality treats while supporting those in need, fostering connection, and promoting sustainable business practices. Founded on the belief that food brings people together, “Community …
Journalism can be tough – especially when uncovering the truth or covering any form of conflict. Many journalists have stories of how they were threatened by disgruntled subjects, shot at or beaten up. So, naturally most news stories about journalists are unfortunately of the, “If it bleeds. it leads type!” eNCA covered a piece about …
Govt calls for collective effort to boost STEAM education
The Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, has called for collective effort to improve science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education in schools across South Africa.
The Deputy Minister recently opened the second annual Regional STEAM Education Seminar in Johannesburg.
“We need to work together to unlock our country’s immense potential through quality education in STEAM,” said the Deputy Minister.
Gina identified several challenges contributing to the decline in STEM enrolment, including poor resources and infrastructure in rural and township schools, lack of computer labs, and limited access to qualified teachers.
The Deputy Minister said the need for committed action and collaboration to address these challenges cannot be overstated and called on all stakeholders to unite and work towards a common goal.
Proposing joint initiatives among all the stakeholders within the national innovation system, the Deputy Minister highlighted the need to include the corporate sector to build industry support for STEM uptake.
The Deputy Minister has already met with business chambers in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, and they have shown interest in partnering with the government to ensure socio-economic development in the country.
She also announced plans to pioneer STEM excellence schools in rural areas of each province, which will serve as models of excellence in the 21st century.
“We need to work together to unlock our country’s immense potential through quality education in STEAM,” she said.
The two-day seminar is a collaborative effort between the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) at Nelson Mandela University, Market Place Academy, Sifiso EdTech, and key industry sponsors Deloitte and the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA).
The department believes this is a testament to the shared responsibility in reshaping the future of STEM education in South Africa’s public schools.
Sifiso Learning Group Founder and CEO Sizwe Nxasana said Africa’s future depends on how well young minds are prepared today.
“STEAM education is not just about numbers and formulas. It is about unlocking critical thinking and problem-solving skills to drive innovation and transformation across our continent,” said Nxasana.
According to Nxasana, not equipping and supporting educators to inspire and challenge their learners would stall Africa’s progress before it even begins.
“Continuous support and professional development for educators are crucial to the success of STEM education initiatives,” he added.
He stressed that the commitment to ongoing support underscores the long-term vision for improving STEM education in South Africa.
“That’s why upskilling our educators with the latest methodologies, integrating technology, project-based learning, and real-world problem-solving is essential. At Sifiso Learning Group, we are committed to ensuring that classrooms are not just places of learning but incubators for the next generation of African innovators, problem-solvers and leaders,” he emphasised.
Director of the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre, Professor Werne Olivier, said the regional STEAM seminar aimed to enhance the quality of learning and teaching in South Africa to align with the evolving future of the workplace.
“Integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics fosters critical thinking and problem-solving in the real world,” said Olivier.
Known for his passion for mathematics, Olivier added that it was critical to build strong communities of practice among educators, learn from experts in the field, and find opportunities for professional development and other resources.
Gauteng Department of Education’s Antoinette Nicolaai welcomed the initiative, saying the department was deeply committed to integrating STEM education into the curriculum to ensure that learners are equipped with the knowledge and the skills necessary for the future.
The seminar equips educators with cutting-edge strategies to drive improved learner outcomes and enhance lesson delivery, student engagement, and professional development. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 08:40
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Early detection key to curing childhood cancer
Medical experts say that finding childhood cancer early is very important and helps children get the specialised treatment they need to get better.
“Childhood cancer is indeed curable. However, this is contingent upon timely diagnosis and immediate treatment,” said Chair of the South African Association of Paediatric Haematology Oncology (SAAPHO), Professor Gita Naidu.
Naidu, who is also the Head of Paediatric Oncology at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, highlighted the significant challenges faced by families, such as emotional distress, anxiety, financial pressures from lost income, and medical costs.
She also stressed the difficulties of travelling long distances for treatment, managing caregiving responsibilities among siblings, and addressing the social stigma surrounding childhood cancer.
The Department of Health, in collaboration with stakeholders such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), Childhood Cancer Foundation SA, and SAAPHO, acknowledged the importance of teamwork and dedication in addressing these challenges and supporting those in need.
International Childhood Cancer Day is celebrated every 15 February, bringing together organisations, healthcare professionals, and advocates in a powerful movement.
The goal is to ensure early diagnosis, quality treatment, and unwavering support for young cancer patients and their families.
The 2025 campaign, ’Equal Access to Care for All Children with Cancer,’ aims to promote effective solutions and drive change to improve childhood cancer outcomes globally.
Meanwhile, this year's theme, ’Inspiring Action,’ highlights the need for collective efforts to eliminate disparities and ensure all children receive the care they deserve.
This initiative, spearheaded by Childhood Cancer International (CCI), aims to highlight the vital need for improved access to treatment, care and support for children and adolescents impacted by cancer worldwide.
The WHO estimates that more than 400 000 children are diagnosed with cancer globally each year.
In South Africa, around 1 000 new cases are recorded annually by the South African Children’s Tumour Registry.
However, the department noted that many additional cases remain undiagnosed and untreated due to barriers to accessing healthcare.
The department said early detection is essential for saving lives and parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers are urged to recognise the warning signs.
These include a white spot in the eye or sudden blindness, a lump or swelling in any part of the body, especially the stomach; unexplained fever or weight loss; persistent bone pain or easy fractures; difficulty walking; changes in coordination, or severe headaches usually accompanied by vomiting.
WHO South Africa’s Kibachio Mwangi noted the crucial role of psychosocial support for childhood cancer patients and their families.
He stated, “Childhood cancer treatment is incomplete without palliative care, which offers essential support for pain relief, dignity, and psychosocial well-being for patients and their families.”
Mwangi indicated that they are working with the Department of Health and other stakeholders to streamline the provision of palliative care through specialised units as well as in community and home-based platforms.
In addition, government said it supports the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC), which aims to achieve a global survival rate of 60% by 2030.
According to the department, this initiative prioritises providing treatment to children and adolescents in a way that maintains their dignity and reduces suffering.
“We firmly stand in solidarity with children, families, and caregivers impacted by childhood cancer,” said CEO of CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA, Hedley Lewis.
“By championing ICCD 2025, we are committed to raising awareness, advocating for essential healthcare reforms, and ensuring that every child has equal access to life-saving treatments.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 11:49
66 views
Publicis Groupe Africa: Machine’s Chief Content Officer, Sarah Browning-de Villiers, has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Institute for Internal Communication Africa (IFICA). With over a decade of experience in communications, Sarah is well positioned to support IFICA’s vision of promoting excellence and innovation in the field of internal communications across Africa. As …
SA Rugby and Monster Energy, the global energy drink icon, have entered into a new partnership which will incorporate a sponsorship of the Springboks as well as other national teams. This exciting partnership will see Monster Energy become the official energy drink partner of the Boks, supporting the team as they compete internationally in a …
Springbok Women utility forwards Catha Jacobs and Lerato Makua will join their national teammates in Stellenbosch on Sunday for a week-long training camp at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, the fourth such assembly in 2025 as the team build towards the Rugby World Cup in England later this year. Jacobs is the first England-based player …
Dear Editor “The DA strongly opposes any tax increases and does not support increases to personal income tax, corporate income tax and value added tax.” The Democratic Alliance believes that the 2025 Budget must be a turning point for our economy and demonstrate a commitment to serious, fast tracked reforms towards growth. After a decade …
The Bulls Daisies and Sanlam Boland Dames have moved clear of the chasing pack in the Women’s Premier Division on Saturday, courtesy of big victories in the fourth round, while DHL Western Province and the Free State Women also secured first away wins as the competition moved past the halfway stage. The Bulls Daises remain …
Saturday’s thrilling South African derby round in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship delivered victories for the lower ranked teams on the log with the Emirates Lions holding out the DHL Stormers in Johannesburg before the Hollywoodbets Sharks shocked the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria. These victories saw the teams from Johannesburg and Durban make up valuable …
Dear Editor Nearly half of South Africa’s correctional facilities lack adequate perimeter fencing. A Parliamentary Question reply from Minister for Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald revealed that an estimated R1 billion is required to address the fencing deficiencies at 120 prisons nationwide. However, the lack of specific completion dates for any of these projects, attributed to …
Dear Editor The National School Nutrition Programme provides meals to 9.7 million learners daily. It is the responsibility of the Provincial Departments of Education to implement this nationally funded programme, appoint service providers, ensure food quality and delivery and monitor school compliance. The DA is concerned with apparent challenges in proper supply chain management relating …
Dear Editor The DA has requested Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water to hold special sittings for Gauteng’s Water entities and its Municipal leaders to appear and account to the national legislature for the gross and unacceptable failures leading to mass water shut-offs across large parts of the province. The DA is deeply concerned about these …
Dear Editor Residents of the City of Ekurhuleni are to be punished with rolling blackouts due to the ANC-EFF-ASA coalition’s inability to exercise financial discipline and failed to pay the city’s Eskom account. A public notice issued by Eskom indicates that the power utility intends to switch the lights off as it is currently owed …
W Cape welcomes extension of SASSA-Postbank card replacement deadline
Western Cape MEC for Social Development, Jaco Londt, has welcomed the announcement extending the deadline for replacing the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) gold cards with the Postbank black cards to 20 March 2025.
This decision was shared in a joint press release by the Ministers of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, and Social Development, Nokuzola Tolashe, on Friday.
“My office has been inundated with queries and complaints from SASSA grant beneficiaries across the Western Cape, even though SASSA is a national entity and does not fall within the powers of the Western Cape Government,” he said.
According to the MEC, many of the complaints are centred on the lack of Postbank sites in rural areas.
“It is unacceptable that the majority of service points in the province are in the Cape Metro, with only a few in George, Vredenburg and Caledon, although we have received reports that the sites in Vredenburg and Caledon do not seem to be operational. The offices also need to be adequately staffed to deal with the influx of beneficiaries.”
He believes that mobile offices will now be dispatched to service rural areas, but there will need to be clear and adequate communication on where and when these mobile units will be in the areas.
“Our office can assist in communicating this schedule, to ensure no resident is left behind in this process.”
These are the sites where SASSA people can replace their cards:
• Boxer Langa;
• Boxer Philippi;
• Boxer Mitchells Plain;
• Checkers Hyper Parow;
• USave Bellville;
• Shoprite Bayside Mall;
• Shoprite Eerste River;
• Shoprite Khayelitsha CBD;
• Shoprite Gugulethu;
• Shoprite Adderley Street;
• Shoprite Thembalethu;
• Shoprite George;
• Shoprite Paarl;
• Shoprite Vredenburg, and
• USave Caledon.
Londt has called Postbank to increase the number of service points in rural areas and adequately resource other sites in larger areas like the Cape Metro where residents have been experiencing extremely long lines, while trying to replace their old cards.
“We have heard of elderly residents standing in queues from the early morning hours, only to be turned away. Many of our most vulnerable residents are spending money so that they don’t have to travel long distances to get to facilities that may or may not be able to help them.
“As a government, we have a profound duty of care to protect our most vulnerable residents. We must demonstrate this by resolving the current crisis swiftly and with humanity.”
He said the province will continue to monitor the card migration process, to ensure vulnerable residents – for whom these grants are essential for their survival, receive the best possible service from these national entities.
“I will also be raising this issue during a meeting with the Minister of Social Development and MECs from other provinces this week,” he added. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 09:01
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The thrust of this article is to highlight the positive aspects of Public Relations in the news this past week as well as to acknowledge those who continue to blaze a trail for the PR Industry in South Africa. The Financial Mail’s Adam Hunter published a question; “Is PR one of the most in-demand careers …
Police divers are continuing in an ongoing search for a man who went missing in the surf while swimming. Schalk Boonzaaier, NSRI Kleinmond station commander, said: At 12h33, Saturday, 15 February, NSRI Kleinmond duty crew were activated following reports a drowning in progress at Kleinmond Main Beach. An NSRI rescue craft was dispatched to the …
Home Affairs detains mother of former Miss SA contestant in Cape Town
Investigators from the Department of Home Affairs, along with the South African Police Service (SAPS), detained Anabela Rungo, the mother of Chidimma Adetshina, at a property in Cape Town on Saturday.
This action follows the withdrawal of Rungo’s South African documentation in September 2024, after it was discovered that it had been fraudulently obtained, which rendered her ineligible to continue residing in South Africa.
“In an apparent act of brazen disregard for the legal consequences of her conduct, it appears that Ms Rungo has defied her ‘undesirable’ status through her Mozambican passport. Investigations are ongoing into further potential misrepresentation and fraudulent conduct,” a Home Affairs statement read.
According to Home Affairs, during yesterday’s operation, investigators from the Counter Corruption and Immigration Services branches of the department also found Adetshina’s under-aged child residing with Rungo.
“After being processed by Home Affairs over her apparent illegal continued residence in South Africa, Ms Rungo will be handed over to the SAPS as she is also the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.”
Meanwhile, Home Affairs is liaising with the Department of Social Development and SAPS Child Protection Unit as it relates to protecting the interests of the under-age child.
“The department will provide further updates at opportune moments. No interviews will be taken on this matter at this stage.”
Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition in August of last year after it was announced by the department that her mother might have committed “identity theft“ to obtain South African nationality.
A former law student, Adetshina later won Miss Universe Nigeria after being invited to participate by the organisers.
The department announced the withdrawal of her ID papers in October of last year. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 10:14
46 views
SA, EU to co-chair Ministerial Political Dialogue
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, will co-chair the 16th Ministerial Political Dialogue between South Africa and the European Union (EU) on Wednesday, 19 February 2025, in Cape Town.
Lamola will be joined by Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission.
Lamola will also be accompanied by various Cabinet Ministers from South Africa.
“South Africa and the EU enjoy a strategic relationship characterised by multi-dimensional bilateral cooperation, which is long-standing and mutually beneficial,” the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIrCO) said in a statement.
Diplomatic relations between South Africa and the EU were officially established in December 1993, just before the onset of South Africa's new democratic era.
In 1999, the Trade, Development and Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) was established to create a framework for strengthening and diversifying bilateral cooperation.
This has been achieved through enhanced political dialogue, collaboration in trade and trade-related areas, economic cooperation, technical assistance and development cooperation.
“The TDCA also established a political dialogue between South Africa and the EU at the Ministerial level, serving as a mechanism to review progress on various areas of bilateral cooperation and discuss enhancing cooperation on regional and global developments of mutual interest.”
To date, the department has reported that seven summit meetings have taken place since 2007, with the next one scheduled for 13 March 2025.
The 16th MPD meeting is therefore well-timed to prepare for the upcoming eighth summit meeting, which will be hosted by President Cyril Ramaphosa. – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Sun, 02/16/2025 - 13:41
56 views
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