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Why 15% of South African Grade 3s can’t read a single word — and what’s being done about it
LITERACY CRISIS

Why 15% of South African Grade 3s can’t read a single word — and what’s being done about it

With national reading goals slipping out of reach, a new report reveals the stark reality of South Africa’s literacy crisis and how proactive provinces and private donors are teaming up to save a generation of pupils.

By Takudzwa Pongweni
COLLECTIVE RESOLVE

Meet the SA scientists who are refusing to let HIV vaccine research stall

By Elri Voigt for Spotlight
Meet the SA scientists who are refusing to let HIV vaccine research stall
Vital support

$6bn funding package boosts global HIV response, what does it mean for SA?

By Tamsin Metelerkamp
$6bn funding package boosts global HIV response, what does it mean for SA?
OPINIONISTA

Does SA’s foot-and-mouth disease strategy have the endurance it requires?

By Andrew Morphew
Does SA’s foot-and-mouth disease strategy have the endurance it requires?
ACTIVE CITIZENRY

Specialists scrub up for free in life-changing epilepsy surgery drive at Groote Schuur

By Tamsin Metelerkamp
Specialists scrub up for free in life-changing epilepsy surgery drive at Groote Schuur
EFF hauls Manamela to court over ‘irrational’ 24-hour reappointment of Seta bosses
AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY

EFF hauls Manamela to court over ‘irrational’ 24-hour reappointment of Seta bosses

By Siyabonga Goni
Silence on equitable access to land is not oversight, but political contempt
OPINIONISTA

Silence on equitable access to land is not oversight, but political contempt

By Thuto Gabaphethe and Lulama Madyaka
Will the sugary drinks tax be increased in the Budget speech this year?
HEALTH PROMOTION LEVY

Will the sugary drinks tax be increased in the Budget speech this year?

By Lillian Roberts
Thirty years into democracy SA faces a reckoning as constitutional promises meet daily collapse
OPINIONISTA

Thirty years into democracy SA faces a reckoning as constitutional promises meet daily collapse

By Sipho Mthathi
How community refill stores are rethinking retail in a system that punishes the poor
REFILL REVOLUTION

How community refill stores are rethinking retail in a system that punishes the poor

By Daniélle Schaafsma
A system in survival mode: When no-fee schools aren’t free
OPINIONISTA

A system in survival mode: When no-fee schools aren’t free

By Katherine Sutherland
Budget 2026 a chance to boost ‘sugary drinks tax’, cut costs and save lives
PUBLIC HEALTH

Budget 2026 a chance to boost ‘sugary drinks tax’, cut costs and save lives

By Nzama Mbalati and Zukiswa Zimela
MUNICIPAL DYSFUNCTION

A tale of two taps: How water access is dividing Gauteng’s schools

By Takudzwa Pongweni
A tale of two taps: How water access is dividing Gauteng’s schools
CARTOON

TAPestry of division

By 2Lani and UBUNTOONS
TAPestry of division
VIDEO

Watch – Hero community health worker delivers baby during flood disaster

By Lerato Mutsila
Watch – Hero community health worker delivers baby during flood disaster
OPINIONISTA

How to harness the power of social justice-oriented philanthropy for SA education

By Boitumelo Khunou
LOSS OF FOCUS

Ramaphosa declares war on alcohol abuse, while entity studying alcohol-related harms faces closure

By Tamsin Metelerkamp
CAMPUS CHAOS

UCT fee crisis: 1,400 self-funded students in limbo as campus calm returns

By Siyabonga Goni
OPINIONISTA

From presidential promise to scaling what works for the first 1,000 days

By Edzani Mphaphuli
WHO calls for stronger taxes on sugar and alcohol while South Africa lags behind
Maverick Citizen

WHO calls for stronger taxes on sugar and alcohol while South Africa lags behind

The World Health Organization is urging governments around the world to strengthen health taxes on sugar and alcohol, to save lives and raise money. It says improving policy design and increasing taxes so that sugary drinks become less affordable ‘should be pursued more systematically by countries’.

By Adèle Sulcas
SPOTLIGHT

How medicine pricing works in SA and how it might change in future

By Dr Andy Gray for Spotlight
BHEKISISA

Decoding Big Tobacco’s lobbying and policy manipulation in SA

By Tanya Pampalone and Mia Malan
FISHERIES INJUSTICE OP-ED

President Ramaphosa, small-scale fishers cannot be ignored any longer

By Nobathembu Ndzengu
OPINIONISTA

A mindset of service will shape young people to become responsible citizens

By Zukiswa Pikoli
One million vaccine doses en route as foot-and-mouth disease fight intensifies
BIOSECURITY

One million vaccine doses en route as foot-and-mouth disease fight intensifies

By Danielle Schaafsma Nonkululeko Njilo Andisa Bonani
Mapping homelessness and the battle to bring people in from the mean streets of Jozi
CHANGE MAKER

Mapping homelessness and the battle to bring people in from the mean streets of Jozi

By Bridget Hilton-Barber
Anatomy of a disaster: How SA’s warning systems stalled during the floods
WEATHER WOES

Anatomy of a disaster: How SA’s warning systems stalled during the floods

By Lerato Mutsila and Tamsin Metelerkamp
Tapped Out
Maverick Citizen

Tapped Out

By Nathi and UBUNTOONS
Zwelinzima Vavi demands justice following the assassination of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader
ACTIVIST SHOT

Zwelinzima Vavi demands justice following the assassination of Abahlali baseMjondolo leader

By Nonkululeko Njilo

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