IG Kanja orders probe into abduction of Standard Group Associate Editor (opens on the publisher’s site)
Kanja promised a transparent investigation, stressing that no one was above the law.
Opinion & Analysis
Analysis, comment and investigative work — the arguments behind the headlines from South African and African commentators.
Hijra: Movement, Migration, and Islamic Thought (opens on the publisher’s site)
The question of why 70,000 Moroccans migrated to the Spanish-governed territories of Ceuta and Melilla within hours on 30 July – ‘Throne Day’, which is one of the most respectable celebrations of the Morocco Kingdom – still lingers in international media and haunts inquisitive minds. Commentators…
John Iliffe: the historian who changed how Africa’s past was understood (opens on the publisher’s site)
John Iliffe, the distinguished scholar renowned for his life’s work in African history, died on 20 August 2026 at the age of 87. He shed light on big themes in Africa’s history. His 12 books were scrupulously researched, many of them being pioneering works that set out new areas of scholarship. He…
Investigation into IGI alleged misconduct stalled, as secret fund millions remain without scrutiny (opens on the publisher’s site)
More evidence has emerged of a seemingly chaotic scramble by South Africa’s intelligence apparatus to neutralise the now-suspended Inspector General of Intelligence (IGI), Imtiaz Fazel. A newly-emerged letter penned by Fazel, dated 9 June 2026 and directed at Parliament, contains... The post…
Food garden or swimming pool? South Africa’s water crisis isn’t just about a shortage. It’s about equality (opens on the publisher’s site)
South Africa is one of the world’s most water-scarce countries. South Africans know what water shortages look like: taps dry, water restrictions, failing municipal infrastructure and growing competition for water between cities, farms and industry. When there is not enough water to meet everyone’s…
Why social media addiction is so hard to regulate (opens on the publisher’s site)
Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms are accused of deliberately fostering addictive behavior among young users. Yet regulators continue to struggle to rein in their engagement-driven business models.
Africa’s herbarium collections are a scientific treasure. They need to be digitised before more biodiversity is lost (opens on the publisher’s site)
Universities and biodiversity institutes have hidden treasures: their collections of pressed plant specimens. These are plants that have been flattened, dried and mounted on special cardboard sheets. Some of them were collected centuries ago. They hold information about where species occur and how…
BHEKISISA CROSSWORD #14 (opens on the publisher’s site)
Our website holds years of health reporting, investigations and data. Now you can explore it in a different way: through a crossword. Test your knowledge of South Africa’s healthcare landscape, revisit some of our stories and get to know the team behind the journalism. The answers are waiting for…
Why Germany's Volkswagen could cut 100,000 jobs (opens on the publisher’s site)
Europe's biggest automaker, Volkswagen, faces Chinese competition, high costs and US tariffs. What could its restructuring mean for the German car industry?
People forage for wild food in public spaces in South African cities – how to plan for this (opens on the publisher’s site)
Foraging, the act of gathering wild plant and animal materials from the environment, is becoming more and more popular in cities around the world. In South African cities, some people pick wild berries and imifino (wild spinach) in open areas, considering them to be fresher and more nutritious…
'What you see is what you pay' - why some US restaurants are banning tips (opens on the publisher’s site)
Tips are central to US dining culture but some eateries think that they are unfair.
South Africa produces enough food, yet millions face hunger. Better cold storage could help change that (opens on the publisher’s site)
South Africa can produce enough food for its population, according to official statistics. But millions face hunger, partly because food is lost and wasted in the value chain. An estimated 10.3 million tonnes of food are wasted annually in the country, 19% of it fresh produce. A substantial…
Why Germany's gas storage levels are so low (opens on the publisher’s site)
Germany's gas storage facilities are only 50% full as traders bet that wholesale prices will fall if the Iran war ends. With around three months until winter, DW asks whether the country can refill its reserves in time.
Which supplements do athletes take and why? (opens on the publisher’s site)
There is a long list of supplements taken by elite athletes in the pursuit of marginal gains - what do they take and why?
BHEKISISA CROSSWORD #13 (opens on the publisher’s site)
Think you know South Africa’s health system? Put your knowledge to the test with Bhekisisa’s health crossword. Drawing on years of reporting, investigations, data and policy coverage, the puzzle offers a fun way to explore the stories, issues and people that have shaped healthcare in South Africa…
Daniélle Schaafsma (opens on the publisher’s site)
Daniélle Schaafsma completed her BA Honours in Journalism at Stellenbosch University in 2025 before working as a Food Justice reporter for Daily Maverick. Now, as an editorial intern, she hopes to broaden her skills and cultivate strong journalistic instincts. The post Daniélle Schaafsma appeared…
Online gambling: Look who’s knocking at the door (opens on the publisher’s site)
In February this year a regulator, the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB), announced the planned sale of a bookmaker license to a newly formed company called Bet777. Six months down the line, the regulator told us that this... The post Online gambling: Look who’s knocking at the door…
Why scientists have to stop speaking in High Alien (opens on the publisher’s site)
Very clever people with a decade or four of subject expertise in public health need to know how to talk to the rest of us about their work in plain English. Here’s why, and how they can get started. The post Why scientists have to stop speaking in High Alien appeared first on Bhekisisa.
BHEKISISA CROSSWORD #12 (opens on the publisher’s site)
Think you know South Africa’s health system? Put your knowledge to the test with Bhekisisa’s health crossword. Drawing on years of reporting, investigations, data and policy coverage, the puzzle offers a fun way to explore the stories, issues and people that have shaped healthcare in South Africa…
Why the UK is dithering over what to do about e-scooters (opens on the publisher’s site)
Why is it taking so long for the government to regulate them, and what are the consequences of delay?