insert_link Environment Unusual ancient elephant tracks had our team of fossil experts stumped – how we solved the mystery Elephants communicate underground by generating seismic waves. Anadolu Agency Charles Helm, Nelson Mandela University Over the past 15 years, through our scientific study of tracks and traces, we have identified more than 350 fossil vertebrate tracksites from South Africa’s Cape south coast. Most are found in cemented sand dunes, called aeolianites, and all are from the Pleistocene Epoch, ranging in age from about 35,000 to 400,000 years. During that time […] todayJanuary 16, 2024 14
insert_link Opinion Pieces 20 years ago South Africa had 40 qualified astronomers – all white. How it’s opened space science and developed skills since then Southern African Large Telescope. SAAO, Author provided Patricia Ann Whitelock, South African Astronomical Observatory; Daniel Cunnama, South African Astronomical Observatory, and Rosalind Skelton, National Research Foundation South African astronomy started an important journey two decades ago, when an initiative to attract and train future scientists in the field welcomed its first group of students under the National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme. World class facilities have been established during this […] todayJanuary 15, 2024 14
insert_link South Africa ActionSA is set to announce its nominee for the City of Tshwane’s deputy mayor position ActionSA is set to announce its nominee for the City of Tshwane’s deputy mayor position today. The announcement is expected to be made by the party’s national chairperson, Michael Beaumont. ActionSA’s spokesperson, Samkelo Mgobozi, says they have consistently been advocating for the need for a deputy mayor to ensure that the principles of co-governance were applied. todayJanuary 15, 2024 10
insert_link Opinion Pieces More than 4 billion people are eligible to vote in an election in 2024. Is this democracy’s biggest test? Shutterstock Nicholas Reece, The University of Melbourne 2024 is going to be democracy’s biggest year ever. In a remarkable milestone in human history, over four billion people – more than half of the world’s population across more than 40 countries – will go to the polls. National elections will be held in the United States, India, Indonesia, Russia, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Mexico, and South Africa to name […] todayJanuary 15, 2024 7
insert_link South Africa Lawyer receives hero’s welcome at OR Tambo Airport Tembeka Ngcukaitobi shakes hands with admirers at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday. Photos: Ihsaan Haffejee By Ihsaan Haffejee via GroundUp Tembeka Ngcukaitobi was caught off guard by the reception he received when he entered the arrival hall at OR Tambo International airport on Sunday. The popular advocate was returning from presenting South Africa’s case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The slightly startled Ngcukaitobi […] todayJanuary 15, 2024 5
insert_link South Africa The DA in South Africa says last year’s special remission process was a disguise to release Jacob Zuma The DA in South Africa says it is shocked at the number of criminals who have reoffended since being released in terms of president Cyril Ramaphosa’s special remission process last year. Former president Jacob Zuma along with 16-thousand-472 inmates were released in a process from August until November, in a bid to reduce overcrowding in prisons. Ninety-seven of those released have been rearrested. The DA’s, Janho Engelbrecht, says it is […] todayJanuary 15, 2024 7
insert_link Opinion Pieces South Africa’s legal team in the genocide case against Israel has won praise. Who are they? By Narnia Bohler-Muller, Human Sciences Research Council South African justice minister Ronald Lamola led a top legal team to argue the country’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 11 January. South Africa argues that Israel’s indiscriminate retaliatory bombing and siege of Gaza contravenes the Genocide Convention. More than 23,000 Palestinians, including at least 10,000 children, have been killed. Narnia Bohler-Muller, an international law […] todayJanuary 15, 2024 5
insert_link South Africa Israel hits back at ‘distorted’ genocide case Israel said Friday it was not seeking to destroy the Palestinian people, as it hit back at what it called a "profoundly distorted" and "malevolent" genocide case against it at the UN's top court. South Africa has launched an emergency case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) arguing that Israel stands in breach of the UN Genocide Convention, signed in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust. Pretoria wants […] todayJanuary 12, 2024 6
insert_link Business / Economics South Africa, Joburg building fire survivors demand better housing after their settlement floods By Kimberly Mutandiro via GroundUp Albert Street building fire survivors and activists, who are part of the Marshalltown Fire Justice Campaign, meet at the Denver settlement on the outskirts of the city centre on Wednesday to discuss their poor living conditions. Photo: Kimberly Mutandiro Survivors of the Albert Street building fire in Johannesburg and activists gathered on Wednesday for an emergency meeting. The building was engulfed in a fire in August […] todayJanuary 12, 2024 15
