South Africa

South Africa has more than 4 million people living with diabetes – many aren’t getting proper treatment

By Patrick Ngassa Piotie, University of Pretoria Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. In South Africa there has been a notable rise in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in recent years, due to changing diets. People are consuming more processed foods, sugary drinks and high-calorie meals. Other factors are the lack of physical activity and high levels of […]

March 7, 2024 34

Africa

Dry weather hits southern Africa’s farmers, putting key maize supplies at risk: how to blunt the impact

By Wandile Sihlobo, Stellenbosch University South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe have recently published reports indicating a potential decline in grain harvest because of intense El Niño-induced dryness. These developments could put the entire Southern Africa maize supply chain at risk, with Zambia and South Africa hard hit by heatwaves and dryness. The neighbouring small producers such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia are also struggling with dryness. […]

March 7, 2024 27

Sport

Capricorn Eagles Set to Soar at Debut Appearance in African Games

The Namibia women's cricket team, The Capricorn Eagles, is gearing up passionately to make its mark at the African Games hosted in Ghana. Scheduled from 7 to 13 March, this historic tournament marks cricket's grand entrance into the African Games. The Capricorn Eagles are looking forward to showcasing a good brand of cricket against formidable opponents from across the continent. Placed in Group A, alongside South Africa, Tanzania, and Nigeria, […]

March 6, 2024 26

South Africa

South Africa says force should be used to break Israel blockade on Gaza aid

South Africa's Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor on Tuesday said that countries should use force to break Israel's blockade on aid getting into Gaza. Pandor was meeting with his Danish counterpart in Pretoria. The two leaders discussed bilateral ties and Israel's war on Gaza. "Those powerful armed forces of the world should be instructed by their presidents or prime ministers that they will go to the Rafah border and […]

March 6, 2024 18

South Africa

Public Works to investigate mismanagement of police headquarters

One of the bathrooms at the building used by SAPS at the Telkom Tower complex in Pretoria. Photo supplied The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has launched an internal investigation into the mismanagement of the Telkom Towers complex, the headquarters of the South African Police Service (SAPS), as well as other properties owned by the department in Pretoria’s city centre. This was revealed by the newly appointed head of […]

March 6, 2024 12

South Africa

Joburg residents march over water outages and unreliable electricity

Protesters march past an illegal dump in Kensington, complaining about poor services and a lack of bylaw enforcement. Photo: Masego Mafata By Masego Mafata via GroundUp About 80 fed-up residents of the east of Johannesburg marched from Rhodes Park to Darras Centre in Kensington on Tuesday morning, demanding better services and the enforcement of bylaws. The residents came from Bellevue, Bruma, Bertrams, Cyrildene, De Wetshof, Bezuidenhout Valley, Kensington Observatory and Troyville. […]

March 6, 2024 11

South Africa

At least 22 people arrested during student protests in Bloemfontein

Police disperse protesting students at Bloemfontein’s Central University of Technology (CUT) with stun grenades on Monday. Photos: Becker Semela By Becker Semela via GroundUp Lectures at the Central University of Technology (CUT) in Bloemfontein were suspended on Tuesday morning as a protest by students entered its third day. Since Friday, the situation outside the main campus has been tense with students protesting over lack of funding for food, housing and study […]

March 5, 2024 17

Health / Medical

Anti-vaxxers thrashed in court

Illustration: Lisa Nelson By Tania Broughton via GroundUp Three non-profit companies have failed in their court bid to stop the government from making available Covid-19 vaccinations. They claimed “strange and unusual medical conditions”were experienced by some people who received the vaccine. Covid Core Alliance, Transformative Health Justice, and Free the Children - Save the Nation, supported by some doctors, wanted a final order compelling the Minister of Health, the acting director […]

March 5, 2024 17

World

Malaysia urges new hunt for MH370

A decade after it went missing, Malaysia is pushing for a renewed search for the wreckage of missing flight MH370. Malaysia, Australia, and China called off an operation to find the missing plane in 2017 after a two-year-long search. Pieces of debris confirmed or thought to be from the aircraft have washed up on the shorelines of South Africa, Mauritius, and Mozambique since 2016. Laura Westbrook has more.

March 4, 2024 38