By: Mukelani Cele We receive instruction from the beginning of school that life has a very clear, predictable path: you complete your coursework, go directly to higher education, and begin to secure a career. It seems like a conveyor belt of success, a straight line we are all supposed to follow without ever faltering. However, for many of us, that belt abruptly stops, resulting in what can only be called an unintended gap year, a period away from the security of a classroom

By: Ashleigh Mackintosh On July 10 th , 2025, the first case of the spreading Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) was recorded in the Free State. Since then, it has successfully reached all nine provinces in South Africa, with widespread concern. It has left farmers at war as they are not only fighting against the disease but also calling for accountability from the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen. He states we are “chasing” instead of getting “ahead” of the disease spread

By Nomahlubi Charlie On the 13th of March 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa held a press conference announcing his approval of the deployment of 2 200 SANDF personnel across 5 provinces: Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, and North West. The deployment aimed to assist SAPS with anti-gangsterism and illegal mining operations. The deployment timeline is from the 1st of March 2026 to the 31st of March 2027. Despite President Ramaphosa’s announcement of SANDF deployme

By Erin Arends Formula 1 is the pinnacle of motorsport, with 20 of the top racing drivers in the world competing for the Formula 1 Driver Championship title. More often than not, we see teammates turn to rivals as both drivers fight to be victorious. We saw it in the late 1980s at McLaren between Alain Prost and Aryton Senna, the 2013 RedBull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, the infamous battle at Mercedes between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, and now, in 2025, we

By Tsholofelo Robert Ledwaba Sivuyisiwe Wani is a UKAR graduate, with a double major Undergraduate degree in Psychology and Drama cum laude for Dramatic Arts. She then pursued her Honours degree specialising in Acting, Creative Writing and Applied Theatre, and is now furthering her Master's degree in Drama, specialising in Applied Theatre. To accomplish her thesis, Sivuyisiwe commenced a performative project in collaboration with the learners of Samuel Ntlebi Primary School

By Buhle Malgas In the quiet outskirts of Farmerfield farm, an abandoned school is being given new life. Where cracked walls and overgrown grass once stood as symbols of neglect, a vibrant vision is emerging, one that blends education, art, and heritage. This vision is called The Amai Academy,  a passion project led by Unathi Koboka, Rhodes Music Radio station manager, and Xolile Madinda from The Black Power Station. Set to open in January 2026, The Amai Academy  will house t

By Buhle Malgas When the bright lights of the National Arts Festival dim each July, Makhanda often goes back into its quieter rhythm. For many artists, the festival is a fleeting stage, a chance to showcase, sell, and return home until the next season. But for Mario, a Kenyan artist who arrived in June with dreams as vibrant as the characters he paints, the story did not end when the festival did. Mario’s paintings never even made it into the festival halls. Due to logistical

By Buhle Malgas It started with love: two men, one Xhosa and one Zulu, wrapped in beads, pride, and the joy of their union. Their wedding video, shared across social media, was more than a celebration; it was a statement: love doesn’t ask for permission. But not everyone saw it that way. Radio personality Ngizwe Mchunu posted a video reacting to the wedding, condemning the couple and using offensive language. He said the partner who was wearing a traditional Zulu attire was “

By Ndyebo Magwevana Many, many aeons (months) ago, some rumours steadily trickled along the dark avenues of the internet, whispers traversing along the technological trade winds. We heard of hushed mentions of a highly revered and particularly infamous name within the hip-hop community, a name perceived to be dormant for nine years, which cannot be obscured by time. The name was said to resurrect itself within a few months, and with it, the essence of hip-hop, and its sacred

By Asonge Sifunda What happens when art meets heritage? Heritage is defined as “property that is or may be inherited; an inheritance” and “valued objects and qualities such as historic buildings and cultural traditions that have been passed down from previous generations”. These definitions limit the broadness and major purpose of Heritage. Heritage isn’t meant to be simply defined; it has many layers of history and has evolved alongside humans across generations. Heritage sh

By Ndyebo Magwevana. A picture of two robots at a red carpet. Photo courtesy of Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, via Euro News. Clanker. It’s a two-syllable word. Rolls off the tongue easily, so it shouldn’t be difficult to pronounce, right? It isn’t necessarily… offensive, right? Does it carry any… negative connotations yet, right? Okay, that’s great. Now, scream it. Scream it with revulsion, fear, and sheer terror at the sight of the word. Now yell it with a firm, deep voice tha

by Avuziwe Mdonga Erling Haaland’s goal-scoring magic shows no signs of slowing down. The Manchester City striker has been on a tear this season, scoring in nine straight Premier League appearances, which has fans buzzing. His latest goal sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Brentford on 5 October 2025 at the Gtech Community Stadium . The moment was classic. A perfect pinpoint pass from Josko Gvardiol, which Haaland reacted perfectly to, leaving the Brentford goalkeeper, Phi