By: Munei Zoe Mbedzi One would think that after enduring oppression for so long, women would finally get to breathe. But if you are a woman or girl in Afghanistan, your rights have been stripped away as the Taliban uses oppressive rhetoric to suffocate you and silence your voice. Afghan women are not afforded the same access to education as women across much of the world. For many, education is nonexistent. For a woman in Afghanistan, her daily routine consists of waking up,

By: Lovynia Onthathile Miller In a world full of instant messages and even faster relationships, has ‘true love’ become a part of history, or is love simply evolving? We are currently in an era that is defined by digital connections and shifting social norms, which has led us to the question of ‘true love’ and true connections. The rise of hook-up culture, which has been increased by social media and dating apps, has transformed how relationships are formed and experienced. M

By: Kelsey Sutch A typical scroll on TikTok looks like this: a cute makeup tutorial, your favourite content creator, live footage of war-stricken countries where buildings are getting blown up, and people are brutally murdered, a singing video, political takes of the horror the world is facing, footage of children being bombed, scroll- scroll- scroll- until we finally close the app. With the skyrocketing use of social media and the continuous technological breakthroughs in th

By: Lulu Dlamini Everything you think you choose for yourself may not be entirely your own choice. You’ve probably heard the term “everything is psychological” before. It sounds simple, but defining it is the tricky part. Simply, it means that what we are brought up to think, feel, understand, and interpret in ways that are psychologically influenced. This can be both good and bad, and it plays out in even the simplest parts of our lives. Psychology is a broad field, as it t

By: Mukelani Cele When one has a goal but not enough resources, there is deep frustration. You are always conscious of what you do not know, even if you can clearly picture the life you wish to create. It might seem as though life has come to a standstill when there is no money for registration, no immediate academic track, and restricted access to opportunities. It's simple to think that progress has halted or, worse, that your future has been irreversibly postponed during t

By: Lathitha Matebese For many students, days are often filled with lectures and submissions, but amid that, joyful moments do not go unrecognised. For an evening, students filled the lawns with music and anticipation for a night of connection. The shared experience revealed deeper truths about the opportunities Makhanda is missing out on and where universities step in to fill the gap. On Saturday, 18 April 2026, the Helen Joseph residence at Rhodes University hosted its Bonf

By: Nomahlubi Charlie Thursday, the 19th of March, 2026, marked a distressing chapter in the small Nigerian town of Delta Asaba. The Ozoro festival, traditionally a time of cultural celebration, turned into a nightmare for many. In Oramundu Quarters, what was meant to be a festive occasion was marred by accounts of rampant violence against women. During this significant event, women and girls were advised to stay indoors during specific hours. Many unaware visitors, including

By: Amogelang Mogotsi In an era that is shaped by digital discourse, political decisions are no longer confined to institutions but are also interpreted on online platforms. South Africa’s ongoing political developments are sparking widespread debate among Generation Z, with many of the youth turning to platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook to voice their reactions through memes, commentary, and viral trends. The speed at which information spreads on social media pl

By: Mukelani Cele Life hardly ever pauses gently. It shatters your plans, upsets your expectations, and puts you in a place you never meant to be in. In one instance, you are following the same routine as everyone else, school, applications, and plans for the future, and in the next, you remain stagnant as life continues for those around you. Because we are conditioned to equate movement with success and pauses with failure, that stagnancy may be unsettling. However, that com

By: Olwethu Mthethwa In recent years, there has been a growing debate about how history is taught in African schools, especially in South Africa. One important topic in this discussion is the role of Jan van Riebeeck in the school curriculum. Many educators, students, and activists are questioning whether his story should still be taught in the same way or even taught at all. This has led to calls for the discontinuation or reconsideration of his place in African education. P

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