When the kwaito group Trompies produced their song Fohloza – in which they sing the praises of full-figured women – they could have been thinking of teenage girls who starve themselves, sometimes to death, in an attempt to look beautiful and sexy. These teenage girls define beauty by the shape and size of the body […]
A little choir girl sat on the stage while tears ran down her face at the memorial service for Helio Pereira, the much-loved principal of EP Baumann Primary School in Johannesburg. On April 9, Pereira was discovered brutally murdered in his home, apparently by thieves who stole his microwave, computer and car. While police are […]
Where and when did you matriculate? In 1974 from South Peninsula, a high school in Cape Town. Who was your favourite teacher? Mr Murphy, my English teacher, was my favourite, because he made special effort in presenting the language. He used to bring a portable record player to the classroom and this made the lesson […]
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day on March 24 once again puts the focus on this widespread disease. In recent years TB has been forgotten, often overshadowed by the HIV/Aids epidemic. Yet there is a strong connection between the two: HIV/Aids has dramatically increased TB infections in South Africa. South Africa is ninth on the list of […]
The ability to read and write may be the traditional understanding of literacy, but new definitions are straining the limits of this narrow box. One of the agitators for change is Brian Street, professor of language in education from King’s College London in the United Kingdom. For Street, literacy is about the way we process […]
Umalusi is the new council for quality in the general and further education bands (GET and FET) and began its work in June 2002. When we trace its origins, we have to understand something about its predecessor — the South African Certification Council (Safcert). Safcert was established in August 1986 and finally closed in March […]
Last month’s performance in the streets of Johannesburg has reinforced the fact that Congress of South African Students (Cosas) has neither the organisational skills nor the leadership to direct its membership in a positive direction. Marches take a lot of effort and know-how if they are to be a lawful and successful demonstration of dissatisfaction. […]
There’s a wealth of organisations for youth in South Africa, many of which have helpful and fun websites. The South African Scout Association takes its online presence seriously with news updates, a newsletter, mailing lists, a scouting library (with handbooks, badge books and other scouting documentation available for download), a directory of branches around the […]
In April 2002, Mark Shuttleworth launched into space and journeyed to the International Space Station (ISS), becoming the first African in space. Follow his progress with the African in Space Project website. You’ll find news updates, profiles on the mission’s team members, daily photos and background on the experiments Mark Shuttleworth will be conducting while […]
Soon after the first democratic elections in South Africa in 1994, the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy (CTOP) Act of 1996, which, for the first time, legalised abortion, was passed. In terms of this legislation, women may request abortions up to the 12th week of pregnancy. After this, up to the 20th week, abortions may […]