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Mnqobi Duphelezi (17) from Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal has beat the odds and managed to get five distinctions in his matric year.

From the age of 15, Duphelezi moved out of home to stay by himself so that he could be close to a better school called Nondumiso High situated in Hlambanyathi which is about 61 kilometres from his hometown.

 “There were no nearby high schools in my village, so I decided to move closer to Nondumiso High School by renting a room in Hlambanyathi so that I could study at night and attend morning classes,” says Duphelezi.

From The Union Buildings

It is a time for fresh starts in a number of aspects that affect our lives and for making resolutions to do things better.

It is also a time of hope – hope for a better life for ourselves, and for things to become better for the country that we all love.

The current economic environment demands new ways of doing things. If money makes the world go round, then life has been at a standstill for two years because there is very little or no money going around.

In the olden days, families survived by buying in bulk. Today, people stockpile, which means when an essential product is on sale, they buy as much as they can afford.

Why is it necessary?

A group of young graduates in Welverdiend in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, came together in 2001 to form a cooperative that has so far created more than 35 jobs in the tourism sector. 

Mutlhwarheni Cooperative Ltd is a true example of what can be achieved if communities join hands and collaborate with experienced companies to fight poverty and unemployment in society.

The South African government has an agency called the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) which assists in developing community and small commercial media in the country.

The agency  promotes and ensures that South African media is developed and diverse.

It targets historically disadvantaged communities, historically diminished language and cultural groups, and inadequately served communities.

One of the beneficiaries of the MDDA in print media is Ngoho Print and Digital News, which is published in 70% Tshivenda and 30% English.

The South African media are invited to submit their entries for the 2023 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Media Awards competition by 28 February.

Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) calls on the community media fraternity to submit more entries for the 2023 competition so that the country can be represented regionally. 

One of the national media coordinators for the competition, Mmemme Mogotsi, says the first prize winner in each category receives US$2 500 (about R42 000) and the runner-up receives US$1000 (about R16 000).

The recent trail of vicious pit bull attacks that have cost life and limb is a matter of concern to everyone.

In recent months, media outlets have reported on deadly cases of attacks around the country almost on an ongoing basis.

“Pit bull terriers, commonly referred to as pit bulls, actually comprise a number of different breeds. They have a similar appearance and were originally bred for dog-fighting, which was (and sadly still is) a form of entertainment for people,” said animal behaviour expert, Dr Quixi Sonntag.