Plastic is all around us and many people seldom give it a second thought. It has become part of our lives whether as containers, bottles, disposable bags, straws, toys and a multitude of other things.

At first glance plastic might seem harmless, yet it is one of the single most harmful things to our planet and the environment. Plastics can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose and they are often just thrown out with the trash, ending up in landfills or rivers and streams, and eventually the oceans.

Our history has shown that when South Africans pull together in partnership there is nothing that we cannot overcome.

Our country’s energy sector will soon enter into a new era through the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill that sets out to create a competitive and sustainable electricity sector that meets our nation’s energy needs. 

In amongst all the doom and gloom brought on by the electricity crisis, rising interests rates, the high cost of living and the conflict in Ukraine, it might have been missed that our economy has been steadily on the rebound.

The 2023 Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the third quarter shows positive growth in the number of jobs. The results show that the number of employed persons increased by 399 000 to 16,7 million in the third quarter of 2023 compared to 16,3 million in the second quarter of 2023.

In February 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that construction work on the Lesotho Highlands Phase Two project would commence. Three months later Phase 2 of the project was launched as promised. This project is aimed at ensuring security of water supply to Gauteng, Free State, Mpumalanga, North West and the Northern Cape.  

In a world filled with information overload the significance of our own stories should not be overlooked, especially those that contribute positively towards achieving regional integration and co-operation between the people of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

The Class of 2023 will leave their schools as history makers, having achieved the highest pass rate since the dawn of our democracy. Whilst this is a grand celebration for the 82.9 percent of matriculants, those who may have missed the mark may feel discouraged.

There is however no need for despair as hope comes through government’s Second Chance Matric Programme. The programme offers matric learners who have not met the requirements for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) a second chance to achieve the results they desire.

All South Africans over the age of 18 and above have a right to vote in an election. This right was not available to the majority of the people of this country before the new democratic dispensation in 1994.  

The hallmark of any democracy is regular and credible elections, and in 2024, South Africa will go to the polls for the seventh democratic national and provincial elections.  Since 1994, one of the enduring symbols of our democracy has been the sight of citizens standing in line to make their mark.

All parents want the best for their children. We want them to go to well-functioning schools and get the best results so that they can be admitted to tertiary institutions. These schools not only prioritise academic achievements but also focus on the holistic development of children that includes sports, arts and cultural activities.