Get ready to turn up the heat as Ackermans is thrilled to unveil a sizzling summer collaboration with the incredible mom-daughter duo DJ Zinhle and Kairo Forbes who boast more than 12 million social media followers. This partnership is a vibrant celebration of trendy style, embodying all the summer feels like never before.

Sa’s leading value retailer is overjoyed to announce their collaboration with DJ Zinhle, a pioneering mom, entrepreneur, and world-renowned artist, along with her adorable mini-me, Kairo Forbes. The collaboration perfectly blends DJ Zinhle and Kairo’s influential styles with Ackermans’ brand vision, creating a collection that radiates pure summer magic. From A-list must-haves that keep Mom stylish and effortlessly chic, to a beautiful summer resort collection that champions cool comfort and playful vibrance for the family. There truly is something for every budget, taste and occasion.

“When we were looking for the right faces for this collaboration, we knew we needed a strong, inspiring woman and mom. DJ Zinhle, with her incredible achievements, paired with her daughter Kairo, was the perfect match. This is more than just a partnership – it’s a celebration of style and individuality. By bringing their unique energy into our 1,000 stores and across our digital platforms, we’re blending their distinctive flair with our dedication to quality and value for South African families,” says Bronwyn Pretorius, Chief Executive of Marketing at Ackermans.

DJ Zinhle echoed this sentiment, saying, “Ackermans has always been a brand I admire for its market understanding and positioning. An outfit is not just about what I put on my body; it’s about how I show up, and this made our collaboration a perfect fit.”

Ackermans’ summer collection promises to compliment your style with bold designs and standout pieces; while also ensuring you also have the basics covered – making for a wardrobe that reflects the perfect summer vibe.

Curious about the magic? View Ackermans’ exclusive video and get an early look at the must-have styles that await. Here’s to being No.1 for summer!

As the seasons change, many of us start to experience the familiar and often frustrating symptoms of seasonal allergies. However, it’s important to recognise that not all seasonal allergies are the same. Different people experience these symptoms in varying ways, and this diversity means that a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment often falls short. Understanding why these differences exist can help you take control of your allergy management.

Allergic vs. non-allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis (AR), including seasonal and perennial rhinitis, are typically triggered by specific environmental allergens such as pollens, house dust mites, mould spores, or pet danders. When your body encounters these allergens, it mistakenly identifies them as harmful, leading to an immune response. This response involves the release of histamines and other chemicals, resulting in symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, and a runny nose. Although people’s symptoms can be triggered by many of these exposures, each person’s pattern of allergy is unique.

However, not all rhinitis is due to allergies. Non-allergic rhinitis, sometimes also called vasomotor rhinitis, occurs when your nasal passages are activated by irritants such as smoke, strong odours, temperature changes, or even stress. Symptoms can be similar to allergic rhinitis making matters confusing. Unlike allergic rhinitis, non-allergic rhinitis does not involve the immune system. Understanding this difference is important to planning the best approach to treatment.

Why a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work
Given the distinct nature of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis, and the individual differences in triggers, it’s clear that the same treatment won’t work for everyone. For instance, antihistamines are effective in treating the symptoms of allergic rhinitis by blocking the histamine response, but they might not be as effective for non-allergic rhinitis, where histamine is not the primary cause of symptoms. Similarly, nasal corticosteroids can reduce inflammation in allergic rhinitis, but their efficacy can vary in non-allergic cases.

According to Prof. Jonny Peter from the UCT Lung Institute and founder of The Real Pollen Count: “Understanding these differences is crucial because treating the wrong type of rhinitis with inappropriate medication can lead to ineffective symptom relief, prolonged discomfort, and even potential side effects. Personalised treatment plans, developed with the help of your healthcare provider, are essential for managing symptoms effectively.”

The scope and impact of allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common chronic conditions, affecting approximately 15-30% of the population. Seasonal allergic rhinitis tends to peak during certain times of the year when specific allergens are more prevalent. In contrast, perennial allergic rhinitis can cause symptoms year-round, typically due to indoor allergens like dust mites or pet dander.

The impact of allergic rhinitis on daily life is significant. Studies show that up to 36% of adults experience impaired work performance due to allergy symptoms, and about 3.6% have missed workdays entirely because of their condition. These statistics highlight the importance of recognising and properly managing allergic rhinitis to maintain a good quality of life.

Diagnosing and treating different types of rhinitis
Diagnosing whether you have allergic or non-allergic rhinitis involves a thorough assessment of your symptoms, medical history, and specific allergy tests. For allergic rhinitis, skin prick tests or blood tests may be used to identify specific allergens. In cases where non-allergic rhinitis is suspected, your healthcare provider might focus on identifying irritants or other underlying conditions that could be triggering your symptoms.

“Treatment options vary depending on the type of rhinitis you have. For allergic rhinitis, options include antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids that give you the benefit of two allergy medicines in one nasal spray, and allergen avoidance strategies. For non-allergic rhinitis, treatment might involve avoiding irritants, using saline nasal sprays, or considering lifestyle changes that reduce exposure to triggers. In some cases, combination therapies may be recommended,” says Prof Peter.

A treatment plan for your unique seasonal allergies

Seasonal allergies are also more complex than they might seem on first glance. Individuals may be allergic to different pollens, each with particular flowering seasons. For instance, one person might be allergic to tree pollens which have a short, intense flowering season in late winter/early spring, while another may only be allergic to grass pollens which have a longer flowering season starting late in spring and very dependent on geography.

“Understanding the nuances of your seasonal allergies is an important step toward effective treatment and lasting relief. The Real Pollen Count (www.pollencount.co.za) provides updated weekly pollen counts for eight of the major urban centres across South Africa and is a great resource to better understand your seasonal allergic rhinitis symptoms this year,” says Prof Peter.

Speak to your pharmacist or healthcare provider for more information on Glenmark’s 2-in-1 nasal spray to help manage allergic rhinitis effectively. Look out for Rymoji in Pharmacies, your best friend in seasonal allergy relief.

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Rhinos have roamed the earth for over 50 million years with their prehistoric ancestors having lived long before the first elephants, but today, they stand at the brink of extinction. World Rhino Day, celebrated on September 22, serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat to rhinos and the urgent need for action. While poaching numbers have decreased in recent years, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and intensified anti-poaching measures, the rhino population remains vulnerable.

“In the 1960s, Africa was home to 65,000 black rhinos. By 2022, that number had plummeted to just 6,487, leading to their classification as Critically Endangered. While White rhinos have fared slightly better, with numbers recovering from less than 50 in the 1960s to around 17,000 by the end of 2022, both black and white rhinos remain under constant threat due to poaching and habitat loss,” says Kate Church, Founder of African Wildlife Vets.

South Africa, which holds nearly 80% of the world’s rhino population, has seen over 8,000 rhinos poached since 2008, primarily for their horns, which are highly sought after in Asia for their supposed medicinal properties. While poaching numbers have recently declined due to intensified anti-poaching efforts and temporary relief from the Covid-19 lockdown, the battle for survival continues.

As keystone species, their presence is not only important to the ecosystems they inhabit but essential for the survival of a multitude of other species and the health of the environment. What would happen if these majestic creatures were to disappear completely? The answer is both troubling and far-reaching.

“Rhinos aren’t just majestic creatures who need to be protected to ensure their preservation for future generations, they are also vital to maintaining the health of their ecosystems. Their absence would trigger a domino effect, impacting a vast array of species and threatening the balance of the environment. Without rhinos, we are not just losing a species; we are compromising the very fabric of life in these ecosystems,” says Church.

A world without our natural landscapers

The loss of rhinos would have a devastating and far-reaching effect on the ecosystems they inhabit. Just as elephants have been professed as the world’s ecosystem engineers, carving out the land as they move through it, so too are rhinos the natural landscapers of the environment.

Not only does their grazing behaviour help to maintain open grasslands by preventing the overgrowth of vegetation, which in turn supports a wide array of other species, according to research from Stellenbosch University, by wallowing in mud they help to create natural waterholes and keep existing waterholes open. Their dung, of which they deposit more than 20 kilograms a day, both fertilises the soil and provides the foundation for complex food chains.  Rhinos also play a key role in sustaining other species through the smaller parasites that they host on or within their bodies.

Without rhinos, grasslands would become overgrown, reducing the habitat available for species that rely on open areas or short grass lawns for survival, such as wildebeest and birds like larks and pipits. The subsequent reduced biodiversity would also affect larger predators that depend on these smaller species for food, leading to a cascade of negative impacts throughout the food chain. Furthermore, the loss of rhinos would also negatively impact species that depend on the smaller ectoparasites that rhinos carry for sustenance – like the oxpecker, which are so dependent on rhinos they can actually be used to track them.

The absence of rhinos would also disrupt soil health and water cycles as soil compaction would increase, reducing water infiltration and affecting the availability of water for plants and animals. This would contribute to further desertification of the land, diminishing the overall resilience of the ecosystem against climate change and extreme weather events.

The economic impact of their loss

Beyond their ecological importance, rhinos contribute to local economies, particularly through eco-tourism. Countries like South Africa, Namibia, and Kenya depend heavily on wildlife tourism, with rhinos being a major draw for international visitors.

“If rhinos were to disappear, the loss would not only be felt in the natural world but in human communities that rely on tourism for their livelihoods. This would lead to job losses, reduced income for local conservation programs, and diminished funding for wildlife protection,” notes Dalit Shekel, CEO of Relate Bracelets.

The impact would also extend to local human communities that depend on the ecosystem services provided by healthy landscapes, including agriculture, tourism, and natural resource management. With the decline in biodiversity and the destabilisation of the environment, livelihoods that depend on eco-tourism such as safari businesses, wildlife guides, and conservation efforts would be severely affected.

Thankfully, conservation efforts to protect rhinos are in full force, though the road to recovery remains challenging. Conservation organisations like the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), alongside non-profits like Relate Bracelets, have been instrumental in the fight to protect rhinos. Through anti-poaching initiatives, the use of conservation canines, and collaboration with local communities, these efforts have managed to slow the decline in rhino populations.

Over the past decade, the sale of over 25,000 Relate Rhino Bracelets through Tourvest Destination Retail alone has contributed R360,000 to EWT’s rhino conservation efforts, supporting projects that expand safe spaces, enhance anti-poaching strategies, and ensure genetic diversity.

As Dalit Shekel aptly puts it: “The loss of even one rhino profoundly impacts ecosystems, destabilising the environment and threatening the balance of their population. By supporting rhino conservation efforts, we are helping to protect an entire ecosystem and every Relate EWT Rhino bracelet sold directly supports the survival of these incredible animals.”

Rising South African photographer, Vuyo Mabheka, will be showcasing his acclaimed body of work, Popihuise, at the prestigious Biennale Images Vevey in Switzerland. The exhibition will take place from 7 – 29 September at the Musée Jenisch Vevey, and forms part of the award winners’ display at this renowned international biennial.

In 2023, Mabheka was unanimously awarded by a prestigious jury, presided by international photographer Paul Graham, the Images Vevey 2023/2024 Special Jury Prize, one of Europe’s most highly regarded photography accolades. The CHF 40,000 prize, awarded biannually, supports artists in creating groundbreaking work for presentation at the following Biennale. Known for fostering original creation in contemporary photography, the Grand Prix Images Vevey has established itself as a global beacon for visual arts, contributing over CHF 100,000 in financial support to innovative photography projects.

The Biennale Images Vevey, established in 2008, is Switzerland’s largest and most significant visual arts biennial, drawing artists and visitors from across the world. This year’s theme, “(dis)connected”, examines the intersection of nostalgia with the anticipation of an unpredictable future. The event will feature 50 new projects from international artists, attracting over 60,000 visitors.

Mabheka’s Popihuise offers a deeply personal exploration of his childhood memories, growing up in Libode, Eastern Cape, and later, Thokoza, Johannesburg. The term Popihuise, derived from a Xhosa adaptation of the Afrikaans word for “doll’s house,” represents the interplay between imagination and lived experience in his formative years. Mabheka’s art features a unique collage of still images, drawings, and photographs, reflecting his resilience in reimagining difficult realities through the lens of childhood play. His installations draw from the concept of Umkokotelo, a slang term referring to reinvented structures that evoke both nostalgia and resilience.

Speaking on the significance of Mabheka’s achievement, Of Soul and Joy project manager Jabulani Dhlamini commented, “Vuyo embodies our mission at Of Soul and Joy, and we couldn’t be prouder of this monumental achievement. His images are able to at once accommodate, engage and challenge audiences’ perspectives — a rare quality that he is only improving as his understanding of photography deepens.”

Born in 1999 in Libode, South Africa, Vuyo Mabheka’s work has been featured in several group exhibitions, including In Thokoza: Place of Peace (Johannesburg, 2019), Inganekwane (Johannesburg, 2021), and NWU Gallery (Potchefstroom, 2022). He joined the Of Soul and Joy project in 2017 and is currently represented by Afronova Gallery