The KwaSokhulu and Nyembe communities in northern KwaZulu-Natal celebrated a long-awaited milestone when non-profit organisation WILDTRUST’s Small-Scale Fishers and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Project hosted events to present fishing rods to local fisherfolk.

By equipping fishers with rods, the initiative seeks to promote a culture of sustainable harvesting and reduce reliance on harmful or illegal fishing practices, such as gillnetting. Community members expressed their excitement at the positive impact this shift will bring. Velani Mjadu, a fisherman from Nyembe, shared: “Having these fishing rods will be very beneficial to us. I believe this is a start to a greater future for the Nyembe fishing community.”

The Small-Scale Fishers and MPAs Project, under which this initiative falls, has an overarching goal to improve the management and sustainability of small-scale fisheries in South Africa. It aims to generate working examples of positive relationships between Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and vulnerable rural fishers who live within, or adjacent to, MPAs and rely on natural resources for their livelihoods and food security. At the same time, the project increases awareness of the benefits of MPAs to small-scale fishers, while exploring how tangible benefits can be delivered to and perceived by communities living nearby. Through this work, the project highlights the role of MPAs in improving socio-ecological resilience for coastal communities and identifies the threats and key actions needed to support both small-scale fishers and MPAs.

The project also aims to promote exchange and dissemination of information amongst and to fishers as well as opportunities for dialogue and engagement between local fishers and government, through support for knowledge and awareness-building workshops. To bring the aspect of knowledge building and awareness, these events not only included the handover but also educational outreach. Fishers received resource material on responsible handling practices for sharks and rays, ensuring that if these apex species are caught accidentally, they can be released safely. In addition, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority and officers from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife engaged with the communities. Trueman Buthelezi from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife highlighted the laws governing sustainable harvesting and explained how specific species may be harvested responsibly.

Each day concluded at the beach, where seasoned fishers shared hands-on training with their peers on rod use. Special emphasis was placed on including women, who traditionally do not fish with rods. For many, this was an empowering step toward broadening their livelihood opportunities. Tholakele Mnguni, a mussel harvester from KwaSokhulu, remarked: “We are happy with these rods, especially for the women in this community, because mussel harvesting is seasonal. Having these rods will allow us to fish when it’s off season for mussel harvesting.”

The successful roll-out of this initiative was made possible through the generous support of ICONIQ, Oceans 5, and the Blue Action Fund. Together with WILDTRUST and its partners, these efforts mark a significant step towards empowering small-scale fishing communities while protecting marine biodiversity for generations to come.

This summer, South Africans aren’t just choosing what’s on the menu…they’re creating it! Col’Cacchio, the Italian-inspired, South African-loved restaurant group, has launched its boldest campaign yet: a nationwide invitation for pizza lovers to design the flavours that will define the future of gourmet pizza in Mzansi.

In a first-of-its-kind movement across South Africa, Mauritius and Namibia, customers are encouraged to tap into their identity, culture and creativity by crafting a pizza that reflects the flavours they love most. Whether it’s proudly local, globally infused, or totally unexpected, this is a celebration of food.

With the theme ‘Can your pizza earn the Chef’s Kiss?’ Col’Cacchio is shifting the role of diners from consumers to co-creators – giving everyday South Africans a chance to be taste-makers, trendsetters and even menu architects. The most-loved creations may secure a coveted place on a future Col’Cacchio menu.

Entries can be developed in-store or via delivery, and submitted online with a name that expresses the story behind the slice.

To turn up the heat, Col’Cacchio has joined forces with MSC Cruises and Schweppes – rewarding top talent not only with national bragging rights, but with the chance to win a luxury cruise experience and exciting summer prizes that elevate the season.

This summer, Col’Cacchio is not just serving delicious pizza, they’re serving opportunity, creativity, and unforgettable experiences.

Think you’ve got the combination that deserves the chef’s kiss? 

Head to your nearest Col’Cacchio, build your signature pizza, give it a name, and submit your entry online to join the nationwide flavour challenge. Order, share, vote, and champion your favourite creations all summer long.

Step into the kitchen with Col’Cacchio. Bring the heat. Bring the imagination. Bring your Chef’s Kiss.

Col’Cacchio: Italian inspiration, South African heart… and sealed with a Chef’s kiss.

The wait is over for fans across the continent. It’s time to look back at the sounds, stories, and voices that defined your year with 2025 Spotify Wrapped – our annual thank-you to fans, artists, creators, and authors across the continent and around the world.

From Afrobeats in Lagos and amapiano in Johannesburg to Gengetone in Nairobi and gospel in Accra, Wrapped turns your listening into a personal highlight reel of the year in audio. Spotify first introduced Wrapped in its current form in 2015, and every year since, we’ve evolved it based on what listeners tell us matters most to them.

For 2025, the experience is more captivating, layered, and revealing than ever before. We’re going bigger and bolder, combining the classic data stories you love with new interactive ways to connect with and share the sounds that made your year unmistakably yours.

How to access your 2025 Wrapped

To get a personalised Wrapped experience, you’ll need to have:

• Streamed at least 30 songs for more than 30 seconds each, and
• Listened to at least five different artists this year.

Streams from Private Mode or from songs or playlists you’ve excluded from your Taste Profile don’t count toward eligibility. Eligible listeners across Sub-Saharan Africa can access their personalised 2025 Wrapped experience exclusively in the Spotify mobile app (iOS and Android). The experience is available for both Free and Premium users in nearly all markets where Spotify is live in SSA.

Just make sure your Spotify app is updated to the latest version, then:

• Look for the Wrapped feed at the top of your Home screen, or Search for “2025 Wrapped” in the app.

Inside the 2025 Wrapped experience

This year, we’ve kept the Wrapped classics you know and added nearly a dozen new and updated ways to go deeper into the voices and stories that shaped your year – from the local artists you kept on repeat to the global hits you couldn’t escape.

We’re also bringing fans together with interactive features that turn your listening data into playful, shareable moments. Plus, new controls let you:

• Adjust the speed of your experience, and
• Jump back to specific moments without starting over from the beginning.

Your Wrapped is as individual as your fingerprint: the stories you see are based on your listening across the year.

As you explore your Wrapped, you’ll see share cards for your data stories. Just tap “Share” to send them directly to friends using Spotify Messages, or post them to your favourite social channels and show off your year in listening.

From returning favourites to brand-new features, here’s what’s in store.

The classics

• Minutes Listened See the total time you spent listening across music, podcasts, and audiobooks this year.
• Top Songs and accompanying playlist See your top five songs of the year and unlock your personalised Your Top Songs 2025 playlist – now showing how many times you streamed each of your top 100 tracks.
• Top Artists Discover up to your top five artists of the year – whether that’s a local breakout act, a regional favourite, or a global superstar.
• Top Genres This fan favourite is back to spotlight the genres that shaped your sound this year, from Afrobeats and amapiano to hip-hop, R&B, gospel, and more.
• Top Podcasts See up to your top five podcasts of the year and revisit the shows that kept you informed, entertained, or inspired.

What’s new

• Listening Age This story compares the release years of the tracks you listen to most with others in your age group.
• Top Song Quiz Think you know which track soundtracked your year? Test yourself with this interactive quiz and guess your No. 1 song.
• Top Albums For the first time, Wrapped spotlights the albums you kept coming back to again and again.
• Top Artist Sprint Watch the race for your No. 1 artist. This story visualises how your top five artists shifted in your personal rankings month by month.
• Fan Leaderboard Think you’re one of your favourite artist’s biggest fans? This year, you might see where you rank among their listeners worldwide, based on your total minutes listened.
• Clubs This story celebrates the streaming habits that defined your year. You’ll be sorted into one of six Clubs—each representing a unique listening style—and see the role you play in that community.
• Listening Archive Get personalised snapshots of your most memorable streaming days. Powered by AI, this feature delivers up to five unique reports based on your daily listening. (Available in English in select markets.)
• Wrapped Party: For the first time ever, we’re introducing Wrapped Party – a new interactive feature that turns your listening data into a live competition you can play with friends. It’s the latest way to level up Wrapped, making it more exciting and fun than ever. To join Wrapped Party, visit the Wrapped Hub on the platform, search for ‘Wrapped Party’ in Spotify, or access it at the end of your personalized experience.

Spotify also offers personalised Wrapped experiences for artists and songwriters and podcast creators. Through their own individualised Wrapped microsites, they can explore how fans listened and connected with their work this year.

Your one-stop Wrapped feed

Your Wrapped feed—accessed at the top of your Home screen—is your hub for all things 2025 Wrapped. Here, you can:

• Revisit your personalised data stories,
• Explore “Best of” playlists curated by Spotify editors (including African and global highlights), and
• Find any special messages from artists, podcasters, and authors—all in one place.

Wrapped around the globe

The celebration doesn’t stop in the app. Around the world—and across Sub-Saharan Africa—Spotify is taking Wrapped into the real world with pop-up experiences and special activations that bring the spirit of Wrapped offline, giving fans new ways to celebrate the artists and moments that defined their year.

This year, your Wrapped is a reflection of you: unmistakably personal, deeply local, and connected to a global community of listeners. So go ahead; dive in, explore your stories, and share your 2025 Spotify Wrapped with the world.

Stellenbosch came alive with colour, rhythm and SA20 excitement today as the SA20 Schools Tour arrived at Pieter Langeveldt Primary School. With just 24 days to go until Season 4 lights up South Africa, learners were treated to an unforgettable celebration of cricket, entertainment and youth energy.

A major highlight of the day was the arrival of SA20 Legend Makhaya Ntini, one of South Africa’s most celebrated fast bowlers. Learners erupted as he stepped onto the field, sharing stories, engaging with the children and inspiring the next generation with his trademark presence and warmth.

Joining him was Paarl Royals’ player, Nqaba Peter, who brought the cricket action to life through demonstrations, fun Q&A moments and interactions that showcased the excitement of SA20 on and off the field.

Entertainment surged as DJ Bravo delivered a high-energy performance that had the school buzzing. The morning was led by Leandie Durandt, an actor, TV presenter and motivational speaker who forms part of the SA20 20th Player campaign, an initiative that brings influential personalities into the heart of the league to connect cricket with culture, entertainment and youth energy. Leandie hosted activities, drove chants and kept learners fully engaged from start to finish, carrying the SA20 spirit into the community ahead of the new season.

The excitement peaked with the appearance of the SA20 Trophy, as learners lined up for photos and celebrated their connection to the upcoming season.

With world-class cricket, entertainment, music and family activities, the Western Cape is gearing up for its most exciting SA20 summer yet. MI Cape Town return to Newlands and Paarl Royals to Boland Park for their five home games, with tickets selling fast across all fixtures.

For all the team fixtures visit www.sa20.co.za/matches

In addition to world-class cricket, SA20 will offer a full festival atmosphere throughout the season, with lots of activities for families, from live music, interactive fan zones, dance moments to “Put Your Hands Up”, the chance to win a car, and the massive R2 million Catch a Million challenge, where fans can win their share by taking a clean one-handed catch.

The SA20 Final at Newlands on Sunday 25 January is also approaching a full sell out. General access tickets are sold out, but a limited number of premium hospitality packages remain available. These include the best views, world class catering and a halftime performance by Will Linley.

Hospitality packages can be secured at www.sa20.co.za/hospitality.

Tickets for all matches are available at tickets.sa20.co.za or directly from the stadium ticket office.

For more information, follow #SA20 on all platforms: Twitter @SA20_League, Facebook @SA20League, Instagram @sa20_league, TikTok @sa20_league and YouTube @SA20_League.

HIV remains one of South Africa’s most urgent public health challenges, yet its impact is not evenly experienced. Women, particularly adolescent girls and young women, continue to carry a disproportionate share of new infections. As the world marks World AIDS Day this month, the call for a more equitable human-centred, and prevention-focused HIV response grows ever stronger.

Jessica Bates, Dis-Chem Integrated Health Executive, says the day is a reminder of progress, but also of the stark disparities that persist. “Not everyone experiences the epidemic equally, and it’s crucial that we interrogate the underlying factors that put women at increased risk and take action to shift this trajectory,” she says. Bates emphasises the need for a fundamental shift in how prevention is approached.

Despite advances at national level, structural inequalities, entrenched social norms, and gaps in the health system continue to limit women’s access to prevention tools and comprehensive care. Biological vulnerability, age-disparate relationships, gender-based violence, economic dependence, stigma, and limited awareness or availability of prevention options such as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) all compound women’s risk.

“We need to move from a narrative rooted in fear and stigma to one grounded in empowerment and access,” Bates says. “Women deserve healthcare that reflects their realities – whether in clinics, communities, or in their day-to-day interactions with the health system. By strengthening person-centred, tech-enabled, and nurse-led models of care, we can meaningfully expand prevention options and reshape the future of HIV for women in South Africa.”

Although PrEP is highly effective—reducing HIV acquisition by up to 99% when used consistently—uptake among women remains low. Many are unaware of it, struggle to access it, or face social barriers that hinder ongoing use. National data shows that over 1.4 million people in South Africa had initiated PrEP across more than 4,000 public health sites by February 2024. While this represents significant progress, it still falls short of the potential to protect more women before they are exposed to risk.

A transformed HIV response must prioritise accessible, proactive, and integrated care. This includes embedding prevention into routine maternal and child health visits, expanding community-based and nurse-led care models, and ensuring that prevention tools are affordable, acceptable, and easy to access.

As conversations around HIV continue to evolve, one truth remains: women in South Africa did not choose the inequality that increases their risk. But with inclusive, affordable, and accessible healthcare, meaningful change is within reach.

Now in its seventh year, the Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards continue to celebrate the designers, makers, and changemakers shaping a more sustainable, inclusive, and creative fashion ecosystem in South Africa and across the continent.

Wanda Lephoto won the Changemaker Award presented by Bash for 2025. Wanda takes home a R100 000 cash prize. Aidan Peters of Klein Muis won the Emerging Designer Award presented by H&M, and also takes home R100 000.

All the winners and finalists of the last seven years have been included into Twyg’s new online directory of sustainable and ethically made clothing, textiles and accessories: https://twyg.co.za/directory/

Appointed for 2025–2027, the new Twyg Awards jury brings together six respected voices from South Africa, Kenya, Germany, and the United States. Collectively, they represent experience across fashion, sustainability, climate, business, and design.

The 2025 jury includes Martina Glomb (Germany), Bee Diamondhead (South Africa), Idelle Taye (United States/Cameroon), Stella Hertantyo (South Africa), Silvia Tonui (Kenya) and Bielle Bellingham (South Africa). The judging process was adjudicated by John Shija and Elisabeth Makumbi.

It’s thanks to our sponsors and partners that Twyg is able to shine a light on sustainable and ethical fashion designers. Our 2025 partners include Polo South Africa, Bash, H&M South Africa, Mohair South Africa, Merchants on Long, Plantify and Church House.

The winners and finalists of the 2025 edition of the Twyg awards are as follows:

Accessory Award

Winner: Earth Age

Finalists: Changing Facets and Nic&Nic

⁠Emerging Designer Award presented by H&M

Winner: Klein Muis

Finalists: Casbeth and Makhudai

⁠Innovative Design and Materials Award presented by Polo South Africa

Winner: Ballo

Finalists: Sealand and Botanical Nomad

Trans-seasonal Design Award

Winner: Wanda Lephoto

Finalists: Boyde and MmusoMaxwell

Merchants on Long ⁠Pan-African Artisanal Award

Winner: WOTE K.I Design

Finalists: AAKS and Reform Studio

⁠Tastemaker Award

Winner: Innocent Ndlovu

Finalists: Lethabo ‘Boogy’ Maboi and Yasmin Furmie

Student Award

Winner: The_Collectn

Finalists: Carlize van Zyl and The Odd

⁠Retail Award

Winner: Thrift Fest

Finalists: The Sewing Café and Vintage with Love

Changemaker Award presented by Bash

Winner:  Wanda Lephoto

The Emerging Designer Award presented by H&M South Africa winner will receive R100 000 from H&M South Africa, while the Changemaker Award presented by Bash winner will receive R100 000 from Bash (TFG). Both investments directly support the growth of sustainable fashion businesses in South Africa.

Winners were announced on Thursday 27 November 2025 at an event held at Church House in Cape Town, hosted by Khensani Mohlatlole, writer, fibre artist, and fashion historian.

Emperors Palace once again proved why it is considered the home of big-time boxing when the highly anticipated ‘Survivor’ fight night delivered explosive action at the weekend.

Energy. Glamour. Anticipation. These were the watchwords as a host of fans, celebrities, VIPs and boxing personalities all added to an unforgettable night that will go down as one of the most iconic Golden Gloves productions in recent history.

The exclusive iME VIP zone set the tone early. A red carpet moment with some of the country’s most recognisable celebrities and sporting legends, among them football royalty Shaun Bartlett, music star Lloyd Cele, Olympic swimming champion Lyndon Ferns, Mrs South Africa Verushka Singh and TV and radio personality Thapelo Motlaung, gave some hint of what was to come.

With a heady brew of tactics, predictions and passion, the buildup was thrilling, helped by a supply of refined cocktails from Zaza Legacy Wines.

Giant screens showcased life-sized fighter profiles, stats and training highlights. Every punch and every staredown helped build excitement for a monumental evening.

Guests of the highly coveted box and dine experience entered the main arena through a fully immersive LED tunnel, which felt like the walk of champions. The crowd knew they were not just attending an event; they were stepping into history.

In a moment that set hearts racing, award-winning artist Lloyd Cele launched into the ring with a show-stopping performance. His powerful single, written exclusively for Golden Gloves and appropriately titled We are the Champions, echoed through the arena and ignited the audience.

It was the perfect opening, and viewers at home felt the energy watching it live on SuperSport or streaming it via the iME platform.

Fans enjoyed a sumptuous boxing treat. Old rivals Brandon Thysse and Shervantaigh Koopman served up a barnburner of fury over 10 tight rounds that included knockdowns and bad blood.

Heavyweights JJ Alberts and Ethan Peters delivered the heavy-duty punching, while world champion Ricardo Malajika came on strongly late in the fight to confirm his status as South Africa’s number one boxer.

Emperors Palace favourite Roarke Knapp was also in top form, winning by technical knockout, while SA middleweight champion Phikelelani Khumalo blew away his opponent early to confirm an epic night of boxing.

‘Survivor’ was more than a fight night. It was an experience; it was a celebration of champions, and boxing at its peak.

Golden Gloves extends its appreciation to all partners, athletes, entertainers and the passionate fans who filled the venue with life. The standard has been set.