As South Africa surpasses the 100 000 infection mark, viral spread through community transmission is likely to increase exponentially. With it comes an urgent need for the government to regain a societal compact through coherent messaging and consistency, predictability and rationality in regulation, writes Vanessa Banton.Monday marked 110 days since South Africa recorded its first case of…
Brazil could still happen to us. Yes, the lockdown may have slowed the tide. But nothing has changed about our immense vulnerability, writes BI editor Helena Wasserman.Few countries in the world so closely resemble South Africa than Brazil. Strip away its vastly bigger economy and soccer prowess, and our biggest challenges are the same: poverty,…
Springboks (Getty Images) England's RFU is looking into whether pre-match war cry Swing Low, Sweet Chariot ought to be banned from Twickenham.The song, according to preliminary investigations, was first sung in the late 1980s as an homage to Martin "Chariots" Offiah and Chris Oti, England's black wingers of the time.It is unclear whether Swing Low,…
This 20th World Refugee Day is commemorated under extremely tough conditions. Covid-19 has made a challenging situation unbearable for many who already struggle to secure income, food, and basic shelter, writes JJ Harder.I always find it bittersweet to commemorate World Refugee Day each June. In my home state of Nebraska, I worked for an NGO helping refugees to…
The world bank has expressed concern over the world economy. CA number of central banks across the globe are pumping money into their economies. This has sparked fears of runaway inflation - but this will likely not be the case. At present, collapsing inflation is being observed where money supply is exploding. But elsewhere, there has been…
Kataza the baboon. Facebook / Baboon Matters The City of Cape Town has asked the public not to feed a baboon that has relocated to Tokai. The baboon, known as Kataza or SK11, is slowly being integrated into the Tokai troop. Video footage, however, shows humans feeding Kataza. The City of Cape Town has requested that Kataza…
As SA Rugby moves to determine which franchises will go to Europe in future, Rassie Erasmus has noted several potential benefits for the local game should that route be followed.The national director of rugby believes the high world rankings of Wales, Ireland and Scotland mean PRO Rugby is competitive and that fans will eventually identify…
(John Finney Photography/Moment/Getty Images) An abnormally bad season of weather may have had a significant impact on the death toll from both World War I and the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, according to new research, with many more lives being lost due to torrential rain and plummeting temperatures. Through a detailed analysis of an ice…