By Lovynia Onthatile Miller “You look good for someone who does not usually dress up.” At first glance, this statement sounds like a compliment, but after hearing such a ‘compliment,’ most people are left wondering if they were just praised or if they were quietly insulted. Conversations around kindness continue to change, as backhanded compliments have become a recurring topic of debate. But are these compliments genuinely harmless, or do they reveal a new form of bullying h

By Lulu Dlamini Google defines beauty as the quality in a person, place, or object that provides intense sensory pleasure or deep mental satisfaction. It seems society has given beauty a different meaning, a meaning that doesn’t consider anyone beautiful. The media's impact has completely twisted our view of what we deem desirable. Shave, bleach, hyperpigmentation, strawberry skin, full beard, calories, and bloating. The industry pockets our insecurities, and it does not seem

Article by: Munei Zoe Mbedzi, Yanganani Gora, Zandile Mnisi, Ligugu Gogo, Gugushe Owam, Lwanele Godlwana and Onenceba Zodani Students across the country, from Basic Education to Higher Education, spend endless hours scrolling through social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. They are constantly engaging with perfectly curated 60-second clips or photography of someone’s life. This greatly impacts students' mental health without them realising it, as they

By Nomahlubi Charlie A British impersonator, Fabio James, known as Fabio Jackson, is known for his striking resemblance to Michael Jackson, which draws the attention of millions of people who loved the late King of Pop. His career started very small as a TikToker dancing to Michael Jackson’s songs. By recreating Michael Jackson’s outfits, hairstyles, facial expressions, and mannerisms, Fabio Jackson gained millions of followers. What started as a TikToker making ends meet tur

By Erin Arends The 2026 FIFA World Cup was a celebration of football, bringing together 48 nations and attracting millions of viewers worldwide. From watching players represent their countries on the world stage to choosing a new favourite player, the tournament can turn casual viewers into devoted football followers. However, when the final whistle blew, signalling the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football didn’t end. Just over a month later, many of those familiar faces

By Flavia Lloret-Dreyer Trigger warning: Topics include substance abuse and domestic violence The world lost a shining talent as Hayden Panettiere passed away at the tender age of 36 on Sunday, 16 August. Authorities found Panettiere unresponsive and in cardiac arrest in an apartment complex in Greenville, South Carolina. Her boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present and called 911. Medical personnel tried to save her by giving her life support

By Mukelani Cele Breastfeeding is portrayed as the simplest and most natural gesture of love, and motherhood is frequently surrounded by a halo of perfection. However, it is worth taking a moment to consider the irony of this article as we commemorate Women's Month. Mothers wouldn't require lactation consultants, breast pumps, nipple shields, or late-night seminars if nursing were genuinely intuitive. The calm pictures that adorn glossy periodicals are not at all like the mes

By: Meukelani Cele Language was taken during colonial conquest in addition to land. African languages were written off as inferior, while English was promoted as the purported standard of intelligence. Bantu education, a system that kept African students on the periphery and taught them just enough to serve but never enough to lead, solidified this heritage. It was a cage, not instruction. In 1953, the apartheid government implemented Bantu education as a deliberate control m

By Mukelani Cele Women’s Month is a time for celebration, remembrance, and rebirth. It honours the bravery of women who fought for liberties many of us now take for granted, carried families and communities on their shoulders, and marched against injustice. Yet it is also a moment for men to reflect on how they can contribute to women's empowerment. As a man, I write not to instruct but to stand in solidarity with women, especially students, and to affirm a necessary truth: w

Bianca Swanepoel On July 1, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that, from 2028 onward, it would no longer produce physical discs for PlayStation games and would go completely digital. Sony explains this decision to go fully digital by noting that its fans have transitioned away from buying physical discs, and that it would make more financial sense to follow where the money is leading them. Although this sounds promising in theory, it has generated widespread backlash f

Ekuqaleni konyaka ngamnye, amakhaya ethu azaliswe yimincili njengoko sijonge phambili ekufumaneni iziphumo zematriki kunye neeleta zokumkela eziphuma kwiidyunivesiti. Amaxesha amaninzi, loo mincili igubungela inyaniso malunga nokungena eyunivesithi: nangona ilinyhweba kwaye ivula indlela yekamva, iindleko zokuba ngumfundi waseyunivesithi eMzantsi Afrika azikho ngqiqweni ngokugqithisileyo kwaye zigubungela ubuhle bokuba ngumfundi waseyunivesithi ngokubanzi. Uninzi lwabemi boMz

By: Munei Zoe Mbedzi, Yanganani Gora, Ligugu Gogo, Lwanele Godlwana, Gugushe Owam, And Zandile Mnisi Onenceba Zondani In the beginning of every year, excitement fills our homes as we look forward to receiving matric results and acceptance letters from universities. Oftentimes, that excitement overshadows the truth about getting into university: although it is a privilege and paves the way for the future, the cost of being a university student in South Africa is extremely unre