Strengthening the provision of second-trimester abortions in South Africa – it’s time to act
Rate this OpinionAs we celebrate 21 years of the CTOPA, access to safe, second-trimester abortions remains a challenge for many South African women. What makes our Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOPA) stand out amongst other global laws on abortion is its truly progressive…
Why industry standards are crucial amidst rising poverty and inequality
Rate this OpinionSouth Africa is currently in the midst of what has been described by the World Health Organisation, as the largest ever-recorded outbreak of the listeriosis, a serious infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. While the current focus…
Problematizing sex education in South Africa
Rate this OpinionI remember my 16 year old self sitting in Life Orientation class when my teacher said “why would he buy the cow when he’s getting the milk free of charge”. This is the standard of sex education that many young women in South…
Do healthy office buildings equal healthy employees?
Rate this OpinionAssociate Professor Sanchen Henning at the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) reflects on whether the drive for sustainable and optimal workspaces might overshadow a greater issue of staff wellness. A famous chiro-practitioner, B.J. Palmer, stated that the healing of the world…
Community critical in beating TB
Rate this OpinionWith all the spotlight on HIV and AIDS, it is in fact tuberculosis (TB) that is our biggest killer. Globally TB took 1.7 million lives in 2016 – and for the past five years has been one of the world’s leading causes of…
Listeriosis, a wake-up call for Africa
Rate this OpinionThe rising death toll of the listeriosis outbreak should be a wake-up call not only to South Africa, but Africa as a whole. The epidemic says a lot about our decisions on healthy lifestyles and our dependency on animal-based protein. For Africa to…
The Danger of Scapegoating
Rate this OpinionThere are still many unanswered questions surrounding the outbreak of Listeriosis. The Minister of Health of South Africa has been under pressure to find the source of this pestilence and root it out. This is because of the panic that starts to rise in citizens…
We should all hate social media
Rate this OpinionLate last year, I suffered an intense triple spell of depression, anxiety and loneliness. I was caving in under the crushing influence of my continuous Internet use and my presence on social media. Each time I picked up my phone, I felt my…
Termination of Pregnancy Act
Rate this OpinionIN FEBRUARY 1997, the South African government put itself at the forefront of reproductive rights when the parliament passed the landmark Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (CTOPA). It is currently one of the five African countries with progressive abortion laws. The hallmark…
The privilege of being heard
Rate this OpinionDay Zero is fast approaching in Cape Town and the people of Cape Town are angry. Outraged even. Had I not witnessed what I had in the Eastern Cape last week, I may be outraged too. Instead, I reflect that outrage is yet another…
You, Robot
Rate this OpinionIt is time for healthcare regulators to begin contemplating the effects of artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry at large – both in terms of the potential for artificial intelligence to provide health care services and for artificial intelligence to determine appropriate healthcare…
How one initiation death incident changed my life
Rate this OpinionPhoto credit: Scene from Inxeba Inxeba! Only cautious men should be involved in the initiation process, for me a cautious man would be someone who doesn’t drink while given a task to look after the initiates. Inxeba has been trending and everyone is…