Innholdsfortegnelse for 10 December 2015 i Drum English

The festive season is upon us. It’s a season of love, fun and chilling. After a long year’s hard work, you surely deserve to take a break this December. Use the time to connect with your loved ones and recharge your batteries so that you can be ready for next year. As for me, I can’t wait to be at home to cook for my family and sit on the couch while reading a good book. Like many of us, I often spend money on things that are not that important. But, I’ve told myself that this year I want to pay the school fees in advance and use my bonus to settle some minor debts. So as you enjoy the festive season, don’t forget that January 2016 is coming.…

Striking Pikitup workers have thrashed the streets of Johannesburg, demanding salary increases and better working conditions. Do you think the law should be tough on protestors who resort to violence? XOLISILE MAHLANGU YES The law should be enforced on protesters who commit a crime. I believe that a protest is good because it will force Government to listen, but it should be monitored by the police and be peaceful. A dirty street might turn away tourists but it can also force the Government to listen. KAKANYO MOENG YES It shouldn’t be that every time there is a strike in South Africa, people have to commit a crime. Leaving trash on the streets is not an effective way to have your demands met. People can’t say they’re protesting for better salaries…

SPORTING shades and a cap, gospel crooner Sfiso Ncwane blends in unnoticed with the other guests in his “disguise” as he walks through the lobby of the Fire and Ice Hotel in Menlyn, Pretoria. In the wake of a series of scandalous media reports, the maestro has agreed to talk to DRUM. His legal advisor in tow, Sfiso is ready to talk about some burning issues in his life – the R1,9 million Merc SUV he bought for his pastor and the family squabbles it later created. The singer looks decidedly dejected – the very antithesis of his usual chirpy self. No doubt the negative publicity has taken a toll on him. You got a lot of ribbing for calling your wife “my Kim Kardashian” during your acceptance speech at…

THEY work deep within the heart of the family, looking after the children and homes of their employers. Many work long, hard hours, often over weekends as well. Despite attempts to improve their lot, domestic workers remain among the most vulnerable sectors of workers in the country. But the Government has just announced its minimum wage increases, however, the new packages are unlikely to excite much hope of improved lives for housekeepers and nannies. LONG HOURS, LOW PAY We speak to a live-in domestic worker who has been with her employer for six years. Maserame Ntshwaiseng* (52), wakes up before 5 am every weekday. First up, she makes breakfast and prepares the lunch boxes for the family of three she works for – a nine-year-old boy and his parents. Maserame…

THE JUMPSUIT TIP Tailored jumpsuits work well for pear-shaped bodies as they accentuate assets. Cinch your waist with a slim belt and wear heels to create longer legs. THE FLATTERING SKIRT TIP Wear an A-line skirt that flares at the bottom to highlight your waist and distract from your hips. THE DRESS TIP Choose styles that flatter your figure, like A-line dresses. If your dress is plain, accessorise your look with chunky necklaces to draw attention away from your ample assets. THE JACKET TIP Invest in long jackets that fall over your widest part to create a flattering silhouette. Pair this with dark skinny jeans or fitted items to make your legs look longer. STOCKISTS Ackermans 0860-900-100; Cotton On 011-230-2940; Donna-Claire 021-937-4779, 0860-104-764; DRUM Shop at Spree.co.za/drum (or go to…

WE LIVE in a multicultural society with 11 official languages, but English is still the main language of instruction in many SA schools. English is a universal language and linked to economic viability, but the focus on it is compromising our indigenous languages. But children who are exposed to English from an early age often speak well, but write badly – and ironically, this can be because they can’t write well in their first language. The Centre for The Study of Reading at the University of Illinois explains that when people have to read in their second language, they often depend on “a wealth of knowledge, strategies and processes from their first language”. That is, it’s best to learn to read in one’s first language, then apply those skills to…

TRUST ISSUES Q When I broke up with my ex-girlfriend I found it hard to date or love another girl. Two months later, though, I met a girl on a social network and we’ve been dating for eight months. Our love is ablaze but I don’t trust her because I met her on a social network. She’s introduced me to her family and friends but I still don’t trust her, although I haven’t noticed anything to make me suspicious. Can I trust her? NAKO, E-MAIL A Can she trust you, since you both met on a social network? If your answer to that is “yes”, then why wouldn’t you be able to trust her? Or are you expecting her not to trust you either? The girl has even introduced you…

1 It’s a great way to socialise, save and invest. You can also brainstorm ideas and share research. 2 You can all learn investment skills that you can apply to your own personal portfolios. 3 Groups can take advantage of certain opportunities, such as schemes which advance BEE projects, which are not open to individuals. 4 You can assign each other different types of investments to specialise in and educate yourselves. 5 You can bring interesting articles to discuss together. 6 You can attend investment events and presentations together. 7 You can invite certified financial planners and other experts to your meetings to assist you. 8 As with all investments, it’s wise to always consult an investment professional for advice before making any investment. They can explain the risks and…

AT THIS time of the year retailers are gearing themselves to entice festive season shoppers with “generous” offers. They know that people are prone to get into debt at this time of the year because they want to buy gifts and indulge in the festivities of the holiday season. Offers like “Get it now and start paying after three months” is one of the most common ways people are lured into into debt. WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Romans 13:8 (NIV) says, “Let no debt remain outstanding . . .” In other words, we need to make sure that we clear all our debt because if we don’t, we become “slaves to the lender (Proverbs 22:7)”. Debt is modern-day slavery. If you create debt, you need to service it continually…

ONE BEER A little boy goes to a bar. To the bartender’s surprise he says, “Hey, bartender. Pour me a cold one.” Bartender: “Hey, go on, kid, you wanna get me in trouble?” Boy: “Maybe later. Right now I just wanna a beer.” DEVIL’S ADVOCATE The devil visits a lawyer’s office and makes him an offer. “I can arrange some things for you,” the devil says. “I’ll increase your income five-fold. Your partners will love you; your clients will respect you; you’ll have four months of vacation each year and live to be a hundred. “All I require in return is that your wife’s soul, your children’s souls, and their children’s souls.” The lawyer thinks for a moment. “What’s the catch?” he asks. NO GENIUS HERE An old man is…

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TRI FORCE HEROES PLATFORM Nintendo Wii U Tri Force Heroes is a blast – its multiplayerpuzzle solving, dungeon romping, boss-slaying gameplay is some of the best fun we’ve had in ages, if you play it with friends. On your own the game is a shell of its former self. We’re not sure why Nintendo even bothered to include a single player mode when the game shines so brightly in multiplayer. Simply put, it’s one of the best co-op experiences on the market right now. If you and your friends are looking for something to play, you should add this one onto your must-have Christmas wish list! ANIMAL CROSSING HAPPY HOME DESIGNER PLATFORM Nintendo 3DS Making homes in Happy Home Designer is fun – the game is…

SHE SEEMS to be living a grand life – jet-setting across the globe, rubbing shoulders with two of the hottest trendsetters in Hollywood, gracing the small screen and ruling the airwaves. Thando Thabethe has worked hard to have it all and despite having experienced serious personal loss, the Generations: The Legacy actress and 5FM presenter is clearly riding the crest of the wave. MEETING THE JENNERS The gorgeous 25-year-old, dressed in a black playsuit and sequined pumps, looks confident when we catch up with her to talk about her recent trip to Australia where she hung out with Kendall (20) and Kylie (18) Jenner. “It was an amazing experience,” Thando says with a smile. “I’ve always wanted to travel. I enjoy meeting international celebrities and seeing how entertainment works on…

CASSPER NYOVEST @CassperNyovest Almost forgot the most important lesson. KEEP GOD IN YOUR HEART!!! This industry reeks of evil. You need protection. #DearUpAndComingRapper SAMMY SOSA @sam_lehoko Actually . . . Let me be productive today! Shopping and cleaning the crib will do me good. Retail therapy always works! ZWAI BALA @ZwaiBala With my brothers. Laughing our butts off as always. Again, as usual, in an instance we just break into song... LOYISO GOLA @loyisogola We spent about 6/7 hours on that shoot discussing rap music. You only get to see 30 minutes soooooo. #BaseHottestMC TBO TOUCH @iamtbotouch Thanks for all the credit, but all I care about is have I done enough good in other people’s lives!…

EDUCATION MATTERS How unfair is it of the Minister of Basic Education to force schools to get learners to write the Annual National Assessment tests (ANA)? The learners have finished exams and now have to respond to urgent notices to return to do another exam. What about the poor teachers who have to drop marking exams and writing reports and make themselves available for yet another test? When the ANAs were postponed in September, did the Department of Basic Education think through the practicalities of writing them in December? Teachers don’t have the capacity to administer a separate set of tests, let alone mark them. The best thing would have been to reschedule them for the first week of the new school year. It’s time for Minister Angie Motshekga to…

REPEATEDLY, she slips a neatly folded sterile dressing under her sunglasses, dabbing at her eye without removing the stylish eyewear. She doesn’t want to take them off – beneath their protective lenses is a damaged eye that’s lost all sight, because of a beating. Josina Machel, daughter of Graça Machel and the late Mozambican president Samora Machel, seems to be okay – until she starts talking about the day she was assaulted, allegedly by her partner of two years. When she arrives at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, Josina (39) greets the staff with a friendly smile and is poised as she walks with her driver by her side. But when she settles in to talk about how she suffered, purportedly at the hands of a man she loved, the…

Some people raised eyebrows after your husband called you “Kim Kardashian” during his Sama speech. Were you also shocked by the endearment? Oh no, I wasn’t surprised at all because that is what my husband and my sons call me at home. It’s one of my husband’s pet names for me but because of the excitement at the Samas he forgot he was on a public forum and blurted the name out. I have no qualms with it. I like Kim Kardashian’s show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Personally I think she’s stylish and gorgeous. How is your relationship with Mam’ Fikile? My relationship with my mother-in-law is good actually. I visited her about two weeks ago and we had a good time together. I bought her groceries and more…

THE PRESIDENT of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) is full of refreshed energy for his new term. Sdumo Dlamini says one of the most challenging issues he has to deal with is the various factions in the federation. But he’s very positive that despite the challenges and disagreements, one of which is who should be the country’s next president, and Cosatu’s struggle with finances and membership, the various unions are all looking forward to building a stronger Cosatu. We caught up with him after Cosatu’s recent 12th National Congress. Cosatu’s been operating with a deficit of R2,5 million for over three years. How has this affected the federation’s operations and how is it going to move forward? If all unions were paying their affiliation fees we would…

ROCKING RED BARELY THERE AT FIRST BLUSH ON TREND TRICKS AND LIPCARE MAKE IT LAST. Apply foundation on your lips and let it settle before applying your lipstick. USE PETROLEUM JELLY. For hard-to-remove lipsticks, apply a layer of petroleum jelly while the lipstick is still on and rub your lips together. Leave it on for a few minutes and gently wipe off with wet wipe. If traces of colour still remain, reapply petroleum jelly and repeat. STOP IT FROM BLEEDING. You will not go wrong with a lip liner, it stops the lipstick from bleeding into the cracks around your lips. ADD SOME HEAT. A warm, damp cloth also removes long-wearing lipstick well. Apply lip moisturiser immediately after. PREVENTING LIP STAINING. Lightly dab a layer of lip balm or petroleum…

PRETTY PARCELS YOU NEED TOOLS Craftknife Pencil Inkpad MATERIALS Paper Eraser.............R2,90,Merrypak Toilet roll tube Washi tape String or ribbon TOTAL COST ................ R2,90 STEP 1 Draw a design on an eraser and cut away the negative space. STEP 2 Use your stamp to print a pattern on a strip of paper. STEP 3 Flatten the toilet roll tube and then bend in the sides. STEP 4 Wrap the printed paper around the tube and tie a string or ribbon around it. WAX PAPER POMPOM YOU NEED TOOLS Craft knife Scissors MATERIALS Wax paper . . . . . . R19,99 for a 20-m roll, Checkers String TOTAL COST ................R19,99 STEP 1 Cut five or six 10-cm strips of wax paper. Put the strips on top of each other and fold…

HE PLAYS WITH HIS PENIS  Q My son is nine years old and I once caught him playing with his private parts to an extent that it became red and sore. I spoke to him about it, but I suspect he still does it because I check it from time to time and can see that it is either red or in the process of healing. Should I be concerned? And should I take him to see a professional or is this just a phase that he is going through? WORRIED MOM, SMS A He’s nine, so as a parent it is your responsibility to take your son for a check-up to someone who will be objective in their assessment of the situation. This is uncommon behaviour, so you need…

A constitution is drawn up by the members of an organisation or stokvel, setting out the rules that will dictate how the group will be run and what members can and cannot do. It should reflect the needs and circumstances of the people it governs and be reviewed every year. People tend to forget things, or choose to “forget” when it suits them, so make sure every member has read and learnt your constitution before they agree to join the club. The following should be taken into account when drawing up your constitution:Why are we forming a club?How many members do we need in our club?How often will we meet?What is our quorum for meetings?How much is our contribution?Do we need a committee?How many members will form our committee and…

MUVHANGO Lerumo buys KK and Matshidiso’s silence. Thandaza is not coping and Mankosi (CYNTHIA SHANGE) tells Imani to behave. Mulalo hires a PI to confirm whether or not Teboho had anything to do with the hijacking. Shonisani decides to leave Mulalo for good. Lerumo and Morapedi nearly come to blows at Carol’s bedside. SCANDAL! Gloria finds a way to ensure that neither she nor Stokkies will be alone. Stokkies’s past is revealed to be far darker than anyone except his family knew. Zinzile (GCINA NKOSI) tries to do something special for her family. Yolandi receives some advice which could change her future if she heeds it. Quinton does not know that he has been duped. RHYTHM CITY Mapula is heartbroken to discover that Emmanuel used her money without asking for…

WHAT’S IN A NAME? “My name is Jidenna, which means ‘to hold or embrace the father’ in Igbo [a Nigerian language]. It was my father who gave me this name and who taught me countless parables, proverbs and principles that made me the man I am today. These same principles helped me to write the record Classic Man.” HIS ROOTS “I am, always have been, and always will be proud of my Nigerian heritage. So for me being light-skinned in Nigeria, in our family, it was difficult. It was always challenging. We’d be hounded. We were robbed. Our family has been assaulted. We’ve had a lot of issues, and it’s different.” A CLASSIC MAN “I think that we’re at a time where some men feel undervalued, across races and across…

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THERE was always an outside chance the doting couple would opt for a cosy, traditional family wedding. One of those intimate ceremonies that had no more than 20 guests or so. But when it came to the crunch, they threw caution to the wind, planned a church wedding and invited 500 guests. But on the day, many more showed up. A day before his wedding, multi-award-winning gospel crooner Takie Ndou tells us, “We’re expecting uninvited guests. It’s not, after all, a private wedding.” THE BLUSHING BRIDE Around 1 000 guests gathered at Lighthouse Christian Church in Tshavhalovhedzi outside Makhado in Limpopo to witness Takie (32), and his long-time sweetheart, Taki Rathando (26), exchange vows. Already waiting at the wedding arch outside the church is the groom, who seems to have…

MALAIKA’S frontwoman TSHEDI MHOLO has been around for 20 years, but she’s just recorded a live DVD as a solo artist for the first time. The recording at Roodepoort Theatre in Johannesburg was attended by music icon YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA, who happens to be Tshedi’s mentor. The MC for the evening was poet and writer NAPO MASHEANE and she did a sterling job. Singer-songwriter Tshedi was accompanied by a four-piece band and three backing vocalists. Her set included songs from her debut album, Victory, which she released two years ago. She also did a rendition of Malaika’s hit 2 Bob, honouring the band that launched her career as a professional vocalist. Her bandmate is Bongani Nchang. Fellow bandmate Jabu Ndaba passed away in 2008 after a long battle with TB.…

SOME OF Mzansi’s regular red-carpet faces braved the chilly Jozi weather to attend the Gauteng Sansui Summer Cup at Turffontein Racecourse recently. Similar to big races like the Durban July or J&B Met, this R2 million horseracing event promises to only get better and bigger with time. This year’s theme was “More Jozi – think big, because nothing is big unless it’s Jozi big”, and the dress code was strictly smart, with men asked to “wear a suit or jacket and ladies encouraged to wear a hat”. Happy to oblige was soapie royalty FULU MUGOVHANI from Scandal! and Isidingo’s archvillainess KGOMOTSO CHRISTOPHER, who recently celebrated her 10th wedding anniversary. “Marriage is like parenting, there is no formula,” the lanky actress told us. “For our marriage, it’s been about being able…

JUST when you thought 69-year-old Sylvester Stallone had hung up his boxing gloves for good, the “Italian Stallion” is back. Sly returns as his iconic character Rocky Balboa to help the son of his foe-turned-friend, Apollo Creed, who if you recall, died in Rocky IV at the hands of the Russian Ivan Drago. In Creed, Apollo’s son (played by Michael B Jordan) hopes to continue his father’s legacy and seeks out Rocky to help him train. The franchise, which Sylvester wrote while he was still a struggling actor, spans six films, making it one of the most successful film sagas of all time – no wonder then that Michael (28) was anxious about taking on a lead role in this iconic movie series. The actor, who also stars in the…

MY FELLOW MEN, the emotional abuse of women sinks deep into their hearts like a sword. Your abusive words burn a woman’s feelings like acid. Some marriages are like a prison wherein women enter of their free will, lock the door and throw the key away. This should not happen to those we claim to love. Let’s not treat our partners as our doormats on which to wipe off our anger. Some men abuse their wives as if they own them. Marriage is like an ATM machine – if you deposit financial, emotional and physical abuse, you must expect to withdraw pieces of a broken heart. Let’s deposit respect, love and care instead. Let’s treat our wives as queens, our daughters and sons as princesses and princes. Let’s turn our…

IT’S BEEN a year since Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa was killed at his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo’s mother’s house, and now the house has been put up for sale. For a while now, the house of death has been on the market but potential buyers are reportedly put off because they believe it’s haunted by Senzo’s spirit (Living in fear of Senzo’s killers, 11 June). Many house-hunters have viewed the home of the songstress’ mother, Ntombi Khumalo, in Vosloorus. But as soon as they realise it’s the place where the goalie was killed in a botched robbery, they get cold feet and don’t even bother to make an offer. We’ve reliably learnt that the house on Kutlwanong Street in Spruitview is on the market for R490 000. But, after months…

THERE are a lot of deejays making waves out there these days, but the duo of DJ Ndile and DJ Target are definitely rocking our boat. Ndile (real name Sandile Phakathi) and Target (real name Sabelo Mthethwa) recently broke onto the music scene with a hurricane track, Umthwalo Wami. The single is currently on high rotation on various radio stations, as well as TV music shows. But being superstars was never part of the plan for these two 27-year-olds. The Durban-born artists tell us that their dream was always about making music. Their passion ran so deep that they even played without getting paid for a while. However, Ndile jokes that the main reason he decided to focus on music was because he struggled to wake up early in the…

KEEP FRESH with the Shower to Shower All Day Freshness Happy Days 24h Deodorant R19,95 – offering you 24 hours of sweat and odour protection. HIGH PROTECTION is guaranteed with Cetaphil Daylong SPF 50+ Liposomal Lotion Face & Body R195 – perfect for those days out in the sun. PUT ON HOLD that salon visit to refresh your hair colour with the Color WOW Root Cover Up in Black R550. It’s water-and sweat-resistant and lasts until your next shampoo. STAY LAID-BACK with the suave Ted Lapidus Pour Homme Gift Set for R695, and choose how light or intense you’d like to be fragranced. RENEW your face with the Clicks Sea Mineral Face Mask R27,95 – you’ll look like you’ve j st stepped out of a spa. BRIGHTEN UP your eyes…

PORK PORK JOINT ROAST WITH APPLE Pork and fruit are a classic pair. Buy a joint of pork and carve it into thin slices. PREPARATION: 10 MINCOOKING: 3 HR 20 MINSERVES 6 2,5 kg bone-in pork leg roast30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil15 ml (1 tbsp) sea salt flakes500 g baby onions, peeled300 ml apple cider beer2 cloves garlic, crushed250 ml (1 cup) chicken stock5 ml (1 tsp) fennel seedsblack pepper, to taste3 large red apples, cut into thickwedges Preheat the oven to 220 °C. 1 Pat the pork rind dry with a paper towel. Using a sharp knife, score the rind. Put the pork in a large baking dish. Rub the pork with the oil and sea salt. Roast for 25 minutes or until the rind is golden brown.…

THANDEKA MTHIYANE I knew someone who was kind, respectful and did everything but it was never enough for the mother-in-law. She disowned her son because she had a problem with the makoti. Some mothers-in-law are heartless. THEMBI MADLALA Just keep your distance. You can’t change the way she feels, so keeping quiet and smiling can be the best, makoti. Just focus on your husband (the reason why you joined the family). THANDO MAGIBISELA As you need to keep peace with your in-laws, they also need to understand you are not married to them. These “monsters-in-law” fear the makoti will replace them in the son’s life, but this is not the case. MADOSINI MHLETYWA My suggestion is to remove the “in-law” part that’s causing a rift between these parties and create…

“A full head of hair has typically been viewed as a sign of vitality and youth,” says Dr Colinda Linde, a clinical psychologist specialiing in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). “In the modern world, images in the media tend to portray ‘unrealistic’ hair on celebrities who women and girls are trying to emulate - fuller, longer, and often coloured hair.” Women do a lot of damage to their hair in the name of beauty: colouring, straightening treatments, weaves and extensions can all cause the hair to become dry and brittle. Dr Linde says our culture draws a strong link between self-worth and appearance. “The ongoing stress of this pressure contributes to hair loss, so people resort to hair extensions, weaves, wigs and treatments. Ironically, many of these lead to actual hair…

IN OCTOBER we looked at investments and how you can make your money work for you (How to invest wisely, 1 October). We also looked at different investments and, as promised, we’ll now look at another area where people are investing their money: unit trusts. One of the best-performing investments over time is a unit trust, or collective investment. In this type of investment, investors “pool” their money together to buy shares in different companies. These unit trusts are run and managed by different professional asset management companies or fund managers. Unit trusts are priced daily just like shares, and their prices can be found in the business section of daily newspapers. WHAT IS A UNIT TRUST? A unit trust is similar to a stokvel, where a group puts money…

SAGITTARIUS 22 NOV – 20 DEC Not knowing when enough is enough might cause you some problems this week, whether in terms of food and drink, teasing your friends or being generous with your cash. With lucky Jupiter still travelling through your career horoscope, good fortune should be on your side in terms of your career. As always, though, don’t bite off more than you can chew. YOUR LUCKY NUMBERS 28, 44, 26, 10, 7, 35 CAPRICORN 21 Dec – 20 Jan Communicative Mercury moves into your sign this week, making it a good time to speak your mind. Since your voice probably carries authority and you’re likely to be influential, choose your words wisely. A pessimistic message will do more harm than good. YOUR LUCKY NUMBERS 17, 43, 36,…

1. WHICH COUNTRY WON THE 2015 RUGBY WORLD CUP? A. South Africa B. Australia C. Argentina D. New Zealand 2. HOW MANY COLOURS MAKE UP THE SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG? A. Seven B. Six C. Five D. Four 3. IN WHICH CITY WILL YOU FIND BUCKINGHAM PALACE? A. London B. Windsor C. Balmoral D. Manchester 4. WHICH LOCAL SOAPIE’S CAST HAS ACTOR TUMISHO MASHA JOINED? A. Isidingo B. Scandal! C. Muvhango D. Rhythm City 5. WHAT PART OF THE BODY DOES THE HIV VIRUS AFFECT? A. Immune System B. Heart C. Lungs D. Mind 6. WHAT PLANET IS KNOWN AS THE RED PLANET? A. Jupiter B. Mercury C. Venus D. Mars 7. WHAT IS THE NAME OF SINGER ADELE’S LATEST SINGLE? A. Help B. Goodbye C. Hello D. Ciao 8. THE…

SO MATRIC exams are finally over – yay! But figuring out what to do next can be both magical and scary as it comes with a lot of responsibilities and big decisions, including how to further your education. Before you figure out how you’ll come up with your registration fees, take a moment to breathe and recover from the hectic exams. Then you need to plan for your future. HERE’S HOW TO PREP FOR 2016: 1 GET A PART-TIME JOB OR INTERNSHIP December is a busy time for retailers and a quiet time for businesses, which makes it an ideal time for you to learn on the fly or have someone mentor you. Visit online classifieds’ part-time and holiday job sections and have a browse. “You don’t need a lot…

CHILDREN in South Africa are gearing up for the most exciting time of the year: exams are done and Christmas is around the corner. Matric learners are waiting in anticipation for their final results, which will reflect their hard work and effort over the past year to pass their all-important final school exams. Some will have their parents and grandparents doting over them during the festive season. But for many South African children, the holiday season doesn’t always bring festive joy. Instead, it will be a culmination of a year’s worth of fear and anxiety and those who are not fortunate enough to get expensive gifts, might begin to suffer from depression and anxiety. Child psychologist Christo van der Westhuizen says the festive season can be difficult time for children…

SOUTH AFRICA still has a long way to go in the area of children’s rights, according to a global report. The Kids Rights Index is compiled by the International Institute of Social Studies and Erasmus University in the Netherlands, and is the first of its kind to provide insight into how countries all over the world score when it comes to implementing children’s rights. The index is based on five different domains: The right to life, health, education, protection and an environment for the protection of child’s rights. Out of 165 countries, SA ranked 86th place overall. The country scored particularly poorly on the right to life, life expectancy at birth and maternal mortality. The World Health Organization puts child mortality in SA at 33,4 deaths per 1 000 births,…

IT’S BEEN a difficult time for presenter and singer NTOMBI NGCOBO. She recently gave birth to a son who has a rare heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The Shikisha presenter revealed that a little under two months ago she was told her unborn son had the heart condition, and he probably wouldn’t survive. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome complex is a rare heart defect which is present at birth and where, as the name suggests, the left side of the heart is critically underdeveloped. “Instead of feeling sorry for myself and asking endless ‘whys’, I have chosen to stay positive and enjoy every second of my pregnancy,” she said in post on photo-sharing website Instagram. Ntombi later spoke to us from Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Joburg where her…

IT WAS another busy week in Tinseltown with plenty of awards ceremonies, gala dinners and movie premieres to go around. We look at some of our favourite finery gracing the red carpet on some of our favourite stars. Our look of the week was JADA PINKETT SMITH in a sheer silver Zuhair Murad gown. She stole the show at the premiere of Concussion. Attending the same event was VIVICA A. FOX in a little white number, which showed off her toned figure. At another LA premiere, this time for the movie Creed, was actress TESSA THOMPSON. She opted for a Valentino mini with tulle sleeves but the jury is still out on her LBD. There’s no disputing that KHLOE KARDASHIAN looked smoking hot in a Mugler Fall 2015 LBD at…