Sunday Tribune 2025-12-14

Behind every delivery bag on South Africa’s roads is a worker with ambition, responsibility, and a story worth telling. Few embody this better than 29-year-old Sizwe Mpungose, a Sixty60 delivery rider whose commitment to safety and mentorship is reshaping the way riders navigate the country’s roads. Raised in Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal, Sizwe credits his upbringing for the discipline and awareness that guide his work today. “Eshowe is a place where you learn to be patient, observant, and respectful of others,” he said. “We grow up understanding that small mistakes can have big consequences. Because of that, I approach my work with discipline and a strong sense of responsibility.” Mpungose joined Pingo Delivery, the Shoprite Group’s on demand delivery network, in June 2023 as an independent contractor. His love for riding…

With Black Friday all wrapped up, South African consumers will now look ahead to the festive season, keeping a close eye on deals and their wallets. In a promising sign for the South African economy, consumer confidence has experienced a marked rise heading into the festive season, as revealed by Momentum Investments' latest Consumer Pulse report. The findings for the fourth quarter of 2025 indicated an improvement in the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI), climbing from –13 to –9, the highest level noted this year and a welcome change from the previous quarter’s downturn. This increase is particularly significant as households gear up for the traditional rise in spending during the festive period. While there are indicators that household spending may take a hit later in the year due to declines…

As the year draws to a close, it’s worth asking whether 2025 was a win or a loss for women’s empowerment and gender equality in South Africa. The answer depends on what we choose to count. If you count mobilisation, mentorship and the rebuilding of a leadership culture that says “lift as you rise,” 2025 was a win. If you count access to capital, employment and the stubborn economics of care and safety, it was not nearly enough. The year delivered a powerful surge of collective energy, Ubuntu in action, but the material dividends that change women’s lives at scale remain frustratingly thin. On the side of progress, platforms such as the International Women’s Forum South Africa (IWFSA) Cornerstone Conference brought together leaders across generations, sectors and geographies. Another was…

Romcoms are even more of a hit this time of the year. With everyone in high spirits, watching films or TV shows that match that heart-warming energy is almost an unspoken rule. Of course, streaming platforms are cognisant of this reality, which is why they roll out an attention-grabbing festive slate. Set in picturesque Cape Town, including the Winelands, the storyline resonates with Mzansi as it draws parallels between the haves and have-nots while also unpacking romances where opposites are drawn together. At the heart of the story is Ovee (Ntobeko Sishi), the Playboy son of billionaire Mr Sityebi (Bongile Mantsai). While he doesn’t have a social media footprint, he is known for his wild partying and one-night stands. However, his father wants him to take on a more hands-on…

It’s that time of the year when we reflect on the shows that captivated us completely. Of course, each had its own unique appeal. And don’t even get me started on the calibre of actors attached to them. A good starting point for describing this is "mind-blowing". Of course, it’s impossible to list all the shows. But these were the ones that stood out for me. The Beast in Me (Netflix) This psychological thriller captured attention with its storyline and the fact that it pitted two top-tier actors, Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys, against each other. I have followed their careers since their breakthrough roles in My So-Called Life and Brothers & Sisters, respectively. The premise centres on celebrated author Aggie Wiggs (Danes), who has hit a wall in writing…

Angel Ndlela has stepped into a new chapter of The Real Housewives history, and has been doing so with the same calm confidence she’s become known for on The Real Housewives of Durban. As one of the cast members representing South Africa on The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa, the 30-year-old reality star opened up in a recent interview about the moment she got the call, what the trip meant for her, and why this experience felt different from anything she’s done before. For the young entrepreneur, being chosen to be part of the Pan-African crossover came as a shock in the best way possible. She shared that she still remembers exactly where she was when the producers reached out. “I was about to take off on a flight…