Independent on Saturday

IT’S an established rule in horror films: venturing into the woods alone and vulnerable is a recipe for disaster. Don’t Move puts a spin on the classic set-up, with a dark twist. Iris (Kelsey Asbille), a mother haunted by the loss of her son, ventur

Quincy Jones, who died on Sunday, produced some of the American songbook’s most iconic albums. He worked with some of the industry’s biggest stars, from Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra to Paul Simon and Aretha Franklin. He was also the creative for

Actress, media personality and businesswoman Pearl Thusi is ready to get spicy and become the next Mzansi celebrity to be roasted. The Comedy Central Roast of Pearl Thusi will be broadcast on December 8. Comedy Central is behind the roasts of Kenny K

This month, we recognise Movember, an initiative devoted to positively influencing men’s mental well-being, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. During Movember, most men trim their beards and moustaches to show that they suppor

In the hustle of modern life, especially in South Africa, where stress and mental health challenges are becoming more prevalent, people are turning to various forms of physical activity to stay active and keep their minds healthy. Whether running mar

Researchers in South Africa are testing a longer-acting version of the dapivirine vaginal ring, a device designed to help prevent HIV infection in women. The development could be a game-changer, offering a more practical and sustainable alternative

After their infamous plot to destroy parliament was foiled, Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators received one of the most severe judicial sentences in English history: hanging, drawing and quartering. According to the Treason Act 1351, this punishment

Northlands Primary teams, Smooth Sailors and Lego Legends, excelled at the recent regional Lego League tournament in Ballito, placing second and third respectively out of 16 other competing teams, and ranking within the top 10 of 60 teams provinciall

If you have a couple of bucks lying around and want to splash out on some gems for the festive season, here are a couple of “trinkets” up for grabs next week. One of the most intriguing is a diamond-studded necklace thought to be involved in a scanda

NEARLY 100 pupils will make their debut as published writers this month when their anthology of poems is launched at the Durban International Book Fair, #DIBF2024. The title of the collection is The World We Hold: Young Voices Rising, and it features

The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir has triumphed at the 30th annual South African Music Awards (SAMAs), claiming the coveted title of Best Adult Contemporary Album for their album Stimela. Dubbed the Grammys of South African music, the SAMAs took place las

Debbie Marimuthu has struck success at the Blackball World Championships in Bridlington, UK, competing at the contest for the first time. Fresh off her impressive third-place finish at the National Blackball Championship in April, the oThongathi resi

PIETER-Dirk Uys, a beloved figure in South African theatre, has spent decades using humour as a weapon against fear and ignorance. In a recent conversation on The Rocktirement Podcast series created by Circle Senior Living, Uys opened up about the t

Maritzburg-based eWaste Africa has found winning ways in the 2024 Circular Innovation Challenge. Outshining 54 competitors, eWaste Africa earned accolades for its innovative solutions to a pressing environmental dilemma: the disposal of defunct phot

Five projects seeking novel solutions to the world’s environmental challenges each won £1 million (nearly R23m) this week. The Earthshot Prize awards ceremony was held in Cape Town this week, attended by its founder Britain’s Prince William. William

School exam markers will have to consider that some pupils could not prepare for their final papers because bad weather led to electricity outages this week. KwaZulu-Natal education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi reassured frustrated pupils this would ha

Baker and chef Adam Robinson and photographer Roger Jardine have combined to produce A Book About Pastries, launched at the Glenwood Bakery last week. It’s a book that takes in everything from hot cross buns to croissants, and choc-chip cookies to mi

Hooters Where: 178 Florida Road, Morningside Open: Daily noon to 11pm Call: 031 006 5191 It’s a spot on Florida Road that has had something of chequered history. The grand old Hollis House, built by the man who built the City Hall, has been a fine di

The world’s first superstar hippo lives in a zoo in Thailand. Moo Deng, whose name means “bouncy pork”, shot to fame soon after she was born in July this year, thanks to viral videos that showed off her cute expressions and chirpy demeanour. Yet the

Brandon Barrett arrived in Green Bank, West Virginia, six weeks ago, sick but hopeful, like dozens before him. Just a few years back, he could dead lift 270kg. After an injury while training to be a professional dirt-bike rider, he opened a motorcycl

One reason Nico Leonard, a foul-mouthed Dutchman based in Belfast, became the most popular luxury watch YouTuber is his penchant for dumping on Swiss brands. “It’s a fashion watch for people with more money than sense,” he says in a 2023 video Why I

John Coleman, 3, has always had a thing for trucks. When he started noticing a garbage truck drive by his home every Tuesday morning, he’d look out the window or stand in the doorway and watch in awe. Then one morning, about 10 months ago, John’s mot

The work of four KZN ceramic artists has been chosen to go on display at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum at the launch of the inaugural SA Clay Awards in recognition of ceramic excellence in South Africa. Andrew Walford’s Imbali, Sbonelo Luth

A FORMER North Coast resident has had a prominent hand in breakthrough multi-cancer early detection test technology that could potentially “light the way” to reduced mortality rates and treatment costs. Wesley Sukdao is the CEO and co-founder of Prot

The public commemoration of war dead did not really develop until the beginning of the 20th century when war memorials were erected in Britain and South Africa after the end of the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).These memorials were dedicated to o

Wandering around the Old Fort gardens, one is struck by the neglect. Weeds, uncut grass and litter. Flower beds are untended. No grounds staff were visible, but when they do pitch up, does a supervisor ensure they actually perform a productive day’s

There are many myths about breast cancer, particularly in Africa with its rich diversity of people, different genetic backgrounds and ancestral histories. An advertising campaign from the US, for example, asserts that one in every eight women will de

Forgetting is part of our daily lives. You may walk into a room only to forget why you went in there – or perhaps someone says hi on the street and you can’t remember their name. But why do we forget things? Is it simply a sign of memory impairment,

Because there are typically no symptoms until the first fracture occurs, osteoporosis is considered a silent disease. Some call it a silent killer. Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterised by decreased bone density and strength, leading to fragil

YouTube is restricting teenagers’ exposure to fitness and weight-related videos to protect their wellbeing. This means that the platform’s algorithm will no longer make repeated recommendations of content that focuses on achieving specific fitness le

You get vans and then there’s the Mercedes-Benz V-Class. And as a colleague remarked, the luxury van has built up a bit of a cult status over the years and with around 50 units sold every month that’s not about to change. Only the Exclusive range is

The raging bull of the automotive world is on a product launching charge at the moment. In the space of just 18 months Lamborghini has completely refreshed its supercar portfolio, replacing the Aventador with the Revuelto and the Huracan with the Tem

Say what you want about the new Kia Tasman, but you certainly won’t mistake it for any other bakkie on the road. Kia has broken the mould with its new one-tonner, which is due to hit South African showrooms in 2025. But in the process it has polarise

The new Gautrain Driver’s Licence Testing Centres (DLTCs) – which are located at the Midrand and the Centurion train stations – are now offering Gauteng motorists a fast and efficient way to renew their drivers licences without the hassle of snaking

While consumers are set to spend more over Black November – which is what Black Friday and Cyber Monday seem to have become – they will be focusing more on items such as food and clothing, which isn’t surprising given the economic environment. In fac

When Donald Trump clinched victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the immediate shockwaves were felt not only across America but around the globe. As global markets scrambled to respond, one of the first signs of economic turbulence was a s

One reason many people shy away from financial issues is because they are typically bombarded with legal and financial terms with which they are unfamiliar. In insurance, the more you understand the concepts and the terms used, the less likely you ar

Besides ensuring that your will is written in clear and concise language, here are some steps to ensure that your will achieves its intended purposes and can withstand legal scrutiny: Draft your own will: Be sure that the person who writes or types o

While criminals often see insurance as a highly lucrative target, cases involving premeditated murder to benefit from an insurance payout are not that common, according to Jean van Niekerk, convenor of the Association for Savings and Investment South

When you are young, you are strong, later in life your strength will diminish, and your opportunities will fade away. It is insane for a strong and resilient you to borrow from the frail and weakened you of the future. Any prudent person would do the

Richards Bay FC forward Yanela Mbuthuma has audaciously promised the club’s loyal fans an appearance in the Carling Knockout Cup final. The Natal Rich Boyz have a date with Magesi in the semi-finals of the league cup today at 3 pm at the King Zwelith

True to form, Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has raised eyebrows with the match 23 he picked to play Scotland in Edinburgh tomorrow. This includes a return to the 7-1 bench split that he last used in the 2023 World Cup final against the All Blacks. T

Injury-hit Manchester City are desperate to snap their losing streak in their final Premier League game before the international break as Chelsea aim to deepen Arsenal's misery. Elsewhere in the English top flight, Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge of

Elrigh Louw has had to walk a tough road in professional rugby, having first had to make turns at the Valke and Cheetahs before emerging at the Southern Kings. His performances as a youngster in Gqeberha were impressive enough to earn him a contract

Interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy’s future at Manchester United is up in the air ahead of the arrival of Ruben Amorim but goalkeeper Andre Onana said the players are keen for the Dutch coach to remain with the club. Van Nistelrooy stepped into the

Gonzalo Quesada expects his Italy team to be ring rusty when they take on his home nation Argentina in the Azzurri’s opening November Test match today, hoping to end a positive year on a high. In Udine, Italy will take to the field together for the f

GERALD Coetzee has returned to international cricket, having been included in the Proteas T20I squad for the ongoing four-match series against India. The youngster sustained a side strain injury during Major League Cricket in the United States of Ame

Hugo Broos is a players’ coach. As such, he believes that the bond he has with his Bafana Bafana troops will enable them to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals next year. Bafana will play in their last two Afcon qualifiers this month

Proteas all-rounder Andile Simelane is motivated that at 21 years of age he finds himself among South Africa’s best T20 all-rounders as he is in the squad that is currently doing duty against India while senior all-rounders Andile Phehlukwayo and Wia

Belgium have recalled top scorer Romelu Lukaku to their 23-man squad for their last two Nations League group matches against Italy and Israel as they make a last-ditch effort to reach the quarter-finals, coach Domenico Tedesco said yesterday. Lukaku

Australia boss Joe Schmidt insists handing a Test debut to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii against England is “more of an opportunity than a risk”, despite it being the former rugby league star’s first senior game of rugby union. Less than a month after changi

The penultimate matches of the Carling Knockout Cup are set to take centre stage this weekend with a new champion in waiting. Richards Bay and Magesi will kick off the semi-final stage when they clash at the King Zwelithini Stadium at 3pm today. Tomo

Neo Maema concedes that the rotation system at Mamelodi Sundowns is tough, but in the same breath, he understands that the club’s mission is bigger than individual ambitions. Sundowns are the team to beat in local football. They’ve dominated the loca

Hiking is a fantastic activity that allows us to connect with nature, explore breathtaking landscapes, and challenge ourselves physically. For hikers of all ages and anyone coming back from an injury, preparing your body before hitting the trail is

Packing for a holiday can be challenging. It’s a balancing act of taking essentials. The last thing you want is to be bogged down by bulky baggage. Wayne Mills, the head of operations at Seven Seas Worldwide, said we all knew the struggle of trying

As the festive season approaches, South African National Parks (SANParks) announced that it is ready to host visitors at national parks. According to the parks management authority, numerous interventions were in place and underway at its 21 functio

Summer is almost here and, in a few short weeks, people will be relaxing and spending time travelling with friends and family. Some destinations require months of advance planning, however, some Asian destinations are visa and hassle-free making the

Summer is almost here and it’s time to get out of your shell and explore. The season is the best time to travel as it offers long, warm sunny days. While summer is about lounging at the beach for most people, there are plenty of activities to enjoy