When Gogo Started to Forget: One Man’s Journey Through Dementia and Misconception
Thabisile Gumede 6 June 2026 The first signs came after loss. Two weeks after his mother died, Nduduzo Kheswa noticed his grandmother was not the same. The woman who had raised him, who had been his mother in every way that mattered, was beginning to forget. She forgot things. She forgot people. She forgot him….
Anchored in a Moving World
Warren Moult 5 June 2026 Loyalty is one of the rarest things left in the world. Not loud loyalty. Not the kind that performs for crowds or speaks in grand speeches when life is easy, and everyone is watching. Real loyalty is much quieter than that. It lives in the unseen moments. In the moments…
THE LONG SHADOW: How Early Childhood Trauma is Fueling South Africa’s Paediatric Mental Health Crisis
Thembelihle Zwane 1 June 2026 Amid a growing national focus on the structural gaps in public healthcare, South African medical professionals are warning of a quiet epidemic: the deep, long-term psychiatric scars left by early childhood trauma. Once dismissed as experiences a child would naturally “outgrow,” early adversity is now recognised by local health authorities…
South Africa’s Silent Health Crisis: Nearly Half of Adults Living with Hypertension
Why More South Africans Are Being Encouraged to “Own Their Number” This World Hypertension Month Londiwe Buthelezi 27 May 2026 Hypertension has quietly become one of South Africa’s most urgent public health threats. As the country marks World Hypertension Month 2026, healthcare experts are calling on South Africans to “Own Their Number” – to understand,…
African Royal Women Breaking Mental Health Stigma
Thabisile Gumede 25 May 2026 On Africa Day, 25 May 2026, the South African Royal Princesses Network (SARPN) convened a landmark online event that wove together themes of heritage, womanhood, and mental wellness. Under the theme African Royal Women Leading the Future of the Continent, the inaugural webinar drew representatives from multiple kingdoms across South…
Reclaiming the Narrative: Articulate Africa Brings Soul and Solutions to Mental Health
Gugu Madonsela 21 May 2026 The final day of Articulate Africa, a packed three-day Art and Book Fair running from Monday through to Wednesday (18-20 May 2026), culminated in a deeply moving panel discussion that felt less like a formal presentation and more like a sanctuary for human truth. Over its multi-day program, the fair…
De-stigmatising the Voice: Bridging the Divide in South Africa’s Schizophrenia Care
Thabisile Gumede 23 May 2026 As the global community observes World Schizophrenia Awareness Day on May 24, 2026, South Africa finds itself at a crossroads. While medical advancements have made recovery possible, the “shadow pandemic” of stigma continues to isolate the approximately 1% of the population living with Schizophrenia. This year’s theme, “Breaking Myths,” highlights…
Childhood interrupted: Living with early-onset schizophrenia
Stella Moll 23 May 2026 It is a call no parent wants to receive. It was a regular Tuesday when Erin Baker, mother of 12-year-old Ricky, heard that her son had hurt himself at school. “He was in chemistry class, and he just chugged a huge bottle of peroxide. He didn’t know why he did…
Book Review: Inside the Concrete Bubble by Thabisile Gumede
Thabisile Gumede, a passionate storyteller and truth seeker, invites readers to delve into the complex world of mental illness with her groundbreaking book, Inside the Concrete Bubble. This compelling narrative is not just a memoir; it’s a profound exploration of the complexities surrounding schizophrenia and an invitation to foster understanding and compassion for those living…
Caring for the Carers: Addressing the Invisible Trauma of South Africa’s Public Sector Nurses
Thembelihle Zwane 12 May 2026 As the global community marks International Nurses Day on May 12, 2026, a spotlight is being shone on an escalating crisis within South Africa’s public health corridors: Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS). Unlike standard burnout, STS is the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about or witnesses the firsthand…
