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The discovery of a new species of human relative, Homo Naledia was unveiled at The Cradle of Human Kind at Maropeng in Johannesburg, South Africa. Naledi was discovered in a hard to reach chamber in the Rising Star Cave which has led scientists to believe that the Hominids had a understanding of the finality of death.  Naledi stood about 1,5m high, had a unique mix of primitive and modern features with a tiny brain about the size of an orange, a slender body and unusually curved fingers. (Photo by Denzil Maregele/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The no-prisoner Naledi wars

DREW FORREST looks at the fierce academic controversies ignited by South Africa’s most recent hominin find

The Elephant Chamber is one of the main chambers within the Sterkfontein Caves, known for its significant role in paleontological discoveries, including the discovery of hominid fossils. (Umamah Bakharia/M&G)

Sterkfontein Caves reopened after safety upgrades

The international landmark closed in 2023 after heavy rainfall caused soil movement that threatened safety

Then Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Professor Lee Berger hold a replica of the skull of a Homo naledi during the unveiling of the discovery. (File photo)

The God Edition | Searching among the bones for Homo naledi’s soul

Drew Forrest uses one of South Africa’s most important hominid discoveries to debate the paradoxes and contradictions inherent in the religious doctrine of ‘ensoulment’

Fresh start: Zolani Mahola, former lead singer of Freshlyground. She was one of the performers at the Concert for Love at Nirox Park, north of Joburg, last week. Photos: Aron Halevi, Alaister Russell

Zolani Mahola on music, motherhood and meaning

Reinventing herself through music, nature and purpose, she steps into her true power

Members of The Ugly Veg Company sorting kale. Images by Derek Davey

Ugly vegetables create a beautiful story

A small agricultural miracle is transforming a community in the Cradle of Humankind

Efforts to get the pump station fixed by the municipality have been “fruitless”. Photo by Delwyn Verasamy

Our water crisis is a tinderbox

Sewage pollution has harrowing consequences for human health, such as waterborne pathogens like cholera, salmonella, typhoid and hepatitis

The Munsieville pump station, which should separate solid waste from liquids, has not worked for years, leading to raw sewage flowing through the township. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Sewage swamp: Mogale City can’t get its shit together

The pollution is making residents sick and contaminating rivers and groundwater resources in the Cradle of Humankind

Human history: Sterkfontein Cave at the Cradle of Humankind outside Joburg. (Mark Harris/Getty Images)

Making no bones of science

This is an edited extract from Sarah Wild’s new book ‘Human Origins’

Most foul: The Blougatspruit once teemed with life. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Filthy rivers run through Cradle of Humankind

Landowners and businesses in the Unesco World Heritage Site are up in arms over municipal sewage pollution

Water flows through the concrete pipe and across a gravel road before going under the R24. (Trevor Brough)

Cradle of Humankind residents fear sinkholes, groundwater contamination from toxic acid mine drainage

Excessive rainfall last month has caused untreated toxic water from old gold mines to decant into waterways on the West Rand

The discovery of a new species of human relative, Homo Naledia was unveiled at The Cradle of Human Kind at Maropeng in Johannesburg, South Africa. Naledi was discovered in a hard to reach chamber in the Rising Star Cave which has led scientists to believe that the Hominids had a understanding of the finality of death.  Naledi stood about 1,5m high, had a unique mix of primitive and modern features with a tiny brain about the size of an orange, a slender body and unusually curved fingers. (Photo by Denzil Maregele/Foto24/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Unearthing Leti, the child of darkness

The first partial skull of a Homo naledi child, which is believed to be 250 000 years old, has been found in the Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg

The big time: The BMW X3M

BMW X3 thrives in the M stable

The compact SUV is so at home with its new badge that’s it’s surprising it didn’t happen sooner

(Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Sewage threatens world heritage site

Years of pollution in the rivers flowing through the Cradle of Humankind, and Mogale City’s inaction — are a risk to the environment, our health and — cultural status.

An artist’s rendering of Australopithecus afarensis. Lucy ate meat and plants 3.2-million years ago. (Dave Einsel/Getty Images/AFP)

Putting meat on Homo’s menu

We have been omnivores probably since the time of Lucy, our closest ancestor

Reconstruction of Sahelanthropus tchadensis

The next best thing to a time machine

Palaeoartist John Gurche recreates strikingly realistic models of our ancestors.

Keneiloe Molopyane was part of the Rising Star team at the Cradle of Humankind.

Rising Star Expedition spelunks down Cradle of Humankind

The Rising Star Expedition – a team consisting mostly of women – has been delving deep into the Cradle of Humankind’s caves looking for fossils.

New 2-million-year-old fossil fox found in Sterkfontein

A two-million-year-old fox fossil has been discovered at an archaeological dig at the Cradle of Humankind in Sterkfontein, researchers announced.

Nearly two million years ago our early ancestors took a liking to the area around the Sterkfontein Caves.

Karabo is finally complete

The Sterkfontein Caves have revealed another ancient ancestor, confirming South Africa as the home of humanity, writes Sipho Kings McDermott.

Nine-year-old finds fossil of new hominid species

Nine-year-old finds fossil of new hominid species

The nine-year-old son of a Wits scientist found a fossil of a new hominid species that lived 1,95m years ago, the scientist revealed on Thursday.

Welcome to Sterkfontein, welcome home

Rian Malan, the South African journalist and author, once made a spiky defence of Johannesburg in a British newspaper.