Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
festive seasonlatest news & developments
Family tree: We need to shift the emphasis away from material gifts to shared activities such as putting up festive decorations, the writer says.

A season of joy and reflection

An African Christmas is a time to ponder the joy, challenges and resilience that define the festive season – and perhaps for a rethink

Both Durban and Cape Town are enjoying some respite from high levels of E.Coli in beach water

KZN and Western Cape water woes under control, for now, ahead of  festive season

Both Durban and Cape Town are enjoying some respite from high levels of E.Coli in beach water

Kneedy: Janice Honeyman’s pantomime Beauty and the Beast is being staged at the Joburg Theatre. Photo: Corne du Plessis

Pantomime: The beauty of festive storytelling

Janice Honeyman’s production brings magic to Joburg audiences

Need new games for game night this holiday season? Get inspired by these BBC Brit favourites

This festive season, why not take inspiration from VitaminQ and host your own BBC Brit-inspired games night, because who doesn’t love a bit of healthy competition between family…

South African police officer on a roadside drivers license and insurance check. (Photo by Peter Titmus/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

75 000 arrested in SA during festive season safety operations

The SAPS and the Ministry of Police, led by Police Minister Bheki Cele, launched the nationwide Safer Festive Season Operations on October 13 in the Western Cape

Johannesburg is submerged in darkness during load-shedding .  (AFP)

Eskom trying to cap load-shedding at stage four for summer

Eskom’s Calib Cassim said the utility plans to keep capacity losses caused by breakdowns to below 14 500 megawatts

FlySafair says the fact that national carrier SAA  is no longer subsidised by the government bodes well for competition in the industry. (Gallo Images/Jacques Stander)

FlySafair not threatened by SAA return, welcomes competition

The low-cost carrier has gained ground since taking to the skies in October 2014

Retail trade sales decreased by 1.6% in March 2023 compared with March 2022, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Wednesday.

Consumer spending muted in December, retail data shows

Pharmaceuticals and medical goods, cosmetics and toiletries as well as hardware, paint and glass were the biggest drag on growth

Road fatalities dropped by 13.9% during the festive season, with Gauteng being the only province that recorded an increase.

Road fatalities over festive season drop by nearly 14%

Minister Mbalula offers vague update on measures to prevent fatalities on the notorious N2 in KwaZulu-Natal

Electronic duo Goldfish will be lighting up the dance floor at the Corona Chasing Sunsets event to be held at the Grand Africa Cafe & Beach at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town on 26 December.

Let the festivities begin!

From wine tasting in Joburg to beach parties and outdoor films, here’s a list of things to do this festive season

‘My commitment going into this year — and beyond — is about the triple B’s’

Take time for boundaries, balance and breaks

Festive time: Camps Bay beach in Cape Town is already filled with people and signs are that it will be a good season for the tourism industry. Photo: David Harrison

After two years of Covid-19, SA gets ke Dezember back

The leisure industry is optimistic that growth this festive season will recover to pre-pandemic levels

Doomsday Clock moves a minute closer to midnight

‘Time is probably one of the most precious things we have as human beings.’

Use your precious time off over the festive season to read

In the spirit: A shopping mall in Bangkok, with its lights, streamers and colours, shows how Christmas should be celebrated. Photo: Mladen Antonov/AFP

Grinches have stolen this Christmas

It should be lights, jingles and feasts but this year the HoHoHo-ness of it all has been undone by Phala Phala and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Magical moments: Joburg Theatre is putting on Adventures in Pantoland, Janice Honeyman’s fun, witty mix of pantomimes which the director describes as ‘an epic journey of traditional good versus evil’. Photos: Corne du Plessis/ enroC photo & video

Staging magic for the children

Keep kids entertained and stimulated during the holidays with these festive theatre productions

Fighting prejudice: Zanele Muholi’s portrait of Dikeledi Sibanda.

Big Days go with Big and generous hearts

As you celebrate, think of those who are grieving and who don’t have as much as you do

Ninety-four percent of South African companies have been the target of an email-related phishing attempt. Photo: Getty Images

Higher levels of awareness are needed to combat festive season cybercrime

Understanding how cybercriminals work minimises the risk of being a victim of crime

ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula.

Transport ministry to appeal Aarto Act driver demerit system ruling

Minister Fikile Mbalula says motorists’ behaviour will change with disincentives for ‘unbecoming conduct’, but Outa and AA say the legislation was carelessly drafted

55 people killed on Western Cape roads during holiday season week

Drunk driving a major concern for road safety: 39 people arrested for driving under the influence.

Here we go again: Fireworks of a different kind are on the agenda for the year ahead, from climate change to Middle Eastern tension.

Compliments to SA confidence

Fortunately for us, survival is in our DNA. Let’s use that to greet worldwide crises