South Africa is topping a rather concerning global ranking – we are officially the country with the highest participation in online gambling worldwide. According to the figures, 32.3% of South African internet users aged 16 and older engage in online gambling at least once a month. That's almost one in three internet users. And this is not happening in isolation. The country's betting industry
has experienced explosive growth, with revenue reportedly increasing by more than 1,400% between 2018 and 2023. Sports betting and the growing accessibility of online platforms are among
the major drivers. But what does this say about our relationship with gambling? Is online betting becoming a form of entertainment, a way for people to supplement their incomes, or are we increasingly turning to gambling in the hope of escaping financial hardship? And perhaps more importantly, what are the social and economic consequences of a country so heavily invested in betting?

South Africa is topping a rather concerning global ranking &ndash; we are&nbsp;officially the country with the highest participation in online gambling&nbsp;worldwide. According to the figures, 32.3% of South African internet&nbsp;users aged 16 and older engage in online gambling at least once a&nbsp;month. That's almost one in three internet users.&nbsp;And this is not happening in isolation. The country's betting industry has experienced explosive growth, with revenue reportedly&nbsp;increasing by more than 1,400% between 2018 and 2023. Sports&nbsp;betting and the growing accessibility of online platforms are among the major drivers. But what does this say about our relationship with&nbsp;gambling? Is online betting becoming a form of entertainment, a way&nbsp;for people to supplement their incomes, or are we increasingly&nbsp;turning to gambling in the hope of escaping financial hardship? And&nbsp;perhaps more importantly, what are the social and economic&nbsp;consequences of a country so heavily invested in betting?

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: SOUTH AFRICA IS THE WORLD’S ONLINE GAMBLING CAPITAL – WHAT IS DRIVING THE BETTING BOOM?

Universities are traditionally regarded as institutions where society interrogates ideas, challenges established thinking and prepares future generations to understand the world around them. But what happens when certain fields of knowledge begin to lose their place in these institutions? Across the higher education sector, theology departments are facing questions about their relevance, financial sustainability and whether they still meet the needs of modern students. Some universities have moved towards closing, restructuring or reducing theology programmes, prompting a wider debate about the place of religion and faith in contemporary society.
Theology is often associated with the training of pastors, priests and other religious leaders. However, the discipline extends far beyond the pulpit. It engages with questions of morality, ethics, justice, human rights, suffering, identity and the relationship between humanity and the divine. It has also played a significant role in shaping historical movements, political thought, education and social development. So, if universities are moving away from theology, are they simply responding to changing student interests and economic realities, or are we gradually losing an important academic space for examining some of society&#39;s most fundamental questions? Tonight, we want to interrogate whether theology still has a place in modern universities and society. Is it an outdated discipline struggling to compete with more commercially relevant qualifications, or does it offer a form of knowledge that remains essential, particularly in societies where religion continues to influence people&#39;s lives, values and decisions? And perhaps more importantly, can we separate the study of theology from religious indoctrination and recognise it as an important academic discipline?

Universities are traditionally regarded as institutions where society&nbsp;interrogates ideas, challenges established thinking and prepares&nbsp;future generations to understand the world around them. But what&nbsp;happens when certain fields of knowledge begin to lose their place&nbsp;in these institutions? Across the higher education sector, theology&nbsp;departments are facing questions about their relevance, financial&nbsp;sustainability and whether they still meet the needs of modern&nbsp;students. Some universities have moved towards closing,&nbsp;restructuring or reducing theology programmes, prompting a wider&nbsp;debate about the place of religion and faith in contemporary society. Theology is often associated with the training of pastors, priests and&nbsp;other religious leaders. However, the discipline extends far beyond&nbsp;the pulpit. It engages with questions of morality, ethics, justice,&nbsp;human rights, suffering, identity and the relationship between&nbsp;humanity and the divine. It has also played a significant role in&nbsp;shaping historical movements, political thought, education and social&nbsp;development. So, if universities are moving away from theology, are&nbsp;they simply responding to changing student interests and economic&nbsp;realities, or are we gradually losing an important academic space for&nbsp;examining some of society&amp;#39;s most fundamental questions?&nbsp;Tonight, we want to interrogate whether theology still has a place in&nbsp;modern universities and society. Is it an outdated discipline&nbsp;struggling to compete with more commercially relevant&nbsp;qualifications, or does it offer a form of knowledge that remains&nbsp;essential, particularly in societies where religion continues to&nbsp;influence people&amp;#39;s lives, values and decisions? And perhaps more importantly, can we separate the study of theology from religious&nbsp;indoctrination and recognise it as an important academic discipline?

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Does Theology Still Matter in Modern Society?

South Africa is facing a diabetes epidemic, and the consequences are becoming increasingly worrying. More than 2.3 million working- age adults in the country are living with diabetes – that is roughly one in every 16 people. But while much of the conversation around diabetes focuses on blood sugar levels, medication and diet, there is another devastating complication that is often overlooked: blindness. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable vision loss, with research indicating that one in three people living with diabetes already shows signs of diabetic retinopathy – a condition in which high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. What makes this particularly dangerous is that the damage can happen silently. You could be losing your eyesight without experiencing pain or even noticing changes in your vision. As we mark World Diabetes Day on the 14th of November, the Ophthalmological Society of South Africa is calling for routine eye
examinations to become part of diabetes care, warning that by the time someone notices their vision deteriorating, some of the damage may already be irreversible. So, how many South Africans are
unknowingly putting their eyesight at risk? Are we doing enough to detect and prevent diabetes-related blindness, and why is a simple retinal examination potentially the difference between maintaining your independence and losing your sight?

South Africa is facing a diabetes epidemic, and the consequences&nbsp;are becoming increasingly worrying. More than 2.3 million working-&nbsp;age adults in the country are living with diabetes &ndash; that is roughly&nbsp;one in every 16 people. But while much of the conversation around&nbsp;diabetes focuses on blood sugar levels, medication and diet, there is&nbsp;another devastating complication that is often overlooked: blindness.&nbsp;Diabetes is one of the leading causes of preventable vision loss,&nbsp;with research indicating that one in three people living with diabetes&nbsp;already shows signs of diabetic retinopathy &ndash; a condition in which high blood sugar damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina. What&nbsp;makes this particularly dangerous is that the damage can happen&nbsp;silently. You could be losing your eyesight without experiencing pain&nbsp;or even noticing changes in your vision.&nbsp;As we mark World Diabetes Day on the 14th of November, the&nbsp;Ophthalmological Society of South Africa is calling for routine eye examinations to become part of diabetes care, warning that by the&nbsp;time someone notices their vision deteriorating, some of the damage&nbsp;may already be irreversible. So, how many South Africans are unknowingly putting their eyesight at risk? Are we doing enough to&nbsp;detect and prevent diabetes-related blindness, and why is a simple&nbsp;retinal examination potentially the difference between maintaining&nbsp;your independence and losing your sight?

DIABETES: THE SILENT THIEF OF SIGHT – WHY SOUTH  AFRICANS ARE AT RISK OF GOING BLIND

More than 23,000 Chery and Omoda vehicles sold in South Africa are being recalled following concerns about potentially dangerous manufacturing defects affecting their braking systems and rear
axles. The National Consumer Commission has confirmed that the recall affects three models: the Chery Tiggo 4, Omoda C5 and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0. The concerns are particularly serious because, in some vehicles, faulty welding on the rear axle could cause it to dislodge, potentially resulting in the collapse of the rear suspension. In other models, a front brake pipe could wear against the turbocharger, resulting in brake-fluid leaks and reduced braking performance. The recall affects 23,667 vehicles nationally, with all inspections and necessary repairs expected to be carried out at no cost to consumers. But this raises important questions about vehicle safety, quality control and the responsibility manufacturers have to protect motorists. How serious are these defects? What should owners do if they drive one of the affected models? And how confident can consumers be that their vehicles are safe on South African roads?

More than 23,000 Chery and Omoda vehicles sold in South Africa&nbsp;are being recalled following concerns about potentially dangerous&nbsp;manufacturing defects affecting their braking systems and rear axles.&nbsp;The National Consumer Commission has confirmed that the recall&nbsp;affects three models: the Chery Tiggo 4, Omoda C5 and Chery&nbsp;Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0. The concerns are particularly serious because,&nbsp;in some vehicles, faulty welding on the rear axle could cause it to&nbsp;dislodge, potentially resulting in the collapse of the rear suspension.&nbsp;In other models, a front brake pipe could wear against the&nbsp;turbocharger, resulting in brake-fluid leaks and reduced braking&nbsp;performance.&nbsp;The recall affects 23,667 vehicles nationally, with all inspections and&nbsp;necessary repairs expected to be carried out at no cost to&nbsp;consumers. But this raises important questions about vehicle safety,&nbsp;quality control and the responsibility manufacturers have to protect&nbsp;motorists. How serious are these defects? What should owners do if&nbsp;they drive one of the affected models? And how confident can&nbsp;consumers be that their vehicles are safe on South African roads?

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: SOUTH AFRICA IS THE WORLD’S ONLINE GAMBLING CAPITAL – WHAT IS DRIVING THE BETTING BOOM?

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