Why the focus should be on fixing systems that are holding people back from having kids

You’ve probably heard people talking about falling birth rates and fears of a population collapse It’s actually not that people don’t want kids. In fact, most do. The real challenge is that rising living costs, unfair gender expectations, and uncertainty about the future are making it really hard…

What are the benefits of adult play?

Childhood games are a universal language, something you will find in every city, town and village throughout the world. And while they may differ depending on where you might find yourself playing, they’re all connected by their power to connect.   You may have found yourself thinking about a chil…

Past, Present and Future - A Bold Group Exhibition Tracing South Africa’s Journey Since 1994

As part of the First Thursdays On Loveday programme, a groundbreaking group exhibition has just opened at the Weedlovers Market in Johannesburg. Titled ‘Past, Present and Future’, this evocative exhibition, curated by Khaya Madungandaba and presented by Express:ON, invites us to reckon with our co…

Unpacking the emotional push-and-pull of child and parent separation anxiety

Whether it’s a child’s first day of preschool, a caregiver heading back to work, or even just leaving a little one with a trusted family member, separation anxiety can be an emotional rollercoaster for both child and parent. The tears, the guilt, the clinginess-it’s a natural part of development, b…

Money Matters: How to break free from the shackles of subscription bills

Wi-Fi and data have become everyday essentials in many South African households, providing connectivity to the world through entertainment, social media, and global news. For many, these offer relief from daily stress  but they’ve also fuelled a surge in household subscription costs. Standard Bank…

Why Type 5 diabetes has just been recognised as a distinct form of diabetes by the International Diabetes Federation

The rare form of diabetes is believed to affect about 25 million people globally, and is caused by malnutrition-induced low insulin production among lean and malnourished teenagers and young adults in low and middle-income households. According to experts, the IDF’s recognition of it as ‘Type 5 di…

Media personality sends a powerful message about self-love, healing and growing comfortable in one's skin in a new children's book

South African Multi-Award Winning  Broadcaster, Ntombi Meso struggled to fit into traditional beauty standards from a young age, recalling the sting of being called umnyamane ( meaning the black onebin IsizlZulu), a word that left deep emotional scars. As a dark-skinned girl growing up, the consta…

Navigating the generational tug-of-war in parenting

Today, many young parents are choosing gentler, more informed approaches to raising children but they’re doing so under the watchful eyes of those who believe that the ‘old way’ worked just fine. What happens when your parenting style clashes with that of your own parents or in-laws? We explore th…

How colonization, apartheid, genocide or civil wars shaped mental health today

Generations of Africans have inherited more than land and language, they’ve inherited trauma. The anxiety of displacement, the depression of loss, the internalized shame of racial oppression -these legacies live on, often unnoticed, in our behaviors, relationships, and even our silences. In societ…

Money Matters: How to spot financial red flags in relationships or friendships

Money matters don’t just impact our wallets -they reveal character, values, and boundaries. In close relationships, whether romantic or platonic, financial dynamics can often be a window into deeper issues like manipulation, entitlement, or a lack of respect. From guilt-tripping over loans to alwa…