Lifestyle Archives

WORLD AIDS DAY: A call to protect South Africa’s women

3Dec

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

WORLD AIDS DAY: A call to protect South Africa’s women

By Sitha Maliwa: HIV remains one of South Africa’s most urgent public health challenges, and its burdencontinues to fall unevenly across society. Women - particularly adolescent girls andyoung women - remain at the centre of the epidemic, accounting for a disproportionatenumber of new infections. As the country marks World AIDS Day this month, publichealth leaders are intensifying calls for an equitable, human-centred and prevention-focused response to turn the tide. Jessica Bates, Dis-Chem Integrated Health Executive, says World AIDS Day is both amoment of reflection and a challenge to confront lingering inequality. “Not everyoneexperiences the epidemic equally, and it’s crucial that we interrogate the underlyingfactors that put women at increased risk and ta...

MAKING HYGIENE STICK: Domestos turns classroom learning into lifelong habits

1Dec

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

MAKING HYGIENE STICK: Domestos turns classroom learning into lifelong habits

By Sitha Maliwa: Domestos has recently wrapped up two major Germ Buster Day activations ahead of World ToiletDay to help young learners build lifelong hygiene habits. The events took place at Isaacson PrimarySchool in Soweto, Johannesburg, and Siphosethu Primary School in Ntuzuma, Durban, reachingfoundation-phase learners with fun, practical hygiene education. The activations come as global research continues to highlight the power of hygiene in preventingillness, showing that consistent hygiene routines can reduce gastrointestinal infections by up to 80%and respiratory infections by 70%. These findings reinforce the importance of early hygieneeducation in keeping children healthy and school-ready. Domestos’ recent work forms part of its long-term commitment to...

PINK BRA DRIVE: Restoring Dignity, One Handcrafted Gift at a Time

15Nov

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

PINK BRA DRIVE: Restoring Dignity, One Handcrafted Gift at a Time

By Sandiswa Naki Hand-knitted mastectomy prosthetics, made of soft yarn (Image supplied) For a lot of people who have survived breast cancer, recovery is not only about getting better physically, but also about getting better emotionally. Sometimes healing begins with something as basic and personal as getting a soft, handcrafted prosthetic and a comfy bra. It is a modest act that discreetly tells a woman that she is not alone on this path and restores her dignity and confidence. This is the focal point of the Pink Bra Drive, a potent collaboration between Knitted Knockers South Africa and Profmed that was established to assist women who have had breast cancer treatment or mastectomies. A Collab Deeply Rooted in Care The Pink Bra Drive builds on Profmed’s...

THE SILENT KILLER: How diabetes breaks the heart before you even know it

13Nov

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

THE SILENT KILLER: How diabetes breaks the heart before you even know it

By Sitha Maliwa: The numbers are staggering and terrifying. Across the world, diabetes is quietly tightening its grip on millions of lives. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 537 million adults between the ages of 20 and 79 are living with diabetes, roughly one in ten people. Even more alarming is that almost half have no idea they’re living with the condition. This global health crisis is not slowing down. By 2030, that number is expected to rise to 643 million, and by 2045, a jaw-dropping 783 million people will be affected. And here at home, South Africa is not spared. Diabetes has become the second biggest killer in the country, according to research by Wits University. As of August 2024, an estimated 4.2 million South Africans, about...

WALKING IN MADIBA’S FOOTSTEPS: Thousands to honour Nelson Mandela in Annual Remembrance Run

7Nov

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

WALKING IN MADIBA’S FOOTSTEPS: Thousands to honour Nelson Mandela in Annual Remembrance Run

By Sitha Maliwa: Twelve years after the passing of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, South Africans will once again lace up their running shoes and take to the streets of Tshwane - not merely to race, but to remember. The Mandela Remembrance Walk and Run (MRWR) returns on Sunday, 7 December 2025, a powerful annual tribute to the global icon whose footsteps continue to guide a nation’s conscience. Hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) and the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR), the event unites athletes, families, and dreamers under one banner -to honour Madiba’s towering legacy of justice, equality, and unity. The race begins and ends at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the very seat of the democracy Mandela helped forge. P...

MOËT, MACARONS & MASTERPIECES: A Night of Timeless Luxury at Shemer’s Sandton Launch

4Nov

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

MOËT, MACARONS & MASTERPIECES: A Night of Timeless Luxury at Shemer’s Sandton Launch

By Sandiswa Naki Red carpet entrance at the Shemer Sandton Launch (Image supplied) World-renowned luxury jewellers, Shemer’s new flagship store that opened in high society Sandton, proves that when it comes to luxury, a timepiece truly is the ultimate investment. Luxury That Tells Time and a Story Luxury watches aren’t just statement pieces anymore; they’re becoming serious investment assets. A recent Swiss study even revealed that top-tier timepieces are outperforming traditional investments, including property in South Africa. That’s exactly what Shemer, one of South Africa’s most established jewellers, celebrated with the opening of its brand-new flagship store at Nelson Mandela Square. The event theme “Moët, Macarons & Masterpieces” set the tone for an ev...

A GEM OF THE CITY: Sandton City Diamond Walk sets the standard for luxury in Africa

22Oct

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

A GEM OF THE CITY: Sandton City Diamond Walk sets the standard for luxury in Africa

By Thobile Jiwulane: (Images: Courtesy of the Sandton City) Global luxury brands in the heart of Johannesburg, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier, Bvlgari, Versace, Burberry, and Dolce & Gabbana Each year, thousands of people travel to Johannesburg for one reason only - to shop at the Diamond Walk at Sandton City.This stretch of pure indulgence has become the ultimate destination for luxury on the African continent, drawing both international visitors and local fashion devotees, who know they do not need to leave Africa to shop the world’s most prestigious brands.The global names behind the glamourThe Diamond Walk is home to a remarkable bouquet of fashion, jewellery, and accessory brands that are usually associated with London, Paris, or Dubai. But here, shopper...

THE GREAT HOME AWAKENING: Spring 2025 redefines interior style

30Sep

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

THE GREAT HOME AWAKENING: Spring 2025 redefines interior style

By Zenoyise John: Spring 2025 has arrived - not with a gentle breeze, but with a full-blown design revolution. Across South Africa, living rooms are shedding their winter skins, bedrooms are waking from their slumber, and entire homes are undergoing dramatic, soul-deep transformations. This isn’t just a seasonal refresh. It’s a rejection of the cold, impersonal spaces that dominated the last decade. The once-revered greys and hard lines of minimalism are being cast aside in favour of warmth, texture, and life. Interior designers are declaring war on blandness - and homeowners are finally listening. “We’re entering an era of emotional interiors,” says Cheryl Herweg, founder of Changing Spaces Interior Design. “It’s not about what looks good for a photo. It’...

FROM MOP TO MASTERCHEF: Nonny Vellem’s rise to the top

13Aug

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

FROM MOP TO MASTERCHEF: Nonny Vellem’s rise to the top

By Sitha Maliwa: In the heart of Cape Town, where luxury kitchens hum with precision, one woman’s story sizzles hotter than any stove. Nonkosi “Nonny” Vellem didn’t start with a chef’s knife in hand - she began as a cleaner, sweeping the floors of The Table Bay Hotel. Yet, amid the clatter of pots and the aroma of high tea, she discovered her true calling: pastry. “I fell in love with pastry from the first moment I saw it,” Vellem recalls, her eyes lighting up. “I had no experience, just passion and curiosity.” Six months of cross-training later, she moved to the kitchen permanently, her talent impossible to ignore. The hotel sent her to the South African Chefs Academy, where she earned her diploma and set her sights on bigger dreams. Today, Vellem is the execu...

THE HEADPHONE DILEMMA: What no one tells you before you press play

13Aug

By News SANo Comments

Lifestyle

THE HEADPHONE DILEMMA: What no one tells you before you press play

By Sitha Maliwa: You’re standing in an electronics store, blinking under the cold glow of overhead lights. Shelves are lined with glossy boxes screaming for your attention - promises of “pure sound,” “immersive bass,” and “next-gen noise cancelling.” Your heart pounds. Your wallet whispers caution. The sales assistant hovers like a hawk. You just want headphones. But what kind? In the age of too many choices, the simple act of listening to music has become a warzone of specs, marketing fluff, and overpriced tech. Before you blindly hit “Add to Cart,” stop. Ask yourself what kind of listener you really are. Because the wrong headphones won’t just be a waste of cash - they’ll sabotage your sound. 1. Fit: The first betrayal Ever tried running with over-ear h...