Mvula

It usually starts with a ringtone. A chime. A low battery warning. Somewhere in a back room in Diepsloot, a single mother props her phone against a sugar jar and records herself lip-syncing to Brenda Fassie. A taxi marshal in Tembisa, between shouting destinations, drops a quick monologue into his front-facing camera. A teen in Umlazi borrows his cousin’s phone, adds a filter, and hits upload. They won’t say it out loud, but they’re betting on the algorithm. This is South Africa’s unofficial TikTok economy, a place where virality is the new lottery, where every view is a vote, and every like might translate into something a little closer to…

There’s a quiet sound at the edge of South Africa’s airwaves, static. That crisp, crackling absence. It used to mean the space between two community radio stations. Now, in too many towns and villages, it’s all that’s left. Not long ago, FM radio wasn’t just background noise in South Africa. It was the heartbeat of rural provinces and townships alike. Before streaming, before smartphones, and certainly before unlimited data bundles, it was the voice in the kitchen while bread toasted, the late-night companion on long taxi rides, the glue holding together local gossip, music, politics, and prayer. Across the Free State, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Limpopo, community radio stations…

Drive through the quiet backstreets of Johannesburg’s southern suburbs, or past the edges of Durban’s outer townships, and you’ll spot them,  low, squat buildings with boarded windows, faded signs reading “Lucky Star Slots” or “Jackpot Palace.” They’re relics now, abandoned gambling hubs once packed with life and lights. Inside, if you’re brave enough to push past a rusted gate or kick through dust-blown leaves, the air is heavy with stillness. The smell of old smoke and lost time. Rows of EBT machines, Electronic Bingo Terminals, still standing like silent sentinels, screens black, coins rusting in forgotten trays. It’s easy to assume these places just shuttered quietly when the economy dipped…

In a city like Johannesburg, the line between what’s real and what’s not isn’t always clearly drawn. Walk through a market in the CBD, and you’ll find rows of sneakers, perfumes, clothing, and smartphones that look identical to their branded counterparts but come at a fraction of the price. Across South Africa, navigating the space between authentic and imitation has become part of daily life. For many, choosing between the two isn’t about chasing status or image, it’s a matter of practicality, balancing cost with appearance. In smaller towns and cities alike, markets and informal traders offer everything from Grade A smartphones to replica designer shoes. The choice is there…

​Born on December 22, 1979, in Mokwasele village, Modjadji, South Africa, Rali Mampeule’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a prominent figure in real estate is both inspiring and instructive. Starting as a street hawker selling boerewors rolls while pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree through UNISA, Mampeule’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to the real estate sector. In 2001, he began his career as an assistant real estate agent at Chas Everitt International Property Group in Bryanston, Johannesburg. By 2004, he acquired a Chas Everitt franchise in Midrand, becoming the first Black real estate top executive in South African history. Mampeule’s commitment to education saw him completing an Advanced Management…

South Africa is home to over 37,000 high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), each with assets exceeding $1 million, and a growing number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) with fortunes above $30 million. Collectively, they control a significant portion of the country’s private wealth, which is estimated at around $651 billion. While mining and traditional industries have long been the backbone of wealth creation, modern investors are diversifying their portfolios to protect against economic volatility, currency depreciation, and shifting global markets. Investment strategies among South Africa’s wealthy are shaped by the need to balance risk and long-term growth. Equities remain a dominant asset class, with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) providing access to major…

South Africa’s rural areas are often described in terms of their deficits, of infrastructure, employment, and opportunity. Yet behind these narratives lies a quieter story of progress, where meaningful work and community-led development are reshaping futures. Through public employment programmes, rural communities are building skills, confidence, and sustainable livelihoods. The Mvula Trust, whose work in community-based infrastructure development doesn’t just meet basic needs, it empowers people to be the architects of their own transformation. In 2025, as unemployment and inequality remain critical national concerns, such programmes offer more than short-term relief; they represent a long-term vision for inclusive, localised economic growth. Jobs That Build Communities The Expanded Public Works Programme…

In South Africa’s rural heartlands, where accessing clean water, sanitation and services is often a strenuous journey, a powerful story of transformation is quietly unfolding. Thanks to visionary women stepping into leadership roles, particularly within Mvula‑facilitated water and sanitation committees, villages across the country are reclaiming agency, fostering resilience, and building more inclusive futures. These trailblazers are not only transforming infrastructure, they are reshaping community governance, social norms, and the very fabric of rural development. The interface between gender, governance, and public service delivery has historically privileged men, even as women bear the brunt of water collection and family care. Extensive research across African rural settings shows that, although women…

In recent years, the global fashion industry has witnessed a significant trend of celebrities launching their own fashion lines, leveraging their personal brands to enter the retail market. This phenomenon is not limited to Hollywood; South African celebrities have also embraced this venture, merging their public personas with entrepreneurial ambitions. One notable example is Bonang Matheba, a prominent South African media personality. In 2008, she collaborated with retailer Legit to introduce her first clothing line, “Just B.” This initial success paved the way for subsequent ventures, including a handbag collection called “Baby Star” and the ongoing lingerie line “Distraction By Bonang” with Woolworths, launched in 2014. Another significant figure is…

When Tyla Laura Seethal stepped onto the international music stage, she brought with her not just the promise of a new pop star, but the unmistakable texture of Johannesburg’s youth, bold, rhythmically fluent, and globally unbothered by borders. With her breakout hit “Water,” a sultry, rhythmic track blending Amapiano and R&B, Tyla did more than crack the charts, she cracked open a space for South African sound and style on the world’s biggest stages. In February 2024, Tyla won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance, becoming the youngest South African to take home the honour. At just 22 years old, she had done what few artists from the…