Author: Malebogo Putu

In a landmark achievement for lunar exploration, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 successfully landed on the Moon early Sunday morning, carrying a suite of NASA science and technology instruments. The landing, which occurred at 3:34 a.m. EST near Mons Latreille in Mare Crisium, marks a significant milestone in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and the broader Artemis campaign. The Blue Ghost lander, now in an upright and stable configuration, is the second CLPS mission to deliver NASA payloads to the lunar surface. This mission represents Firefly Aerospace’s first lunar landing and a critical step in advancing commercial…

Angie Stone, the soul icon and pioneering rapper best known as a member of the groundbreaking female hip-hop trio The Sequence, died tragically in a car accident early Saturday morning. She was 63. The accident occurred in Montgomery, Alabama, as Stone was returning from a performance. Her representative, Deborah R. Champagne, confirmed the news to TMZ stating that Stone was the only fatality in the crash, which involved a commercial vehicle. Born Angela Laverne Brown on December 18, 1961, in Columbia, South Carolina, Stone grew up in a musical household. Her father, a deacon, and her mother, a choir director,…

In a series of intelligence-driven operations, members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the North West Province have made significant arrests, underscoring their commitment to combating crime in the region. The operations, conducted in Boitekong and Lichtenburg, led to the apprehension of multiple suspects involved in copper cable theft, immigration violations, and burglary. Boitekong Copper Cable Theft and Immigration Violations On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Boitekong Visible Policing members acted on a tip-off regarding suspicious activity at the Dichibidung informal settlement near Rustenburg. According to Captain Mpho Manyoba, SAPS North West spokesperson, “The team received information that individuals…

In an unprecedented move, South Africa’s Cabinet has postponed the tabling of the 2025 Budget Speech, originally scheduled for February 19, to March 12, 2025. The decision has sparked widespread criticism from opposition parties, who accuse the government of incoherent governance, internal divisions, and a failure to prioritize the needs of the nation. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana was set to outline the government’s financial, economic, and social commitments in the National Assembly on Wednesday. However, Cabinet cited the need for further deliberations to ensure the budget strikes a balance between public interests, economic growth, and fiscal sustainability. “The annual budget…

In a move to bolster small-scale farming and rural economies, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has launched two key initiatives aimed at improving food security, increasing market access for farmers, and ensuring sustainable agricultural development in the province. On Friday, February 14, Agriculture MEC Madoda Sambatha officially handed over greenhouse tunnels worth R2.5 million to JT Farm Fresh, a Bokfontein-based farming enterprise in the Madibeng Local Municipality. The investment, part of the Provincial Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, Thuntsa Lerole Reloaded, is expected to enhance the farm’s production capacity, allowing for year-round cultivation and improved crop…

Tomatoes are one of the most popular crops in South Africa, grown both commercially and by small-scale farmers. As we prepare for the autumn planting season, proper soil preparation is crucial for a successful harvest. Using kraal manure is an excellent way to boost soil fertility naturally. This article will guide you through preparing planting holes with kraal manure and provide essential insights into growing tomatoes in South Africa’s autumn season. Best Time to Grow Tomatoes in South Africa Tomatoes can be grown throughout the year in South Africa, but the best seasons for planting are spring (August–October) and autumn…

MABESKRAAL, South Africa — This summer, my garden has been a complete disaster. Nothing has gone according to plan. But in the middle of this failure, one thing has kept me excited—my Carolina Reaper plants.For years, I had read about the Carolina Reaper, once the world’s hottest pepper before Pepper X took the crown. I had never seen it grown around here, but since I live among people who love hot peppers, I thought, Why not give it a try?I found an online advert selling seedlings for R23 each, and without overthinking it, I ordered ten. That should have been…

Sibusiso Bengu, a pivotal figure in South Africa’s educational transformation and the country’s first Minister of Education in the post-apartheid era, has died at 90. His family announced that Prof. Bengu passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, December 30, at his home in KwaZulu-Natal.President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to Prof. Bengu, lauding his “patriotic and visionary service” to the nation. “Prof. Bengu was a pioneering leader of our democratic dispensation who led the transformation of education in a Government of National Unity, where deep divisions existed about how far this transformation should go,” Mr. Ramaphosa said in a…

Gauteng public healthcare facilities delivered 203 New Year babies on Wednesday. The 105 baby boys and 98 baby girls were born between midnight and noon. This as the Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, visited the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, to welcome the newly born babies and deliver baby essential gift packages on 1 January 2025. “Academic hospitals delivered 31 babies mostly from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital with 20 babies, followed by Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital and Steve Biko Academic Hospital with four deliveries each.”Meanwhile, tertiary hospitals delivered a total of 12 babies. Tembisa…

As Mozambique prepares to restart the delayed $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, a renewed focus on peace and stability has become paramount. Post-election violence and protests have unsettled the nation, raising concerns about its readiness to fully capitalize on its vast natural gas reserves.The African Energy Chamber (AEC), a leading advocate for Africa’s energy sector, has urged Mozambique’s government and opposition to prioritize unity and sustainable development during this pivotal moment in the country’s history.Since the discovery of significant natural gas deposits off its northern coast in 2010, Mozambique has been heralded as a rising star in the…