The Rooibos seeds will travel alongside these experiments aboard the same spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).

Three batches

A total of 17 346 Rooibos seeds, weighing approximately 74.2 grams, will travel to Voyager Technologies in Texas, where the experiment will be prepared for spaceflight.

The seeds are divided into three batches: untreated, scarified, and scarified and treated with a protective agricultural coating.

Secured inside a specialised Nanolab, the Rooibos experiment is designed to expose the seeds to microgravity and space radiation before they return to Earth for further testing.

A Nanolab is a compact, standardised research module designed to accommodate experiments for spaceflight and the International Space Station (ISS).

These plug-and-play laboratories allow researchers to conduct experiments in space without requiring large, custom-built equipment.

Launch date between December 2026 and January 2027

The Rooibos Nanolab is scheduled to fly to the ISS aboard the Cygnus NG-25 commercial resupply spacecraft, with the mission currently expected to launch between December 2026 and January 2027.

The revised timing follows changes to the Voyager/NASA flight schedule, including broader adjustments to crew and resupply arrangements, which resulted in the October flight originally allocated to the Rooibos experiment being rescheduled.

“This is an exciting milestone for Rooibos and for South Africans who have followed this project from the beginning,” says Dawie de Villiers, Director of the South African Rooibos Council (SARC).

“The scientific objective is to explore what will happen to the Rooibos seeds when they are exposed to conditions beyond Earth, opening up new opportunities to learn more about this uniquely South African plant.”

4 to 6 weeks in space

The seeds are expected to spend four to six weeks in space before returning to Earth, where researchers will work with schools in the Cederberg region – Rooibos’ natural growing area – and Parklands College to plant the space-exposed seeds alongside control seeds.

Over the course of 18 months, learners and researchers will monitor, measure and analyse differences in germination, growth patterns and plant development as the plants mature.

Learner participation is central to the project, giving young people the opportunity to contribute to a real scientific investigation while developing practical Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills.

The broader Rooibos in Space initiative has included school engagement, STEM education and a national Mission Patch competition which challenged youth aged 12 to 18 to design a unique patch for the mission.

Rare opportunity

For Cyril Ngqwala, Rooibos seed technician, preparing the experiment has provided a rare opportunity to combine traditional Rooibos seed knowledge with space science.

“Working with the seeds from preparation through to assembling the Nanolab has been an incredible experience,” says Ngqwala.

“We have prepared the seeds in different conditions so that, when they return, we can compare their performance with seeds that have remained on Earth. It’s exciting to think that something as uniquely South African as Rooibos is now part of a space experiment.”

The Rooibos in Space initiative was conceived by the SARC and has been developed as a collaborative project with MaxIQ Space.

The mission will mark the first time a South African indigenous plant seed has been sent into space for this type of research, creating a unique opportunity to explore how Rooibos – a plant uniquely adapted to the Cederberg region – responds to the extreme conditions of space.

Updates about the project will be shared on the official website: www.sarooibos.co.za, as well as its social media channels and the SAPeople website.

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According to Statistics South Africa’s latest International Tourism report, overall overseas tourist arrivals contracted 11.0% year-on-year to 161 753 in September.

Amid sharp declines in major traditional markets like the United States (-18.1%) and the United Kingdom (-12.6%), as well as steep contractions across Asia including India (-32.0%) and China (-27.0%), Brazil and Switzerland (+1.5%) were the only top 10 overseas sources to record positive annual growth.

Between January and September 2026, cumulative Brazilian arrivals surged 22.4% to 56 082 visitors, up from 45 803 during the same period in 2025, with 98.3% travelling for holiday purposes.

What is driving South Africa’s tourism growth from Brazil?

Direct air connectivity has played a pivotal role in unleashing this demand.

In July 2026, LATAM Airlines launched a three-times-weekly direct flight between São Paulo and Cape Town, building on diplomatic groundwork laid during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit to Brazil and joint efforts by Wesgro and Cape Town Air Access.

Stats SA figures confirm that 96.0% of September’s Brazilian tourists arrived by air, with Cape Town International Airport receiving 3 338 arrivals and OR Tambo International Airport handling 2 454.

The travel boom coincides with broader trade alignment between the two BRICS partners.

South Africa recently opted to hold off on chicken-import restrictions rather than a blanket import ban following a Newcastle disease outbreak in Santa Catarina, safeguarding vital trade where Brazil supplies 70% of South Africa’s poultry imports.

Top 10 overseas feeder markets in September 2026

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The SASSA R370 grant, officially part of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) programme, provides temporary financial assistance to eligible adults aged 18 to 59 who meet the programme’s requirements.

Research published in October 2026 found that 14 everyday grocery items cost R388.86 in September, leaving beneficiaries relying solely on the grant R18.86 short of the full basket.

Recent calls to increase the grant to R700 have reignited discussions about affordability. But research into the cost of 14 essential grocery items reveals just how quickly R370 can be spent.

What can the SASSA R370 grant buy?

According to Daily Maverick’s food affordability investigation, a basket of 14 basic grocery items cost R388.86 in September 2026.

The monitored basket included the following essentials:

While the grant would cover most of the basket’s cost, it would not be enough to purchase all 14 items at the recorded prices.

Importantly, this basket does not represent all the food an individual would need for an entire month.

How far does the SASSA R370 grant stretch?

Comparing the monitored basket with the monthly SRD payment reveals a shortfall:

The R370 grant would cover approximately 95% of the basket’s cost, leaving recipients who rely solely on the payment needing an additional R18.86 to buy all 14 items.

This calculation excludes transport, electricity and any additional groceries needed during the month.

Have basic grocery prices become cheaper?

Interestingly, the monitored basket became slightly cheaper between August and September 2026.

In August, the same basket cost R405.86. By September, it had fallen to R388.86, a saving of R17.

Part of the decrease came from switching to a cheaper sugar brand. A 2kg bag of Sugarfields white sugar was priced at R49.99, around R20 less than certain branded alternatives.

However, not every product became cheaper. Rice increased by R5, while sugar beans decreased by R2.

The findings show how choosing different brands can affect the final grocery bill, even when households continue to face financial pressure.

Can shopping at different supermarkets save money?

Where consumers shop can also influence how much they spend.

As SAPeople previously reported in its supermarket price comparison, choosing a cheaper retailer can make a noticeable difference to the cost of everyday groceries.

However, travelling between supermarkets to take advantage of lower prices may also increase transport expenses.

For shoppers working with R370, comparing prices and choosing affordable alternatives can help, although savings depend on the products and stores available.

Who receives the SASSA R370 grant?

The R370 Social Relief of Distress grant provides temporary financial assistance to eligible adults aged 18 to 59 who have insufficient means.

Unlike household-based assistance, the grant is assessed individually. Applicants must meet SASSA’s eligibility requirements, and their eligibility is reassessed monthly.

The grant is intended to provide temporary financial relief rather than cover a complete household grocery budget.

Applications and payment-status checks can be made through the official SASSA SRD portal.

What about the proposed R700 grant?

Some beneficiaries have called for the monthly SRD payment to increase from R370 to R700, citing the rising cost of everyday necessities.

An increase to R700 would provide an additional R330 per month.

Using the September grocery basket as an illustration, R700 would leave R311.14 after purchasing the 14 items.

However, the increase has not been approved, and the SRD payment remains R370.

The reality of living on R370

Although the monitored basket became R17 cheaper in September, its total still exceeded the monthly SRD payment.

For beneficiaries with little or no other income, even small changes in grocery prices can make a difference.

And while shopping around and choosing cheaper brands may help stretch a limited budget, purchasing 14 basic grocery items does not necessarily mean having enough food to last an entire month.

Price note: The basket and prices are based on Daily Maverick’s September 2026 research, published in October. The figures are historical and do not represent current supermarket shelf prices or an independent SAPeople price survey.

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Venter, who arrived in America in June 2026 under the federal Afrikaner “refugee” programme, was detained on 16 October following a filmed workplace ambush by online vigilante group Predator Poachers.

A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Venter on 21 October on 10 second-degree felony counts – five for pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and five for illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented performances – alongside one count of possessing criminal tools.

According to Daily Maverick, a United States Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed Venter’s detention, describing the Gauteng-born suspect as a “criminal alien from South Africa”.

If convicted on all charges, Venter faces up to 85 years in prison.

Workplace sting exposes Arno Venter

The arrest followed an hour-long confrontation inside the store by Predator Poachers founder Alex Rosen, who approached Venter while he worked in uniform.

Confronting Venter with alleged chat logs, Rosen said: “He came to America here in the past couple of months… He decides to bring his perversions over here to our country.”

Venter confessed on camera to trading explicit files daily, saying: “They just send it to me… To make me feel valuable. I just continue sending it.”

Venter, who lived in Cleveland with his brothers, handed over his phone to police and was subsequently released on $5,000 (about R88,000) bail ahead of a November pre-trial hearing.

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The Department of Agriculture confirmed on 28 October 2026 that negotiated veterinary health certificates allow trade in fresh poultry meat, hatching eggs and day-old chicks to proceed under strict biosecurity protocols from non-infected zones.

How will chicken imports from Brazil continue safely?

For fresh poultry meat, certification requires that birds originate from farms free of Newcastle disease for at least six months within a 10-kilometre radius, while abattoirs must operate outside infected zones.

Hatching eggs and day-old chicks require 12 months of disease-free status. These targeted measures isolate the recent outbreak in Santa Catarina, Brazil – where a third case was detected in Nova Erechim following earlier detections in Nova Itaberaba and Coronel Freitas – without halting trade nationally.

While countries like Mexico and Malaysia instituted sweeping nationwide import bans, South Africa aligned with trade partners including China, Chile and Saudi Arabia by enforcing regional restrictions.

Will chicken prices surge in local stores?

South Africa imports approximately 20% of its annual poultry consumption, amounting to roughly 350,000 tonnes of chicken pieces, with Brazil accounting for a 70% share alongside suppliers from the United States, European Union and Argentina, says Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa chief economist Wandile Sihlobo.

Sihlobo, who also serves as Presidential Envoy on Agriculture and Land, reassured consumers that store inventories remained safe and price increases are unwarranted.

“South Africans can be assured that poultry meat and everything they find in stores are safe,” Sihlobo said on Substack. “We also don’t anticipate poultry meat price increases. The poultry meat supply is healthy. There is no justifiable reason for a price surge.”

Do you think South Africa made the right call by avoiding a full import ban?

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Mahikeng and Kimberley share the heat crown at 33°C. Johannesburg starts the chilliest, with a crisp 8°C dawn before climbing to 27°C. Grey skies hang over Mbombela all day, making it the cloudiest spot at 17 to 22°C. Meanwhile, the weather service has issued an advisory for Inxuba Yethemba, Nxuba and Cradock, so anyone there should keep an eye on local updates.

Warnings and Advisories

7-Day Forecast by Province

Forecast data: South African Weather Service (weathersa.co.za) and various 3rd party providers and AI Tools.

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Travel records confirm, according to Eswatini news media, Nontokozo frequented the royal palace between late August and early September 2026, coinciding with the annual uMhlanga Reed Dance at Ludzidzini Palace, in Lobamba.

Royal insiders reveal that lobola negotiations between the monarch and the Shembe family have been concluded, formalising the union under Swati custom.

Nontokozo was originally slated for official presentation to the nation as liphovela (royal fiancée) during the Reed Dance.

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However, Mswati allegedly postponed her public announcement out of respect for former president Jacob Zuma, who attended the cultural ceremony.

Addressing the reports, royal spokesperson Percy Simelane kept details close to his chest.

“This one appears to be a family affair. I would not know what is in the mind of the royal family with regards to the marriage in question,” Simelane said, as reported by Swaziland News.

Jacob Zuma’s daughter and King Mswati

The impending nuptials follow the monarch’s headline-grabbing marriage to Zuma’s 21-year-old daughter, Nomcebo Zuma, who became his 16th wife after being presented at the 2024 Reed Dance.

Mswati reportedly paid R2 million and 100 head of cattle in lobola for Nomcebo, a union supported by her mother, Nonkululeko Mhlongo, but reportedly boycotted by Zuma himself.

Nomcebo soon accompanied the king on a high-profile international tour to Italy, Serbia, and Samoa that drew scrutiny for its reported R200-million cost to Eswatini taxpayers.

However, the relationship faced publicised friction, with Nomcebo briefly returning to KwaZulu-Natal after reporting a lack of attention in the royal household before palace emissaries intervened.

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This is according to official data released by Statistics South Africa.

Published in the Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey 2025-2026, the findings show that professional environments account for far more incidents than any other location.

Public transportation and streets ranked second at 15.3%, followed by retail and hospitality venues at 12.4%, and residential neighbourhoods at 11.4%.

Why is workplace discrimination going unreported?

The survey reveals that men (26.8%) were slightly more likely than women (23.4%) to experience discrimination at work.

While unknown persons accounted for 44.6% of overall perpetrators, an employer or boss was identified as the culprit in 21.0% of cases – rising to 23.1% among men and 18.7% among women.

Race remained the most frequent basis of discrimination at 36.9% of recent incidents, followed by nationality at 15.1% and economic status at 9.4%.

Despite the high prevalence in professional settings, an overwhelming 77.9% of affected individuals chose not to report their experience. When asked why, 31.8% stated that “nothing would happen or change by reporting the incident”, while 12.4% feared improper treatment and 12.2% did not realise a crime had occurred.

Of the minority who did report incidents, 54.8% expressed dissatisfaction with the response.

How does this impact social cohesion across the country?

This workplace strain stands in contrast to South Africans’ everyday social warmth outside the office.

Recent international findings rank South Africa 10th globally for politeness and 3rd in Africa for social support, underpinned by ubuntu. Speaking on national resilience, Professor Talita Greyling of the University of Johannesburg said:

“South Africa ranks 3rd in Africa for social support, a measure of whether people feel they have someone to rely on in hard times.”

While workplace inequality continues to test civic trust, strong community connections remain a vital buffer for millions navigating daily hardship.

Have you experienced discrimination at work? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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The findings, published in the Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey 2025-2026, mark a notable shift in how citizens view national identity.

While the proportion of respondents feeling “very proud” fell, those identifying simply as “proud” rose from 39.8% to 50.2% over the same period. Meanwhile, individuals indicating they are “not proud” or “not proud at all” grew to a combined 11.1%.

What is driving the shift in sentiment in South Africa?

This decline in patriotic intensity reflects growing frustration with civic and institutional challenges.

Stats SA data shows that public awareness of the Constitution fell to 76.6% in 2025-2026, while the proportion of people who believe the Constitution protects their personal rights dropped to 67.0%.

Daily living conditions have added to the strain, with disputes over disruptions to utility supplies, such as water and electricity, escalating to affect 17.5% of individuals nationwide.

However, the drop in national pride stands in contrast to the persistent social warmth and daily resilience of South Africans.

According to the World Happiness Report 2026, South Africa ranks 8th in Africa for daily positive emotions, including joy and laughter, even as overall life satisfaction slipped to 101st globally.

Highlighting the role of community resilience, Professor Talita Greyling of the University of Johannesburg noted that ubuntu continues to underpin social support, where South Africa ranks 3rd on the continent.

“South Africa ranks 3rd in Africa for social support, a measure of whether people feel they have someone to rely on in hard times,” Greyling explained.

This enduring social cohesion is reflected internationally. A global survey by Remitly recently ranked South Africa as the 10th politest country in the world and the 15th friendliest, driven by strong community connections despite economic and service delivery headwinds.

What do you think is driving the drop in national pride? Have your say in the comments below.

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The family-friendly event will take place at Stony Point Nature Reserve in the Western Cape. Visitors can enjoy activities while learning about the African penguin and its fight for survival. 

The celebration offers a chance to meet conservation organisations and discover the work protecting these remarkable birds, as behind the penguins’ charming appearance lies a serious conservation crisis. Their numbers have plunged, making public awareness and sustained protection increasingly important.

WHAT CAN VISITORS EXPECT FROM THE PENGUIN PALOOZA?

According to CapeNature, the Penguin Palooza starts at 10:00 on Saturday, 7 November 2026. The programme will include children’s activities, educational opportunities and conservation information. Visitors can also browse vendors and meet organisations working to protect seabirds and marine environments.

The event will offer insights into penguin monitoring and rehabilitation efforts. CapeNature and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) play important roles in this work.

Stony Point gives visitors an unusual opportunity to watch African penguins in their natural habitat. Its designated boardwalk allows people to observe the colony without unnecessarily disturbing the birds. 

The celebration also highlights the value of South Africa’s coastal wildlife attractions. 

Visitors can combine a penguin encounter with a trip to Betty’s Bay and the surrounding Overberg region.

WHY DO AFRICAN PENGUINS NEED PROTECTION?

African penguins might look ready for a party, but their future remains uncertain. 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature classified the species as Critically Endangered in 2024, and BirdLife South Africa’s assessment documents the population’s steep decline.

CapeNature reported just 406 breeding pairs at Stony Point in 2026. Across South Africa, fewer than 8 750 breeding pairs remain along the coastline. These figures underline the urgency of protecting the colony and its habitat.

Food shortages pose a major threat because African penguins depend on small fish, particularly sardines and anchovies. Overfishing, climate change, pollution and disturbance also threaten their survival. Oil spills can damage their waterproof feathers, leaving affected birds vulnerable to cold water.

African penguins breed naturally only in South Africa and Namibia. Their survival therefore depends on effective conservation across their limited range, as the scale of the crisis needs urgent action.

HOW CAN A PENGUIN PARTY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Penguin Palooza aims to turn public affection into meaningful support for conservation. 

Children who learn about wildlife today may become tomorrow’s conservation supporters. Visitors can also discover how healthy oceans support seabirds and human communities.

Responsible tourism matters, too. Visitors should remain on designated paths, avoid feeding or touching birds, and dispose of litter properly. These simple actions help protect wildlife while allowing people to enjoy the experience.

Tourism can also benefit nearby businesses through spending on accommodation, restaurants and other visitor services. However, conservation must remain the priority whenever people visit a breeding colony.

Penguin Palooza offers more than a cheerful day beside the sea. It gives South Africans an opportunity to celebrate a unique national treasure while confronting its uncertain future. 

The real success will come when visitors carry that message beyond Betty’s Bay and support African penguin conservation throughout the year.

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