Cape Town

Screenshot from "Cape Flats Kung Fu" by Eavesdrop.

'Planet Hip Hop': The music will always be the voice of the people, Samy Alim says

As we wrap up “Planet Hip Hop,” our summer series celebrating 50 years of hip-hop music around the world, H. Samy Alim returns to talk with host Marco Werman about the next 50 years. Alim is an anthropology professor and the director of the Hip Hop Initiative at UCLA. 

'Planet Hip Hop': The music will always be the voice of the people, Samy Alim says
Clerics carry the coffin after the funeral for Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu at the St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Jan 1, 2022.

What is aquamation, the burial practice Desmond Tutu chose instead of cremation? 

What is aquamation, the burial practice Desmond Tutu chose instead of cremation? 
Smoke rises after fires re-ignited late afternoon from the Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa

Fire reignites at South Africa's Parliament in Cape Town

Fire reignites at South Africa's Parliament in Cape Town
South Africa's "Black Mermaid," Zandile Ndhlovu, enjoys sunrise dives in the kelp forest. 

Diving into infinity with South Africa’s 'Black Mermaid'

Diving into infinity with South Africa’s 'Black Mermaid'
A group of people hold up a large white sign with black letters and a yellow X through it.

Climate divestment activists draw inspiration from South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle

Climate divestment activists draw inspiration from South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle
Thando Hopa stands on a red carpet.

South African lawyer is first woman with albinism on Vogue cover: ‘The way I look is enough’

Vogue Portugal's most recent cover features a black woman with albinism, Thando Hopa. A lawyer and activist from South Africa, she's the first model with albinism to appear on the cover of the global fashion magazine.

South African lawyer is first woman with albinism on Vogue cover: ‘The way I look is enough’
India

In India, 'Day Zero' is every day as water taps run dry

Nearly 163 million people among India's population of 1.3 billion — or more than one in 10 — lack access to clean water close to their home, according to a 2018 WaterAid report. That is the most of any country in the world.

In India, 'Day Zero' is every day as water taps run dry
Cape Town residents gather to collect water at a spring with makshift spigots ear Table Mountain. It's one of dozens of open springs across the city where residents come to collect extra water to add to their meager daily quota of 13 gallons.

In drought-stricken Cape Town, parched residents gather at a watering hole

A natural spring in the shadow of Cape Town's Table Mountain provides a measure of relief — and a new pop-up community — for drought-strapped residents.

In drought-stricken Cape Town, parched residents gather at a watering hole
Saya Pierce-Jones records a recent report on Cape Town's water crisis for Smile 90.4FM radio. In more than a year on the full-time water beat, Pierce-Jones helped listeners understand the roots of the crisis and find ways to dramatically cut their water u

Journalist on water beat helped Cape Town avoid ‘Day Zero’

When Cape Town's growing water crisis started bubbling up last year, a local radio station in the South African city jumped on the beat with wall-to-wall coverage and water-saving tips for listeners.

Journalist on water beat helped Cape Town avoid ‘Day Zero’
People queued to collect water as fears over the city's water crisis grew earlier this year in Cape Town, South Africa.

'Day Zero' has been postponed, but Cape Town is still scrambling to deal with its water crisis

The water crisis in Cape Town, South Africa is easing a bit, but the city and many of its businesses and institutions are forging ahead with expensive efforts to increase supply, including private desalination plants.

'Day Zero' has been postponed, but Cape Town is still scrambling to deal with its water crisis
Sand blows across a normally submerged area at Theewaterskloof dam near Cape Town, South Africa, January 20, 2018.

Dreading 'Day Zero' when the taps run dry in Cape Town

A severe drought has forced South Africa to declare a national disaster and impose tough water-saving measures in attempts to push back the day when taps are expected to run dry. In this photo essay from Reuters' Mike Hutchings, you can see how devastating the drought has already been on the country.

Dreading 'Day Zero' when the taps run dry in Cape Town
Sign warning residents of water restrictions is seen in Cape Town.

Cape Town could be the first major city in the world to run out of water

April 21 is the expected deadline.

Cape Town could be the first major city in the world to run out of water
Students cheer as the statue of Cecil John Rhodes is removed from the University of Cape Town (UCT), April 9, 2015.

Removing racist statues is 'taking history to task' in South Africa

After a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, Americans are debating whether Confederate monuments should appear in public places. In South Africa, statues celebrating British imperialists and architects of apartheid have also faced calls for removal. A University of Cape Town student explains why that's so important.

Removing racist statues is 'taking history to task' in South Africa
Close-up of woman holding white silicone vaginal ring

The key to stopping HIV could someday be a vaginal ring or a needle in the butt

“What this virus has taught is that you can be a researcher, you can design something amazing … and then people don’t use it.” That's the challenge facing medical researchers looking for ways for women to protect themselves from HIV infection.

The key to stopping HIV could someday be a vaginal ring or a needle in the butt
Protesters atop a police van in Cape Town last month

Students in South Africa vow to keep protesting over tuition fees

A new generation of students fights for the equality they were promised when apartheid ended.

Students in South Africa vow to keep protesting over tuition fees