Johannesburg

Looters outside a shopping centre alongside a burning barricade in Durban, South Africa

South Africa’s democracy is ‘standing firm’ despite civil unrest, says analyst

William Gumede, the executive chairperson of the Democracy Works Foundation in South Africa, discusses the recent civil unrest in South Africa with The World’s host Marco Werman.

South Africa’s democracy is ‘standing firm’ despite civil unrest, says analyst
Caster Semenya wears a track and field outfit and sets off on a race

'There is a sense of being robbed': Olympian Caster Semenya loses appeal on testosterone rule

'There is a sense of being robbed': Olympian Caster Semenya loses appeal on testosterone rule
Men and women wearing red political shirts chant in front of a department store in South Africa

'Racist' hair care ad in South Africa sparks demonstrations

'Racist' hair care ad in South Africa sparks demonstrations
Singer Johnny Clegg performs on stage.

Remembering trailblazing South African musician and activist Johnny Clegg

Remembering trailblazing South African musician and activist Johnny Clegg
Collen Malatji

South Africa’s youngest ANC candidate says young people need to go into politics

South Africa’s youngest ANC candidate says young people need to go into politics
people marching

Global Women’s Marches persevere despite divisions among US activists

This year's Women's March in the US is experiencing some tension at the top, but that hasn't slowed down other women across the globe who are also marching for their rights.

Global Women’s Marches persevere despite divisions among US activists
McDaid and Lekalakala

Two friends from South Africa share the Goldman Environmental Prize

Two winners of the 2018 Goldman Environmental Prize were a team of grassroots activists from South Africa. Their efforts quashed a secret deal between Russia and the South African government to build expensive and wasteful nuclear power plants.

Two friends from South Africa share the Goldman Environmental Prize
South African trumpeter and musician Hugh Masekela performs on May 13, 2012.

From the archives: An interview with the late Hugh Masekela

The legendary South African jazz musician and anti-apartheid activist Hugh Masekela died Jan. 23 in Johannesburg. He was 78.

From the archives: An interview with the late Hugh Masekela
Late South African jazz great Hugh Masekela,

How South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela inspired band members

Former bass player, Bakithi Kumalo, remembers late legendary South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela.

How South African jazz musician Hugh Masekela inspired band members
Lesego Legobane

He trolled a plus-size model on Twitter. She had the perfect comeback.

“It’s crazy that those four words were so impactful,” says Lesego Legobane. “I didn’t even dream of getting 10 retweets.”

He trolled a plus-size model on Twitter. She had the perfect comeback.
South African artist Lady Skollie on a sofa in her studio with cut-out shapes of bananas on the wall behind her

South African artist Lady Skollie explains why she paints burning vaginas

“It’s got a burning vagina in the middle and there are all men — so it’s like they are warming themselves around a burning vagina. Which, to me, is pretty much South Africa.”

South African artist Lady Skollie explains why she paints burning vaginas
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Gift Ngoepe became the first African-born player in MLB history.

Gift Ngoepe is the first African-born player to join baseball's major league

South African-born Gift Ngoepe debuts at second base for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Gift Ngoepe is the first African-born player to join baseball's major league
Paul Simon, front right, performed with members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo for the first time in several years during a tribute at the Warner Theater in Washington on May 23, 2007.

Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ was born 30 years ago — and ‘world music’ grew with it

Thirty years ago, Paul Simon released the album "Graceland." He recorded it in South Africa, in the thick of the anti-apartheid struggle there.

Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’ was born 30 years ago — and ‘world music’ grew with it
Mavis, a housekeeper from the Pretoria township of Mamelodi, depends on her garden to help provide for her five children and seven grandchildren. But with this year's region-wide drought, her garden is just a dusty patch of seedlings. “I want rain every d

For one South African house cleaner, this year's big drought means crying, hungry children

The current drought in southern Africa is the worst in decades, and likely a harbinger of things to come as the region warms up and dries out as its climate changes. The drought is having real impact on one resident in a Pretoria township, and what governments in the region can do to help prepare for a hotter and drier future.

For one South African house cleaner, this year's big drought means crying, hungry children
Carving a turducken.

She got her turkey and turducken in South Africa, but then the power went out

Marisa Kaplan had it all figured out. She flew to Johannesburg with a thawing turkey and turducken in the overhead bin. But then she hit a Thanksgiving brick wall.

She got her turkey and turducken in South Africa, but then the power went out