The new year is often marked with great excitement and anticipation, along with the promise of a better tomorrow. For the Class of 2024 who recently received their matric results a new world of exciting possibilities awaits.  

Candidates who wrote the National Senior Certificate examinations achieved an 87.3 percent pass rate, setting a new record for the highest pass rate achieved in our country. This huge milestone is the outcome of the joint effort by teachers, learners, parents and many others in our education system.  

South Africa’s assumption to the Presidency of the G20 on 1 December 2024 comes at a time when the world is facing a number of critical challenges that threaten to widen the gap between developed and less developed nations.

The disparity between the haves and have nots calls for a collaborative approach that brings everyone together in a united effort to tackle the global challenges that impact all mankind.

In March this year, South Africa will conclude its year-long commemoration of 30 Years of Freedom and Democracy. This important milestone that started in April last year provided us with an opportunity to reflect on the gains we have made and to envision how best we can build going forward.  

With the festive season fast approaching many people are beginning to prepare for Christmas and end of year celebrations. However, this is also the time of year when criminals are on the prowl seeking to prey on their unsuspecting victims.

Throughout the festive season, the South African Police Service (SAPS) will conduct a number of safety and security operations, and these form part of a broader effort to turn the tide against crime.

The act of forgiveness and reconciliation has been central to the story of South Africa since 1994.  Reconciliation Day came into effect in 1994 and was intended to help build a united and prosperous South Africa. This day and in subsequent years, Reconciliation Month has become synonymous with our drive to nurture and entrench new values in our society.

In 1998, World Aids Day was commemorated for the first time on 1 December, and every year since that year this day has been dedicated to raising awareness about HIV and Aids, and in more recent years about the many strides we have made in fighting this deadly disease.

In the early years of the pandemic, countless lives were lost, and the world had very few answers or solutions to prevent what seemed like an unstoppable disease.  For many years the commemoration of World Aids Day was dedicated to the lives lost and South Africa was one of the countries hardest hit.

For years we have been told that South Africa is a water scarce country. However, this warning often goes unheeded, and people continue with their daily lives, totally unconcerned about water use. The reality only hits home when communities are directly impacted as in the case right now in Gauteng.

Beyond policy and laws, we must act collectively to ensure that we overcome systemic discrimination and inequality levelled against people leaving with disability in our society. We must do more to create an inclusive society that accommodates people with impediments and move from the notion of disability being a welfare or charity issue to a rights-based model.

Women and children are the heartbeat of our homes and communities, and any harm that befalls them shatters the very core of society. It is therefore our collective responsibility to protect them and ensure that they are not harmed in anyway.

We are reminded once again to take an active stand against any form of violence, harassment or abuse against women and children as we commemorate 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children from 25 November to 10 December 2024.