Why rooibos could be the world's peace offering
Tea, especially rooibos, is a symbol of comfort and peace. In a world that's losing its calm, it might just be our simplest solution.
It seems logical that a brand like Coca-Cola – which dominates the soft drink market globally – would have few real competitors in the sector.
Yet executives will admit that consumption of coffee and tea is what really worries them.
The reality is that, for all the options out there, tea is still second only to water as the most consumed drink in the world.
It's no different in South Africa, where, according to research company Eighty20, more than 22.6 million South African adults enjoy rooibos, green tea or traditional tea every day.
ALSO READ: Rooibos, tea or coffee? What South Africans like to drink
Almost half of them also enjoy a daily cup of coffee, and 30% of traditional tea drinkers also sip some rooibos daily.
Rooibos, of course, is that uniquely South African brand of herbal tea grown in the Cederberg region of the Western Cape… and which is an acquired taste, shall we say.
Fans of the herb tea – and their legions are growing around the world as it is exported to more than 50 countries – believe rooibos has significant health benefits, being caffeine-free and high in antioxidants.
Whatever your preference, you cannot deny that an inviting cuppa helps soothe the nerves. Maybe the world should make tea, rather than make war…
NOW READ: Another victory for Rooibos as study finds that tea is good for the heart
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Despite these substantial investments, experts and civil society organisations continue to call for further improvements, including enhanced accountability, more robust monitoring and evaluation, and greater focus on addressing the root causes of health disparities. The government itself has acknowledged these challenges and has committed to ongoing reforms and targeted spending to address them. The report identified several critical areas where government action (or inaction) was exacerbating these problems: The Education-Health Divide: A persistent lack of coordination between the health and education sectors undermined efforts to provide comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). 'This divide needs to be overcome so high-quality, evidence-based, comprehensive sexuality education can be provided both in and out of school to young people,' the report stated. A persistent lack of coordination between the health and education sectors undermined efforts to provide comprehensive sexuality education (CSE). 'This divide needs to be overcome so high-quality, evidence-based, comprehensive sexuality education can be provided both in and out of school to young people,' the report stated. Inaccessible Youth-Friendly Services: Despite legal provisions allowing adolescents to access contraception, many faced judgmental healthcare providers. 'Health care providers believe that young women should not be having sex before marriage,' the report found, leading to limited contraceptive options and missed opportunities for prevention. Despite legal provisions allowing adolescents to access contraception, many faced judgmental healthcare providers. 'Health care providers believe that young women should not be having sex before marriage,' the report found, leading to limited contraceptive options and missed opportunities for prevention. School Retention Failures: While policies existed to allow pregnant learners to remain in school, implementation was inconsistent. 'Only a few schools have formal or effective mechanisms in place to offer opportunities for girls to catch up on missed work,' the report noted, with 33% of pregnant girls not returning to school. The report outlined clear, actionable solutions that would more than pay for themselves through economic benefits: Integrated SRHR Services: Combining HIV prevention, contraception, and GBV services in youth-friendly spaces could dramatically reduce costs. The report highlighted successful models such as the O3 Programme that linked schools with health services. Combining HIV prevention, contraception, and GBV services in youth-friendly spaces could dramatically reduce costs. The report highlighted successful models such as the O3 Programme that linked schools with health services. Comprehensive Sexuality Education: 'School-based CSE, when delivered effectively using engaging and interactive game-based methods, empowers young people to make informed decisions about relationships,' the report stated. This required proper training for educators and collaboration with health providers. 'School-based CSE, when delivered effectively using engaging and interactive game-based methods, empowers young people to make informed decisions about relationships,' the report stated. This required proper training for educators and collaboration with health providers. Economic Support for Young Parents: Programmes that helped adolescent parents complete their education, including childcare support and flexible schooling, could recover millions in lost earnings potential. The report cites Nacosa's successful peer education and remedial teaching initiatives. Programmes that helped adolescent parents complete their education, including childcare support and flexible schooling, could recover millions in lost earnings potential. The report cites Nacosa's successful peer education and remedial teaching initiatives. GBV Prevention Investments: Community-based programmes such as Stepping Stones and Sonke Gender Justice's One Man Can campaign have proven effective at changing harmful gender norms. The report called for scaling these interventions alongside clinical services for survivors. The report's conclusion was unequivocal: 'Business as usual is not going to work. Different approaches are needed to generate change.' It challenged policymakers to view SRHR not as an expense, but as an investment with measurable economic returns. 'Understanding the cost of inaction helps to re-evaluate current approaches,' the report stated. 'Costing activities, including the cost of inaction in the cost-benefit analysis, will enable appropriate investment decisions for activities that provide real change, both now and also in the health and economic livelihoods of the next generations.' For South Africa, the choice is clear: continue paying the astronomical costs of inaction, or invest strategically in the health and rights of young people to unlock their full economic potential. The numbers show there's only one fiscally responsible option. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
