24 hours in pictures, 20 June 2025
Through the lens: The Citizen's Picture Editors select the best news photographs from South Africa and around the world.
People ride a roller coaster at the new LEGOLAND Shanghai Resort, at the Jinshan district in Shanghai, on June 20, 2025. The largest LEGOLAND in the world will be officially opened in Shanghai on July 5th. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP)
PETA animal rights activists stage a protest outside the venue of Ajinomoto Co. Inc.'s annual shareholder meeting in Tokyo, Japan, 20 June 2025. Animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) activists are protesting Ajinomoto's animal-testing policy and the alleged use of animals in food tests. Picture: EPA-EFE/FRANCK ROBICHON Minehle Wanyoike from Zimbabwe prays in the school chapel during morning classes as part of the Three2Six Refugee Children's Education Project at the Sacred Heart Collage in Johannesburg, South Africa, 19 June 2025. The Three2Six Project, founded in 2008, is a bridging education programme for refugee and migrant children unable to access state schooling. Three host school communities including Sacred Heart College, Observatory Girls Primary School, and Holy Family College, make their facilities available to Three2Six each afternoon from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., after their regular school day ends. The children come from seven African countries, with the largest proportion from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe. Many of the learners are undocumented refugees who moved to South Africa with their parents. Picture: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK A priest baptizes a child during a mass baptism ceremony, sponsored by local officials, at the San Martin De Porres Church in Bacoor city, Cavite province, southwest of Manila, Philippines, 20 June 2025. More than 200 children were baptized in a mass baptism ceremony, a significant religious and cultural event in a predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines, where the baptismal certificates issued afterward often serve as a de facto birth record for newborns in communities lacking easy access to civil registration. Picture: EPA-EFE/FRANCIS R. MALASIG Students take part in a Yoga session on the eve of the International Day Of Yoga in Bhopal, India on June 20, 2025. International Day Of Yoga is celebrated every year on June 21 to promote the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits of yoga worldwide. It was first proposed by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations, which officially declared it in 2014. Picture: Matrix Images / Sanjeev Gupta Israeli Home Front Command team members walk at the site where Iranian ballistic missiles struck residential buildingsat the site where Iranian ballistic missiles struck residential buildings in Beer Sheva, southern Israel, 20 June 2025. Israel and Iran have been exchanging fire since Israel launched strikes across Iran on 13 June 2025 as part of Operation 'Rising Lion.' Picture: EPA-EFE/ABIR SULTAN EPA A staff member remotely controls a bionic arm using force-sensing gloves at the 2025 World Semiconductor Conference & Expo in Nanjing, in China's eastern Jiangsu province on June 20, 2025. (Photo by AFP) Local people clean debris off windows at the site of a drone strike on a residential building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, early 20 June 2025. At least 4 people were injured, including two teenagers, following an overnight Russian attack by shock drones on Kharkiv and its suburbs, according to the State Emergency Service (SES). Picture: EPA-EFE/SERGEY KOZLOV Chinese-made cars are seen before being loaded onto a ship at the port in Lianyungang, in China's eastern Jiangsu province on June 20, 2025. (Photo by AFP) A visitor attends 'Yolngu Power: The Art of Yirrkala' winter exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, 20 June 2025. Picture: EPA-EFE/DAN HIMBRECHTS
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Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Daily Maverick
World wetlands guardian calls for urgent report on SA's ‘forgotten' reserve
The custodians of the world's most valuable wetland areas have sent another reminder to South Africa to submit a long-overdue report about the long-standing threats facing the Ndumo Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. In a report published ahead of the 15th meeting of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Zimbabwe next month, the treaty secretariat has once again requested a detailed report on the future of the 10,000-hectare Ndumo reserve, which lies on the border between northern KZN and Mozambique. Noting that a status report on Ndumo has been outstanding for more than six years, the secretariat has now urged South Africa to give 'high priority' to compiling and submitting this report. The international convention, focused on the conservation and sustainable use of globally important wetlands – such as the Pantanal in South America, the Okavango Delta in Botswana or The Sudd in South Sudan – is named after an Iranian city where the global wetlands convention was signed in 1971. Ndumo is one of 31 sites in South Africa recognised for their global importance in wetland conservation, but it was occupied by subsistence farmers just before the 2009 election season, when they were promised initial access to a small 20ha patch of the reserve to plant vegetables in some of the wettest and most fertile soils of the reserve. Since then, well more than 600ha of Ndumo has been cultivated or transformed by human activity, an area at least 30 times larger than the original area promised to communities. Ndumo, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, was proclaimed in 1924 mainly to provide sanctuary for the rapidly vanishing hippos of the Maputaland region, which once ranked as the third-largest hippo population in South Africa. Recent academic studies suggest that hippo and crocodile numbers in Ndumo have declined dramatically, coupled with a major escalation in wildlife poaching, the felling of forest vegetation for firewood and gillnetting of fish from the Phongola River. The Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife agency reported seeing more than 500 cattle in the eastern part of the reserve during a recent helicopter game census, along with more than 150 boats that are used to access farming fields or to place illegal gillnets. In terms of article 3.2 of the convention member nations are required to report any threats to Ramsar sites 'at the earliest possible time'. It remains unclear what official notification procedures South Africa has followed since the first threats emerged about 17 years ago, but according to briefing documents on the Ramsar website, the secretariat opened a file on Ndumo in June 2019 following a third-party report that the reserve was under threat from 'extensive farming activities coupled with significant management issues'. Earlier this year, Daily Maverick sent queries about this issue to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, which acts as the country's Ramsar administrative authority. In response to questions, the department said on 6 March that no article 3.2 reports on Ndumo had been submitted to Ramsar, although the department was 'aware of the challenges' facing the reserve. It added that the department was awaiting the results of a water quality assessment report on Ndumo, but gave no clear indication of the reasons for the long delay in providing information to Ramsar. The department has also not responded to further questions from Daily Maverick sent on 23 June, requesting reasons for the six-year delay in providing information to Ramsar. Dr Simon Pooley, a conservation researcher at Birkbeck, University of London who has been trying to call attention to the threats facing Ndumo for several years, has expressed dismay about the apparent inaction and 'obfuscation' by the department. He noted that Ndumo's crocodile population had suffered a 'catastrophic collapse', declining from about 1,000 in the 1990s to about 300 in 2023. The number of hippo in Ndumo had also dropped from 300 to just 80 over a similar period. Though there are now just more than 2,500 Ramsar sites globally, covering more than 2.5 million km², convention signatories remain concerned about the rapid loss of wetland areas across the world. At the convention's 15th meeting in Zimbabwe from 23 to 31 July, treaty members will be asked to endorse the Victoria Falls Declaration on global wetland protection. A draft version of the declaration on the Ramsar website calls on government ministers and delegation heads at the Victoria Falls meeting to 'recognise the urgent need for strong political will and concrete action to advance the conservation, restoration, management and wise and sustainable use of all types of wetlands'. DM
Mail & Guardian
24-06-2025
- Mail & Guardian
India's ancient art of yoga captures Durban
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli likened yoga to the African spirit of Ubuntu (human kindness), as he championed the United Nations' International Day of Yoga — now firmly rooted in Durban as its official host city. (Marlan Padayachee) The International Day of Yoga was born from an address by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UN General Assembly in 2014. Within three months, on 11 December that year, 193 member states and 173 co-sponsor countries voted unanimously to enshrine 21 June as a global day to honour the ancient Indian discipline of yoga. Eleven years on, the vibrant city of Durban — framed by its Indian Ocean shoreline and legacy of civilisational convergence — hosted South Africa's official yoga day celebration on Saturday, 21 June 2025. A record turnout of more than 4 000 participants — 1 000 more than the 10 th edition in 2024 — painted a sea of serenity of men, women and children of culturally-diverse yogis and keep-fit enthusiasts, prompting the keynote speaker and chief guest, KZN's Premier Thami Ntuli to declare: 'These huge crowds of participants augurs well for the future of yoga as India's gift to us. Yoga has become the new spirit of ubuntu for all our communities.' The Durban Amphitheatre, typically a weekend haunt for joggers and walkers, was transformed into a vibrant tapestry of yogis and enthusiasts paying homage to an art that had journeyed from Himalayan caves to nearly every corner of the globe. Yoga's roots stretch back over 5 000 years, derived from the Sanskrit word yuj, meaning 'to unite'. It was a practice designed to synchronise body, mind and spirit — a concept that had begun to resonate globally across geographies, generations and social strata. This global renaissance owed much to a constellation of modern Hindu spiritual leaders — not the ancient sages, but contemporary visionaries who globalised the discipline. Swami Vivekananda first introduced Raja Yoga to the West at the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago in the US. Later, Sri T Krishnamacharya, hailed as the 'Father of Modern Yoga', choreographed yoga's evolution into the accessible, postural discipline practised today. In South Africa, Swami Sivananda's Divine Life Society, founded in Durban, played a unique role — not only in propagating Hatha Yoga but in uplifting black communities during apartheid's darkest decades. Carrying this legacy forward was Prince Ishwar Ramlutchman Mabheka Zulu — philanthropist, cultural activist and adopted son of the late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuZulu. Through his Sivananda World Peace Foundation, Ramlutchman championed yoga as a tool for peace-building, wellness and social cohesion. As a protege of Swami Sahajananda, Ramlutchman emerged as a key figure in yoga's African journey. Under his leadership, the yoga day celebration grew from a modest gathering to a 4 000-strong annual spectacle, making it one of Durban's most anticipated cultural highlights. This year's celebration unfolded just weeks after the city successfully hosted the Africa Travel Indaba, a four-day trade and tourism showcase that attracted over 9 000 delegates and injected more than R500 million into Durban's economy. Durban Tourism's Winile Mntungwa noted that the indaba had generated R226 million in direct economic impacts. Phindile Makwakwa, COO of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, credited the province's rich cultural mosaic for positioning it as a premier destination. Lindiwe Rakharebe, CEO of the Durban ICC, added that hotel occupancies had exceeded 80%, signalling a 'promising rebound'. Amid this climate of renewal and optimism, Ramlutchman affirmed that yoga's stronghold in Durban was no accident. 'This city, with its cross-cultural DNA and demographic diversity, is the ideal ambassador for yoga's universal message of unity in diversity,' he remarked in an address to attendees. Among the dignitaries present were city councillor Bheki Mngwengwe, who echoed eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba's gratitude for the choice of the city for the annual showpiece and a constellation of political, cultural and diplomatic leaders — affirming that yoga had transcended its sacred roots to become a unifying civic tradition. Premier Ntuli, delivering the keynote address for the second consecutive year, described yoga as a 'transformative force that fosters inner peace and social harmony'. He commended Ramlutchman and the foundation for extending yoga's reach into rural and historically underserved communities. KZN legislative speaker Ntobeko Boyce echoed this sentiment, saying: 'Yoga reminds us that healing begins within. The International Day of Yoga has become a cornerstone of our provincial calendar.' Messages of support poured in from across the leadership spectrum. In a heartfelt note, Zulu monarch King Misuzulu kaZwelithini acknowledged the foundation's enduring contribution to the well-being of his people. 'Yoga will bring change to the lives of my people by fostering awareness, focus and wellness,' he wrote. South Africa's Ministry of Health also weighed in, endorsing yoga as an invaluable tool for public health. 'Yoga aligns with our mission to improve public health, reduce stress and encourage healthy living,' the ministry noted in a statement. 'It addresses both modern illnesses and emotional burdens.' Veteran MP Poobalan Les Govender, IFP deputy chair of the National Council of Provinces, described yoga as 'a discipline for self-discovery, growth and resilience', with the power to build inclusive communities grounded in emotional well-being. Professor Anil Sooklal, South Africa's newly appointed High Commissioner to India, Bangladesh and Nepal, praised Durban's role in advancing cultural diplomacy. 'This celebration is a milestone in South Africa-India cultural and people-to-people cooperation,' he said from New Delhi. Indeed, yoga's South African story is one of revival, resilience and reinvention — from the spiritual foothills of Rishikesh to the coastal breezes of eThekwini. As Durban hosted thousands beneath its crisp winter sun, the 2025 International Day of Yoga stood once again as a living reminder that in unity, there is healing, and in stillness, there is strength. Yoga – India's timeless gift to the world — continues to inspire health, harmony and higher consciousness in a fast-paced post-modern era . 'This year also marks the global unveiling of the Sivananda International initiative — a call to humanity to embrace yoga not as a trend, but as a timeless truth. Yoga is not merely a physical workout; it is a sacred way of life. In a world often consumed by noise and chaos, yoga grants us the rarest of gifts: inner stillness, clarity and peace,' said Ramlutchman. 'With nearly 200 million practitioners worldwide — from every nation, every race and every faith — yoga has become a universal language of well-being. Over 20 million people in the United States alone have embraced this tradition, yet its soul resides in its birthplace, India — and it belongs to the world. 'As South Africans, as global citizens, let us walk together on this noble path. Let us build communities rooted in peace, humility, health and spiritual devotion. Let us foster a world where creed and colour no longer divide us, but unite us in shared breath and common purpose. 'Let this International Day of Yoga be a beacon — a glorious opening for humanity to rediscover the power of oneness. When the world moves as one, there is no conflict, no injustice and no disparity — only unity in diversity,' Ramlutchman said. 'It was a beautiful scene of a sea of people,' he reminisced, adding: 'Children, youth and elders practiced side by side. Healthcare workers, township-based wellness advocates, diplomats and yoga teachers moved to the same breath — and symbolised unity in diversity, echoing the values of our Constitution and our rainbow nation.' Marlan Padayachee is a seasoned former political, foreign and diplomatic correspondent in the transition from apartheid to democracy and is a freelance journalist, photographer and researcher.
IOL News
23-06-2025
- IOL News
Peace and Unity in the Cold: 600 Gather for 11th International Day of Yoga at Union Buildings
International Day of Yoga will be observed on Saturday. Image: Supplied Hundreds of people, ranging in age from 3 to 70 and representing diverse communities—including foreigners and diplomats — gathered in the Union Buildings gardens on a chilly morning to practice yoga together. The event united individuals from all walks of life in a shared commitment to wellness, mindfulness, and community spirit. The High Commission of India warmly invited the public to join the celebration of the 11th International Day of Yoga 2025, held at the South Lawns of the Union Buildings in Pretoria. This significant day fosters unity, health, and empowerment through the ancient practice of yoga. The buildup to the event began with the International Day of Yoga Curtain Raiser, organised at India House on 21 May 2025. Attendees included members of the International Diplomatic Spouses Association, representatives of various yoga institutes, and the Indian diaspora. In a conversation about the event, Bev Naude, a passionate yogi from Pretoria, shared her long-standing involvement. 'I have been practising yoga for 60 years in total,' she said. 'I have participated in every International Day of Yoga since its inception in 2015, starting with our first event at the 7th of March Hall in Laudium.' Bev, who serves on the organising committee, is also the founder and coordinator of the Tshwane Yoga Festival, created to complement the International Day of Yoga, which falls in the South African winter. 'Two years ago, I suggested holding the festival in summer or spring to make it more accessible, and that idea was well received,' she explained. Now in its third year, the festival has become very successful, held at the University Campus in the east. Bev works closely with the High Commission of India on International Day of Yoga events, corporate functions, and the Tshwane Yoga Festival. She expressed her honour to be part of this year's celebration, noting her deep connections within Pretoria's yoga community and mentoring younger yogis such as Tamara. After the yoga session, participants were treated to snacks, drinks, and traditional Indian masala tea. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The gathering concluded with a group photo taken against the iconic backdrop of the Union Buildings. Among the sponsors supporting the event were Manzarali, Virgin Active, Taj Cape Town, Tata, and Mahindra Rise, whose contributions helped make the celebration possible. 'As our Prime Minister, Hon. Narendra Modi, said yesterday on the occasion of the International Day of Yoga — 'Yoga is the pause button our humanity needs to breathe, to balance, and to become whole again.'' quoted Prabhat Kumar, High Commissioner of India to South Africa, while addressing hundreds of yoga enthusiasts gathered at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to mark the 11th International Day of Yoga. The High Commissioner emphasised that yoga, which unites body and mind, is now a global practice that fosters compassion, balance, and harmony — qualities that proved especially vital during the Covid-19 pandemic. During that time, India launched the 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative, supplying life-saving vaccines and medicines to 150 countries in the spirit of Vasudev Kutumbakam — the world is one family.'We celebrated the 11th edition of the International Day of Yoga in South Africa, with an enthusiastic crowd of over 600 people gathering in front of the iconic Union Buildings. ''We had a wonderful yoga session, and everyone who participated was deeply engaged and appreciative, especially on this cold winter morning,' said Banu Prakash, Deputy High Commissioner of India in Pretoria. 'Yoga, as you know, is India's gift to the world, and its growing popularity globally is reflected here as well. The fact that this is the 11th consecutive year of celebration in South Africa is a testament to yoga's rising embrace in the country.
