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“Even in his death, he still rejected me.” This sentence left me breathless, rendering me speechless and at a loss for words as my friend recounted her experience attending her father’s funeral last weekend. Being rejected by someone who contributed to one’s very existence is a painful experience. Personally, I have never known my biological […]

We lose loved ones. We suffer. It is the profound privilege of our humanity to care deeply, to love another, and to know that we are all mortal. The loving gives joy; the losing hurts. We have many occasions spread over the entire year, depending on our geography and faith orientation. Last week was Diwali.

This week, Mapi and I started teaching our last LoveLegacyDignity (LLD) programme of the year, Live By Design – Finish Strong. Our emphasis is to encourage people to review their life as they live it now and consider how they might want to reshape it going forward. We ask people to write down what they

In a world where memories fade, and legacies become distant echoes, there are remarkable individuals who strive to keep the spirit of their loved ones alive. Johan Mortier’s promise to his dear son Noah serves as a timeless testament of remembrance and a beacon of hope for the underprivileged children of South Africa. As I

Living with and caring for family members who have Alzheimer’s is hard. It is as though the person you know is disappearing in front of you. They are there in body but no longer mentally and emotionally engaged. It is tantalising. Some days there’s a glimpse of the person who loved you, many other days,

This week, my cellphone has been inundated with videos of cash-in-transit incidents that have taken place in KwaMashu in uMhlanga, the area that has shaped so much of what I know about life, love, death, and grief. A quick look at the crime statistics reveals a picture of an area that is consistently ranked among

Today, in the Barnes Gallery in Philadelphia, my eyes rested on Cezanne’s still life painting, which includes a skull among the apples and pears – a “Memento Mori” reminder, common in that era. “Remember you will die” was a prompt to live life to the fullest. Zoleka Mandela didn’t look at a reproduction of Cezanne’s

Heritage is a vibrant tapestry that weaves together the history, traditions and beliefs of a community. As South Africans mark Heritage Month, we explore the practicality of certain cultural norms in the present day. During this Heritage long weekend, families across the country will undertake a multitude of activities which celebrate their inherited cultural traditions.

Sigmund Freud, an Austrian neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis, wrote almost a century ago: “We assume a special attitude towards the dead, something like admiration for one who has accomplished a very difficult feat. We suspend criticism of him, overlooking whatever wrongs he may have done.” The English aphorisms “of the dead, speak no evil”

As I think about who I should ask to accept my request that they be a guardian to my child, I remember my former boss’s frank comment about me eight years ago: “Mapi is a talented news director. While her abilities are awe-inspiring, her weight concerns me. I fear that one day she may collapse