NSPCA welcomes long-awaited reform for lion captivity breeding ban

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CAPE TOWN - The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has  welcomed the announcement by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, on the imminent publication of the Lion Prohibition Notice banning new captive lion breeding facilities.   This long-awaited reform marks a pivotal milestone in dismantling an industry built on systemic cruelty, reflecting years of legal action, public advocacy, and inspections by the NSPCA. The prohibition confirms what the NSPCA has long exposed: the captive lion industry has operated largely unabated for decades, inflicting severe animal welfare violations, damaging South Africa’s conservation reputation, and flouting constitutional obligations to protect sentient beings. While limited to new facilities, this ban sends a clear signal that the commodification of lions for tourism, hunting, and the bone trade is no longer defensible. The NSPCA’s decade-long investigations have laid bare the industry’s brutality. O...
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Welcome to Wakanda in Soweto: How Afro Geek hopes to ignite a continent

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SOWETO - There’s a new kind of revolution brewing in Soweto, and it comes with cosplay, controllers and comic book lore. The Afro Geek Festival 2025 takes place on 24 May at Jabulani Safe-Hub, promising to celebrate African innovation, imagination, and fandom on a scale that’s bigger and bolder than ever before.

 

Powered by headline sponsor Vuma, South Africa’s leading fibre network operator (FNO), and Legends Barber, Afro Geek started in May 2024 as an idea to bring more representation to geek culture, celebrating people of colour and creatives from across the African continent. It has become a hub for creators, artists, gamers, and fans who are passionate about storytelling and technological advancement within a uniquely African context. With a growing community, impactful partnerships, and exciting events, Afro Geek is redefining what it means to be a part of the global geek and gaming culture.

 

“I grew up in the township and have identified as a geek for most of my life,” says Tapelo Zama, Co-Founder of Afro Geek. “In the 90s, people of colour were almost invisible in these spaces. Even when geek culture became more mainstream, we were still on the margins, despite the demand and the talent. So, my business partner and I decided to build the kind of event we never saw growing up.”

 

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