The Supreme Court expressed serious concern regarding the decline of the joint family institution, as well as the fact that parents in nuclear families do not dedicate enough time to their children, preferring to distract them with gadgets.
The Supreme Court expressed serious concern regarding the decline of the joint family institution, as well as the fact that parents in nuclear families do not dedicate enough time to their children, preferring to distract them with gadgets.
The Court ruled that this trend will lead to a 'catastrophe' because the new generation will lack an understanding of family ties and relationships.
When analyzing the causes of recent cases of spousal murder, including the case of Sonam Raguvanshi, judges' colleagues M M Sundresh and P B Varale noted that this reflects changes in society. They emphasized that the current generation possesses greater intelligence and access to information but does not know how to cope with pressure.
The Court also noted that it is regrettable that people today rely on messages spread through WhatsApp and accept them as knowledge. Agreeing with the Court's concerns, General Advisor Tushar Mehta stated that this has become a social problem, marked by a decrease in trust in human connections and a lack of tolerance.
Judge Sundresh recounted visiting a restaurant recently where he saw a family hand a phone to a child to keep them occupied during a meal. He stated: 'If parents are replaced by gadgets, it is a catastrophe. This will happen more and more often in the future. The joint family is a valuable asset, and people do not understand this. Happiness comes not from material goods, but from human connections and relationships. We are becoming like machines.'
The dominance of the Gauteng province in the housing construction sector is gradually weakening. According to data from independent economic researcher Sandra Gordon, the province's share of the total volume of approved residential construction plans in South Africa has decreased from 41.1% five years ago to 33.3%.
Although there is an overall decrease in the number of approved plans across all three major housing markets in Gauteng, a shift has occurred within the province itself. Gordon notes that Tshwane and Ekurhuleni have increased their share in planned housing development, while Johannesburg has lost ground.
Despite Tshwane remaining the largest market, Ekurhuleni has shown the most progress among metropolitan areas in terms of housing price growth. According to Lightstone, in the first half of 2026, the average housing cost grew by 5% in Ekurhuleni, which is the second-largest growth rate among major South African metros, surpassed only by Cape Town. For comparison, the growth in Johannesburg was only 2%, and in Tshwane, it was 2.95%.
Sandra Gordon links Ekurhuleni's recent high performance to several factors, including relative housing affordability and proximity to major transport hubs and employment centers. She believes that strong price growth combined with an increase in the share of planned housing development indicates that Ekurhuleni is a market worth watching.
Meanwhile, data from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), published on Thursday, July 23, shows that the value of completed buildings (at current prices) decreased by 4.2% (by R819.4 million) between January and May 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. This decrease was recorded in the private sector, according to local authority statistics.
A decrease in the value of non-residential buildings (by R759.8 million) and residential buildings (by R255.6 million) was also noted; however, growth was recorded in additions and renovations (by R196.0 million). At the same time, according to approved construction plans data, their value increased by 1.2% (by R473.7 million) in January-May 2026 compared to 2025. This growth was specifically recorded in the residential building segment (by R1,348.7 million), whereas additions and renovations and non-residential buildings showed a decrease.
Animal rights activists called for changes to municipal regulations concerning dog breeding. This protest followed a disturbing discovery: a recently giving birth dog was found dead, hanged on a chain above the wall of a residential building in Phoenix on Wednesday.
Shabnam Baran, founder of Stray Paws South Africa, expressed outrage after receiving a call from an elderly resident of Lenham. The woman informed her about the 'horrible' way the dog died. It turned out that the puppies, which were about a month old, had gotten onto this woman's property, and their mother then jumped over the wall while remaining on the chain.
When rescuers arrived at the house, they found the puppies sitting under the body of the mother, which was hanging over the wall. Another brave brown dog, which had entered the elderly woman's property, stood guard, initially blocking access due to extreme terror and protective instinct.
It was reported that dogs in this area were subjected to severe overbreeding. The deceased dog had given birth only a month ago. It was heartbreaking to learn that another dog on the premises had presumably died a week earlier from starvation.
Baran noted that there was initial resistance from the male, but rescuers managed to lower the mother dog for a dignified burial. She added that there are presumably other surviving dogs on this property who could face the same agonizing fate without immediate intervention.
According to her, this is not an isolated incident, but a systemic failure. Residents in the areas of Phoenix, Chatsworth, and Welbeka constantly seek help regarding illegal breeding, animal cruelty, and complete disregard for animal welfare laws. Baran emphasized that until authorities ensure compliance with regulations and hold cruel owners accountable, animals will continue to die from exhaustion and abuse.
Durban and Coast SPCA confirmed that an inspector was dispatched to the scene for an investigation, and they await further response.
Baran explained that residents in these areas breed dogs for sale due to poverty. These communities need assistance regarding illegal breeding and animal mistreatment. Selling puppies for prices between 50 and 100 rand brings income to households. The conditions of the dogs' confinement are extremely poor.
When activists discover illegal breeding, they try to find new homes for the puppies and sterilize the dogs, but owners become hostile because the dogs are their main source of income. In response to this, they held a march on Sunday demanding changes to municipal breeding regulations. Baran insists on the need for stricter rules to prevent dogs from being bred in harsh conditions for profit.
The local charity organization Pay it Forward appealed to the public with the plea, 'Please be human,' after a woman who was begging on the roadside received moldy bread. The organization shared the story of how this woman had to scrape the mold off the bread so that she and her family could eat.
When donating clothing, you should give clean, washed items in good condition suitable for the weather, such as jackets, sweaters, and raincoats. Comfortable trousers, shirts, and dresses are also acceptable, as well as new or high-quality pairs of socks and shoes in complete sets. For cold weather, hats, scarves, and gloves are appropriate.
In the food category, they accept hermetically sealed non-perishable goods, canned foods, rice, pasta, and basic cooking ingredients, as well as tea, coffee, sugar, and bottled water. Fresh produce is allowed if it is safe to consume and has been hygienically prepared.
The list of hygiene items includes toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap and shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, wet wipes, and toilet paper. Among other useful items, clean blankets, sleeping bags, towels, backpacks or bags in good condition, and first aid kits can be donated. Gift certificates for food or necessary services, as well as donations to shelters and support programs, are also welcome.
Regarding clothing, it is strictly forbidden to donate dirty or unwashed clothes, as well as damaged, stained, or unusable items. Single pairs of shoes or socks, as well as clothing with personal or unwanted markings, such as old school or work uniforms, should be avoided.
Concerning food, it is prohibited to donate expired, opened, spoiled, or moldy products, as well as any food that you would not offer to another person yourself.
Household items to avoid include broken furniture or appliances, heavy items that are difficult to transport or store, and items that create more problems than they solve. Furthermore, donations of alcohol, used medical supplies, damaged personal hygiene products, and any items given simply because they are unnecessary trash should be refrained from.
The main goal of charity is not to get rid of closet contents, but to provide support that preserves human dignity and helps meet real needs. A small donation made with care can have a much greater impact than a large donation made thoughtlessly.
