A year like no other: Reflecting on 2025

Cyber-bullying, youth development, murders, school tragedies, scams, human and children's rights, violence, and extortion, 2025 has been a year like no other.

Throughout the year, headlines from Gugulethu and Nyanga reflected a disturbing surge in violent crime, with a series of horrific killings leaving communities traumatised and fearful.

In April, concerns were already mounting after four men were gunned down in the NY 3A section of Gugulethu ("Gugulethu community fear for their lives," Vukani April 10).

The violence escalated dramatically in June, when seven people were shot and killed in the early hours of Saturday, June 28, during a mass shooting in the Kanana informal settlement, also known as Barcelona, in Gugulethu ("Police launch manhunt following Gugulethu mass shooting," Vukani July 1). The incident shocked residents and drew national attention.

By September, the bloodshed had spread across areas. Two people - a man and a woman - were shot dead, while three others were wounded in separate shootings at the Barcelona and Europe informal settlements in Nyanga on a Monday morning ("Fear grips Gugulethu and Nyanga residents in the wake of recent gun violence" Vukani September 16).

The wave of killings sparked widespread concern from police, residents, and advocacy groups. Marches and protests followed, with communities demanding safer streets and calling for urgent action to reclaim their neighbourhoods from violence.

In July, the killing of a seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa in Khayelitsha shook the community. Lolitha was allegedly murdered by a family neighbour, with the community later destroying the home of the alleged killer (Khayelitsha community demands justice after the tragic murder of seven-year-old Lolitha Kowa" Vukani July 24).

The murder of South African National Civic Organisation leader Myolisi Magibisela also shook the Khayelitsha community (Khayelitsha community leader killed, Vukani June 26). Mr Magibisela was loved and known in the area of Makhaza for his community work.

There were attacks on Golden Arrow buses following unrest sparked by community dissatisfaction over job opportunities linked to the MyCiTi bus project on Govan Mbeki Road. Unemployed residents from Philippi and Nyanga stoned Golden Arrow buses along the route, bringing transport services to a halt and heightening tensions in the area. (Community outraged after petrol bomb attacks on Golden Arrows buses, July 24).

In June, youths from Samora Machel, fed up with ongoing violence, took to the streets to say enough is enough ("Youth March against gun Violence in Samora Machel," Vukani June 16). Young people voiced deep concern about the growing number of youths being killed by gun violence. The march was also attended by well-known, award-winning disc jockey Thela, lending his support to the call for safer communities.

In October, another group of youths took the initiative during the International Day of the Girl Child. They gathered in Langa to discuss issues affecting girls across the Southern African Development Community region (Voices of change: Addressing girl's issues on International Day of the Girl Child, Vukani October 14).

The discussions focused on sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, period poverty, and the importance of including boys in broader conversations around gender equality.