Our favourite photos from our stories in 2025

Rescuers retrieve a cage in Stilfontein in the North West in January 2025. Over 200 miners were rescued and over 70 bodies were recovered. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee

A homeless man sleeps in the ruins of Eldorado Park stadium in January 2025. Park stadiums, soccer fields, and public pools have been badly vandalised and neglected in the area. Photo: Kimberly Mutandiro

About 30 people living inside the three-storey building on 104 Darling Street, and dozens more living in an informal settlement in the property’s parking lot faced eviction. Photo: Matthew Hirsch

A boat rows through a thick layer of weed in a dam in Johannesburg. The Salvinia Molesta, more commonly known as Kariba weed, is an invasive species that threatens the indigenous ecosystems. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee

The Khoisan settlement in Grabouw, Knoflokskraal, has a restaurant, a nursery, livestock farming and vegetable gardens, but little water. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

A wildfire scorches Cape Town’s Silvermine reserve in April 2025. Photo: David Harrison

A cat sleeps among rosehips in Lesotho. Lesotho’s wild-harvested rosehips are an important industry for the small country’s economy and provide a source of income for thousands of people in rural villages. Photo: Sechaba Mokhethi

Dogs recovering from anaesthesia after being sterilised in De Doorns. Every two weeks, volunteers and the Sidewalk Specials team vaccinate, sterilise and treat dogs and cats in the community. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

Fossil technician Sipho Makhele moves around the darkness deep underground at the Sterkfontein Caves near Johannesburg. Fossil technicians search for bones that can help unlock the mysteries of our past. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee

The home of 76-year-old Annie Zwane after it was damaged by heavy floods in KZN. After not receiving any assistance by the government, the community came together and helped restore a rondavel for Zwane to live in. Photo: Bongane Motaung

People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (PAGAD) march against gang violence in Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats in September 2025. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

People swim in the Tugela-Vaal canal in KwaZulu-Natal. Some people want this canal to be closed off and fenced. Photo: Sean Christie

A child collects water before 6am from an informal wellpoint in the bushes in Maitland, Cape Town. The child was seen collecting water during a protest for better services like electricity, water and housing. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

Five families who were moved 20 years ago to make way for the Mohale Dam in the Lesotho Highlands lost a court battle for compensation. Photo: Sechaba Mokhethi

A Pick ‘n Pay asap! delivery rider heads out along Rondebosch Main Road in Cape Town with a load of groceries. Photo: David Harrison

Firefighters at Wingfield in Cape Town stand where a white marquee was burnt to the ground in November 2025. The tent was used to shelter hundreds of refugees. Photo: Brenton Geach

Children in Manenberg gather in a street to watch films at the open air cinema arranged every second Saturday by Darion Adams, founder of The AIM Society (Arts In Manenberg). Photo: Ashraf Hendricks

Naresh Kooverjee stands in front of Babu’s Footwear in Wynberg. The shop was first opened by his grandfather in 1921. Photo: David Harrison

Protesters at the Constitutional Hill Precinct in Johannesburg lie down during a nationwide protest against gender based violence. Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee

Hippos wander into town every night in St Lucia in KwaZulu-Natal. Photo: Barry Christianson

Young ballet dancers from Soweto, Alexandra and Braamfontein prepare to perform in ballet school’s year-end showcase. By Ihsaan Haffejee

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