Andrea Erasmus

It’s been exactly 6 years since the South African government released a picture to explain to the country what midnight meant. You see, we had our first “family meeting” ever on the 23rd of March, and it was announced that we were going into a state-of-emergency lockdown (at midnight on the 26th of March). At first, we all forgot what midnight actually meant. Just typing that made me giggle. The government had to change the regulations to 23:59 in order for us to understand. We couldn’t buy roast chickens, or flip-flops or smoke cigarettes… because when people zol!?! But we were all making banana bread, watching Tiger King, trying our hand at pineapple beer and eventually joining the comrades’ marathon every morning between 6 and 9. Friends… there was one day that I ran a 5km around my house. In my garden. Circles for days. 3 weeks became 3 months, then 6 months and then a really bizarre couple of years. Do you remember how weird it got? And then the weird just got weirder. It was all just surreal. The “family meetings” started off pretty inspirational. We were all being led. And slowly, that inspiration turned to doubt and disappointment. We stopped calling them family meetings. We got more weird regulations, more money being stolen (we’ve actually stopped speaking about the missing billions), more jobs lost and more weirdness. And do you remember those bizarre dreams? The world was collectively having the worst night’s sleep and no one knew why. It could have been Carol Baskin, but I guess it’s because we were all dealing with something so weird… a loss of our normality, loss of incomes and loss of loved ones. The world shifted and we all kinda lost our balance. One of the biggest realisations for me during that time was that mental health and wellness matter. I spent quite a few days properly feeling my feelings and having to find a way out of the sadness. Those couple of years made me understand that we live in a very broken world where people who we love are silently dealing with massive monsters that we know nothing about. Everyone is fighting in a fight club we know nothing about… because we don’t talk about fight club. It was overwhelming and incredibly tough… and some days it still is… but I just want to remind everyone that it is okay not to be okay, and sometimes you need to take a time out, or reach out, or do whatever you need to protect yourself. Reaching out might be the most important lesson for me. I went through many dark days but on the 6th of November 2020, I had a real panic attack. The first I have ever had. It only took 224 days of lockdown but that day, I broke down. I lay on the floor, grasping for something to hold onto. I couldn’t breathe. The next day, I shared my story, and the outpouring of love was so intense that I could feel it wrapped around me like a warm blanket. So I want to remind you that you don’t need to do it all, and you don’t need to do it alone. If you’re feeling like it’s all too much, even now, then please reach out. This is solid advice and 100% worked for me. We also cannot lose hope. The world is a crazy place. Even now. More so now. It can feel very overwhelming, but we must not forget that there is always hope! And hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things… and no good thing ever dies. Also… please, please, please never stop believing in the wild possibility that is you and your impact. Live in purpose, on purpose, with hope and kindness! I don’t have the answer as to how to fix the economy, or how to create jobs when there just aren’t any… or even how to repair what is broken in our country, but I do believe with a little kindness and some hope, we might just be able to help each other through whatever we are going through. We rise by lifting others, right? Well… kindness and hope is how we do that! So if you see someone falling behind, walk beside them. If someone is being ignored, find a way to include them. If someone has been knocked down, lift them up. Always remind people of their worth. Be who you needed when you were going through hard times. Oh, and if you want a laugh, this picture of me was the recommendation by the “Coronavirus Command Council” in May 2020 on what we should all be wearing during that time… crop bottoms worn with boots and leggings. I am not joking. This was written into a lockdown regulation and approved by our “leaders”. What a weird time. But at least we all now know that midnight means 23:59. Okay. Love you. Bye.

That is one talented family! 🤯 The four Prevc siblings that ski jump have now ALL won Olympic medals: Nika 🥇🥈 Milano Cortina 2026 Domen 🥇 Milano Cortina 2026 Cene 🥈 Beijing 2022 Peter 🥇🥈🥈🥉 Sochi 2014, Beijing 2022 #MilanoCortina2026

The new Olympic Champion! Philipp Raimund 🇩🇪 on top of the World 🥇 #fisskijumping #passionbeyondlimits

Wise words “My name’s Frank. I’m 64, a retired electrician. Forty-two years I spent running wires through houses, fixing breakers, making sure people had light in their kitchens and heat in their winters. Never once did anyone ask me where I went to college. Mostly, they just wanted to know if I could get the power back on before their ice cream melted. Last May, I was at my granddaughter Emily’s school career day. You know the drill — doctors, lawyers, a software guy in a slick suit talking about “scaling startups.” I was the only one there with a tool belt and work boots. When it was my turn, I told the kids, “I don’t have a degree. I’ve never sat in a lecture hall. But I’ve wired schools, hospitals, and your principal’s house. And when the hospital generator failed during a snowstorm in ’98, I was the one in the basement with a flashlight, keeping the lights on for newborn babies upstairs.” The kids leaned forward. They had questions — real ones. “How do you fix stuff in the dark?” “Do you make a lot of money?” “Do you ever get zapped?” (Yes, once, and it’ll curl your hair.) When the bell rang, one boy hung back. Small kid, freckles, hoodie too big for him. He mumbled, “My uncle’s a plumber. People laugh at him ’cause he didn’t finish high school. But… he’s the only one in the family who can fix anything.” I looked that boy in the eye and said, “Kid, your uncle’s a hero. When your toilet overflows at midnight, Harvard ain’t sending anyone. A plumber is.” Here’s the thing nobody told me when I was young — the world doesn’t run without tradespeople. You can have all the engineers you want, but if nobody builds the house, wires the power, or lays the pipes, those blueprints just sit in a drawer. We’ve made it sound like trades are what you do if you can’t go to college, instead of a path you choose because you like working with your hands, solving problems, and seeing your work stand solid for decades. Four years after high school, some kids walk away with diplomas. Others walk away with zero debt, a union card, and a skill they can take anywhere in the world. And guess what? When your furnace dies in January, it’s not the diploma that saves you. A few weeks ago, that same freckled kid’s mom stopped me at the grocery store. She said, “You probably don’t remember, but you told my son trades are important. He’s shadowing his uncle this summer. First time I’ve seen him excited about anything in years.” That’s the part we forget — for some kids, knowing their path is respected changes everything. It’s not about “just” fixing wires or pipes. It’s about pride. Purpose. The kind that sticks with you long after the job’s done. So next time you meet a teenager, don’t just ask, “Where are you going to college?” Ask, “What’s your plan?” And if they say, “I’m learning to weld,” or “I’m starting an apprenticeship,” smile big and say, “That’s fantastic. We’re going to need you.” Because we will. More than ever. And when the lights go out, you’ll be glad they showed up.”

Jessica Thompson could be SA's next swimming superstar: youtu.be/QJbY1YbUVZs?si… #TeamSA🇿🇦 #BombelaConcessionCompany #Intertoll #SPG @OfficialTeamRSA @ArenaSAfrica @SA_NLC

So good they couldn’t ignore her! Teen swimmer Jess Thompson blazes her own trail - five national titles and an African record before turning 19!✨ businesslive.co.za/bd/sport/other…

After standing shut for half a decade, the Johannesburg City Library is finally OPEN again!! For five long years, 1.5 million books, including rare and valuable Africana archives, sat locked away, gathering dust. This year, the library turns 90 years old, a true continental landmark and one of the largest public libraries in Africa. That such a vital space could be left dormant for so long is unthinkable. This reopening belongs to the caring citizens of Joburg, heritage groups, civil society, and activists who refused to accept closed doors fighting shoulder to shoulder with @JoburgHeritage, Joburg Crisis Alliance, @JohannesburgIYP, Bridge Books, and many others. In an age of disinformation, inequality in digital access, and shrinking public spaces, libraries are more relevant than ever. They are lifelines for learning, safe spaces for community, and guardians of our shared heritage. Let this be a reminder: when we fight for what matters, we can bring life back to the heart of our city. ❤️‍🔥 Check out more pics from inside on my Instagram page.

South Africa Set New African Record Of 3:59.47 In Women’s Medley Relay swimswam.com/south-africa-s…

South Africa’s Pieter Coetze Unleashes 51.99 100 Back swimswam.com/south-africas-…

🚨🚨Pieter Coetzee with a 52.18 100 Backstroke…at WUGs, you read that right, WUGs and Worlds starts next week!!

Amazing Akani Simbine and Team SA in the 4x100m!!

This baby girl is Tubby Nugget. She does a fearsome murderface when you pick her up, but switches to purrs within seconds. She is +/- 8wks old. She has had first vaccs + is looking to be adopted in JHB. Please contact Belinda (Kempton Ferals NPO) on +27 83 271 5956 to arrange.

Say hi to Onyx, y’all.

Hi Twitter. This lil Possum is ready for adoption. She is roughly 8 weeks old. If you can give this purrbag a home* in Jozi, please contact Belinda (Kempton Ferals NPO) via WhatsApp on +27 83 271 5956 to request adoption forms. * Subject to home check + adoption fee.

@MyJRA Traffic lights on the corner of Penelope and 1st Avenue, Pine Park, have been out for several weeks. Please assist.

Madison Keys will be back to her career high of world #7 when the new rankings come out. The last time she held that ranking was in 2016. 9 years later, she’s back where she belongs. A story full of pain, joy, doubt… but most importantly resilience. 🇺🇸❤️

😭😭😭 Please share.

A moment that will live on in South African Olympic history❤️🇿🇦

🇿🇦 Team South Africa step onto the podium to receive their silver medals in the Men's 4x100m relay 🥈👏 #Paris2024

@AkaniSimbine Secures His Olympic Medal! 🥈🇿🇦💚 #TeamSA #ForMyCountry #Olympics