Rigorously-checked,
independent and easy-to-understand news.

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Changing the news one story at a time

Changing the
news one story
at a time

About
About

We get it.
You’re tired.
You don’t have time to read all the news.
That’s why we do it for you.

Explaining the news

At explain.co.za, we’re tired of news that is difficult to understand and doesn’t tell us the larger story or what this means for our lives. We’re also done with repeatedly hearing how terrible things are… with little on what solutions are working, and how we can be part of the change.

We know you’re busy. You don’t have time to grapple with technical details of every news story… but you care about your country and you want to stay informed and empowered.

Specially curating content

At explain.co.za we choose the most important news topics that we think most affect your life as a South African and break it down for you.

We also create accessible videos where our presenters take you through those concepts that get thrown around in news articles and tell you what they actually mean. Plus we answer your questions: Why is no one in jail yet for state capture? Has BEE really only benefited a narrow elite? You can also send us the questions you want answered via our social media accounts or contact page on this site.

We get it.
You’re tired.
You don’t have time to read all the news.
That’s why we do it for you.

Explaining the news

At explain.co.za, we’re tired of news that is difficult to understand and doesn’t tell us the larger story or what this means for our lives. We’re also done with repeatedly hearing how terrible things are… with little on what solutions are working, and how we can be part of the change.

We know you’re busy. You don’t have time to grapple with technical details of every news story… but you care about your country and you want to stay informed and empowered.

Specially curating content

At explain.co.za we choose the most important news topics that we think most affect your life as a South African and break it down for you.

We also create accessible videos where our presenters take you through those concepts that get thrown around in news articles and tell you what they actually mean. Plus we answer your questions: Why is no one in jail yet for state capture? Has BEE really only benefited a narrow elite? You can also send us the questions you want answered via our social media accounts or contact page on this site.

And we do this as a team

Verashni

Verashni Pillay

Founder & Editor-in-chief

Verashni is passionate about empowering citizens to hold those in power to account. She was previously editor-in-chief of the Mail & Guardian and HuffPost South Africa, and won the CNN African Journalism Award, among others.
Kajal Premnath Headshot

Kajal Premnath

Account Associate

Kajal holds an MA in Journalism, Media, and Globalisation from the Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich. She has previous experience in African-focused humanitarian media and transnational newsrooms. The enduring power of words in shaping the narrative of tomorrow remains the foundation upon which she builds her career

DSC_1664-resized (1)


Emma Solomon

Writer

Emma is a freshly graduated Journalist from Stellenbosch University, who also holds an Honours in history. She joined the explain team, eager to provide thorough and truthful information and connect with her generation

Tshego Mphahlele

Tshego Mphahlele

Writer

Tshego is a writer and law student from Pretoria. A keen follower of social media trends, his interests include high fantasy media, politics, science, talk radio, reading and listening to music.

He is also probably one of the only people left who still play Pokemon Go.

Lona Sokanyile

Lona Sokanyile

Intern

 

Lona is a recent graduate with an Honours degree in Journalism and Media Studies from Wits University. Passionate about storytelling, she is eager to learn, grow, and hone her writing skills.

Ashleigh Da Silva

Video Editor

With an undergraduate in Film studies and English literature, Ashleigh graduated from the University of Cape Town’s postgraduate programme in Documentary Film studies in 2015. She works as a video editor and designer in various mediums, from music videos to promotional content to documentaries.
Vukosi Maluleke

Sally Evans

Content Editor

Vukosi is a multimedia journalist and writer based in Johannesburg. He believes that his purpose as a media practitioner is to be direct, intentional and impactful with every project he embarks on.
Ashleigh Pascoe

Ashleigh Pascoe

Subeditor

Ashleigh is a publishing graduate whose belief is that a publication’s outcome is attributed to the attention paid to its finer details. Her passion for news platforms was discovered through UP’s student paper, PDBY. “
Ashleigh Pascoe

Ashleigh Pascoe

Subeditor

Ashleigh is a publishing graduate whose belief is that a publication’s outcome is attributed to the attention paid to its finer details. Her passion for news platforms was discovered through UP’s student paper, PDBY. “

Alumni Council

Our Alumni Council is made up of former team members who have gone on to do great things, and still stay on in an advisory capacity.
Swazi

Nomaswazi Nkosi

Accounts Director

Nomaswazi Nkosi has experience as a hard news journalist working for daily newspapers as well as experience in digital media. Currently Nomaswazi works in public relations where she continues to feed her passion for the media industry.
Natasha Joseph

Natasha Joseph

Associate Editor

Natasha Joseph is a journalist and editor with more than 15 years experience. She is passionate about passing on her skills, and hopes in some small way to help drive long overdue and genuine transformation in SA’s media industry.
Aarti Bhana

Aarti Bhana

The Wrap Head Writer

Aarti Bhana is a journalist, researcher and writer based in Johannesburg. She uses her writing to explore South Africa’s vast dynamics, from poverty and politics to human rights and the economy. She obtained her Honours in Journalism from Wits University.

Our Partners

We are grateful for support from the following organisations:
The South African Media Innovation-Program

The South African Media Innovation Program: funders

Explain is grateful to have the support of The South Africa Media Innovation Program (SAMIP), a multi-year media initiative that provides funding and mentorship needed for the independent media sector to deploy solutions and reach new audiences.
ACF Logo

The African Climate Foundation

ACF supports explain’s coverage of the Just Energy Transition in South Africa. The African Climate Foundation is a research, advocacy and grant-making organisation working to foreground African concerns and voices at the nexus of climate change and development discussions globally.
Seta

Seta

Explain works with the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) via our partners at Brave Media to help train media graduates and offer them valuable workplace experience and skills.
Solutions Journalism Network

Solutions Journalism Network

As former Lede Fellows with the Solutions Journalism Network, explain.co.za is committed to this form of journalism in our work in South Africa: how people are trying to solve problems and what we can learn from their successes or failures.

Explain subscribes to the Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African Print and Online Media that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live up to the Code, within 20 days of the date of publication of the material, please contact the Public Advocate at 011 484 3612, fax: 011 4843619. You can also contact our Case Officer on khanyim@ombudsman.org.za or lodge a complaint on our website: www.presscouncil.org.za

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