Saturday Star 2025-02-01

If you’ve scrolled through social media or driven past a buzzing local court recently, you’ve likely come across padel, the sport that’s taking South Africa by storm. For many, padel is more than just a trendy activity; it’s a fun way to find balance, stay active, and connect with friends, all without the pressure of traditional workouts. Gone are the days of defaulting to binge drinking with friends as the only way to unwind. With an estimated 100 000 active players in South Africa and more courts popping up across the country, it’s clear that padel has found its place in our lifestyle. And for good reason: it’s a game that offers excitement, accessibility, and a sense of community. According to the International Padel Federation (FIP), more than 25 million…

An upset stomach can disrupt your day and leave you feeling drained. Whether it’s caused by stress, overeating, or a more serious issue like an infection, understanding how to manage stomach discomfort is essential. In South Africa, where food traditions range from rich curries to braais, digestive complaints are not uncommon. Thankfully, natural remedies and dietary adjustments can help alleviate symptoms and get your gut back on track. Here, we’ll explore common foods and natural remedies, backed by research, that can ease an upset stomach. These tips are easy to implement and relatable to your lifestyle. Ensure you keep hydrated When in doubt, drink water. Dehydration is often overlooked as a cause of stomach discomfort. South Africa’s hot climate, especially in summer, can leave you dehydrated through sweating and daily…

South African rugby sensation Makazole Mapimpi is proving he’s not just a force to be reckoned with on the field but also a rising star in the world of fashion. The Springbok wing, known for his electrifying speed and skill, has taken to TikTok to showcase a different side of himself – his impeccable fashion sense. Mapimpi’s TikTok account has become a hub for style inspiration, with his fit-check videos earning him widespread praise. Fans are captivated by his ability to effortlessly combine timeless elegance with a modern twist. Whether he’s rocking a perfectly tailored suit or edgy streetwear, Mapimpi exudes confidence and individuality in every outfit, turning heads both on and off the field. His growing popularity on TikTok isn’t just about the clothes but about how he wears…

Timothée Chalamet has revealed he had to gain weight to play Bob Dylan. The 29-year-old actor has won praise and landed an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Dylan in the biopic A Complete Unknown. While the actor went to great lengths to ensure he was prepared to portray the music icon, he has revealed he was told to gain weight for the role. Chalamet told NPR: “I’ve turned over every stone. I did all the work, like you just described, physicality, behaviour-wise. “Something we haven’t really talked about, I also put on 20 pounds because, believe it or not, I was thinner than the guy.” The Call Me By Your Name actor has previously explained that his light frame has cost him roles in the past. He explained…

Do you enjoy whodunits set in a quaint town? I’m talking about offerings of a similar ilk to BBC Brit’s crime dramas Midsomer Murders and Father Brown. If you answered yes, then Recipe for Love and Murder, which is based on best-selling South African author Sally Andrew’s acclaimed mystery novels of the same title, will whet your appetite. Set in a fictional South African town called Eden, it centres on Tannie Maria (Maria Doyle Kennedy), who, through her culinary finesse, spreads love along with her knack for crime-solving. Despite being guarded due to her unsettling past, she’s started warming up to the townsfolk, like Kylie Fisher (Jessie September), an intrepid journalist and editor Hattie Wilson (Jennifer Steyn), at the Klein Karoo Gazette, where Tannie Maria writes a regular…

Okay, so here’s the thing: if you’re like most reality TV fans, you probably remember Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury from their time on Love Island in 2019. As one of the fan-favourite couples, they went on to win viewers’ hearts and even finished as runners-up, leaving fans convinced their love story was one for the books. The documentary delves into Fury’s alcohol addiction, a problem that pushed their relationship to its breaking point. Fury himself opened up earlier this year about how an injury kept him from training and ultimately led him to lean on alcohol as a crutch. For Hague, this wasn’t a new experience. She had witnessed her mother battle addiction during her childhood, and this painful memory echoes in her personal life as she deals with…