Whether it was with a ding, beep or ping, news notifications came fast and furiously this year because, as the saying goes, ‘news never sleeps’.

Often, read-worthy articles were lost in the noise. Before another busy year gets underway, Caxton Local Media has compiled a list of five of its articles that people should not miss.

Tigers in SA: Unregulated, dangerous and cruel

The escape and subsequent killing of eight-year-old Bengal tigress Sheba in the Midvaal area south of Johannesburg at the beginning of the year put the spotlight firmly on the species and its presence in South Africa.

It was asked how a private citizen could have a wild animal, such as a tiger, essentially in their backyard. The finding was that the regulations on the breeding, keeping, hunting/killing and trading of tigers in the country’s nine provinces differ greatly, making efficient management and regulation challenging.

Read more here.

Youth suicide: SA’s children are crying out for help

On the eve of Teen Suicide Prevention Week (February 12–19), Dr Alicia Porter, psychiatrist and board member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists, told Caxton Local Media there has been an exponential increase in mental health concerns among children and adolescents.

Read more here on how South Africa is in the middle of a youth mental health pandemic, with youth suicide a major public health problem.

SA’s water crisis: Keeping the taps open

In April, Liryn de Jager wrote about how failing water infrastructure around the country spells bad news for South Africans who depend on piped water from their municipalities.

Read the article here.

SA Police Service: A ticking time bomb

The killing of Ntombizodwa Khumalo, allegedly by her ex-husband, police sergeant Jonnas Tebogo Mpete, raised concerns about the number of police officers who have killed their partners or family members in the past years.

Read here to find out how police members, meant to protect women and children from domestic violence, are far too often the perpetrators.

National Health Insurance: A cure for SA’s health problems?

Will the NHI answer battling South Africans’ medical prayers or trample individuals’ right to choose their healthcare providers? Read here for what role players have to say.