<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:category="http://www.arena.com/rss/category/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" version="2.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"><channel><title><![CDATA[Sowetan]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za</link><atom:link href="https://www.sowetan.co.za/arc/outboundfeeds/rss/category/opinion/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><description><![CDATA[Sowetan News Feed]]></description><lastBuildDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:07:21 +0000</lastBuildDate><language>en</language><ttl>1</ttl><sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod><sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency><item><title><![CDATA[READER LETTER | Promises must match reality]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-11-reader-letter-promises-must-match-reality/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-11-reader-letter-promises-must-match-reality/</guid><description><![CDATA[Voters deserve more than grand declarations and easy answers. They also deserve honesty, transparency, and a clear understanding of what is possible. ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:21:54 +0000</pubDate><media:content url="https://www.sowetan.co.za/resizer/v2/AELX5JDWHRCH5AOGSV4ZT5EIEM.jpeg?auth=e650cb8cbceee64321083e5dd587153a3ed3ca6413e8b6565030a0543578ed8e&amp;smart=true&amp;width=3125&amp;height=2083" type="image/jpeg" height="2083" width="3125"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Picture: Alaister Russell/The Sunday Times ]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">supplied</media:credit></media:content><category>Letters</category><category:id>/opinion/letters</category:id></item><item><title><![CDATA[READER LETTER | Boks show unity as others deepen SA racial rift]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-11-reader-letter-boks-show-unity-as-others-deepen-sa-racial-rift/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-11-reader-letter-boks-show-unity-as-others-deepen-sa-racial-rift/</guid><description><![CDATA[A fully integrated Springbok rugby team, led by a black captain, played in Soweto before a diverse and united crowd, symbolising progress in South African unity]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:08:10 +0000</pubDate><media:content url="https://www.sowetan.co.za/resizer/v2/AKT2A5FULVFTRHVIQVCXXNIT2Q.jpg?auth=6d7c0d9711c8b86c7aabceca06b36b9a02709aab1a66e6d76ce551f2e2633e08&amp;smart=true&amp;width=3678&amp;height=2925" type="image/jpeg" height="2925" width="3678"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[05/09/2026. Springbok captain Siya Kolisi during the third test match against All Blacks  at FNB Stadium. Picture: Masi Losi]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">MASI LOSI</media:credit></media:content><category>Letters</category><category:id>/opinion/letters</category:id></item><item><title><![CDATA[SOWETAN | Safa election must start a new era]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-11-sowetan-safa-election-must-start-a-new-era/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-11-sowetan-safa-election-must-start-a-new-era/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sowetan Sowetan]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[New Safa leadership faces call for unity and good governance]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 03:00:00 +0000</pubDate><media:content url="https://www.sowetan.co.za/resizer/v2/VPLTQGZ3TZDOHNLHS76AAGD2QE.jpg?auth=c8c04d140dc75ff0454671c8e7fedbe64aa466e0b74b0c17cfb9552eb980e10e&amp;smart=true&amp;width=6720&amp;height=4480" type="image/jpeg" height="4480" width="6720"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Safa president Danny Jordaan alongside Bafana Head CoachLinda Zwane at the announcement of head coach at the Safa house in Soweto. Picture: ]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mukovhe Mulidzwi</media:credit></media:content><category>Opinion</category><category:id>/opinion</category:id></item><item><title><![CDATA[MEDUPI LAMOLA | What municipal election candidates can learn from Koki’s viral campaign]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/columnists/2026-09-11-medupi-lamola-what-municipal-election-candidates-can-learn-from-kokis-viral-campaign/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/columnists/2026-09-11-medupi-lamola-what-municipal-election-candidates-can-learn-from-kokis-viral-campaign/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sowetan Sowetan]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Koki’s vibrant school head girl campaign captured national and international attention, offering lessons for municipal election candidates, writes Medupi Lamola]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 +0000</pubDate><media:content url="https://www.sowetan.co.za/resizer/v2/SIBHT5NFXFEDNJ63XZWDRLCDKY.jpg?auth=19bb2dabf5afd12f2a74d607f8f08aa36b1207b7bd6ff2e1485e9b79a7a92fca&amp;smart=true&amp;width=6720&amp;height=3776" type="image/jpeg" height="3776" width="6720"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[A learner’s viral headgirl campaign demonstrates to political candidates that authentic communication and community engagement amplify impact, says the writer. File photo:]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Mukovhe Mulidzwi</media:credit></media:content><category>Columnists</category><category:id>/opinion/columnists</category:id></item><item><title><![CDATA[SIBONGAKONKE SHOBA | What SA football fraternity can learn from rugby]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/2026-09-11-sibongakonke-shoba-what-sa-football-fraternity-can-learn-from-rugby/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/2026-09-11-sibongakonke-shoba-what-sa-football-fraternity-can-learn-from-rugby/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sibongakonke Shoba]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Rugby matchday experience sets the standard for organization and fan engagement]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2026 03:00:00 +0000</pubDate><media:content url="https://www.sowetan.co.za/resizer/v2/3JOVQ3DQ6NBPZEYGQSYYIQRN3Q.jpg?auth=261138984c57a5512d8ab6bacf0de8ec4cdbca37515d67d238afe0086f03ae42&amp;smart=true&amp;width=3380&amp;height=2212" type="image/jpeg" height="2212" width="3380"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Fans of South Africa blow into vuvuzelas during Group A play against Uruguay in the 2010 World Cup at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Picture: Mario Kneisl/GEPA via US PRESSWIRE]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">GEPA/US PRESSWIRE</media:credit></media:content><category>Opinion</category><category:id>/opinion</category:id></item><item><title><![CDATA[READER LETTER | Chikane should be running for presidency]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-10-reader-letter-chikane-should-be-running-for-presidency/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-10-reader-letter-chikane-should-be-running-for-presidency/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Reader  Letter ]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The downfall of municipalities in SA began immediately after 1994, and Joburg will need a miracle to be resuscitated back to its former glory. ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:04:37 +0000</pubDate><media:content url="https://www.sowetan.co.za/resizer/v2/TNUUBUXZTNOJNHGUI3FBCTEA4Q.jpg?auth=6ca47baa35d895fd55a51974b733da420640205e473e0ad0c7085803026223f5&amp;smart=true&amp;width=1120&amp;height=746" type="image/jpeg" height="746" width="1120"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Rev. Frank Chikane. Picture: ]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Thapelo Morebudi</media:credit></media:content><category>Letters</category><category:id>/opinion/letters</category:id></item><item><title><![CDATA[READER LETTER | Johnson disgraced an office of trust]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-10-reader-letter-johnson-disgraced-an-office-of-trust/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/letters/2026-09-10-reader-letter-johnson-disgraced-an-office-of-trust/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Reader  Letter ]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[The Madlanga commission needs extra time to untangle a web of rot engulfing the criminal justice system. ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:58:56 +0000</pubDate><media:content url="https://www.sowetan.co.za/resizer/v2/Q7LPOTQCKBDFHC5BGYRNPDABAY.jpg?auth=70fdc2153791cedb28a20c83334b2d11ff27c9d2032422d2434779abe8b827ef&amp;smart=true&amp;width=5303&amp;height=3540" type="image/jpeg" height="3540" width="5303"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Adv Andrea Johnson. Picture: Freddy Mavunda © Business Day]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Freddy Mavunda</media:credit></media:content><category>Letters</category><category:id>/opinion/letters</category:id></item><item><title><![CDATA[KENNETH DIOLE | How municipal decay is ruining local economies]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/columnists/2026-09-10-kenneth-diole-how-municipal-decay-is-ruining-local-economies/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/columnists/2026-09-10-kenneth-diole-how-municipal-decay-is-ruining-local-economies/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[ Kenneth Diole]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Voters must use the upcoming local elections as an opportunity to demand accountability and drive institutional reform for sustainable development, writes Kenneth Diole]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 06:12:30 +0000</pubDate><media:content url="https://www.sowetan.co.za/resizer/v2/FCEU7D7KHZF23DB7IRM7QJHNLU.jpg?auth=868dde0a5c09227a82a0f84b602c7de6d1b9b483b5d012d4243e9ab24b618ca0&amp;smart=true&amp;width=6016&amp;height=4016" type="image/jpeg" height="4016" width="6016"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[The recent municipal audit by auditor-general Tsakani Maluleke paints a damning portrait of deteriorating financial health, which has systematically triggered widespread service delivery failures. Picture: ]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Freddy Mavunda</media:credit></media:content><category>Columnists</category><category:id>/opinion/columnists</category:id></item><item><title><![CDATA[SOWETAN | Running a municipality needs competent leader]]></title><link>https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/2026-09-10-sowetan-running-a-municipality-needs-competent-leader/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.sowetan.co.za/opinion/2026-09-10-sowetan-running-a-municipality-needs-competent-leader/</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Sowetan Sowetan]]></dc:creator><description><![CDATA[Candidate's evasive interview stirs debate on leadership readiness]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 +0000</pubDate><media:content url="https://www.sowetan.co.za/resizer/v2/ML4XYFRYBRELHBVOLJPKCOZXMI.jpg?auth=cafb47607d288a8680a944745b7fac40a15006174650cbce6a86b96484e65309&amp;smart=true&amp;width=6016&amp;height=3939" type="image/jpeg" height="3939" width="6016"><media:description type="plain"><![CDATA[Afrika Mayibuye Movement. Picture: ]]></media:description><media:credit role="author" scheme="urn:ebu">Freddy Mavunda</media:credit></media:content><category>Opinion</category><category:id>/opinion</category:id></item></channel></rss>