Joost van der Westhuizen, who passed away on February 6 2017 at 45 after a prolonged battle with motor neurone disease, holds a special place in the annals of South African rugby. He was just Joost, one of those sports legends known by his first name – almost like Brazilian football stars. His status as […]

Some rains have been falling down in Free State, South Africa… to the joy of farmers in the area who have been praying for the heavens to open up and irrigate their fields, nourish their starved animals and drench their desperate souls. And finally it happened! Remi Coetzee captured the following footage of Vals River, Kroonstad, over the weekend… […]

Five suspects arrested for human trafficking were set to appear before the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court this morning. The five, aged between 18 and 35, were arrested on Friday after the Hawks rescued 72 foreigners, who were allegedly trafficked from Swaziland and Lesotho. The foreign nationals were labour exploited in one of the factories in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal. […]

During the recent flooding of the Sabie River in the Kruger National Park, it wasn’t only the vehicles that battled to cross the river… but the wildlife too. Marijke Arends-Meiring shared the below video to a Kruger National Park group page on Facebook, showing some elephants getting into trouble as they tried to cross the […]

When South African expat Phumeza Gogela passed away in the UK on Christmas Eve, just a week after her 35th birthday and at 25 weeks pregnant, South Africans in the UK rallied to support her newborn baby Phumeza Esther (who was in a critical condition) and help her family find closure by having her body […]

The publication of the preliminary report by the public protector on the money Absa was supposed to owe the state was an absolute game changer in South African politics. The “leaking” of the report was a stroke of genius by the Zuma/Gupta/state security complex that has been trying very hard for months now to steer […]

Springbok Sevens coach, Neil Powell, on Sunday acknowledged that his team’s victory in the Wellington Sevens tournament, in New Zealand, was especially ‘pleasing’. The 26-5 win over Fiji in the final was only the Blitzboks’ second tournament win at this venue since 2002, when South Africa won with Powell as a player in the squad. […]

Kariega Game Reserve has issued the first photo – as well as a heartwarming video – of its miracle rhino Thandi, who courageously survived a brutal poaching in 2012, and her newborn calf that was born on Tuesday 24 January 2017 in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The mother and calf were first located using […]

In September 2016, CITES* met in Johannesburg for CoP17 – a meeting of member states to clarify and review trade in endangered species. One particular talking point was met with shock and condemnation from the conservation world – South Africa would be permitted to legally trade in captive bred lion bones – against the general […]

One of the most prolific nature photographers of our time, Thomas Mangelsen – who is as much an artist as he is a conservationist – is collaborating with Saving the Wild‘s Jamie Joseph in a world exclusive to produce his first rhino portfolio. Tom’s numerous accolades (see bottom of page) include being chosen as one of Dr Jane […]

There has been chaos and confusion for many South Africans living in New Zealand who have booked trips home this year… but now need a visa for their Kiwi spouse or children (or even for themselves where they’ve become a New Zealand citizen). As of last week (starting Monday 16 January 2017) New Zealand passport holders […]

Deep in the heart of India is an African tribe who still retain their African features and African roots… although their nationality and way of life is now Indian. The Siddi Tribe in Gujarat originally came from South East Africa, taken to India as slaves by the Portuguese about 750 years ago. They’re now fluent […]

Family, friends, community members and media colleagues of kidnapped South African photojournalist Shiraaz Mohamed gathered at the Lenasia South Civic Centre on Wednesday night to hold a prayer vigil in which they called for the safe return of the lensman. At the multi-faith prayer service community leaders spoke of the easy going, warm-hearted and generous […]

If you’ve ever wondered how it feels to be a bird and fly free above the mountains… check out this video, filmed by South African professional skydiver Jean-Jacques Wallis. Jean-Jacques takes us on a wingsuit flight through the remote Cape Mountains around the Slanghoek Valley. The views are spectacular. “Cape Town showing off again,” says Jean-Jacques. The […]

Capetonians have been invited to watch this haunting video showing just how badly dried up Theewaterskloof Dam is, to help them understand “these dam water restrictions” in the Western Cape, South Africa. The video footage was uploaded by Mille Foto, and shows the dam on Tuesday this week, 17 January 2017. Mille Foto says: “The reason why […]

At about midday on 18 January 2017, an American couple in their sixties, who are visiting South Africa on holiday, were hijacked between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage. They stopped next to the road to take photographs when they were overpowered by two unknown males and forced to drive to a bushy area near Motherwell Township. […]

PRETORIA – Van der Merwe & Associates, lawyers for Oakbay Investments, submitted an affidavit to the High Court in Pretoria Friday in response to the October application by Pravin Gordhan, South Africa’s Minister of Finance. Update: Oakbay lawyer, Gert van der Merwe, has given a video interview on the explosive affidavit – see below. Gordhan’s application […]

This year (a lot like last year) is going to go down as one of the hottest in Mzansi’s history… For a start, the build-up to a certain party’s elective conference will ensure that South Africans witness even more grilling debates. And then there will be an endless discussion about whoever is next picked to […]

A lack of jobs in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, led Thoko Njemla, 51,a former receptionist to take up beekeeping 15 years ago. Today she employs five people from her village and harvests tonnes of honey every year. Njemla lives in a small village called Ndungwana just a few kilometres from Mthatha. She left her […]

The SAPS (South African Police Servicers) in the Western Cape of South Africa has noted with concern allegations on various social media platforms suggesting that certain individuals are responsible for the fires that have been raging in the Paarl and surrounding areas. The reports allege that persons in branded clothing / paraphernalia were seen starting […]

Table Mountain Cableway today welcomed its 26 millionth visitor to the mountain, with the latest million visitors having taken a record-breaking 11 months to reach! On a busy morning at the Lower Station Ticket Office, Elbie Mattheus from Craddock, Eastern Cape stood unsuspecting as the numbers ticked closer to the million mark. Surprised by fanfare […]

A high school in Graaff-Reinet, South Africa, is helping instil brilliant values in its students… with humility and honesty being as high on the agenda as academic studies. Yesterday the Union High School (UHS) posted this photo of “Servant Leadership at Union High”. The school explained that during a break on Monday morning, the prefects […]

A year ago (March 2015 to be exact) an Australian media outlet shared a video they called “The Most Beautiful City on Earth”. It was a 4K Drone Video of Cape Town, filmed by Luke Maximo Bell. Luke said: “It is up to debate, but I believe that Cape Town is the most beautiful city […]

This ad – published by MTN South Africa two months ago – has already received over 2.7-million views on YouTube! Gauteng resident Glynda Norwitz Kramer says it’s because “it’s all that is great about being South African…” The ad which shows workers on the Night Shift at airports around the country – in Joburg, Durban and Cape […]

Adopting the habit of working hard from an early age is what secured a bright future for an aspirant mechanical engineer, Olwethu Bitterhout, from the Eastern Cape, South Africa. He is one of the 40 beneficiaries from the Class of 2016, who received bursary awards worth R130,000 from the Department of Public Works’ Schools Programme. […]