Check out an interview with South African golfer Louis Oosthuizen, made today at the US Open after the freak incident in which his and another player’s golf balls landed right next  to each (a rare occurrence in the world of golf). Louis and fellow golfer Graeme McDowell hit their tee shots and then wandered up […]

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) remembered Arthur Goldreich, a key member of the liberation movement, as a South African who sacrificed his white privileges in a tenacious fight for freedom and equality in the country. “Not only did he sacrifice his privileges as a white South African, but he bore the pain of fighting against […]

South Africa’s Athol Fugard is to be honoured with a special Tony award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. In its citation the awards committee described him as a playwright “whose art has always spoken out against racism and who continues to be an active voice for freedom and equality”. The world-renowned Fugard will receive […]

Congratulations to Jacques Kallis who was crowned South African Cricketer of the Year for 2011 the South African Cricket Awards Gala Dinner on Tuesday night at Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg. According to Cricket South Africa, this is “the second time that Kallis has won CSA’s premier award as he previously achieved the distinction in 2004. […]

by Xeni Jardin httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq2r2g4F5UQ Leon Botha, a South African artist and DJ who became widely known through his association with the band Die Antwoord, died on Sunday from complications related to progeria. He was 26. He died one day after his birthday. Botha was one of the longest-living persons ever to have been diagnosed with this rare […]

Cape Town-based journalist and filmmaker Liz Fish will soon travel to Canada to receive the inaugural David Suzuki Green Award at the 32nd Banff World Media Festival, which takes place from 12 to 15 June in Banff, Alberta. Her entry, titled Fracking up the Karoo, was selected by the jury as this year’s best candidate for the prestigious […]

A South African grade 12 pupil has achieved 100% in the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Maths Competition for the fifth year in a row, setting a new record in the contest’s 35-year history. Sean Wentzel from Westerford High School in Cape Town was awarded honours for his feat at the city’s Baxter Theatre on 1 […]

Just weeks after casting her vote in the local government elections, struggle veteran Nontsikelelo Albertina Sisulu has passed away, aged 92. The widow of former African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Walter Sisulu died on 2 June at her home in Linden, Johannesburg. According to news reports, she suddenly fell ill, coughing blood, and paramedics […]

President Jacob Zuma made international headlines with his trip to Tripoli, Libya where he held talks with the Leader, Col Muammar Gaddafi on how to end the tragic and violent conflict in Libya.    The two leaders held lengthy discussions at the Libyan leader’s home in Tripoli, where President Zuma reiterated the African Union peace plan, […]

As the countdown begins to the Springboks’ first match in the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September, South Africans have been called on to rally behind their team’s defence of the title – and there are plenty of ways in which to do so. The Springboks are the current rugby world champions, […]

South African grade nine pupil Luke Taylor has made it into the finals of the 2011 Google Science Fair competition, beating more than 7 500 entrants from over 90 countries with a computer program that enables a robot to act on instructions given in English. Taylor attends the German International School in Cape Town and is a […]

At just 16, Zimbabwean-born model Nyasha Matonhodze has been named as one of the faces of luxury label Louis Vuitton’s 2011 Autumn/Winter campaign. The news has made headlines around the world, turning the shy teenager into a household name overnight. Here are 10 things you should know about her: Legend has it that she was […]

The Deaf Federation of South Africa (Deafsa) will host two international events in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in July 2011. The 16th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf, as well as the fifth International World Federation of the Deaf Youth Camp, take place for the first time on African soil. The World Congress of the World Federation […]

TO THOSE WHO MAY REMEMBER THESE …(from an email doing the rounds)

South African actress Charlize Theron recently shared a story about growing up in South Africa with some American press…and they’re still wondering why. She recounted that her mom was quite strict and was often stressed doing the housework and so, in an attempt to keep clothes washing to a minimum, she told Charlize to change […]

The South African film industry had a strong presence at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, with 24 films and documentaries on show and a handful of awards and commendations to bring home. [Read Jenni’s Cannes Film Festival blog for more!] The National Film and Video Foundation was instrumental in arranging the local representation. Even before his […]

International Nelson Mandela Day 2011 was recently launched in Johannesburg, with a panel of tertiary students at the event expressing their views on what the celebration means to them. The UN-recognised day was launched at the premises of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Houghton, Johannesburg, on 23 May. Mandela Day was first introduced on 18 July 2009, […]

The Africa Institute of South Africa (Aisa) will host an Africa Expo and an international conference as part of its Africa Week programme. Aisa is a science council whose mission is to conduct socio-economic and political research on the continent. Although it first came into being as an NGO, today it’s a statutory body under […]

A passion for uplifting communities and providing housing for all, coupled with innovative technology, has resulted in an invitation to South African company Moladi to show its concept at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum’s exhibition Design for the Other 90%: CITIES. The prestigious exhibition, sponsored by the philanthropic Rockefeller Foundation, takes place at the UN in New […]

AFRIKAANS FILM ‘SKOONHEID’ WINS THE QUEER PALM 2011 OK, so ‘Skoonheid‘ didn’t win in its official category at the Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard), BUT it has won the Queer Palm 2011! The award was presented to Capetonian director Oliver Hermanus at a ceremony on Cherie Cheri Beach in Cannes. “Thank you to the […]

South Africa is filled with personalities who have won prestigious awards for various achievements. Just think of Oscar winner Charlize Theron or Nobel laureates Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Sydney Brenner and Nadine Gordimer. Now the country can again count Helen Zille among that number. The award recognises the Democratic Alliance (DA) leader’s contribution to South Africa’s […]

South Africa’s space industry is thriving – this is the message relayed to the public by professionals in the sector at a recent media briefing in Cape Town. The event also commemorated humankind’s first foray into space 50 years ago, when Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin spent 108 minutes looking at a view of the earth […]

South African students Danielle Boer and Alessio Giuricich were awarded top prizes at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) held in California on 13 May 2011. The two received awards for their innovative, independent research on dealing with social challenges through science. The ISEF is the world’s largest international high school science competition, which […]

CANNES FILM FESTIVAL: Daily news from Jenni Baxter at the Cannes Film Festival: Brad Pitt’s movie gets booed, first Afrikaans film – Skoonheid – in official screening at Cannes, South African CEO gets honoured by The Hollywood Reporter, photo frenzy at the Pirates of the Caribbean press conference with superstar Johnny Depp, fashion show in […]

Trevor Manuel – South Africa’s former Minister of Finance – has been suggested as a potential candidate for the recently (and sensationally!) vacated position of head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Trevor would replace disgraced French minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn who resigned last night following his arrest and charges at the weekend that he raped […]