Poker is a very popular hobby in South Africa. Early Dutch settlers banned all games of chance in 1673, and in 1965 further legislation was passed further restricting gambling, though exempting horse racing. It was not until 1996 that gambling became legal, and regulated, in the most developed country in Africa. Since then, resort-style casinos […]

World Rugby Sevens has on Tuesday named four South Africans in its Dream Team for the Canada Sevens in Edmonton. This comes after the Blitzboks’ World Series glory in Canada. The South Africans, who make up over half the dream team, are: JC Pretorius, Selvyn Davids, Siviwe Soyizwapi and Muller du Plessis. World Rugby Sevens […]

The United Kingdom says it will consider Covid-related data provided by the South African government’s scientists in its next review of the dreaded Red List of countries, which will be updated within 14 days. According to the Health Department, SA government experts had a meeting with their UK counterparts over the red list of what […]

International World Rabies Day is on the 28th of September and the Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Khayelitsha, aims to vaccinate 1000 dogs in one day. This is after the recent identification of rabies-infected dogs in the Khayelitsha area, the first since 1994 in the Western Cape. What is Rabies? Rabies is a deadly virus that can […]

Spring has arrived and South Africans are enjoying another long weekend with this year’s Heritage Day falling on Friday, 24 September. Here are some brilliant ideas on how to enjoy South Africa and get rejuvenated to help you make it through to the end of the year. The question is, where is a great place […]

This Sunday’s Carte Blanche broadcast has something for everyone. You can watch the show on Sunday 26 September in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas on Showmax International in most countries from Tues 28  September if you’re abroad. CELEBRATION: South Africa’s Paralympic Heroes When you meet Ntando Mahlangu, a young unassuming man […]

Los Angeles-based South African expat Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong has announced the launch of an ambitious initiative to build the capacity for advanced health care in Africa. It’s the ultimate gift to the land he still loves (like many expats, ‘Jerusalema’ made him homesick!). It is an incredible gesture… and as President Cyril Ramaphosa said at […]

Cape Town will be taking South Africa’s ‘Red List’ issue to the UK’s High Commissioner, according to the City’s mayoral committee member James Vos. In a statement today, Vos revealed that he has been in constant communication with UK government officials about South Africa’s continued inclusion on the UK’s travel red list but will now […]

South African hotels have scooped the top FIVE spots for Africa City Hotels in the World Travel and Leisure’s “World’s Best” awards. Four of the five are in Cape Town. A thrilled City of Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said this week: “As Mayor of this beautiful city, it gives me great joy to see […]

There were scenes of jubilation at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport as the first official flight from South African Airways (SA) took off on Thursday morning. SAA employees sang and danced after the months of uncertainty. WATCH SAA flight take off for first time in over a year The first #SAA flight has officially taken […]

As we celebrate World Rhino Day today – 22 September – we recognise the pioneering technological innovations that are proving to be highly effective in protecting Africa’s threatened rhino populations from poachers. Watch the Video: Postcode Meerkat For almost five years, Postcode Meerkat – the most advanced wide-area surveillance system ever developed for counter-poaching purposes […]

An incredibly special NSRI crew member, Patrick van Eyssen, who has volunteered for 50 years without a break, has won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) Awards Ceremony. Amongst incredible stories from around the world of search and rescue (SAR) workers’ dedication, selflessness, bravery and innovation, the NSRI won two […]

SA’s Blitzboks claimed a second Canada Sevens tournament win in three years when they totally outplayed Kenya to the tune of 38-5 in the final at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday. South Africa were up 24-0 at the break and continued their dominance in the second half. With this win the South Africans also […]

It’s Heritage Day in South Africa on Friday… and to help you celebrate we’ve put together a choice of meals that cover some of the Rainbow Nation’s varied cultures! So take your pick from Samp & Beans to Cape Malay Koeksisters and Milk Tart (or Melk Tert)… 1. Milk Tart There is nothing like a […]

Teaching is a difficult profession, especially in some of South Africa’s poorest schools. But for many educators, it’s a rewarding calling. Now, despite the odds, a headmaster working in a remote village in Limpopo has won the Global Principals’ Award. This week, Carte Blanche meets the man who has been recognised for his excellence – […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences on the passing of Professor Hlengiwe Buhle Mkhize, the Deputy Minister in The Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. Mkhize passed away today at the age of 69. The cause of death has not been disclosed. The President extended his condolences to the family, […]

Just after 8 p.m. EST on Sept. 15, 2021, the next batch of space tourists lifted off aboard a SpaceX rocket. Organized and funded by entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the Inspiration4 mission touts itself as “the first all-civilian mission to orbit” and represents a new type of space tourism. The four crew members are not the […]

Entertainment streaming service Netflix has announced a commitment of $400 000 USD (approx. R5.5 million) in the form of a grant and creation of scholarships to extend the support for Black representation in the Film & TV industry in South Africa. The Netflix Black Creatives Empowerment Fund will be implemented in a two-pronged approach: $100,000 […]

The DA has reported a suspicious hijacking, of sensitive National Lotteries Commission (NLC) information, outside their Cape Town office. The incident took place on Monday at 13:00. “A courier service arrived at the DA Federal Head Office in Cape Town to deliver a USB drive with sensitive information that we had requested from the National […]

Free State artist Vuyisile Adoons may not yet be well known, but his paintings are adorning the walls of homes around South Africa and the world, and photos of them are adding soul and depth to our social media timelines. He’s currently making a living from the “dusty small town of Rouxville” but with his […]

According to the 2021 Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, Cape Town remains such a wildly popular destination with international travellers that it was voted the number one city in the Middle East and Africa. Travel + Leisure is one of the biggest travel magazines in the world with a reach of more than 35 […]

“We did not have water for nine days in July. Now it’s happened for the second time within a month,” said Tilly Meyer from the Glenzicht Retirement Village in Oakdene, Johannesburg. Rand Water has been forced to reduce supply to Johannesburg, causing water outages in parts of Johannesburg. Ageing infrastructure is making the situation worse. […]

For a few short weeks every spring, a miraculous eruption of daisies in the arid Namaqualand in the Northern Cape draws and delights tourists. But once the flowers wilt and visitors leave, a severe drought, that is now extending into its tenth year, is evident again. It has destroyed millions of hectares of land and […]

Air France has confirmed that flights to Maputo, Mozambique will commence from 2 December 2021. Originally planned for the end of October 2021, changes in the economic and sanitary context have led to this decision. The flight t Wilson Tauro, Country Manager Southern Africa Air France-KLM, said Air France remains strongly committed to Africa as […]

While both the DA and Afriforum have been outraged by the decision announced on Sunday to grant medical parole to Jacob Zuma, the response from President Cyril Ramaphosa has been to the contrary. The DA said today it will be taking legal steps to have the decision reviewed as it believes it was “unlawful”, while […]