The iconic Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, with support from Wildlife ACT, has released a new pack of Endangered African Painted Dogs into their new home. This is an important milestone in the conservation of this species as they are the most endangered carnivore in Southern Africa, with an estimated 3000-5000 individuals left in the wild, of which […]

The South African government has officially launched the COVID-19 vaccine online registration for the public as the Department of Health gears up for phase two of the country’s vaccine rollout. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) is now available to the general public and all citizens aged 60 […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has this week welcomed new Ambassadors and High Commissioners-Designate from nine countries, at a ceremony held at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Tshwane. The Ambassadors and High Commissioners-Designate were nominated by their respective governments to serve in diplomatic missions in South Africa. The Ambassadors are to advance diplomatic relations between their […]

Bryony McCormick didn’t mean to adopt Khaya, but she couldn’t get the friendly black and white ‘pavement special’ out of her mind… and today, Khaya is bringing so much joy to not only Bryony but also to a Cape Town trail running community called Chicks Who Trail. And now, Khaya has become a mascot for […]

South Africa performed 34 971 COVID-19 tests in the last 24 hours, with 1 599 new cases, representing a 4.6% positivity rate. Meanwhile, according to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, 75 more people succumbed to COVID-19 related complications. This means the country now has 1 561 559 confirmed Coronavirus infections, while the death toll stands at 53 […]

There’s finally hope on the horizon for many thousands of South Africans around the world who inadvertently lost their SA citizenship when they applied for another country’s passport… without knowing they had to request permission from the SA government first and receive a Letter of Retention (which at the moment is not even possible due […]

An American tourist’s dream holiday in South Africa began with that sinking feeling when he parked his rental car on a harbour jetty in Hermanus… and left the handbrake off! The middle-aged man was starting a nine-month trip travelling through Africa and had returned to a diving school a few days ago to pick up […]

Hollywood filmmakers and movie stars have joined forces with Humane Society International (HSI) to produce a powerful short film, #SaveRalph, to end cosmetic testing on animals around the world, including South Africa. Although banned in 40 countries, the practice of testing on animals is still legal in most of the world, and is even making […]

According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa’s Presidential Employment Stimulus has assisted to create 8 000 new jobs. Launched in October last year in response to the economic impact of the pandemic, the Presidential Employment Stimulus is designed to support a spectrum of opportunities, focusing on job creation through public employment; job retention in vulnerable […]

With long queues at clinics in South Africa and Covid-19 restrictions, women struggling to access health services are turning to an illicit market for birth control pills. The pills are widely used and freely distributed in Zimbabwe, but smuggled into and sold in South Africa. Birth control pills freely distributed in Zimbabwe are being smuggled […]

A total of 23 013 COVID-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, with 931 new cases, representing a 4% positivity rate, the Health Department said on Sunday. Meanwhile, a further 66 people died due to Coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the death toll to 53 322 to date. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has met in Maputo with other high-level leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to assess the growing Islamic State-linked threat in the region. Carte Blanche delves deeper this week, speaking to South Africans who survived the most recent horrific attack in Palma. This follows as eyewitness accounts and disturbing video […]

SADC Heads of State have reiterated commitment to contribute towards the efforts of bringing about lasting peace and security, as well as reconciliation and development in the Republic of Mozambique. This comes amid a spate of attacks in the country’s Cabo Delgado Province in the last two weeks. The leaders condemned the violence during this […]

Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has announced that the second phase of South Africa’s vaccination rollout will begin on 17 May. This, he said, is thanks to the millions of vaccine doses that are expected to land in South Africa in the next coming weeks. Dr Mkhize said the country has secured a combined 51 […]

South African Police Minister General Bheki Cele has welcomed the deployment of 200 police officers to violent hotspots across Cape Town. Cele said the Western Cape province continues to experience stubbornly high levels of violent crime, necessitating the reinforcements. “The Western Cape’s high murder rate is simply unacceptable. In the past week and during the […]

South Africa has achieved a proud milestone after over 10 million people have been tested for COVID-19 to date, the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced. According to the Minister, 24 594 people were tested on Wednesday, which pushes the total number to 10 020 025 since the outbreak. Meanwhile, the country logged 756 new […]

The South African government has welcomed the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) revised upward growth outlook of South Africa from 2.8% to 3.1% for 2021. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry in the Presidency: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, said the upgrade affirmed the robustness of the country’s economy and positive economic interventions despite tough […]

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced its highly-anticipated return to service, with new itineraries sailing Europe and The Caribbean beginning July 25, 2021. The Cruise Line will restart operations at a reduced capacity with Norwegian Jade, Joy and Gem as the first of its 17-ship fleet to welcome guests back on board. Travellers long-awaiting a return […]

Appealing for public support to feel at home in their body, Siv Greyson (23) – who is an artist, activist and academic from Gardens, Cape Town – has penned an emotional open letter on their BackaBuddy campaign, detailing the trials and tribulations of growing up queer in South Africa. “Growing up queer wasn’t easy” “Growing […]

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) says it has registered the COVID-19 Johnson & Johnson vaccine, known as Janssen, with conditions. “This registration signals a significant step in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela. According to Dr Semete-Makokotlela, the authorisation is based on acceptable safety, quality and […]

When a young Groblersdal farmer was murdered in October last year, it was labelled a farm attack. But everything changed when the widow’s friend was arrested a month later. Carte Blanche investigates the full story this Sunday. You can watch the show on Sunday 04 April in SA on DStv Now or stream it overseas […]

South Africa’s first chef to ever receive a Michelin Star (in 2016) today officially opens his much-anticipated new restaurant in the Kalahari, South Africa. It’s called Klein JAN… because of Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen’s grandmother who helped inspire  to become the world-class chef he is today, with a Michelin-star restaurant in Nice, in the […]

A year ago, JP Engelbrecht bought a ticket in SA Rugby’s #StrongerTogether for R32-12 raffle, a response from SA Rugby to assist those hit the hardest when the COVID-19 pandemic swept through South Africa in 2020. Due to various factors out of our control, Engelbrecht could only “receive” his prize this week – the delivery to his […]

A life-size pencil drawing of an African elephant is bringing its viewers to tears, so magnificent and realistic is the artwork… an homage in fact to a real-life elephant named Makavuzi, affectionately known as Mak. The stunning picture, which captures Mak’s soul, was created by talented Zimbabwean artist David Filer with an all-Zimbabwean team taking […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on developments in South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic at 7.30pm this evening, Tuesday 30 March 2021. The address follows meetings in recent days of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) and Cabinet. “As South Africa rolls out its national COVID-19 vaccination […]