South Africa now has 1 529 420 confirmed COVID-19 cases after 1 006 people were confirmed to have contracted the virus in the last 24 hours. According to the latest data, the new infections represent a 4% positivity rate. Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, confirmed that 65 patients lost the battle to the respiratory disease, pushing the […]

Masizame Junior Primary School in Centane near Butterworth, Eastern Cape, has one broken toilet for girls and teachers. The boys have no toilet at all. Masizame Junior Primary School in Centane near Butterworth has 175 learners and one broken toilet. Several grades have to share a classsroom. When the wind blows too hard, classes are […]

Truffles are one of the most expensive foods on earth. The international price is a staggering R30,000 a kilogram… and here in South Africa we have only a handful of farmers who grow them. This Sunday, Carte Blanche meets one of the pioneers in SA, as well as a farmer breaking all the conventional rules! […]

Some funeral parlour owners in Cape Town are pleading with the Mozambican authorities to release their colleague who was arrested while transporting a body last month… writes Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik. The owner of a Cape Town funeral parlour was detained in Mozambique last month. The reason for his arrest is unclear, but a colleague who spoke to […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has congratulated its Chief Whip in Parliament, Natasha Mazzone MP, on receiving the Italian Order of the Star, an equivalent of a knighthood in Italy. The honour was bestowed upon Natasha for her leadership in Parliament and fighting for a just society in South Africa. The award recognises the preservation and […]

British Airways (operated by Comair in South Africa) has announced the reopening of bookings for flights between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls for travel starting on 13 May 2021. This is fantastic news for travellers, with the Victoria Falls currently at its fullest in years, living up to its nickname Mosi-oa-Tunya (which means ‘The smoke that […]

The South African Mint, an agency of the South African Reserve Bank, has announced the circulation of a new R2 coin. “The wait is over! We are happy to announce there is a new R2 circulation coin you will soon be seeing in your change. The final edition in the SA25 Celebrating 25 years of […]

Gauteng state mortuaries had 1173 unidentified bodies last year, and a further 120 bodies that were identified but were buried as paupers as they were unclaimed. This was revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in a written reply to DA questions in the Gauteng Legislature. According to Mokgethi, there is an increase every year […]

Health Minister, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, says the South African government remains committed to vaccinate 65% of the population, or 40 million people, as per the original plan by the end of the year to help the country reach herd immunity. Answering oral questions before the National Assembly on Wednesday, Mkhize said: “We are still targeting […]

The Gauteng Social Development Department has distanced itself from fake social media messages about the distribution of food parcels in the province. The department’s Deputy Director-General for Social Welfare Services, Onkemetse Kabasia noted that a special food relief programme was implemented by the department since March 2020, as part of the COVID-19 response when the […]

At last, a mother has been able to fulfil her long-cherished dream of swimming in the sea with her son, after undergoing a first-for-Africa procedure to relieve the debilitating effects of secondary lymphoedema, which affected one of her legs. And it’s thanks in large part to a couple of incredible female medical experts who travelled […]

With an ever-increasing litter problem in Fourways, the Jukskei River, and its surrounds, The SW Living Creatures Trust, led by Sean Williams (50) from Lonehill, Johannesburg, has embarked on a clean-up project that is gaining momentum. Launched in November 2020, the Live Life Always project, which has created job opportunities for 10 otherwise unemployed Diepsloot […]

Hydroxychloroquine does not reduce deaths from COVID-19 and may even cause unwanted damage, recent studies have found. According to the new Cochrane Review, the drug probably does not reduce the number of people needing mechanical ventilation. “In addition, they note that no new trials of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for treating COVID-19 should be started,” the […]

A joint scientific study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection highlights how the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa poses real and serious health risks to thousands of tourists, industry workers and its communities. “Five major diseases (dubbed The Sick 5 in our new campaign) have been identified that can inflict serious health […]

The Bela-Bela Communal Property Association (CPA) situated in Limpopo is regarded as one of the most successful land claim stories and stands as a beacon of success in South Africa. It all started after a successful land claim was lodged in 1998. The claim was accepted by the Land Claims Commission and subsequently published in […]

The South African government on Sunday announced a further 31 Coronavirus-related deaths and 862 new cases. The latest numbers are down from the 1 227 new cases and 81 deaths reported on Saturday. Of the latest fatalities, 12 occurred in Gauteng, 11 in the Western Cape, four in Mpumalanga and two each in the Free […]

The Carter Center, founded by former US president, Jimmy Carter in 1982, has selected 13 cities from around the world, including Cape Town, to participate in its first global Inform Women, Transform Lives campaign. This initiative, which runs until October, aims to enhance awareness of women’s rights to information. Each city was tasked with selecting […]

Prince Harry’s wife Meghan Markle has told Oprah Winfrey that when she was five months pregnant with Archie, she felt suicidal and was unable to get support from the Palace. Many viewers of the show, which aired in the USA on Sunday evening, said it felt like history is repeating itself with Meghan being treated […]

For those desperate South Africans in the UK who have been unable to get hold of the High Commission in London during the past few months, we got in touch on their behalf and the SAHC has kindly responded to some of the many questions. 1. SAHC in the UK is still closed with staff […]

“With many motorists already refusing to pay e-toll, allegations of rampant corruption around the tender process don’t exactly inspire compliance. Gauteng government faces an uphill battle should it wish to keep the controversial toll system alive,” says Carte Blanche presenter Macfarlane Moleli, who this week investigates what will become of the controversial e-toll system. You […]

“I went to the World of Birds in Hout Bay recently. It was such an amazing experience. Word on the street is that the place needs help, so I went to check it out for myself,” says chef, photographer and SA expat Bruce Marais, who is currently in South Africa on holiday. “From what I […]

The media and the public have been barred from hearing the evidence of palliative care doctor, Suzanne Walter, who is seeking to change the law in South Africa to legalise euthansia. This is to protect the confidentiality of patients. Judge Neels Claassen is sitting on commission hearing the evidence ahead of a trial, expected to […]

Today marks exactly a year to the day that South Africa confirmed its first COVID-19 case. On 5 March 2020, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, announced the news of a 38-year-old COVID-19 patient from KwaZulu-Natal. The man tested positive after a ski trip in Italy with his wife and eight others, sending shock waves through […]

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has been directed by the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC) to apologise unconditionally for “becoming involved in political controversy” through statements he made during an online webinar hosted by The Jerusalem Post in June 2020 and later at a prayer meeting. The ruling came after three organisations, Africa 4 Palestine, SA Boycott Disinvestments and […]

Police in South Africa have pounced on hundreds of fake COVID-19 vaccines this week, following a global alert issued by INTERPOL warning vaccines would be a prime target for criminal networks. South African authorities seized 400 ampoules during an operation – equivalent to around 2 400 doses – containing the fake vaccine at a warehouse […]