Eskom has announced it will implement loadshedding Stage 2 at 22:00 in South Africa this evening, until 05:00 on Wednesday morning. The power cuts will be repeated on Wednesday night through to Thursday morning 31 December 2020. “This loadshedding is necessary to preserve emergency generation reserves in preparation for higher demand expected during January as […]

News that convicted prisoners may be amongst the first group of people to receive Covid-19 vaccinations has been met with “alarm” by the Democratic Alliance (DA), says MP James Selfe, DA Shadow Minister of Correctional Services. “We trust that this proposal will not be accepted or implemented,” said Selfe in a press statement on Tuesday. […]

The mutated Covid-19 variant (known as the 501.V2 Variant), which was announced in South Africa 10 days ago, has been discovered for the first time in Australia in a person who recently returned from SA. The female traveller was in quarantine in Queensland when she tested positive for the new ‘super strain’. It’s therefore hoped […]

South Africa now has 1 011 871 COVID-19 cases after the Health Department reported 7 458 new cases on Monday. A further 336 COVID-19 related deaths were also reported with 109 in the Eastern Cape, while the Free State recorded 8, Gauteng 22, KwaZulu-Natal 49 and Western Cape 148. This brings the total to 27 […]

With the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases and the increase in trauma cases, South Africa’s hospitals are almost full to capacity, according to SA’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. “Our hospitals, both private and public, are already close to full capacity in a number of provinces, and ICU beds are either full already or rapidly filling up,” […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa tonight issued a heartfelt plea to South Africans to do what they can to stop the spread of Covid-19. In an address to the nation, the SA president announced that South Africa will enter an adjusted Level 3 from midnight tonight, which includes a ban on the sale of alcohol. The President […]

As the world discusses her haircut and husband’s latest paternity suit, Princess Charlene of Monaco has gracefully posted a Christmas message with family photos on her Instagram page. The former South African Olympic swimmer, born Charlene Wittstock, said: “Merry Christmas to all our friends and families, love you all ❤️” The main photo on Instagram […]

Travellers between South Africa and Zimbabwe, making their way home for the festive season, have been stuck in long traffic jams (some for five days) at the Beitbridge border post, in incredibly hot conditions without easy access to water, food and other amenities. This has led to the tragic death of at least four people […]

England announced last night that as of 09h00 today, Thursday morning 24 Dec, no more flights will be allowed to enter the country from South Africa. This follows the discovery of at least two patients in the UK being identified with the Covid-19 variant from South Africa, a mutation which the South African authorities announced […]

DOHA, QATAR – Qatar Airways says it has paid out over R200-Million since March 2020, honouring its obligation to passengers who had travel plans impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline said in a statement on Wednesday that this demonstrates its commitment to the SA market. The airline said it also helped repatriate over 12,000 […]

South Africa has recorded 339 more COVID-19 related deaths bringing the death toll to 25 246, says Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize. A total of 9 501 new cases have been reported in the past 24 hours pushing the country’s cumulative COVID-19 figures to 940 212. Covid-19 Deaths by Province in SA The Eastern Cape […]

The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria today ruled against the motion to have the COVID-19 beach ban regulation declared unconstitutional. This means that all beaches in the Eastern Cape, as well as on the Garden Route in the Western Cape, will remain closed until 3 January; and that all beaches in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) will […]

News that British Airways has announced plans to suspend 13 destinations, including the direct Durban – London route, has been met with disappointment by KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Economic Development and Tourism Department… as well as understanding. The department’s Ravi Pillay has warned this will hamper growth of international air services into the province post-Covid-19, but said […]

South Africa has made a down payment to secure the COVID-19 vaccine for 10% of the country’s population. “The National Department of Health and the Solidarity Fund are pleased to announce that a down payment of US $19.2 million USD (R283 million) has been made to GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance) to secure South Africa’s entry […]

Germany plans to ban all passenger flights between Germany and South Africa with an emergency order. Israel has implemented a similar ban on flights from SA. Both Germany and Israel, along with several other countries, have also closed their borders to the UK. German Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Sunday: “Tomorrow we are planning […]

Israel has closed its borders to South Africa because of the new Covid-19 strain that is believed to be driving SA’s second wave of infections. Israel has also stopped all flights from the UK and Denmark, it was announced on Sunday afternoon by the Israeli Prime Minister. SA has highest proportion of Covid-19 variant in […]

The Department of Water and Sanitation has warned South Africans against flocking to the country’s dams and rivers as an alternative to the beaches, following a government ban on the use of some SA beaches to minimize the impact of COVID-19. This week President Ramaphosa announced the government’s decision to bar public access to all […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has found out that once again, Minister Dlamini-Zuma has decided to overrule President Ramaphosa through the latest amended regulations published on the 17th of December 2020. “This time, Minster Dlamini-Zuma has unilaterally decided to change the closing time for restaurants, bars, gyms, cinemas, theatres and museums from 10pm to […]

Holiday accommodation spots on the Garden Route have suffered devastating cancellations, especially in Knysna and Sedgefield, according to a survey. One third of owners say they have lost 50% of their bookings for the festive season. Some have lost over 80% of their revenue. According to the survey, run by online accommodation booking system provider, […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) announced on Friday that items believed to be those of missing Field Ranger, Checkers Mashego, who went missing in the Stolsnek Section of the Kruger National Park during the evening of 17 November 2020, were discovered by a search party in the same section during the late afternoon of Wednesday, […]

A massive fire, fuelled by gale force winds, tore through approximately 1,000 dwellings in Masiphumelele informal settlement yesterday. An appeal has been issued by the City of Cape Town to please donate essential items to the Living Hope organisation (details below) in Masiphumelele, near Fish Hoek. Fortunately nobody was injured. Several Western Cape fire and […]

International and local tourists on holiday in Umhlanga, along with the area’s residents, appeared to stick to the rules yesterday – Day of Reconciliation – and remained off the beach as per the new government regulations for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) beaches. Drone Dad captured amazing photos and video of the Apocalyptic-like scene on Wednesday afternoon, 16 […]

According to the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa has missed the second deadline for a deposit on the Covax Vaccine Facility, and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni perhaps mislead Parliament when he denied SA had missed the first deadline. “Securing a supply of the vaccine for South Africa as soon as possible should be government’s number […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has filed court papers in the Western Cape High Court challenging a decision taken by South Africa’s national government to close the beaches in the Garden Route District for the entire festive season (16 Dec to 3 Jan). “We had provided President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma with an extended […]

A thirsty elephant at Addo Elephant Park in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, surprised visitors (and a couple of zebra witnesses) with his agile leopard crawl to make his way to a water hole. Watch below. Addo, which is 72km from Port Elizabeth, is the third largest national park in South Africa and is famous […]