At a time he was meant to be celebrating his 26th birthday, Brandon* found himself with a bad cough and a tight chest that at times made speaking or breathing, a struggle. (*not his real name) It was just over two weeks after South Africa had gone into lockdown, when Brandon first started experiencing a […]

Slowly but surely the lockdown measures are being relaxed. It was inevitable; living under stay-at-home conditions was unsustainable. But make no mistake, it’s far from normal in our hospitals. A month ago we reported that Groote Schuur was on the brink, as Covid-19 cases escalated. At that point the hospital was running seven wards with […]

South Africa’s number of positive Covid-19 cases has today – Thursday 18 June 2020 – surpassed the total number of cases in China, where the pandemic is believed to have begun. South Africa is now featured in the Top 20 list of countries with the most coronavirus cases in the world. SA Health Minister Dr […]

South Africa is poised to enter a new phase of normality as President Ramaphosa tonight announced the easing of restrictions on certain business industries in the country. Following discussions with industry leaders, scientists and in consultation with Premiers, the South African Cabinet has decided to ease restrictions on the following economic activities, said the President. […]

President Ramaphosa’s announcement tonight of a further lifting of lockdown restrictions is an admission that the lockdown serves no purpose and has failed… claims Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader John Steenhuisen. In a press statement issued on Wednesday evening, following the President’s address to the nation, Steenhuisen said Ramaphosa “seems to have finally realised just how […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the following address at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, on South Africa’s response to the coronavirus pandemic: It is now just over 100 days since the first case of coronavirus was identified in South Africa. For 100 days we have been living in the shadow of one of the greatest threats […]

In cooperation with the Dutch Embassy in South Africa, KLM has planned more repatriation flights to take home to Europe Dutch and other EU residents. And the good news for South Africans stranded abroad is that on the southbound flights, KLM is able to bring SA residents back home. If you’re in Europe and need […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa is addressing the nation this evening, Wednesday 17 June 2020, on developments in South Africa’s risk-adjusted strategy to manage the spread of COVID-19. The President’s address follows a number of meetings of the Cabinet, the National Coronavirus Command Council and the Presidential Coordinating Council, the Presidency said in a brief statement on […]

South Coast Tourism in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has shared an awesome video today, Tuesday 16 June 2020, of several sharks surrounding a huge shoal of sardines in what is usually a popular surf spot. South Coast Tourism called it the “Greatest Shoal on Earth 2020” and described it as “epic footage of today’s sardine run […]

South Africans have been left reeling by a viral video showing a tragic incident near Grabouw, about an hour from Cape Town, in which a couple from Somerset West both lost their lives.They have been named as retired pharmacist Ben Wiid, 61, and his wife Riana, 58, a retired teacher. The video captures the heartbreaking […]

The South African government has reiterated its commitment to improve its response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). This comes after another brutal murder this past weekend, following what President Cyril Ramaphosa had already described as South Africa’s “dark and shameful week”… where the country mourned what appeared to be a spike in violent murders […]

South African golfing legend Gary Player has won back the rights to his name and likeness in a settlement with a company headed up by his eldest son, Marc. The company – called the Gary Player Group – will also have to pay the 85-year-old golf champion $5-million. The payment is reportedly for royalties due […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all South Africans to end the culture of silence around gender-based violence and report perpetrators to the South African Police Service (SAPS). This comes as the body of a young woman was found dumped under a tree in Dobsonville, Soweto on Friday. Since South Africa entered coronavirus alert level […]

South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation says the torching of water tanks in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, is a “major setback” in efforts to provide water to desperate communities in need. The department is placing water tankers and tanks in communities around the country, including at schools, under Water Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s direction. […]

As predicted by the South African Weather Service (SAWS), parts of South Africa have been hit by an intense cold front yesterday and today (Wed and Thurs 10-11 June 2020). Many Capetonians awoke to a scene that looked like snow… but was in fact bucket-loads of hail. Whilst in other parts of the Western Cape, […]

According to the South African Airlines (SAA) website, repatriation tickets from Washington, USA to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg have increased in price by 133.3% from roughly R15 000 to R35 000 in under a week! A shocked volunteer, helping South Africans stranded in the US to get back home, contacted SAPeople on Wednesday […]

South African Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has condemned the killing of eight people by an alleged drunk driver in Jozini, KwaZulu Natal. Eight people lost their lives and 27 others were injured, after the driver of a truck carrying a load of sugarcane, lost control of the vehicle. The truck hit two buses, one minibus […]

It is a sunny Tuesday afternoon. Farida Ryklief stands in front of a huge big pot of soup and a crate of bread on a table outside a kitchen in Delft, Cape Town. She is serving beetroot soup blended with soya, macaroni and mixed vegetables. She moves her hands in and out of the soup […]

Swedish investigators today announced they are closing the investigation into the 1986 assassination of the country’s late Prime Minister Olof Palme (59)… whose death some had suspected was linked to South Africa. Palme was an outspoken critic of South Africa’s then apartheid system – he advocated sanctions against SA and funded the then banned African […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has one simple but fundamental message for his fellow South Africans: “Don’t be alarmed. Be prepared.” He says he, like most people, has noticed the number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in SA rising fast. “More than a half of all cases since the start of the outbreak were recorded in […]

South African music legend Johnny Clegg would have turned 67 today, 7 June 2020. In memory of his father, Jesse Clegg has shared the below video: “I’ve Been Looking”. It’s a song that meant a lot to Jesse and his dad. It was their first collaboration, and it pays tribute to the importance of family. […]

There are calls again for the KZN government in South Africa to prioritise the safety of rural communities following the murder this morning of the owner of an eatery in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands community. UPDATE 9 June: Despite earlier reports that the attack happened at well known eatery Gunther’s, a close friend of the former […]

South Africans across the country captured last night’s Strawberry Full Moon – 5 June 2020 – in beautiful and creative photos. Nigel Riley photographed the Strawberry Full Moon rising over the lighthouses last night at Kalk Bay harbour. According to USA Today, this month’s full moon derives its name – Strawberry Moon “from the Algonquin […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday be in Cape Town to assess the Western Cape’s provincial response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Western Cape is currently the country’s epicentre accounting for nearly two-thirds of infections nationally. As of Thursday, the Western Cape had 27 006 out of the 40 792 COVID-19 infections reported […]

There are now 40,792 confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa as of 4 June 2020, according to the Department of Health. This is an increase of 3,267 cases in the past 24 hours. Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said: “As of today, the cumulative number of confirmed #COVID19 is 40 792, the total number of […]