The Health Department has activated an emergency operations centre to deal with the global outbreak of the Coronavirus. “The emergency centre was activated last night and is now currently operational. We are busy building up the staff numbers but from last night, activities have started,” said Health Minister Zweli Mkhize as he detailed the country’s […]

Botswana registered its first ever suspected case of corona virus on Thursday, 30 January 2020. The suspected case was registered at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport upon arrival using Ethiopian Airways from China, the Botswana Government said in a press statement. “The suspect case is still under isolation at Block 8 Clinic and investigations are […]

As WHO declares the new Coronavirus a global health emergency, this message is going viral in South Africa. Source unknown (let us know if you know!), but sent to us by several SAPeople readers living in SA: Virus breaks out in China: China races to build hospitals in 6 days. (See video at bottom of […]

The deepening of economic growth and the predicament of the country’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) – like Eskom and SAA – are expected to be taking centre stage at the Cabinet Lekgotla being held by President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Presidential Guest House in Pretoria this week. Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu outlined the government’s […]

It could be romantic cande-lit dinners and baths for South Africans tonight, as Eskom says its power system is “under stress” this morning, Thursday 30 January 2020, and the country faces the risk of load shedding this evening. The power utility issued a power alert this morning, revealing that it is using diesel generators currently […]

The Development Bank of Southern Africa will provide South African Airways (SAA) with funding of R3.5 billion to assist the national carrier in addressing its liquidity challenges. “Discussions held with financial institutions have been fruitful with the Development Bank of Southern Africa offering to provide the next tranche of PCF [post commencement funding], for a […]

Interested parties have been reminded they have until Friday to comment on legislation amending Section 25 of the South African Constitution. Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee to Initiate and Introduce Legislation Amending Section 25 of the Constitution on Tuesday reminded all the stakeholders of the approaching deadline. This comes as written submissions are sought on the […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged governments around the world to put their differences aside and work together to achieve world peace and prosperity. The President made the remarks while addressing nine Ambassadors and High Commissioners as he received their Letters of Credence from their respective countries to serve in diplomatic missions in South Africa. “A world […]

The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), which works tirelessly to combat illegal trade and support conservation, has welcomed the decision by Chinese authorities to ban the trade of wild animals in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The EWT said in a statement on Wednesday that it is calling for the Chinese government […]

Many South African citizens in China are apparently trapped in Wuhan, the centre of the Coronavirus outbreak, because of a “state of dysfunction” at the South African Embassy, according to the DA’s international body, DA Abroad. Phones are going unanswered. Unclear directions are being given. And there’s no Ambassador at the helm. Wuhan City – […]

Thousands of trophy hunters from around the world will gather next week in Nevada, USA for the world’s largest trophy hunt convention, held by Safari Club International, at which “trophy hunter” Donald Trump Jr. is also scheduled to speak, according to Humane Society International, Africa. One of the hunts up for bid is apparently a […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Chairperson of the Trade and Industry Portfolio Committee, Duma Nkosi requesting that an urgent committee meeting is held to get to the bottom of the corruption scandal which has consumed the National Lottery Commission (NLC) and threatens to derail it. This follows further allegations by GroundUp that […]

Firefighters are currently working to suppress a fire which broke out in the Noordhoek Wetlands area in Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday. Working on Fire confirmed its crew has been despatched to assist the City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue Service and the SANParks – Table Mountain National Park. Issuing a ‘fire alert’ […]

The DA has responded with “concern” about reports over the weekend that South African Airways (SAA) has received R2-billion in funding. Alf Lees MP – DA Member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts – said in a statement on Sunday that the DA will write to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni to request details of […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) rangers apprehended 48 suspected abalone poachers on Thursday, 24 January 2020, on the Western side of the Park between Keurbooms and Salt River in Tsitsikamma, South Africa. (Watch video at bottom of page.) Once caught, suspects were taken to the nearest police station by the South African Police Services (SAPS). […]

The 10 baby deaths at Tembisa Hospital – from antibiotic-resistant klebsiella – could have been avoided if President Ramaphosa had listened and acted effectively when he visited there nearly two years ago, claims Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health Minister. “President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the Tembisa Hospital in May 2018 but failed to provide extra […]

England all-rounder Ben Stokes has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the opening day of the fourth Test against South Africa at the Wanderers… after he reacted to taunts from a South African spectator. Stokes was found to have breached Article […]

CAPE TOWN – A fire has been blazing on a metrorail train in Cape Town, South Africa, on Saturday evening, destroying several carriages. It’s not yet known if it was arson, but there have been a string of arson attacks on trains in the City of Cape Town in recent months… leading DA Councillor Angus […]

The heartbroken mother of a British tourist, who was executed in cold blood nearly six years ago in South Africa, has been left “devastated and distraught” after five men were this week cleared of her son’s murder. Adventurer Jeremy Brooke, 32 – who was actually born and brought up in Durban with British parents who […]

Kevin Anderson lost his second round match in the men’s singles at the Australian Open in Melbourne, going down in five sets to the 29th seed, Taylor Fritz. Anderson, who is enjoying a strong start to 2020 after injuries resulted in his world ranking slipping to 122, had looked in control against the 22-year-old American, […]

For fans of Lasizwe Dambuza, his latest video has delivered more laughs – a South African comedic version of Public Hospital vs Private Hospital. (Lasizwe produced the original SA supermarket tellers video that we all loved!) For anyone who’s ever spent time in hospital in SA, this video will ring a few bells!! “This is […]

The headmaster of Parktown Boys’ High School, Malcolm Williams, has been suspended with immediate effect, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi announced today. The announcement on Friday follows the death of Enoch Mpianzi, who drowned during a Grade 8 camp held at Nyati Bush and River Break Lodge, near Brits in the North West. At the […]

CAPE TOWN – Pieter-Steph du Toit capped off a phenomenal 2019 season last night, adding the prestigious SA Rugby Player of the Year award to his World Rugby Player of the Year accolade, his third win in four years. Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks were also honoured for a brilliant 2019, when they won the […]

As the deadline approaches for commentary to be submitted to the UK government on its proposed Trophy Hunting ban, South Africans on both sides of the argument have submitted their comments. Saai, an organisation that protects the interests of farmers – including game farmers – in South Africa, argues that there is value in legal […]

It’s been a sad week for South Africans as children headed back to school, with tragic incidents marring what should have been an exciting time in their lives. The shocking death of a Parktown Boys High, Grade 8 pupil, Enoch (Enock) Mpianzi – who drowned while on a school camp – governed the news. But […]