South African expat and former personal trainer to Princess Diana – Jenni Rivett – has joined Diana’s brother and other close friends in publicly defending the privacy of her late great friend… as Channel 4 is controversially poised to broadcast footage on Sunday which was taken during private speech coaching sessions in 1993. Writing in […]

Some South Africans like to call it the ‘chicken run’, but leaving your homeland and settling into a new country is definitely not for sissies! You’re far from home, far from most of your friends and family… and in the beginning nothing’s familiar. Here’s an expat’s survival guide for South Africans abroad, based on tips […]

Olympic legend Michael Phelps has ticked off a bucket list item by swimming with sharks in South Africa. Unfortunately though, his attempt to raise awareness about the species backfired this week when some viewers of a Discovery programme felt duped by his much-hyped race against a Great White. While Michael did indeed get to go […]

Charlize Theron has proved in a televised interview, filmed last week, that she’s just like most South African expats – proud of her homeland and still in love with Mrs Balls chutney. There just is no substitute! Speaking to TV presenters Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, Charlize encouraged viewers to visit her beautiful homeland. She […]

South African swimmer Chad le Clos opened up in a press conference in Hungary last night after his incredible win in the 200m butterfly race, reclaiming the world champion title. He admitted that his tears as he received his gold medal were for his family, especially his mother who he thought he would lose to […]

While Environmental Affairs Minister, Edna Molewa, made hollow claims this morning of a “slight decrease” in the number of rhinos poached nationally between January and June this year, her efforts at humility in “not claiming victory” yet and offering “cautious optimism” were cold comfort for anyone who cares about a species that is facing extinction […]

Two very passionate #ProudlySouthAfrican South Africans made their way into the news in Belgium yesterday when they posed for selfies with the King and Queen of Belgium… draped in their South African flags! A Belgian follower of SAPeople, Linda Gevaerts, kindly sent the photo to SAPeople yesterday, taken at the famous Tomorrowland Festival, one of […]

South African student Tshidiso Ramogale is being celebrated on social media for his awesome achievement – obtaining a Master’s Degree from Harvard Law School. The humble graduate is meanwhile celebrating his family and friends who “carried” him all the way. According to a post on Wednesday by Olgar’s Auto Nigel, Tshidiso said: “Graduated! First in my family to […]

South African poet, Athol Williams has received a distinction for his thesis at Oxford University in the UK. It’s been a long time coming – award-winning Athol can be seen below wearing an Oxford jacket back in 1998, a gift from his brother, Nick, to help fuel his dream of studying at Oxford. Athol – […]

South African expat Patrick Othandwayo Sakayi has mastered the art of living abroad: embrace the locals and never forget your roots! He’s been welcomed by a wonderful community in a small village in Ireland, and in turn has taught them to sing ‘Shosholoza’ with gusto! Watch below… Speaking exclusively to SAPeople, Patrick said he left […]

Check out this wonderful capture of a large pride of lions in Pilanesberg, South Africa… and if you’re South African (or a fan thereof!) you’ll love the running commentary! Filmed by Bianca near Bakubang this evening, she said: “Wow wow wow! We saw this pride early this morning but lying down and very cold. Now […]

South Africa’s Caspar Lee was received by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in England tonight, where a function was held for the Queen’s Young Leaders Award Winners. After meeting the Queen, the 23-year-old South African expat – and YouTube star – posted a photo of himself shaking hands with the British monarch, saying “Yaaaaas […]

Some people hike it, some catch the cable car… and some youngsters casually skate it! It being South Africa’s iconic Table Mountain. Local Capetonian ZACH ZINN – and his mates Calvin, Devon and Jordan – filmed themselves enjoying this “short skate mission” on an abandoned road on Table Mountain on Monday. It makes you want […]

Following the massive fires that ravaged the Knysna area earlier this month, Karen Rademeyer sent out urgent pleas for people in the area to look out for her five missing ponies. This last week, one of those ponies – Cody – followed his heart all the way home to her, 16 days later, along the […]

South African YouTube sensation – and millionaire – Caspar Lee has received an invite from Queen Elizabeth II to Buckingham Palace! Caspar – whose full name is Caspar Richard George Lee – casually posted the invitation yesterday, with a dig at one of his teachers from South Africa, saying: “Shoutout to the teacher who said I […]

Knysna held a Firemen’s Parade on Saturday morning to thank the teams that worked so tirelessly and selflessly, in such frighteningly dangerous conditions… as fires raged across the region a week ago, taking seven lives, including that of a firefighter. This morning those brave firefighters were honoured in the town, with grateful residents coming out in […]

Concerned South African citizen Hannes van den Heever has filmed a video to show South Africa just how dire the drought situation is in the Namakwaland (Namaqualand) and Boesmanland district. Hannes, who is an Afrikaans country artist, says: “My family members and friends are farmers in the Namakwaland and Boesmanland district. I was on my way […]

Today Knysna resident ESTER BEUKES woke up at 4am and realised that, for the first time since Wednesday, she couldn’t see a raging fire – or even the glow of one. After having been evacuated, being without water, needing groceries delivered by a friend… today she could “finally pay attention to the needs of others”. She found […]

We are so sad to confirm that the mother of three-year-old Catherine, who died in the Knysna Fires, has now also succumbed to her injuries, and passed away in Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, last night. She had suffered 70 percent burns to her body. Enala and her daughter had been trying to outrun the fire in […]

Knysna resident Scott Edkins, has launched a heartbreaking campaign to help rebuild the life of one of his neighbours… the father of the little 3-year-old girl, Catherine Nyirenda, who was tragically killed in the Knysna fires this week. Her mother, Blessing Nyirenda’s wife, is currently fighting for her life in Tygerberg Hospital. Scott wrote this heartfelt […]

It’s not only South Africans who are reaching out generously to help those in Knysna, who have lost so much in the fires. Here’s a young British woman who has set up a fundraising page for a special place in Knysna to which, she says, she owes her life… El Facer’s message to SAPeople touched us: “please, please […]

South African artist Beezy Bailey has posted a beautifully moving and poignant response to the loss of his home, and incredible works of art, in the devastating fires which ravaged the southern Cape this week. Posting the photo above on Friday morning, Beezy wrote: “I believe that Armageddon is the end of the beginning and not the […]

South African comedian Trevor Noah is clearly laughing all the way to the bank since he moved to the United States and took over as The Daily Show host. The Wall Street Journal has revealed that Trevor has bought himself a R130-million ($10-million) penthouse in Manhattan, New York. The stellar apartment is in Stella Tower, where the […]

Popular American actress Mary Tyler Moore has passed away at the age of 80. Her longtime representative Mara Buxbaum issued a statement Wednesday saying: “Today beloved icon Mary Tyler Moore passed away at the age of 80 in the company of friends and her loving husband of over 33 years, Dr. S. Robert Levine.” TMZ had […]

I had tea with Alan Rickman once, at a majestic hotel in the south of France during the Cannes Film Festival. We were there to discuss a movie I’ve now forgotten…but he went off topic and spoke about everything else under the sun, particularly South Africa for which he had a strong passion. The British actor […]