Clearly the US ambassador in South Africa has a sense of humour, if his tweets over the past few days are anything to go by, as he has been faced with accusations by the African National Congress that the United States is fomenting regime change in South Africa. Along with a picture of Oprah Winfrey in one of her […]

Two members of the all-female rhino-saving brigade from South Africa the Black Mambas, who have been publicised around the world, have arrived in England to raise awareness and funds for their campaign. Siphiwe and Felicia are making the first visit to the United Kingdom on behalf of the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit. They will be […]

The luxury South African train company Rovos Rail – which has long been running neck and neck with the Blue Train in pampered rail travel – has bought the “three star” Shongololo Express, a 19-coach train that has been running a select number of two-week tours across the country. For a fraction of the cost of […]

News of Tesla Motors’ entry to South Africa is coming out in dribs and drabs. This week it was announced that the company owned by South African-born billionaire Elon Musk would open its first office in Africa in Cape Town, while five new jobs were  posted on the company’s website. The entry of Tesla to South Africa was […]

The Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson made a speech to Parliament last week that some people on social media compared to a person on an acid trip, talking about bad cheap wine, juvenile delinquents, EFF leader Julius Malema being unable to be a mother, and a cow licking a fire. But, as has been pointed out in news reports recently, […]

The cut-price African airline fastjet has just turned three years old, but already it is multiplying routes and flights, the latest being the doubling of its service between Harare and Johannesburg to 26 flights less than a month after the route’s inauguration. The new flights will start on 26 February, and will add about 1,700 seats a […]

The Mail & Guardian newspaper issued an apology on Friday over a controversial story in January saying Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane was receiving leadership classes from former president FW de Klerk, adding that the main reporter had left the DA under “acrimonious circumstances”.   The letter by editor in chief Verashni Pillay was titled “Mea Culpa. We should have known better”. […]

The National Council of SPCAs has hailed a decision by the High Court in Pretoria that protects the identity of people who provide it with information – or “tip-offs” – about animal cruelty. “The outcome is hailed as a victory for issues of principle and integrity,” the NSPCA said in a statement on Friday. “The National Council of SPCAs […]

From secret beaches to speakeasies to best views of the sunset to a party where you showcase your favourite artist, Catherine Franklin uncovers some of Cape Town’s little secrets. Whether it’s Fish Hoek, the city centre or the Northern Suburbs, they all have some great gems. Now – as they say – it’s time to get out! 1. […]

The SONA2016 debate might be over, and while there were some pretty low points, there were also some highs worth remembering. One of them was the speech of the Democratic Alliance’s Zakhele Mbhele. Only 31 years old, and the shadow minister of police, he talks the talk a lot better than parliamentarians twice his age. And […]

In a conciliatory and subdued speech before Parliament on Thursday, President Jacob Zuma said to put South Africa first and then spent most of his speech addressing the problems in the economy, education, the drought and crime. On the same day, a no-confidence debate in Zuma was scheduled for March 1. In a very quiet chamber, with few interjections – in […]

For anyone who loves animated movies like “Finding Nemo” or “Wallace and Gromit”, Cape Town is the place to be for the next four days as the Cape Town International Animation Festival offers a glut of movies and talks and workshops from around the world. Included in the features available will be the highly praised […]

CAPE TOWN – Parliament descended into minor chaos Wednesday afternoon after the chief whip of the Democratic Alliance John Steenhuisen told the presiding officer that he could not tell COPE leader Mosiuoa Lekota to withdraw the word “faction” when referring to the ANC. Steenhuisen said that by telling the Congress of People’s leader Lekota that labeling […]

In this elegy to Johannesburg’s magnificent ridges, Kathy Munro of the Heritage Portal says this striking geographic feature of the city for some reason often gets overlooked, as do the three gorgeous roads that run up their sides – Sylvia Pass, Munro Drive and Stewart Drive. She reflects on the history and the lore, and how the ridges were tackled […]

CAPE TOWN – The son of Eskom CEO Brian Molefe is one of eight people, six of them students, arrested for overnight violence at the University of Cape Town that left three vehicles firebombed, including a UCT bus, as well as paintings and photographs from residences burned. Molefe, who was appointed as permanent CEO of the […]

In a bid to make up for falling profits in a  bad commodities market, the once-mighty Anglo American of South Africa will sell off some of its major assets and focus only on its copper, diamond and platinum businesses, according to news reports on Tuesday. The 99-year-old mining group recently announced a record pre-tax loss of […]

After two days of protesting at the University of Cape Town over a lack of accommodation for some students, people arrived back on campus on Wednesday faced with the damage that had been caused by protesters, who even burnt paintings owned by the university. The university also said that it was going to lay charges against […]

CAPE TOWN – In his response to President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address last week, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane hit out at the ANC leader on Tuesday, saying Zuma lived on a planet far far away from the rest of South Africa – Planet Zuma. In his speech Maimane said, “Planet Zuma is […]

HARARE – The American plane carrying money for the SA Reserve Bank that was impounded in Harare airport when a body was discovered on board during a refueling stop there continues to be the subject of an investigation in the Zimbabwe capital, news reports said on Tuesday. The unidentified body, which the Reserve Bank said […]

Democratic Alliance premier of the Western Cape Helen Zille is a well-known and pithy Tweeter, and her recent response in her Inside Government newsletter to SONA2016 is no exception. Zille said she hadn’t been more optimistic in years, and South Africa had made 300 years of progress in just a week. The extract was part of a speech she […]

CAPE TOWN – South Africa should start a register that names anyone who is caught faking a degree, the Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande said on Tuesday, according to news reports. Talking to journalists before the resumption of the SONA2016 debate, he raised the issue of dealing with the growing number of people forging or misrepresenting […]

DURBAN – Police reinforcements have been sent to Westville Prison after an officer locked himself in the armoury and threatened to take his own life, it was reported on Tuesday. The Department of Correctional Services confirmed that a male officer was involved, and said that it was an ongoing situation being dealt with by a task […]

Radlyn Naidoo is a 19-year-old in Pretoria with Tourette Syndrome, but he doesn’t let that stand in his way of living his life and promoting a message that is brilliant, even for people without Tourette. In his first video (see below) Radlyn not only explains what he’s trying to achieve with his Facebook page, but he […]

For the second time at least, someone has sneakily put President Jacob Zuma’s controversial home Nkandla up for sale on a free classifieds page, listing it as a “Luxury African Homestead”. The ad on the site OLX listed the price at R260 million and described it as a “3.83ha luxury compound with world-class security & entertainment […]

HARARE – An American plane carrying cargo destined for the SA Reserve Bank has been impounded in Harare after a dead body was found on board, reportedly after blood was seen dripping from the plane during a refueling stop. ​”The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is aware of an aircraft carrying a SARB consignment that stopped in Harare […]