CAPE TOWN – There is no quick fix for South Africa’s ailing Test team in the wake of their demoralising series whitewash in India, captain Faf du Plessis said, as retirements, defections abroad and an under-performing domestic scene drag them into mediocrity. South Africa were thrashed in all three matches and look a shadow of […]

SOCHI/MOSCOW – Russia landed two nuclear-capable bombers in South Africa on a training mission on Wednesday, a flight apparently timed to coincide with President Vladimir Putin’s opening of a flagship Russia-Africa summit designed to increase Russian influence. The two Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers touched down at Waterkloof air force base in Tshwane on Wednesday, the […]

The murder investigation underway after the bodies of 39 people were tragically discovered in the back of a cargo truck in the UK, is ongoing. UPDATE SATURDAY 16h30 SA Time: On Thursday British police said the victims were Chinese, but today (Sat 26 Oct) it is now being reported that most of the victims were […]

JOHANNESBURG – Crisis-hit South African power company Eskom was handed an additional R59 billion ($4 billion) lifeline by parliament on Tuesday, prompting criticism from opposition parties who described it as a “blank cheque”. The special bill passed by parliament to grant the funding was first proposed by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni in July as Eskom […]

CAPE TOWN – South Africa has signed a two-year agreement with Chinese internet firm Tencent, which will use its popular WeChat platform to market tourism to millions in China, the South African tourism minister said on Tuesday. South Africa is targeting key untapped tourist markets such as China and India as it promotes tourism as […]

JOHANNESBURG – Armed men invaded a metallurgical plant owned by South Africa’s DRDGOLD on Monday night, killing the gold miner’s chief security officer and stealing an estimated 17 kg of gold, the company said. DRDGOLD’s chief security officer Bart Coetzee was fatally wounded in an exchange of gunfire during the attack at the Ergo plant […]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that the government will soon announce a permanent chief executive for state-run Eskom after the struggling power utility reintroduced rolling blackouts – known as load-shedding in South Africa – last week. The crisis-hit utility, which produces more than 90% of South Africa’s electricity, has been hobbled by […]

HARARE – At least 55 elephants have died in a game park in western Zimbabwe since September from starvation caused by a severe drought, the wildlife agency said on Monday. Zimparks spokesman Tinashe Farawo said the animals had died near water holes dotted around the Hwange National Park, a sign that they had traveled long […]

Japan were beaten up and bundled out of the World Cup on Sunday but whatever happens over the next two weeks will have to be pretty special for the Brave Blossoms to be displaced as the symbol of the ninth edition of rugby’s showpiece tournament. Their run to the quarter-finals of the first World Cup […]

TOKYO – There was never any shortage of courage, but not even the bravest of blossoms could punch through Springbok brawn on Sunday as South Africa reached the Rugby World Cup semi-finals by beating Japan 26-3 and ending their dream run at their home tournament. In what was a first World Cup quarter-final for the […]

TOKYO – Japan will focus on playing their own brand of rugby against the physical game of South Africa in Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final, the hosts’ attack coach Tony Brown said on Saturday. The Springboks, under coach Rassie Erasmus, have returned to their traditional strengths at the set-piece and attempt to dominate opponents in […]

It’s what parents have feared for years… Johnson & Johnson (J&J) said on Friday it is recalling around 33,000 bottles of baby powder in the United States after U.S. health regulators found trace amounts of asbestos in samples taken from a bottle purchased online. J&J shares fell more than 6% to close at $127.70. This […]

South Africa’s plans for additional power generation over the next decade will involve a variety of energy sources, with coal still playing a significant role as well as more renewable energy, mines and energy minister Gwede Mantashe said on Friday. Mantashe said that while the government planned to extend the life of the Koeberg nuclear […]

South Africa will experience load shedding (power cuts) for a third day on Friday BUT is unlikely to be affected through the weekend as more generating units return to service, utility Eskom acting chief executive said. Eskom has since Wednesday been forced to impose power cuts for the first time in around seven months, after […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa will face loadshedding today as state power firm Eskom – which many South Africans refer to as Eish-kom – said it will cut up to 2,000 megawatts of power from the national grid on Wednesday due to a shortage of generating capacity. Eskom said on Twitter that the power cuts would […]

JOHANNESBURG – Former South African president Jacob Zuma will appeal a high court decision to deny him a permanent stay of prosecution on charges related to a $2 billion arms deal, his lawyers said on Tuesday. Zuma, in office from 2009-2018, had applied for a permanent stay of prosecution for alleged fraud, racketeering and money […]

LONDON – South Africa’s embattled state-owned airline is open to outside investment and in talks with a number of potential partners, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday. South Africa’s economy has come under ever growing pressure as the government grapples with lacklustre growth, high unemployment and a heavy debt burden, especially from state-owned enterprises such […]

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA – At least three mortar bombs were fired on Sunday at Mogadishu’s international airport, injuring at least six people in the compound where several embassies are located, a diplomatic source said. The missions of the United Nations and African Union, as well as several embassies, are based inside the perimeter fence. The Horn […]

MUMBAI – India maintained their formidable home record by (unfortunately!) crushing South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the second test at Pune to clinch the three-test series with a match to spare on Sunday. Made to follow on, South Africa were bundled out for 189 in their second innings in a little […]

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Winger Kenki Fukuoka produced two pieces of individual brilliance as a high-paced Japan advanced to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals – where they’ll face South Africa next weekend – for the first time with a 28-21 victory over Scotland at Yokohama on Sunday. The win ensured Japan finished top of Pool A […]

TOKYO – Japan sent tens of thousands of troops and rescue workers on Sunday to save stranded residents and fight floods caused by one of the worst typhoons to hit the country in recent history, which killed 18 people and briefly paralyzed Tokyo. There were also 13 people missing, public broadcaster NHK said, as Typhoon […]

KOBE, Japan – South Africa midfield back Damian de Allende is unlikely to abandon his conservative playing style any time soon with the World Cup quarter-finals a week away and defences adept at shutting down attacking options out wide. Inside centre de Allende has been given the green light by his coaches to play more […]

TOKYO – One of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit Tokyo paralyzed the Japanese capital on Saturday, leaving millions confined indoors and streets deserted as fierce rain and wind killed two, flooded rivers and threatened widespread damage. And just after the storm hit, an earthquake also shook Tokyo. (See Update at bottom of page.) […]

JOHANNESBURG – Hiking through fields and along dirt roads, South African rape survivor Leilani Kuter finished a more than 700 kilometer walk on Saturday across a country unfortunately known for violence against women. Kuter walked 27 kilometers for 27 days to mark 27 years since she survived a brutal rape, raising money along the way […]

VIENNA – Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge made athletics history on Saturday when he became the first person to run a marathon in under two hours, stretching the limits of human endeavour and passing a milestone few thought could be reached for decades if at all. Guided by green laser beams shone onto the road and helped […]