CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), said on Tuesday it could go to court to stop proposed land reforms after parliament today approved a report endorsing a constitutional amendment that would allow expropriations without compensation. A parliamentary team last month recommended a constitutional amendment to make it possible for […]

South African expat Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from California on Monday carrying 64 small satellites into low orbit around the Earth, which the company called the largest-ever “rideshare” mission by a U.S.-based rocket. The mission, dubbed SSO-A, also marked the third voyage to space for the same Falcon 9 rocket – […]

We consume the products of slavery every day. All of us. Today’s globalised supply chains make it is almost impossible to avoid goods or services free of the fingerprints of slavery. Electronic gadgets, clothing, fish, cocoa and cane sugar are the products mostly likely to be tainted. In contrast to state-sanctioned slave ownership in the […]

PRETORIA – Farms and factories have dragged South Africa out of its first recession in almost a decade, data showed on Tuesday, as the economy grew by more than expected in the third quarter! The positive data is a boost for President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has pledged to re-start growth after a decade of stagnation […]

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – Johannesburg has emerged as the most popular destination city in Africa for the fifth consecutive year, according to the annual Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index. The City of Gold attracted 4.05 million international overnight visitors in 2017. Close on its heels, Marrakech in Morocco is the second most popular African destination […]

Motorists will this week get an early Christmas present with the price of all grades of petrol set to come down by R1.84 a litre. The Department of Energy announced that both grades of petrol 93 (ULP and LRP) and 95 (ULP and LRP) will decrease by R1.84. The price of Diesel 0.05% sulphur will come […]

Three farm attacks took place in the Western Cape last weekend (Fri 23 to Mon 26 Nov), in the Porterville, Paarl and Wellington regions, according to AfriForum. Apparently, in the case of the Porterville attack, there had been ominous messages spray-painted on the door of the farmhouse six weeks beforehand. The messages allegedly said: ‘Kill […]

The predictions about  South Africa’s state of electricity over the coming days, weeks and even years are pretty bleak… with no light (certainly not from Eskom!) at the end of the tunnel for at least five years. On Monday Eskom announced it will be implementing Stage 2 load shedding from 9am this morning until 10pm […]

The DA says it is urging various municipalities in Limpopo, South Africa, to implement water restrictions – similar to those which have become world famous in Cape Town – to preserve the remaining water in different reservoirs and dams, and avoid the looming water crisis during this festive season and beyond. The effect of the […]

NAIROBI – Perhaps South Africa can learn something from Ethiopia which has overtaken Dubai as the top feeder for long-haul passengers to Africa, highlighting the success of the state airline’s expansion drive and the reforms of its new prime minister… which include allowing visitors to apply for visas online. Travel consultancy ForwardKeys said on Wednesday […]

PIETERMARITZBURG – South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma wants corruption charges relating to a $2.2 billion arms deal to be permanently set aside, his lawyers said on Friday in Pietermaritzburg, when Zuma made his fourth court appearance since the charges were reinstated. Zuma, who was ousted by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in February, […]

Higher Education and Training Minister Naledi Pandor will today be presented with the award of Officer in the French Legion of Honour for her remarkable and life-long achievements during her time as Minister of Science and Technology. The Ambassador of France to South Africa Christophe Farnaud will, on behalf of the French President, bestow the award […]

LUSAKA  – Britain’s Prince Harry on Monday offered Zambia support with boosting the country’s dwindling elephant population, as he began a two-day working visit without his pregnant wife Meghan. The Duke of Sussex, 34, was received at Lusaka airport by dignitaries and colourfully-dressed traditional dancers, later holding a closed-door meeting with Zambian President Edgar Lungu […]

R21 billion: that’s how much South Africa’s beleaguered national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), says it needs to keep running… writes Jannie Rossouw. SAA has reached this point in its financial crisis through persistent mismanagement and cronyism, with the SA government as main shareholder refusing to take tough decisions about the company. But such decisions can’t […]

The South African delegation participating in the G20 Summit will use the platform to promote and strengthen the interests of the country and the African continent, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said on Thursday. Led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the delegation left South Africa on Thursday for Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the […]

Sectors from from South African society – including business and government sectors – on Thursday added their signatures to the pledge against corruption. Government officials as well as faith-based NGOs all signed the pledge to end corruption, at a workshop held at the GCIS head office in Tshwane. GCIS has made the fight against corruption […]

The festive season just got merrier for Capetonians as the City of Cape Town announced that water users can expect a “considerable reduction” in the cost of water from next month! This is due to water restrictions being lowered from Level 5 to Level 3 from Saturday 1 December 2018. It’ll also mean the allowance […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s rand will remain volatile in 2019, making monetary policy complicated and focused on long-term inflation factors rather than short-term market shocks, Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Daniel Mminele said on Wednesday. Mminele said the bank expected the rand to average 14.50 against the dollar but trade would be volatile, forcing the monetary […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa‘s struggling state-run power firm Eskom on Wednesday forecast a loss before tax of more than R11.2 billion ($800 million) in the current financial year, despite a turnaround plan designed to shore up its finances. Eskom, Africa‘s largest public utility, reported a R671 million profit in the six months to the end […]

JOHANNESBURG – Starbucks and Domino’s Pizza will not be expanding for the present moment in South Africa, according to SA’s Taste Holdings which said it’s halted the roll out of new stores for the two after reporting a loss in the first half of its financial year. Most South African retailers have struggled to lift […]

The two officers who recorded themselves having a blast doing the famous Idibala dance challenge in South Africa – whilst driving! – have been issued with disciplinary action. In the video that went viral earlier this month, the two (very happy) officers are seen dancing and singing in full uniform… and not wearing their safety […]

Time is running out for Ebenezer Odei to get the funding he needs to be able to attend university in 2019. Odei is a matric learner at Grassy Park High School. His parents are Ghanaian and came to South Africa in 1996. They were granted permanent residence in 1997. Odei was born in South Africa […]

CAPE TOWN – South Africa‘s cash-strapped state airline, South African Airways, will need a total of R7.5 billion  ($540 million) from next month to fund day-to-day operations into 2019, a presentation to a parliamentary committee by the airline showed on Tuesday. SAA, which has not generated a profit since 2011, survives on state guarantees and is […]

JOHANNESBURG – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the National Minimum Wage Bill into law today… setting a minimum of R20 per hour for the majority of SA’s workers. The new bill has been introduced to tackle wage inequality and will raise the earnings of an estimated six million South Africans, more than half of […]

“It is unconscionable, and unacceptable, that the Presidency has agreed to pay for Jacob Zuma’s legal costs for his participation in the Zondo Commission, on top of the costs for his criminal defence that the state already pays,” says DA Leader Mmusi Maimane. In a media statement on Sunday, Maimane asked how much longer government […]