A British-born, US-raised businessman and philanthropist has taken Home Affairs to court for rejecting his application for permanent residency in South Africa on “fictitious reasons”. Josh Palfreman posted a video on Friday in which he pledges funds for not just himself, but others like him, to try and create a precedent and case law for […]

Considering that South Africa is one of the highest per capita meat-consuming countries in Africa, one might be surprised to discover that there are 14 fully vegan restaurants in Cape Town alone. Humane Society International/Africa and ProVeg South Africa have partnered to create a My Plant-Based City map of Cape Town to highlight these restaurants, as well […]

Bread happens to be a source of food to thousands of families. But the farmers behind the scenes, producing wheat and turning it into flour, are usually forgotten and given no recognition… writes Godfrey Sigwela. And, unfortunately, soon these very sources of food – like AgriSA farmers – may collapse and close down. The repercussions […]

43 countries have stopped animal testing for cosmetics, will South Africa be next? The 10th anniversary of the European Union’s ban on cosmetic animal testing and trade has just passed and the climax of a decade-long campaign by Humane Society International, its affiliates and partners to extend the cruelty-free cosmetics model across the globe. Humane […]

Patricia de Lille, South Africa’s new Minister of Tourism, allegedly spent R2.4-million in taxpayer money on international trips between September 2019 and September 2022 in her previous role as Minister of Public Works. According to the DA: “During this three-year period, President Cyril Ramaphosa personally approved eight luxurious overseas trips for De Lille in terms […]

Equal Pay Day falls in 2023 on March 14 — a date determined by how long into the new year American women must work to catch up to American men’s earnings the previous year. In 2022, women earned 82% of what men earned. The wage gap for Black and Hispanic women is even higher — […]

Minister in the Presidency for Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says collaboration between government, business and society is imperative if South Africa is to overcome the current electricity crisis gripping the nation. The Minister was speaking during the launch of the Resource Mobilisation Fund (RMF) on Thursday afternoon. The RMF is a collaborative effort between government […]

A pedestrian crossing where vehicles almost never stop. Bicycle lanes obstructed by parked cars. An informal market that is starting to use bicycles to deliver their product. These are some of the issues raised during a walkabout or “talking streets” event in Langa about the future of transport in the township. Organised by the Langa […]

News about the Hawks investigation into South Africa Post Office boss, Nomkhitha Mona, has created concern amongst some social grants beneficiaries who are worried they won’t receive their grants… writes Godfrey Sigwela. The fears followed their excitement after the budget speech in which they were promised they would receive increments. But this led to worry […]

The DA will be leading a picket against ‘rockstar ministers’ on Monday 13 March in Pretoria, outside Bryntirion estate where some of South Africa’s ANC politicians apparently live in luxurious mansions, insulated from loadshedding. Over the past few months, the DA has been on a mission to expose the fact that Ministers and Deputy Ministers […]

Government says it notes S&P Global’s decision to revise South Africa’s credit rating outlook to stable from positive on Wednesday evening. According to S&P, economic growth in South Africa is facing increasing pressure from infrastructure constraints, particularly severe electricity shortages. In reaction, Treasury said, reforms to address infrastructure shortfalls and to improve governance and performance […]

AfriForum has reiterated its fear that the adoption of the Expropriation Bill will have a “devastating impact on all South Africans”, especially in the context of homeownership, food security and economic devastation. AfriForum has submitted further comments strongly opposing this Bill. This comes after the Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works […]

A law graduate who has a “predisposition to bouts of extreme anger and disrespect” is not a fit and proper person to be enrolled as an attorney, the Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled. A bad-tempered, disrespectful law graduate is not fit and proper to be admitted as an attorney, the Supreme Court of Appeal […]

Just by watching television, many people’s needs are being satisfied while viewing their favourite program. BUT when the electricity goes off, they spend hours gazing at the standby mode of their television or decoder, frustrated by load shedding and these non-stop blackouts. By Godfrey Sigwela. Eskom has added another stress by running an advertising campaign […]

The combined dam level in the metro was below 12% on 7 March. By Mkhuseli Sizani. Dam levels in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality dropped below 12% this week. As a precautionary measure, the municipality has urged residents to boil the water before using it. But many poor households say they can’t afford to, as the price […]

A shocking undercover investigation released today by the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International says it has exposed the hypocrisy that the trophy hunting industry uses to promote the killing of imperiled species. Trophy hunts were offered in at least 65 countries with the majority in South Africa, including captive lion […]

Hundreds of workers affiliated with the National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) downed tools on Monday across the country over a wage dispute, among other demands. This is despite the Department of Public Service and Administration obtaining a court interdict to prevent the strike on Saturday. On Monday, the department returned to court […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced changes to the National Executive during an address to the nation on Monday evening. In his address at the Union Buildings, the President said that the purpose of the changes is to ensure that the government is properly capacitated and directed to give effect to the commitments made in the State […]

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has had to spend millions – R120 929 367,85 to be exact – on fuel for diesel generators from 1 April 2022 to 16 February 2023. And that’s just one province. Gerrit Pretorius – DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Health – said in a statement on Monday: […]

Dawid Kahts, a musician based in Pretoria, South Africa, has written a hilarious job application letter to Eskom that has gone viral on social media. With relentless loadshedding, coffee being laced with cyanide, alleged high-level corruption at the power utility, and the resignation / ousting of former CEO André de Ruyter, Dawid told SAPeople he’s […]

South African agricultural exports were up for the third consecutive year in 2022, reflecting favourable production conditions and higher commodity prices. The export numbers for the full year have not yet been published. I have calculated the annual data for 2022 using quarterly trade export statistics published by Trade Map, a trade statistics portal developed […]

The US dollars hidden inside a couch on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm were never declared to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) upon entering South Africa, it has been revealed today. Despite claims that SARS requirements had been complied with, the revenue service today confirmed that “the record does not exist and/or cannot […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa will announce the new National Executive on Monday evening, Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya has announced. Magwenya said this on Sunday during an engagement with media addressing the public discussion, including media coverage, of President Ramaphosa’s schedule and health during the course of this past week. “Having exercised his constitutional prerogative, the President […]

Private game reserves are vital to conservation in South Africa and help attract tourists to the country, but those which weathered the Covid pandemic now face a perfect storm of rising cost pressures… with wildlife conservation facing dire consequences. Joe Cloete, the CEO at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, says the repercussions […]

On 1 March, South Africa’s new minimum hourly wage rate came into force, rising 9.6% from R23.19 to R25.42 per hour. This rise is above consumer price inflation (CPI) of 6.9%. But with food inflation rates of 13.4% in January 2023, which affects poor people disproportionately, labour activists at the Casual Workers’ Advice Office (CWAO) […]