The South African government has welcomed the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) revised upward growth outlook of South Africa from 2.8% to 3.1% for 2021. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry in the Presidency: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, said the upgrade affirmed the robustness of the country’s economy and positive economic interventions despite tough […]

There’s one day left for potential employees at the new Radisson RED hotel in Rosebank, Johannesburg, to apply for a casting call to fill 40 positions there. The hotel, set to open in June and the second in the specialty brand after the first one in Africa opened in Cape Town, is having what it […]

Africa should be able to have the capacity to manufacture and distribute its own biotechnology to develop vaccines as COVID-19 continues to sweep the globe, says South African Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize. Speaking during the webinar on World Health Day on Wednesday, Dr Mkhize said depending on other continents should be the thing of […]

Housing activists demand answers eight months after Sisulu’s budget vote announcement… By Liezl Human In July 2020 Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu announced during her budget vote speech that R600 million would be allocated towards rent relief for tenants facing “financial distress” due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Eight months later, no money or information about […]

South Africa has signed a deal for the procurement of 20 million doses of Pfizer vaccines. According to the announcement made by Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, payment processes are also underway to close the deal in the next few days. In addition, with the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) agreement also fully concluded, Mkhize believes […]

Tony Leon is the most prolific of all former leaders of the Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s main opposition party, as befits the chair of a communications company. In his latest and fifth book, Future Tense: Reflections on my Troubled Land, he comes across as articulate and persuasive. The Democratic Alliance has, ever since its […]

Norwegian Cruise Line today announced its highly-anticipated return to service, with new itineraries sailing Europe and The Caribbean beginning July 25, 2021. The Cruise Line will restart operations at a reduced capacity with Norwegian Jade, Joy and Gem as the first of its 17-ship fleet to welcome guests back on board. Travellers long-awaiting a return […]

The price of petrol in South Africa is set to increase by between R1 and 95 cents a litre as of tomorrow, Wednesday 7 April, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has announced. The department attributed the increase to various global events, including the Ever Given vessel which blocked the Suez Canal. “The […]

About 7,000 families are living on the railways in Langa, Cape Town. The Siyahlala informal settlement calls the tracks their home, and they blame the City of Cape Town municipality for not providing services. Meanwhile their shacks are blocking the trains. The South African government wants them to leave, but they have nowhere to go. […]

Here, once a month, the scent of milk tarts, cupcakes, or doughnuts can be discovered. Located about 30km from Cape Town city centre, Wolwerivier is a low-cost housing development for people who have been evicted, mostly from informal settlements, and have nowhere else to go. But within these dust-ridden streets, the home of Magdalene Minnaar […]

Much to the relief of many South Africans, SA is to remain on Alert Level 1 with just a few minor adjustments, including that alcohol may not be purchased off-site during the Easter Weekend. But South Africans can purchase and consume alcohol at restaurants, shebeens and bars. Given the relatively low transmission levels, President Cyril […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on developments in South Africa’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic at 7.30pm this evening, Tuesday 30 March 2021. The address follows meetings in recent days of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the President’s Coordinating Council (PCC) and Cabinet. “As South Africa rolls out its national COVID-19 vaccination […]

Nine years after Cape Town’s Labia Theatre refused to lease its premises for the showing of what it termed a “highly controversial, pure propaganda, Israel bashing” documentary, the independent cinema has been directed by the Equality Court to screen it. Western Cape Judge Andre Le Grange has ruled that the Labia had not wanted to […]

The DA will write to President Cyril Ramaphosa to request an urgent Special Investigating Unit (SIU) probe into alleged Covid-19 corruption at the National Arts Council (NAC) regarding the distribution of aid for individuals and companies during the pandemic. There have been numerous complaints and allegations regarding the NAC’s conduct during the past year, which […]

Since Thursday, over 130 workers have been on strike at a Spar distribution centre in Perseverance, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). They are demanding an 8.1% pay rise; the employer is offering 3%…. By Joseph Chirume 134 workers are on a protected strike at a Spar distribution centre in Gqeberha. Workers demanded an 8.1% increase while the […]

South Africa has only administered 182 983 doses of Covid-19 vaccine, meaning we are hopelessly missing even our unambitious target of vaccinating 1 million healthcare workers by the end of March. By now we should have vaccinated 710 000, meaning we’re missing our unambitious target by 75%… writes John Steenhuisen MP – DA Federal Leader. […]

AfriForum has today filed a formal application to the Zondo Commission on State Capture in terms of which a ruling is requested to subpoena President Cyril Ramaphosa to appear before the commission. AfriForum said in a statement that it is specifically asking that the South African president be questioned about the ANC’s cadre deployment policy, […]

As South Africans set off for holiday destinations in Mpumalanga over the long weekend, the Tshwane Metro Police Department warned motorists travelling along the N4 between Pretoria and Emalahleni, near Bronkhorstspruit, to be aware of armed gangs placing spikes and rocks on the highway, forcing cars to stop. Rob You Deaf  Tonight – Sunday 21 […]

In December 2020, the Democratic Alliance (DA) revealed damning evidence related to a “Mystery Project” in Louis Trichardt to which South Africa’s National Lotteries Commission (NLC) had given R5.5 million. Things just got a little murkier, according to the DA. “We discovered that Uprising Youth Development (UYD), the recipient of this funding, was allegedly aligned […]

The beautiful stone pub has underground passages where mine workers used to train… by Kimberly Mutandiro Albert and Hettie Rogers run and live at the historic Grutte Bush Pub, which has been going for about 20 years, but now they face eviction. The pub is on Marievale military base land and the army wants them […]

Stage 2 load shedding in South Africa is set to continue until 5am on Wednesday, Eskom has announced. However many Cape Town residents are doing it a little easier as the City of Cape Town has pledged to “protect its customers as far as possible”. Cape Town is implementing Stage 1 in many areas of […]

South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe is set to become the eighth president of CAF – the Confederation of African Football – since 1957. He’ll take over from Ahmad Ahmad after a two year ban was placed on Ahmad by FIFA – Federation Internationale de Football Association, world football’s governing body. Motsepe must work with […]

Truffles are one of the most expensive foods on earth. The international price is a staggering R30,000 a kilogram… and here in South Africa we have only a handful of farmers who grow them. This Sunday, Carte Blanche meets one of the pioneers in SA, as well as a farmer breaking all the conventional rules! […]

Perhaps it is fitting that the portraits of the “Big 5” animals are featured on South Africa’s banknotes because there is a price on their heads, as well as a price on their severed tails, feet, horns, and other dismembered body parts… writes Ingrid Newkirk, president and founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of […]

British Airways (operated by Comair in South Africa) has announced the reopening of bookings for flights between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls for travel starting on 13 May 2021. This is fantastic news for travellers, with the Victoria Falls currently at its fullest in years, living up to its nickname Mosi-oa-Tunya (which means ‘The smoke that […]