The surf was UP in Durban this week, with an unexpected East swell that caused havoc, closing beaches yesterday. Local photographers NIC ABERDEIN and CRAIG DOVE captured the action… (UPDATE 12 MARCH 2017: If you’re looking for video and photos of the freak tsunami-like waves that hit Durban beachfront on Sunday 12 March 2017, please click […]

The 2016 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) has been released today. It is the 10th release by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, and reveals overall significant improvement in governance over the past ten years across Africa, with unfortunately deterioration in Safety and Rule of Law holding progress back. Sadly South Africa is one of those that has deteriorated […]

Although South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has called for unity in addressing the current university fees crisis in South Africa, which has seen student protests raging on campuses around the country, his words appear to have distanced students even further… with many on Twitter calling his speech a “fail” and “empty”, displaying “no leadership”. Speaking […]

Thanks in part to the proliferation of fake South African passports and South Africans who perhaps arrive in New Zealand and never leave, New Zealand has become the latest country to make it a little more difficult for South Africans to visit their friends and family living in the country. As of 21 November this year […]

Conservationists have reacted with shock, outrage and bitter disappointment as it was announced in South Africa on Sunday evening that the CITES Committee has approved the ongoing trade in lion bone, setting “quotas” for the selling of bones of captive lions. Consumption of lion bone in Asia has increased over the past few years as […]

A “frightening hailstorm” hit parts of KwaZulu-Natal this weekend. JANINE BOUVERIE captured these photos in Harding… The storm swept through shredding banana palms and defoliating trees. In nearby Nkomazi the storm reportedly caused one fatality, as well as at least R40-million worth of damage to Shongwe Hospital.

Late Friday night (30th October), lion conservationists were left feeling angry and frustrated at the fate of the once mighty and proud African Lion, when news broke that Lions may NOT be listed as a CITES Appendix I Endangered Species (a listing which would further safeguard lions from extinction). To decide the fate of the […]

New evidence of Japan’s failure to control illegal ivory trading at a time when Africa’s elephants face extinction is revealed in a damning report released Wednesday*. The report from the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) reveals the identities of four Japanese ivory trading companies that offered to sell elephant tusks to undercover investigators […]

In South Africa, 210 people die from heart disease every DAY. A lack of awareness around cardiovascular disease means many people go undiagnosed and untreated until it is too late. Paediatric cardiologist and President of the South African Heart Association Dr Liesl Zühlke explained the challenges around cardiovascular diseases to The Conversation Africa. Why is […]

Nationwide scenes of violence and protests on university campuses have continued today in South Africa, with several witnesses reporting “police brutality” at Rhodes University, where rubber bullets were fired and 10 students were arrested at the Law Faculty. One social media user said: “I’m heart broken and speechless. Why are we shooting at children?” Another said: […]

The South African Broadcasting Corporation’s Hlaudi Motsoeneng has captured the country’s attention again with a new SABC appointment and quotes and claims that go beyond normal big or perhaps even pig headedness! But the country’s Public Protector and opposition party the Democratic Alliance (DA) will be investigating his appointment. Yesterday, after it was announced that Hlaudi – […]

A South African expat in New Zealand, Darius DeWet, has spoken today about the circumstances which led to authorities believing he was missing, and a national rescue effort being launched as coastguards searched the ocean for him… twice! Twenty-year-old Darius, who is currently grounded in Whakatane, told local journalists that he had had no idea […]

After last night’s ‘incident’ in Polokwane – in which multi-award winning musician, Black Coffee, allegedly slapped AKA’s manager – South African twitter users have come up with a bunch of #ThingsBlackCoffeeShouldSlap instead. The list reveals exactly what (and who) is annoying South Africans right now! Here are 20 of the Top Tweets: Blade Nzimande for thinking students don’t know what […]

Fans have been tweeting their support of international award-winning DJ Black Coffee after an ‘incident’ at the DSTV iRock Festival in Limpopo, South Africa, Saturday night… in which the Durban DJ and music producer was alleged to have “slapped” AKA’s manager. Watch video below. Fellow South African musician AKA was meant to have also performed at the event in Polokwane, […]

The late Mduduzi Tshabalala, known to the world as Mandoza, made an enormous civic contribution as a motivation force and nation building brand ambassador through his music, says Communications Minister Faith Muthambi. Thousands of mourners attended the Nkalakatha hitmaker’s funeral at Grace Bible Church in Pimville, Soweto, on Friday. The kwaito legend, who died on […]

Angelina Jolie’s lawyer has confirmed that the Hollywood actress has filed for divorce from fellow movie star Brad Pitt. Her lawyer, Robert Offer, said she filed for “dissolution of marriage” yesterday (Monday). He said the “decision was made for the health of the family” and that “she will not be commenting, and asks that the […]

PRETORIA – President Jacob Zuma has extended condolences to the family and friends of veteran journalist and former member of the SABC board, Allister Sparks. The award-winning columnist and author died of heart complications on Monday at Morningside MediClinic in Sandton, at the age of 83. “He made his mark in the fight for a […]

In the early hours of this morning a group of humanitarians placed 2,500 used lifejackets in Parliament Square, London… to highlight the plight of refugees. South African expat BEV TROMP captured these photos of the sombre scene. “Each lifejacket represents three human lives lost trying to escape war & find refuge,” says Bev. “Madiba would have had […]

Last year Nic Udal from KwaZulu-Natal married the love of his life, Dace. Six weeks ago she gave birth to their first child, Leo. They were based in Riga, Latvia, making their dreams come true, and looking forward to a life filled with love and adventure ahead of them. But last Friday evening it all changed… Nic was […]

The past fortnight in KwaZulu-Natal has been brutal, one of the worst since the rhino poaching war began. According to veterinarian Dr Dave Cooper, over 14 rhino deaths were discovered in protected areas of the province in the last two weeks. Writing on his Facebook page, ‘Wild Vet’, Dr Cooper – who has been protecting South […]

President Jacob Zuma – along with other South African politicians, celebrities and music fans – has extended his condolences today on the sad passing of Kwaito music legend Mduduzi Tshabalala, popularly known as Mandoza. Mandoza passed away today, at the age of 38, after a long battle with cancer which had reportedly spread to his […]

The All Blacks scored 26 points in the second half for a comprehensive 41-13 victory over South Africa in Christchurch on Saturday The victory all but secures New Zealand the Rugby Championship trophy with two rounds left in the tournament. This was South Africa’s best first-half performance of the year against a New Zealand side […]

Olympic swimmer Chad le Clos and his longtime coach, and family friend, Graham Hill have parted ways. In a statement released Thursday, Le Clos said: “Graham Hill has done a great job as my coach for 14 years. We have achieved a lot together at every level of the sport: The Olympics, The World Championships, […]

Judging by this video, the local community in Durban has had enough of crime! When two assailants tried to hijack a vehicle in Pine Street, Durban, yesterday afternoon, passersby – including women – rushed in to fight them off on behalf of the victim in a show of “mob justice”. The video from a surveillance camera was […]

A video showing close-up footage of a puffed-up Cape Rain Frog screaming in Tokai Forest in the Western Cape, South Africa, has gone viral… with the uploader of the video describing it as “hilarious footage” and many being very amused. But it turns out – according to experts – that the “bizarre shrieking noise” clearly shows […]