South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has wished a Happy Diwali to all. In a message published on The Presidency website this morning, Zuma says: “We would like to extend good wishes to the Hindu, Tamil, Gujerati and other communities who celebrate Diwali or Deepavali, as it is also known. “Diwali honours the triumph of light over […]

As problems with the South African postal system drag on, some expats are getting frantic about how to send gifts and cards to family and friends in South Africa for Christmas. And vice versa. Lindsey Groom, in the Eastern Cape, said she’s “desperate” to get some gifts to Dubai. “I also have two paid-up overseas […]

There remain no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease in South Africa or any of its neighbouring countries, and the country is fully prepared for any outbreak, should it occur. The disease remains largely confined to the small West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, with Liberia the hardest hit. Globally, […]

South Africa’s beachside resort Durban experienced rough sea conditions over the last couple of days which truly rocked the ‘boat’ and left much of the beachfront in chaos. Naina Rajput captured these photographs (and the video below) this morning in Durban as the high tide came in. The beachfront was left devastated with lots of “mopping […]

A UK couple who fell in love with South Africa during a holiday here last year, have captured the scene of an eagle with its prey in the Kruger National Park…and would appreciate it if a wildlife expert could identify the prey for them. “We saw this large eagle drop from the sky ahead of us,” […]

A very cool art installation has been erected on the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town. It’s called Rhinosaur, and when you first see it you won’t know why.  Bev Tromp,  a South African expat who recently holidayed in Cape Town from her new base in the UK, took these photos and said, “At first it looks like a […]

As the developers of the super-cool Maboneng Precinct in Johannesburg, led by Jonathan Liebmann, take hold of Durban and transform the Rivertown district into a similar wonderland of galleries, restaurants and boutiques…it’s worth noting that Durban already has some pretty cool places, with three restaurants having been launched in the last month or so that are sure […]

A week ago today a fire spread through the Kya Sands Settlement in Johannesburg, destroying 500 shacks and leaving approximately 2,000 people homeless. Photojournalist Brett Field visited the site a couple of days later, once the rest of the press had packed up and left, and what he found was the true story of Africa that […]

Fashion designer, pop star, wife of the world’s most famous football player – and now UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador – Victoria Beckham has pledged to help the “wonderful” young women  in Soweto and to raise awareness about the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV. The former Spice Girl was moved to make the announcement during her […]

A South African-born Australian teenager, Troye Sivan, has been named as one of the 25 most influential teens in the world! The 19-year-old internet sensation, who lives in Perth when he’s not travelling the world, was listed on Time Magazine’s annual list of the 25 Most Influential Teens on the planet…alongside such notables as Pakistani youth activist Malala […]

One of the most popular videos on Facebook at the moment features a brilliant water park in South Africa, although most people don’t realise it’s in SA. They think it’s in Wisconsin, or Tennessee or even Brazil, maybe Sweden. The video, which has been shared by over a quarter of a million Facebook users in the […]

A set of five limited-edition lithograph prints of Robben Island prison scenes painted by South African statesman Nelson Mandela over 13 years ago fetched £13 500 – over R240 000 – at Bellmans Auctioneers in West Sussex, England, on Wednesday 8 October. Mandela, who died last year at the age of 95, spent 18 of […]

The Oscar Pistorius trial resumed this week. Watch live, or follow Suzanne Brenner’s tweets (see below for both), as Judge Masipa sentences the athlete in a trial which has captivated the nation, and much of the world, for the past seven months. UPDATED Tuesday 21 October 2014: Video below. Pistorius, known also as the Blade Runner (because […]

Saxby Superspar staff, with the help of South African singer Kevin Leo, surprised shoppers in Centurion last weekend with a Flash Mob performance of “Shosholoza” (watch video below). Kevin wrote the following message on Twitter and Facebook last Saturday (October 4, 2014): “Kom gou oor na Centurion Saxby Spar toe. Gaan 11:00 saam met die […]

Congratulations to South African comedian Trevor Noah who has just been appointed as one of the newest members of Comedy Central’s ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’, in the USA. Trevor posted the following message for his fans on Facebook a couple of hours ago: “Thank you so much for all your love and support. Being a […]

South African athlete Themba Madima is coming second in an international Paco Rabanne Invictus competition…and needs us to vote for him every day for the next four days to help push him into first place! If he wins, a foundation for underprivileged communities in South Africa will benefit. The winner of the Invictus Award, which is in its second […]

Two of the most iconic theaters in New York City are celebrating the 20th anniversary of apartheid’s demise and Nelson Mandela’s inauguration by showcasing one of the country’s most explosive new exports, culture. Singers and artists are gracing events backed by Carnegie Hall and Harlem’s famed Apollo Theater starting this week and running through November. The […]

The #ProteaFire campaign was launched tonight with a moving TV commercial that’s guaranteed to give goosebumps to most South African cricket fans. (See below.) After the live television broadcast, South African cricketer Lonwabo Tsotsobe tweeted a photo with the proud message “We are South Africa, we represent each and every individual in SA! We play fr […]

There was barely a dry eye at Ellis Park Stadium last Saturday (4 October) when former Springbok rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen walked out on to the field at half-time. If you missed it, the video is below… Last year, Joost – who was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in 2011 – told BBC […]

As dignitaries, celebrities and fans around the world wish Archbishop Tutu a happy 83rd birthday today, one of the most fitting tributes comes from a fellow South African, Gauteng businessman Tshepo Motsitsi who published the following message on Facebook. It is republished here with his kind permission. Happy Birthday Desmond Mpilo Tutu – by Tshepo […]

Tomorrow marks the one-year anniversary since Mark B*’s son was taken from him by his wife in a kidnapping situation which has become increasingly common for South Africans who live abroad, when one parent wishes to return to SA…and which is part of the motivation by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to implement stricter border controls […]

Photographer Nic Aberdein captured these awesome photos during the recent swell in Durban. Experienced local big wave charger Ricky Basnett welcomed the conditions… Grant Twiggy Baker cashed in on every surfer’s perfect dream… Durban charger Murray Holland was on a nugget! Morning view of another perfect day in Surf city… Wave selection was vital! Not all the […]

Joy Activist and Laughter Coach, Sue Jameson, has just laughed her way into first place – in an international competition – with her brilliant proposal that will help turn Joburg, the so-called Unfriendliest city in the world, into JoyBurg, the city of Joy. Sue had been saddened to read that Joburg  had been named as the unfriendliest […]

The Oscar Pistorius trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013 got underway on March 3 this year. Shocked supporters of the double-amputee Paralympic and Olympic sprinter woke up to the news on February 14 last year that Oscar had killed Reeva in the mistaken belief she was an intruder. As […]

There’s a spot about 1 km off of Durban called the Mound. When conditions are just right the wave that breaks there rolls all the way to the coast. Wayne Ashford and Herman Chalupsky caught this rare and awesome wave on Thursday on a double surfski. And, luckily for the rest of us, an onboard […]