Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip Natasha Mazzone has published a list that should be the South African Government’s New Year’s resolutions. Hopefully someone in power will pick up the list and tick their way through it! Mazzone said: “Usually a new year starts with lots of excitement, plans, and projections but Covid-19 and the ensuing […]

The New Year has ushered in more rainfall for the summer season in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, leading to the wonderful sight of Inanda Dam, near Hillcrest, overflowing for the first time in years. Durban photographer Peter de Groot was there this morning, less than an hour from Durban, to capture these stunning photos. He said […]

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Ntuli sadly passed away on Saturday. KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala confirmed with “deep shock and sadness” that Ntuli died late on Saturday afternoon in a Durban hospital, due to Covid-19 related complications. Tributes have poured in, with almost everyone describing Ntuli – who was known affectionately […]

South African expat Marnus Labuschagne is being hailed a legend in the making for his consistent great performance for Australia’s national cricket team, after striking a century in the opening day of the fourth test between Australia and India at the famous Gabba, the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Compliments for the South African-born player included “he’s […]

The Cape High Court in South Africa has set four provisional liquidators the task of tracking down assets that can still be found after the mammoth Mirror Trading International (MTI) shut down in December. The shut down came about after numerous investors were unable to withdraw their money. Smoke and Mirror Trading International (MTI) Marketed […]

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape is seeking assistance from the public in finding the relatives of a young baby boy who was abandoned in an ‘open space’ in Mthatha on 8 January. Mthatha police say they are trying to locate the mother, father or any other relatives of the baby. […]

South Africa has an estimated population approaching 60 million. To achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, the government recently set the ambitious goal of vaccinating 67% of the population – roughly 40 million people. According to the outline of this plan, this would be achieved within 2021. But is this ambitious target even feasible? In my […]

DJ Fresh (48) and DJ Euphonik (37) have been taken off the air at music radio station 947, as they face rape allegations dating back to 2011. Update 10/02/21: DJ Fresh and DJ Euphonik have parted ways with 947. Geraint Crwys-Williams, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Primedia Broadcasting, announced on Saturday: “947 and Primedia Broadcasting […]

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and MEC for Social Development Sharna Fernandez have called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in the crisis at SASSA involving lapsed disability grants. The Western Cape Premier and the MEC for Social Development have called on the President to intervene in the crisis at SASSA involving lapsed disability grants. […]

The father who was arrested in South Africa for breaking curfew to buy formula milk for his newborn baby will appear at a press conference on Monday. The media conference will be hosted by AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit to address the South African police’s recent “abuse of power” following the arrest of the dad, less […]

Armed men have killed at least six rangers and wounded several others in an ambush in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Virunga national park. This park is a sanctuary for endangered mountain gorillas. Staff working in the park have often come under attack. Judith Verweijen and Esther Marijnen – experts on armed mobilisation and […]

The African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) has confirmed the acquisition of provisional 270 million vaccine doses for African countries, with at least 50 million being available for the crucial period of April to June 2021. The 10-member AVATT, which was established by African Union Chair, President Cyril Ramaphosa in August, on Thursday confirmed this […]

The Department of Basic Education has made the decision to delay the opening of schools by two weeks, announced Dr Reginah Mhaule, Deputy Minister of Basic Education, in a media briefing on 15 January. This decision includes both public and private schools, including those private schools that have already opened. School management teams (SMT’s) will […]

Minister of Small Business Development, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, says she is “appalled” at the “misinformation peddled” by the Democratic Alliance (DA) about the expenditure of the small business COVID-19 relief funds. The DA recently issued a statement claiming the Department of Small Business Development has only allocated 8% of the funds meant as COVID-19 relief for […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has made four senior appointments in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). “These appointments are essential for the efficient functioning and rebuilding of the NPA as part of the fight against serious crime, including sexual and gender-based crimes and corruption, and as a contribution to deepening the capability of the state,” the Presidency […]

South Africa had a record 10,907 excess deaths from natural causes in the week of 30 December to 5 January, according to the 11 January mortality surveillance report from the Burden of Disease Research Unit at the South African Medical Research Council. In total, 20,063 people died in one week. The latest mortality surveillance report […]

JOHANNESBURG – Following the announcement today that Emirates will be temporarily suspending flights to and from South Africa from Saturday – 16 January – until and including 28 January 2021, the Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) South Africa has issued a statement to reassure its stranded Emirates customers that Flight Centre will get them home. […]

South Africa’s Information Regulator met Facebook South Africa on Wednesday to discuss the social media company’s revised WhatsApp privacy policy. WhatsApp’s new private policy sparked a global outcry – with SA expat billionaire (and richest man in the world) Elon Musk suggesting a change to Signal – after the Facebook-owned messaging app alerted its 2 […]

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, says she is greatly saddened to learn about Professor Mohammad Karaan’s passing. Karaan was a former Dean of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) and a champion of agriculture and rural development. The department has described the Professor as a giant in South Africa’s […]

AfriForum has instructed its legal team to consider possible legal action after the banning in South Africa of the use of controversial Ivermectin that was developed for human consumption as treatment against COVID-19. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) banned the medication which is currently only available in South Africa as a livestock […]

As Eskom announced its plan this morning to implement Stage 2 loadshedding for the next few days – from noon today, Thursday 14 January, until 23h00 on Sunday (17 Jan), a collective ‘ARGH’ could almost be heard around the country from a nation of usually good-humoured, mainly optimistic folk, who are simply fatigued with Covid […]

A study published in the journal Nature by Serina Chang and her colleagues in November 2020 used American cell phone data to identify the places where people are most likely to contract SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Using anonymised cell phone application location data from the SafeGraph Covid-19 Data Consortium, mobility data from Google and infection data from The New York […]

COVID-19 is showing no signs of slowing down in South Africa, with the death toll now exceeding 35 000.   The Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, reported a new record for most COVID-19 deaths in a single day since the outbreak. This after 806 people lost their lives to the respiratory disease on Wednesday. According to the […]

The Harare Magistrates Court has dismissed a bid by journalist Hopewell Chin’ono to have a charge against him of “spreading falsehoods” declared invalid. The Harare Magistrates Court has upheld charges of “spreading falsehoods” against an award-winning Zimbabwean journalist. Hopewell Chin’ono was arrested on Friday and remains in custody. This week Chin’ono tried to challenge the […]

COVID-19 continues to rise in South Africa, with 13 105 new cases, representing a 26% positivity rate. Meanwhile, 755 more people died due to COVID-19 related complications on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 34 334 to date. Gauteng, which has become SA’s Coronavirus Epicentre once again, recorded the highest number of Covid deaths in […]