Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula is demanding an apology and R2 million from GroundUp’s reporters Raymond Joseph and Masego Mafata and from the Daily Maverick. This follows the publication last Monday of our (GroundUp’s) article The minister, the Lottery boss and the luxury R5.6 million home by the Daily Maverick. The letter of demand from Mbalula’s […]

While initial laboratory experiments in South Africa have shown that the Omicron variant can “partially evade” protection from the Pfizer vaccine, the news is still better than expected and more promising than many headlines that went out on Tuesday night around the world. Alex Sigal, a professor at the Africa Health Research Institute, announced the […]

The ANC failed to secure the mandatory two-thirds majority required by the Constitution to pass the 18th Constitution Amendment Bill in the National Assembly today, Tuesday 7 December. Had it passed, it would have resulted in the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution to allow for expropriation of land without compensation. Dr Annelie Lotriet […]

For anybody who has ever met Jack Umba, you’ll know he’s the best barista ever – he’s hard-working, kind-hearted and whips up the best coffees around town, Cape Town. But like many South Africans, it’s been a tough couple of years… however, instead of giving up, Jack is following his dreams to get his coffees […]

Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has paid tribute to the late former struggle veteran, Ebrahim Ebrahim. “It is with a very heart that I learned of Ebrahim Ebrahim’s passing,” the Minister tweeted on Monday. Sisulu described the former Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, affectionately known as Ebie, as a committed member of the African […]

Sjoe, a heartwarming story from Utrecht in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, is being shared on social media today. The story was posted by Nico Moolman on Monday afternoon, after his son – also named Nico – had found a distressed animal on Sunday. Nico Senior said: “Yesterday my son Nico found an old steenbokkie tangled […]

Netflix has parted the waves to reveal the trailer for Cape Town-based Triggerfish’s third animated feature, called ‘Seal Team’. This fun feature film will be available to stream from 31st December 2021. Seal Team is the story of Quinn, a seal who spends his days relaxing in the sun, splashing in the beautiful waters off […]

The family of  Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi have confirmed that the 93-year-old traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch has tested positive once again to Covid-19, but have expressed their relief that he is double vaccinated and “relatively asymptomatic”. The family of the Founder and President Emeritus of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), and Inkosi of […]

The South African Health Department has withdrawn access to EVDS data since October… By James Stent The National Department of Health has blocked access to data from the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) to researchers from the South African Medical Research Council (MRC), the Western Cape health department, and university-affiliated pandemic research groups. This means […]

Round two in the fight against Shell’s Seismic survey in the ocean off the Wild Coast is set to be heard on 14 December when local community groups will argue that it is not only their livelihoods at stake but, through their ancestors who “reside” at sea, their relationships with God. “The Wild Coast is […]

Bravo to ‘Des and Dawn’ – with the booklaunch of their memoir in Johannesburg on Sunday morning… writes Georg Knoke. I say Des and Dawn – because they were inseparable, as we all know! Despite Dawn Avril Lindberg passing away, literally a year ago to this date (Dawn passed away on 7 December), they wrote this […]

PORT EDWARD, South Africa (Reuters) – South Africans took to their beaches around the country on Sunday to protest against plans by Anglo-Dutch multinational oil and gas company Shell to do seismic oil exploration which conservationists say will threaten marine wildlife such as whales, dolphins, seals, turtles and penguins on the pristine coastal stretch of […]

The Gauteng Health Department in South Africa has spent over R1-million – R1,064,420 to be exact – on e-tolls for its vehicles since January last year, according to the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom. Bloom was given the information by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in a written reply to Bloom’s questions […]

The fourth wave has sparked an increase in hospital admissions in children under the age of five, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). In a briefing led by Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, the NICD’s Dr Waasila Jassat said there has been a rise in children who are in hospital for COVID-19 […]

Two hippos at a zoo in Belgium have tested positive for Covid-19. Fortunately the animals appear to have only a mild form of the illness. Antwerp Zoo said on Facebook: “Our hippos Hermien and Imani have tested positive for COVID-19.” The zoo said that despite the positive test, the animals – aged 41 (Hermien) and […]

The impressive JC Pretorius scored the winning try for the Springbok Sevens to defeat Australia 10-7 in a thrilling World Rugby Sevens Series final in Dubai on Saturday evening. This hard-fought win means a second Emirates Dubai 7s tournament tournament victory in as many weeks for the Blitzboks at their favourite desert hunting ground, where […]

As if travel bans weren’t bad enough, many South African families have had their holiday plans around the country ruined by last week’s petrol price hike. Popular Carte Blanche presenter Derek Watts says: “The inland price of petrol tipped over the R20-a-litre-barrier and, earlier this week, there were queues at the filling stations. We set out to find out how […]

A South African woman’s beautiful view from her outdoor kitchen is inspiring people across the world. But it’s not just Heather Leigh Wagner’s lovely Limpopo view that’s made over 71,000 people (and counting!) ‘like’ her post. It’s her story of overcoming tragedy and how the view literally saved her life that has moved over 9,000 […]

UK-based Africans are calling for a citizens gathering outside the South African High Commission in Trafalgar Square this Sunday 5 December. All are welcome to join and show solidarity against “the harsh punishment of Africans” between 12:00 – 14:00. The 3 core issues to be highlighted at the #stoppunishingafrica demonstration are: 1. Shell’s seismic exploration […]

The Boksburg SPCA has reported the good news that hero dog Kei, who suffered horrific injuries when she fought off an armed intruder to protect her owners two months ago, is healing well and back home with her human family in time for Christmas. The Boksburg SPCA posted an update this week, saying: “And just […]

SOUTH AFRICA (Reuters) – A South African high court, in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, on Friday struck down an urgent application brought by environmentalists to stop oil major Royal Dutch Shell starting seismic surveys to explore for petroleum systems off the eastern seaboard’s popular Wild Coast. The applicants, which included Greenpeace Africa and fishermen, […]

Those who have had COVID-19 may be reinfected more easily with the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, currently spreading across the world, according to preliminary analysis by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa. Scientists are noting a high rate of reinfections during the current resurgence, compared to the previous waves, Professor Anne […]

The furore over Miss South Africa’s decision to compete in Israel: here’s a feminist critique… By Amanda Gouws, Stellenbosch University The participation of Miss South Africa 2021, Lalela Mswane, in the Miss Universe competition in Israel on 12 December has created a furore. Some South Africans support her participation while others have called for her […]

British tourists reacted with fury on Thursday as they boarded the first British Airways (BA) flight home from Cape Town since Boris Johnson cancelled all flights back to the UK from South Africa last Friday. They were further angered by the disruption and chaos brought to their holidays when BA sent out a text late […]

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch health authorities called for pre-flight COVID-19 tests regardless of vaccination status for travel from outside the European Union, revealing that about 90% of the 62 people who tested positive on two flights from South Africa on Nov. 26 had been vaccinated…. By Toby Sterling. Under rules in place at the time, […]