Despite fake stories started by a satirical news site, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is very much alive… and is today celebrating the launch of his new book – co-authored with the Dalai Lama – whilst recuperating from an infection in hospital. His daughter Mpho said the fake stories about the 84-year-old were “very disturbing and incredibly […]

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 […]

Controversial American anti-gay (and anti-just about everything else) Pastor Steven Anderson is to be deported from Botswana, according to the local government in a Twitter announcement Tuesday. Last week the pastor was banned from South Africa as SA’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) responded to a petition from the LGBTI community. The DHA consulted with […]

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has declared 27 December 2016 a new public holiday for the country! The President has granted the extra holiday in response to a request from the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA). FEDUSA pointed out that this year workers in the country would only have 11 public holidays, instead of the […]

The Department of Tourism says tourist arrivals in South Africa continues to grow unabated, with an increase particularly from Asia, France and the Middle East… whilst Americans make up the biggest number of tourists. The department on Monday said the current trend of tourist arrivals in the country has in the last few months shown consistent […]

South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Blade Nzimande has announced it is up to the country’s universities to “individually…determine the level of (fee) increase that their institutions require…”. But he cautioned that no university’s fees should be raised by more than 8% for 2017. This follows a blanket freeze on fees in […]

The bad news first… The trial of alleged #rhino #poaching #kingpin Dumisani Gwala was again postponed yesterday, this time to 21 October. Mr Ntshangase, the defense attorney representing Gwala’s co-accused 1 and 3, withdrew from the case. And then Gwala’s new defence attorney, Miss Linda, arrived 30 minutes late and requested a postponement because she […]

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 […]

Internationally renowned opera singer and Piet Retief native, Pretty Yende, has thanked her South African fans for all their support after her debut album ‘A Journey’ went straight to the top of the charts! Leading up the launch, Pretty enjoyed time back home in South Africa, and took to Facebook to thank her “South African fans & […]

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 […]

Just when we thought Winter was over and Spring had sprung, there’s been a last blast of snow received in South Africa over the last couple of days – in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Western Cape (Matroosberg and Swartberg) and Free State! Check out the photos on this page from Snow Report SA. A series of cold […]

South Africa’s Olympic bronze medallist, Henri Schoeman, raced to a career-first World Triathlon Series victory at the season’s Grand Final in Cozumel, Mexico on the weekend… in a dramatic finish that saw British Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee forsake his own chance at victory to help his younger brother Jonny – who was almost unconscious – across the […]

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 […]

Seven-time Paralympian Ernst van Dyk wrapped up Team South Africa’s 2016 Paralympics with a sixth-spot finish in the wheelchair marathon on Sunday. And fellow ‘veteran’ Fanie van der Merwe was honoured as the team’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony later in the day. Van Dyk 43, who on Thursday had won gold in the […]

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 […]

PRETORIA – Government says it has noted with concern media reports that protesting students at the University of Stellenbosch have been injured after clashing with security on campus (see below). Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) Acting Director-General Donald Liphoko on Friday echoed the Department of Higher Education and Training’s assurance that the matter of student […]

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 national rugby team might not have given much reason for celebration on Saturday but South Africa’s Paralympic team continued to rake in the medals on the other side of the world; and Dyan Buis broke a Paralympic record. While the Springboks went down to New Zealand, Buis and Hilton Langenhoven helped maintain Team SA’s […]

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 […]

Advocate Thuli Madonsela, the revered outgoing Public Protector of South Africa, has delegated the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Representative to attend the trial of Zululand’s alleged rhino poaching “kingpin” Dumisani Gwala, starting this Monday 19 September 2016. The trial was meant to start on 5 September, but was postponed because Gwala’s new defence attorney claimed she had […]

Charl du Toit became Team South Africa’s first double medallist of the Rio Paralympics on Friday. He added to his T37 gold medal in the 100m dash at the weekend by snatching another victor in the 400m event. That meant that the 23-year-old boosted the team’s tally to 14 medals with just Saturday and Sunday’s […]

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, […]

It was medals galore for Team South Africa on Thursday, as another four rained down in Rio on the country’s best day of the 2016 Paralympics. But there was also heartache for blind runner Louzanne Coetzee who came third… but was disqualified. Two golds, a silver and bronze joined the nine medals already harvested by the team […]

Team South Africa had their second double-gold day of the Rio Paralympics on Thursday as first Ernst van Dyk then Reinhardt Hamman ended top of their class! Van Dyk, who raced to fifth spot in the H5 time trial, pulled the rabbit out of the hat to win the men’s road race over 60 kilometres […]

South Africa may just have a potential F1 racing driver in our midst! At just 18-years-old South African racer, Ewan Taylor, pulled off an amazing feat this past weekend, grabbing third position in a Porsche Super Sports Cup race… after only half a day’s practice in a race car ever! Taylor is more renowned for his […]