While the ANC were celebrating their 105th birthday down the road at Orlando Stadium in Soweto this morning, the Mayor of Johannesburg – Herman Mashaba from the DA – spent his Sunday morning addressing concerned residents gathered outside an electricity substation in Roosevelt Park. Power had been off since Saturday midnight, as well as for several […]

Heavy rains fell in Gauteng, North West and Mpumulanga provinces in South Africa yesterday bringing a welcome inflow of enough water to fill approximately 22,000 Olympic-sized pools to the Vaal Dam. Gauteng Weather retweeted a message saying the Vaal Dam has received an “approximate inflow of 640 cumecs over past 24hrs” which “is equivalent to 22,000 Olympic swimming […]

Crowds of ANC supporters reportedly forced their way into hospitality suites at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, South Africa, where the ANC is holding its 105th birthday celebrations. The stadium appears to be genuinely packed (not just visual effects!) and moments before there had been concerns that there wasn’t enough space for everyone. Some ANC supporters – […]

Despite the rain, and contrary to critics’ predictions, and EFF leader Julius Malema’s call to not fill the stadium for the ANC’s 105th birthday celebrations today – the Orlando Stadium in Soweto is pretty full! In fact the atmosphere is electric and the stadium so packed that people are being allowed to occupy the pitch area […]

MPUMALANGA – The Sabie River near Skukuza in the Kruger National Park has been overflowing today after a heavy downpour of much prayed-for rain. ASHLEIGH ROBERTSON filmed the video footage below of the overflowing river, as well as the Skukuza camp site which was flooded. Ashleigh, from Hilton in KZN, filmed the overseas tourists’ tents […]

MPUMALANGA – A brave fire fighter who had already saved one life, died this morning in Kwaggafontein whilst trying to save the life of another, during the floods in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Updated: 20h00, 7 Jan 2017 The fireman’s name has not yet been disclosed. The courageous firefighter – from Thembisile Hani – had already rescued the […]

It looks like the weather may rain on the ANC’s parade again this weekend as the governing party celebrate its 105th birthday. Last year rain poured down during the 104 birthday celebrations, and just last month strong winds forced the ANC’s Reconciliation Day celebrations to be called off, as the North West venue’s tent was raised […]

A South African-built Hilux came second yesterday, just 44 seconds behind the winner, in Stage Five of the Dakar… currently taking place in South America. Spanish rally racer Nani Roma was in the driver’s seat, with Spanish co-driver Haro Bravo Alex, for what is touted as the toughest and greatest rally in the world, pitting about […]

South Africa’s deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed his availability to contest the presidency of the governing ANC at its 54th national conference later this year. He has already secured the endorsement of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (Cosatu). He failed in his bid to lead the party once before. Twenty years ago […]

Michelle Obama’s final speech as the United States’ First Lady has made headlines around the world for its power-packed words of inspiration about what got her and President Barack Obama through their years in the White House, and through their lives: the power of hope. It’s a speech that is as relevant to South Africans as […]

Bezweni Lodge has posted photos today showing the extensive damage the beautiful resort suffered on Tuesday, 3 January 2017, as fires – fuelled by extremely strong winds – raged through Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset West, in South Africa. On Tuesday, Lodge manager Peter Weideman had posted a message on Facebook saying simply: “To all our Bezweni Lodge […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) claims that a close analysis of the 2016 matric results reveals a VERY high ‘drop-out rate’, leading to speculation that some students may have been ‘culled’ to inflate the matric pass rate. According to the Department of Basic Education’s figures, 1 100 877 learners enrolled for Grade 10 in 2014, but only 610 178 […]

In a country in which wine making is still predominantly a white, largely male profession, South Africa’s first black woman winemaker, Ntsiki Biyela, is a pioneer: her latest achievement, the creation of her own brand, Aslina. Biyela is no novice to wine making, having brought accolades to red wine producer Stellekaya for the past 13 […]

LONDON (Reuters) – Moody’s is likely to make key rating calls on Britain, China and South Africa among others this year as rising political risk and debt levels push the number of countries on a downgrade warning back to a record high. From Europe’s Brexit strains and looming elections to the battles of China, South […]

An emotional Kyle Abbott confirmed in a press conference Thursday that he has committed to take up a Kolpak contract in Hampshire at the start of the forthcoming England season. After much media speculation, Abbott confirmed he had signed the deal five months ago and had wanted to make the announcement at the end of this Test […]

KAGISO RABADA took 4/33 in 7 overs in his opening spell of the day to make short work of Sri Lankan resistance on the fourth morning of the second Sunfoil Test match at PPC Newlands on Thursday. His four wickets included the last three specialist Sri Lankan batsmen, one of whom, Angelo Mathews, made the […]

As new and ongoing fires continued to burn late Wednesday night in the Western Cape, Vergelegen Wines has stressed that it’s business as usual at the prestigious Estate which attracts around 100,000 visitors annually, half of whom are overseas tourists. Reports had indicated that Vergelegen suffered devastating damage in the Somerset West fire – over 40% of […]

MIDRAND – The Class of 2016 has achieved an overall national pass rate of 76.2% in the 2016 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examinations, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said on Wednesday, ahead of the release of matric results. The Free State was the only province that broke the 90% threshold, with 93.2% pass rate. In second […]

PENNINGTON, KZN – Former South African golf champion Wayne Westner has died in tragic circumstances, after a ‘hostage drama’ at his home in Pennington on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. South African Police Services (SAPS) confirmed that the sportsman died on Wednesday morning by a gunshot wound to the right side of his head. According to local reports, the 55-year-old […]

Congratulations to Proteas wicket keeper Quinton de Kock for breaking the record for the fewest innings taken by a keeper batsman to reach 1,000 Test runs… which he accomplished in Cape Town, South Africa, yesterday. He reached the mark during his knock of 101 on Tuesday, on day two of the Test against Sri Lanka. […]

South Africans in the Western Cape have outdone themselves! After an INCREDIBLE outpouring of kindness in response to a request from firefighters for water and non-perishable food, so many donations have been received that no more drop-offs are required today for the #Helderberg fire! Thank you soooo much SA! See Video Update below of a young […]

Areas of Somerset West in South Africa were evacuated last night (03/01/17) as firefighters battled to contain a fire in the Western Cape region that had started earlier in the afternoon. JUSTIN SULLIVAN captured the incredible photos on this page. At least eight fires spread through the Western Cape yesterday, as they were fanned by strong […]

Proteas seamer, Vernon Philander insisted that results were all that mattered after he starred with the ball to leave Sri Lanka on the ropes after two days of the second Sunfoil Test at PPC Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday. The 31-year-old took 4/27 to move past 150 Test wickets in his 39th match for […]

Residents are currently being evacuated from farms and homes in areas of Somerset West in South Africa, and help is urgently needed – especially bakkies and horseboxes. An alarm about the #Helderberg fire being out of control has been posted on social media, with calls for bakkies needed to help with evacuation in Sir Lowry’s […]

Beautiful Bezweni Lodge in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Somerset West, was devastatingly burnt this afternoon… as fires raged across the region in at least eight different locations. Conditions were made worse by particularly strong winds blowing Tuesday in the Western Cape. This evening Bezweni Lodge updated its Facebook status to “feeling sad”. A message from the Lodge said […]