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 […]

CAPE TOWN – Over 100 firefighters, two spotters, two choppers, two fixed wing air tractor bombers have been assisting at eight fires spread across the Western Cape today, according to Working on Fire (WoF). Huge clouds of smoke were seen over Cape Town as strong winds drove smoke and flames from Elgin Valley over the Sir […]

PRETORIA – The new year has barely begun, and party political squabbles have already started between the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). The latest squabble is over Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga’s recent trip to the City of Taipei, Taiwan. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says the visit to […]

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) launched a social media campaign for its supporters… but in a typical ‘plot twist’, the campaign has backfired and been ‘hijacked’ by its detractors. It started with the ANC inviting supporters to tweet what #UnityInAction means to them, referring to the theme of the ANC’s 105th Anniversary which will […]

Locals and tourists flocked to beaches around South Africa on New Year’s Day, 1 January 2017, to start the year with a fabulous day of family, friends and fun… Tragically, while most did enjoy the day – there were at least six fatal drownings reported in the West and Eastern Cape, including that of a […]

Margaret Thatcher wooed the South African government with promises of a “Marshall Plan for southern Africa” and helped “save” the independence of Namibia, according to newly released papers. The events they cover provide an insight into a March 1989 visit to Britain by the South African foreign minister, Pik Botha. The documents, from the prime […]

WILDERNESS, SOUTH AFRICA – The suspects who attacked a couple from Germany, who were on holiday in Wilderness, have reportedly been apprehended. Robert van Helsdingen, NSRI Wilderness station commander, said the couple from Heidelberg were robbed and assaulted on Sunday evening, and that it is believed the suspects have been apprehended. The 54-year-old German man suffered multiple […]

LOS ANGELES – LA residents woke up this morning to a slightly different version of their famed ‘HOLLYWOOD’ sign. Overnight it has been transformed to read ‘HOLLYWeeD’, perhaps by someone who smoked a little Hollyweed! At this stage, nobody has claimed responsibility (or is likely to!). According to reports in American media, it’s either a […]

LONDON — The countdown to a historic new £1 coin officially began today, with UK Chief Secretary David Gauke revealing it will enter circulation on 28 March 2017. Gauke stressed: “if you have a round one pound coin sitting at home or in your wallet, you need to spend it or return it to your bank before 15 October.” […]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis urged leaders to work together to fight the “plague of terrorism”, saying in his New Year’s address on Sunday that a bloodstain was covering the world as it started 2017. Speaking to some 50,000 people in St. Peter’s Square for his traditional noon address, Francis departed from his prepared […]