JOHANNESBURG – Ratings agency Fitch downgraded the outlook for South Africa’s sub-investment credit rating on Friday, citing fiscal pressures including increased support for struggling state firms such as the power utility Eskom. South Africa’s public finances are under huge strain as economic growth has proved weaker than expected while a handful of state companies have […]

Watch the Johnny Clegg memorial service – being held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg – live below. (Update: the service is now over but you can still watch it below. It’s very moving…) Dr John Kani opened the proceedings. He said: “Today we pay tribute to an incredible human being, a cultural reservoir, […]

Records have been broken across Europe as a heatwave grips the continent again… caused by a cauldron of hot air from Africa’s Sahara desert being drawn northwards by high pressure. South Africans living abroad – who are used to the humidity in Durban and the hot, hot Karoo – shared their experiences with SAPeople today […]

Rating agency Moody’s said the South African government’s proposal to provide additional financial support to struggling state-run power firm Eskom was “credit negative” for the sovereign as it was a further drain on fiscal resources. Eskom, which supplies more than 90% of South Africa‘s power but had to implement power cuts earlier this year, is grappling with high debt […]

The KwaZulu-Natal former realtor Penny Sparrow – who made world headlines and set South Africans’ rainbow nation dreams back a step when she posted a racist remark on Facebook in January 2016 – has died. Her family said in a statement on Thursday morning: “The family of Penny Sparrow wishes to inform the media that […]

Two years ago it seemed rain would never return to Cape Town. Now it doesn’t seem like it will stop. For residents of Qandu-qandu the end of the drought is certainly not all good news. They thought they were safe from flooding but then the canal behind their shacks overflowed, flooding their homes. 71-year-old Thandiwe […]

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has confirmed that an “intense cold front” is still on track to make landfall in South Africa on Tuesday (23 July 2019), bringing with it possible floods, snow and monster waves. Severe weather alerts have been issued for the Western Cape and western parts of the Northern Cape. Advisories […]

CAPE TOWN  – Sadly South African Captain Siya Kolisi will not be able to take part in the remaining matches of the 2019 Rugby Championship, due to an injury sustained in May. He has been left out of the squad for the matches in New Zealand and Argentina. While his team-mates arrived in New Zealand […]

The whereabouts of a South African man, aged 28, are unclear after he went missing in Vietnam over two weeks ago. Mushfiq Daniels (28) is the second South African to have gone missing in the last few months in Ho Chi Minh City after John Bothma (23) went missing in May. Daniels, who moved to […]

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) says it is keeping an eye on a “strong cold front” approaching the western parts of South Africa. “This cold front is expected to make landfall during Tuesday (23 July 2019) with heavy rain, snow, and strong winds,” SAWS announced at lunch time on Saturday. The satellite image above […]

A wild fire that burned across parts of iSimangaliso Wetland Park in uMkhuze, KwaZulu-Natal, last night – threatening the world heritage site – is now “back under control” thanks to brave firefighters, officials in South Africa confirmed this morning. Last night iSimangaliso posted frightening photos of the “unplanned bush fire”, asking its followers to “spare […]

JOHANNESBURG – A former state pathologist was today sentenced to 10 years in jail for stealing body parts that included the brain, tongue, lungs and larynx of a woman who died in a car crash. James Mwesigwa was yesterday found guilty in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court, according to a statement by the Democratic Alliance, […]

The South African Police Service (SAPS) secured the successful arrest of five suspects in the murder of an elderly couple in Boshof farm in the Free State last Friday. SAPS said the arrests – in Bloemfontein and Dealesville – followed a 72-hour joint lockdown between themselves and the Hawks in the Free State. It was […]

Following the latest spate of murders on the notorious Cape Flats in the Cape Town, the South African government has decided to send in the army. The move has been welcomed by many who want to see an end to the rampant violence, crime and gangsterism in the province. Cape Town is ranked among the […]

After reporting on Johnny Clegg’s death on Tuesday 16 July, after a 4-year long, brave battle with pancreatic cancer, we couldn’t write or post anything yesterday. We were just too heartbroken. Like many journalists I had met Johnny (66) a few times, spent time at his home in Joburg and met his lovely wife Jenny, […]

CAPE TOWN – The publicity for the world-famous Mount Nelson hotel – “an oasis of calm within Cape Town’s beating heart” – must have seemed like a cruel joke yesterday after a group of men stormed the lobby and robbed staff and holiday guests, and broke jewellery displays to steal the contents. In an emailed […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s iconic singer and songwriter, Johnny Clegg, has sadly passed away today, Tuesday 16 July 2019, at the age of 66. The nation and all the “scatterlings of Africa” will mourn his passing. Clegg was diagnosed with cancer four years ago in 2015. During his career he helped unite South Africans of […]

SANTORINI – A South African animal welfare worker documenting the abuse of donkeys on the Greek island of Santorini was brutally assaulted and threatened with death while filming, international charity Network for Animals said in a statement on Tuesday. Luke Barritt, a campaigner for NFA, and Polish cameraman Wiktor Dobraczynski were seen filming the treatment […]

Tributes have poured in for former Bafana Bafana soccer player Marc Batchelor who was shot dead outside his home in northern Johannesburg on Monday evening at around 18h30. According to police, Batchelor was shot by two men on a motorbike (or motorbikes) as he was driving his white BMW into his home in Olivedale. Police […]

Eskom’s Group Treasurer Andre Pillay has tendered his resignation in the latest high-profile exit from South Africa’s power utility, since its chief executive quit earlier this year. No reason was given for his resignation. As requested by Eskom, Pillay will stay a couple of months until the end of August 2019 “to ensure a seamless […]

It’s been almost a year since the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of state capture in South Africa began to hear testimony. Also known as the Zondo Commission, it is headed by Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who has listened to 130 days of live testimony from more than 80 people. It is probing allegations […]

JOHANNESBURG – It’s the day so many in South Africa have waited for – former South African president Jacob Zuma is finally answering questions in court at the Zondo State Capture Inquiry. Watch the live video stream below. This morning’s proceedings have already begun. Zuma (77) is currently “joining the dots” for everyone to understand, […]

Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou is wearing bandaging on his right arm today after being robbed in Johannesburg last night, just hours after the Australian team had arrived in South Africa. Tupou fortunately suffered only minor cuts to his arm after a thief snatched his cell phone, and he took chase. The thief jumped in a […]

Here’s the line-up of hot South African topics that the Carte Blanche team are tackling this Sunday 14 July. You can watch the current affairs show here if you’re in SA or stream it from Tues 16 July on Showmax International if you’re overseas (available in many countries abroad). Cape Town Gangs Thirteen people dead […]

GAUTENG – A famous South African actor and his two accomplices were arrested Friday afternoon for allegedly attempting to extort money from a businessman. The three – aged between 27 and 38 – were arrested during a Hawks operation at South Gate Mall, south of Johannesburg. They have been charged with impersonating police officials, kidnapping, extortion […]