Congo’s political standoff deepened on Sunday after the top court backed the contested presidential election victory of Felix Tshisekedi, then his main rival rejected the ruling, called for protests and declared himself leader. As Tshisekedi’s supporters celebrated the ruling in the streets of Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, runner-up Martin Fayulu said the decision had […]

International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has extended condolences to the families of four South Africans who tragically drowned in Mozambique’s Portuguese Islands. This follows the recovery of the four bodies after a protracted recovery mission that was hampered by bad weather. The four young South Africans – Lesego Matsepe, Mmatholo Mogafe, David […]

BAMAKO – Ten U.N. peacekeepers were killed and several were wounded while repelling an attack by armed assailants near a village in northern Mali on Sunday, the West African nation’s U.N. mission said. The identity of the attackers was not immediately clear. U.N. peacekeeping and French forces are stationed in northern Mali to combat well-armed […]

HARARE – A crackdown last week on protests in Zimbabwe is a foretaste of how the government will respond to future unrest, the president’s spokesperson said, fuelling concerns that the country is reverting to authoritarian rule. Police claim three people died during protests over fuel price hikes in Harare’s capital and second city Bulawayo that […]

CAPE TOWN – Popular South Africa flyhalf Pat Lambie admitted to both disappointment and relief after announcing his retirement from rugby at the age of 28 due to on-going concussion issues. A fit Lambie would in all likelihood have been part of the Springbok squad at the World Cup in Japan later this year but […]

The recently announced 2018 national matric pass rate in South Africa of 78% made for some great headlines… but many say the truth is nothing to celebrate. That great pass rate is based on rather low expectations. In South Africa, qualifying for tertiary studies now requires only 40% in your home language, only 50% in […]

Author of such books as ‘African Tears’ and ‘Beyond Tears’, Cathy Buckle last night posted a letter on social media to her friends and family… except she couldn’t post it herself because she’s in Zimbabwe. So a friend posted it on her behalf. This is her letter… Dear Family and Friends, This has been one […]

In 2016 when my mother fell ill I had to travel to Johannesburg quite regularly. It was a crazy few months from August to November. My mother was ill, my father fell ill too and my son Liam was involved in an awful car accident… writes South African music and entertainment entrepreneur, and former frontman […]

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s biggest mobile operator Econet Wireless said on Friday the government had ordered it to shut down its internet services until further notice following days of deadly protests over steep fuel price hikes. (Please see UPDATE at bottom of page.) Zimbabweans accuse President Emmerson Mnangagwa of failing to live up to pre-election pledges […]

The recent horrific fire that tore through Wupperthal, destroying much of the historical village near Clanwilliam, devastating over 60 shops and homes, and tragically leaving at least 200 people homeless… left the Cape West Coast community desperate for assistance and in dire need of the basic essentials. Fortunately South Africans have stepped up to help […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the anti-apartheid activist and journalist Hugh Lewin, describing him as a valiant soldier who fought fearlessly for human rights and justice. The acclaimed author, who was 79-years-old, passed away at his home on Wednesday. Lewin worked as a journalist at the Natal Witness, Drum Magazine and the Golden […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s rand fell against the dollar on Thursday after the Reserve Bank left interest rates unchanged and sounded less hawkish, citing an improved inflation outlook. Stocks closed lower, led by a slump in retailers after poor sales updates from Mr Price, Woolworths and Truworths. At 1522 GMT, the rand traded at 13.8000 […]

The body of one of the four missing South Africans in Mozambique has been found, according to the Middelburg Observer. The body is that of a young man, and was found close to where the group of South African citizens were last seen on Monday. It has been taken to the morgue in Maputo, says […]

OUAGADOUGOU – A Canadian kidnapped this week in a restive region of Burkina Faso has been found dead, a spokesman for the security ministry told Reuters on Thursday. The man was abducted after nightfall on Tuesday by a dozen gunmen on a mining site owned by Vancouver-based Progress Minerals in the northeast near the border […]

Three rangers have been arrested in the Kruger National Park for alleged rhino poaching. The South African National Parks (SANParks) has welcomed the arrests as a “success”, closing in on those within its very ranks who are “sabotaging” the Park’s efforts to protect rhino from poachers. The three suspects were arrested after a joint effort […]

NAIROBI – Dual South African and British citizen, Luke Potter, was among the 14 people killed by Somali militants in a raid on a posh hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday. He died, along with an American who had survived the 9/11 attacks and two best friends from Kenya who worked to help Somalia. Since […]

During my visit to South Africa a few months ago, a friend and her friend (a really nice guy) picked me up from Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. We were introduced. Let’s say his name was Grant. He then drove us to his house… steadily going faster and FASTER until we were hurtling along […]

JOHANNESBURG – Popular South African blogger, Meruschka Govender – who was known as Mzansi Girl – sadly passed away yesterday. The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) expressed its “profound and deepest condolences” at the news that the proudly South African travel blogger, influencer and Joburg enthusiast has died. No cause of death was disclosed. Through her […]

Fire has been much in the news lately. Runaway fires in the Western Cape, fanned by gale force winds, have become an annual summer phenomenon, amidst much speculation as to the causes… writes marine conservation photographer Jean Tresfon. Some are clearly cases of arson, others just sheer stupidity or negligence. Over the last few weeks there […]

The Gauteng Department of Education has challenged communities to join South African law enforcement agencies in hunting the criminals who robbed a new state-of-the-art school in Tsakane, in Ekurhuleni on Tuesday… less than a week after it was officially opened. The school – which cost R105 508 403 to build – was opened by Gauteng […]

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson has shockingly been knocked out of the Australian Open in four sets, going down to Frances Tiafoe, who is ranked only 39th in the world. Anderson is currently the fifth seed. In a devastating blow to Anderson (and all his South African fans), the US player was able to beat him […]

South Africa’s popular peri-peri chicken restaurant Nando’s may create fantastic adverts, but according to a global study by World Animal Protection (WAP), they are performing “very poorly” when it comes to taking care of their chickens. In fact, out of nine companies that were assessed, Nando’s came third to last, behind other iconic brands such […]

The teacher who was suspended last week – after a photo she took of a Grade R class (with white and black learners sitting at different tables) went viral – spoke to the press today, reading out a prepared statement. Watch video below. Choking back tears, she said: I am Elana Barkhuizen, I am a […]

NAIROBI – Gunmen blasted their way into a hotel and office complex in the Kenyan capital on Tuesday, killing at least seven people and sending workers diving under desks from an attack claimed by Somali Islamists al Shabaab. Police warned the “terror attack”, which echoed a 2013 assault on a Nairobi shopping centre, may be […]

HARARE – Soldiers patrolled Zimbabwe city streets on Tuesday and confrontations with angry civilians threatened to boil over, as the government offered public workers more money a day after protests over a disintegrating economy turned deadly. Monday’s unrest, in which several people died, followed sharp hikes in fuel prices decreed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The […]