KINSHASA, 29 (Reuters) – Democratic Republic of Congo’s government said on Friday that it has decided to open up parts of Virunga and Salonga National Parks, home to mountain gorillas, bonobos and other rare species, to oil drilling. Earlier proposals to allow oil exploration in the parks met fierce resistance from environmental activists, who say […]

Contrary to reports, although an intense cold front is expected to hit South Africa on Sunday into Monday, there is NOT a tropical cyclone heading for South Africa! The South African Weather Service (SAWS) said on Friday night that the confusion was caused by a symbol used for their alerts. In a playful dig at […]

The South African Department of Energy is expected to announce a fuel price adjustment later on Friday. Automobile Association (AA) has on Thursday released the petrol price outlook for July. The AA said the petrol prices are anticipated to increase by 26 cents a litre in July‚ meanwhile diesel will increase by 24 cents and […]

Missing Cape Town psychologist Diane Elizabeth Nelson has sadly been found deceased. Her body was reportedly discovered on Table Mountain, in South Africa, on Thursday. Nelson was last seen on Saturday 23 June 2018 at around 20h00. Her vehicle was recovered at Cecelia Forest, with her handbag reportedly in it. Her cell phone was allegedly not […]

SAMARA, Russia (Reuters) – Africa is sadly out of the World Cup as Yerry Mina’s header secured Colombia a 1-0 win over Senegal in Samara on Thursday, to clinch their safe passage to the last 16 as they finished top of Group H, while Senegal – Africa’s last hope – missed out to Japan on […]

South African struggle veteran and Ambassador, Billy Modise was finally laid to rest on Thursday at the West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg. Dignitaries including former presidents Kgalema Motlanthe and Thabo Mbheki, as well as current South African President Cyril Ramphosa attended the Special Official Funeral. Motlanthe, Mbeki and Ramaphosa also each delivered a speech. President […]

LONDON (Reuters) – A shortage of carbon dioxide has hit Britain’s biggest brewers and soft drink makers, disrupting production just as drinkers’ thirst peaks due to a heatwave and a World Cup soccer tournament in which England is doing unusually well. Hot weather and a build-up of beer stocks ahead of the World Cup lifted […]

With just three days left of June, there has already been a 34% increase in farm attacks in South Africa during the first six months of 2018, according to AfriForum… with another couple losing their lives yesterday. AfriForum claims that during the first six months of 2017, 157 farm attacks took place and 40 farm […]

With a high chance of rainfall in Cape Town today, volunteers helping in the search for a local woman – who has been missing since Saturday early evening – are asked to please think twice about participating today. Popular Claremont clinical psychologist Diane Nelson was last seen on Saturday 23 June 2018 at around 7pm. Her […]

Members of the public are urged to come forward with any information related to the murder of two members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in separate incidents. One reservist Constable was killed in Section H, Ekangala near Bronkhorstspruit on Monday morning when he was responding to a complaint. On arrival at the scene, […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Glencore said on Tuesday that eight people were injured at its South African smelting operations in the North West province during a protest. Glencore said a security company at its Wonderkop Smelter fired rubber bullets to disperse the protestors, who were demanding employment, resulting in eight people sustaining minor injuries. (Reporting by […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) has issued a statement  “categorically” stating that a story which appeared on Carte-Blanche on Sunday evening, regarding gun trade, is “characterised by inaccuracies and is regrettable”. In the show Kathi Lynn Austin alleged that SANParks senior personnel, together with members of the South African law enforcement agencies, could by implication […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s economic growth prospects will be limited by weak business confidence while uncertainty around land and mining reforms remain a concern for investors, ratings agency Moody’s said in its research report on Tuesday. “Uncertainty over how this (land reform) will be achieved continues to limit near-term investment,” said Moody’s analyst and […]

Sibanye-Stillwater mine has confirmed on Tuesday yet another death of a miner, at its Khomanani mine,  Driefontein operation in the west of Johannesburg, South Africa. The company says that according to preliminary investigations one of the miners entered a scraper path and was caught by the scraper. “This is another sad incident and all efforts […]

Urgent help is sought to find a missing Capetonian woman, Diane Nelson, who has not been seen since early Saturday evening, 23 June 2018. Friends and patients of the popular Claremont clinical psychologist have posted photos of Diane, begging South Africans to “please look at her picture… just in case. Please share.” Rachel Smith, whose […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Renowned South African photojournalist David Goldblatt, who documented the impact of apartheid on the lives of ordinary people, died on Monday from cancer aged 87. Born of Lithuanian immigrants in Johannesburg’s gold reef, Goldblatt gained international recognition in the 1960s and 70s as apartheid laws took hold in South Africa, culminating in […]

ATHENS (Reuters) – A 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook the southwestern area of the Peloponnese in Greece in the early hours of Monday. Its epicenter was offshore, 26 km (16 miles) west of the town of Methoni at a depth of 30.4 km, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no early reports of serious damage or injuries, […]

Tourists from around South Africa, and the world (including stars like Mariah Carey), have for years made their way to Mooiberge strawberry farms in the Western Cape… where visitors can pick the fruit from the fields and enjoy the scenic landscape. It’s a day’s outing for many that leaves a lifetime of good memories. But […]

HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa escaped unhurt after an explosion rocked a stadium where he was addressing a political rally on Saturday, a month before the country is due to hold its presidential elections. Watch below. However, vice presidents Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi and a minister sustained minor injuries following the blast […]

Dam levels are rising and Day Zero in 2019 is fortunately unlikely, but for hundreds of thousands of people, the rains bring hardship. Cape Town’s much-needed rains have raised the dam levels to over 40% (as of 21 June), higher than at the same time in 2017 and 2016, but still lower than 2015. Day […]

The Board of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants’ (SAICA) says it has noted the statement issued by Khaya Sithole, which makes mention of allegations against SAICA’s acting CEO and executive team.  The SAICA Board said it distances itself from all the allegations and wishes to reiterate its support for its whole leadership team. […]

A home in Cape St Francis, in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, was burned to the ground on Thursday evening. Fortunately, the family escaped just in time. Sara Jane Smith, NSRI St Francis Bay station commander, said her crew was activated on Thursday night just after 20h00. Local community members, volunteer groups and Fire […]

The South African government says it regrets the withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. “This development is indeed worrisome and goes against the letter and spirit of multilateralism and the Charter of the United Nations, of which the US was one of the founding countries,” the Department of International […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa‘s government is considering layoffs and early retirement packages for staff in the public sector to avoid breaking its pledge to cut spending after unions clinched above-inflation wage increases, the Treasury said on Friday. Under a deal reached in May, the government will raise salaries of public sector employees, including teachers, police, and […]

The South African National Union of Metalworkers (NUMSA) and other unions have met with Eskom on Thursday, but the wage increase dispute – which has resulted in load-shedding in SA – has not yet been resolved. The Eskom employees have reduced their wage increase demand to 9 percent. Eskom had initially offered the workers a […]