#LionsHeadFire: A small veld fire on the lower slopes of Lion’s Head was quickly brought under control thanks to an incredible initial attack from ground and aerial resources, writes Western Cape photographer JUSTIN SULLIVAN. Three ‘Working On Fire’ Choppers, one Spotter plane and ground crews from NCC Environmental Services, Table Mountain National Park, Working on […]

South African businessman Christo Wiese has resigned as chairman of Steinhoff in order to reinforce independent governance of the company which is currently under scrutiny, and avoid any “possible conflict of interest” that may exist. His son Jacob has also resigned. Steinhoff announced Heather Sonn as new acting chairperson. 76-year-old Wiese recently dropped overnight from […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has placed the Mayor of Cape Town, Patricia De Lille, on suspension, and has asked her to supply reasons to the Federal Executive on why she should not resign as the mayor. DA National Spokesperson Phumzile Van Damme said on Thursday night that the DA is acting in the interest of […]

Drowning is a major cause of childhood injury and a top killer of young children in South Africa… as was tragically highlighted this week by the death of 20-month-old Cape Town toddler, Connor Weber, who drowned when he fell into a bin that had been used to collect water during the current drought in the […]

The Gauteng Disaster Management team has been tasked with finding alternative accommodation for over 1,000 people, who were left displaced following a major storm in the Midvaal municipality on Monday (which included strong winds that witnesses said was a tornado). “Information compiled by disaster management so far indicates that 565 shacks were damaged with an estimation […]

The silence from the South African government on the rhino poaching catastrophe – which is wiping out a species in front of our eyes – needs to be urgently broken. According to Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, 218 rhino have been slaughtered in KZN this year so far… which is 37 more than in 2016. As rhino […]

Woolworths South Africa is recalling three children’s t-shirts due to the use of fur in their pom-poms, which is not compliant with Woolworths’ policies. Over 1,000 had already been sold. “We deeply apologise to any customers who have bought these t-shirts; please return them to any Woolworths store for a full refund,” the company said […]

CAPE TOWN – Grieving Rondebosch parents Daniel and Debbie Weber invited friends and family around the world to celebrate their “beautiful boy’s life” at 10h30 on Tuesday morning… as they gathered, all wearing bright clothes, at one of his favourite places – Tractor Park in Keurboom, Western Cape of South Africa. The couple tragically lost […]

Cape Town, South Africa’s second most populous city, is hurtling towards “Day Zero”: the day taps run dry. This is expected in mid-May, just weeks after the city’s new water supplies are due. Cape Town is quite used to surviving dry years. Water restrictions get it through and then dams refill, thanks to the wet […]

The Department of Trade and Industry and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) are to launch an investigation into allegations against retail holding company, Steinhoff International. And allegations are emerging about the darker side of the private life of the company’s former CEO Markus Jooste. In a statement on Tuesday, the department and the […]

The Khululabantu Bam centre in Butterworth brings into focus the huge gap between the demand and supply for decent mental health care facilities in South Africa. In November we visited the facility. It was run in an abandoned warehouse next to a railway line. The warehouse had no windows and was divided into two rooms […]

The Department of Correctional Services has reportedly confirmed that famous inmate Oscar Pistorius (31) was injured in prison when an argument broke out over the use of a public telephone. According to local reports, other inmates were frustrated that he had been on the phone for too long. The former Olympic and Paralympic athlete, who […]

A year ago – in November 2016 – Tshwane mayor, Solly Msimanga was a hero for cleaning up corruption in the city, and helping clean up trash in Pretoria’s CBD (which had been left by protesters). But yesterday AfriForum accused the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality of trying to implement a waste removal levy that they say […]

A visitor to the Western Cape has posted some sad and shocking photos and a video of Theewaterskloof Dam, Cape Town’s main source of drinking water… which show sand blowing where water should be flowing. In a message on Facebook, Christopher from Pretoria, says: “PRAY FOR CAPE TOWN people!… NO JOKES ????… This is what’s […]

An apparent tornado has torn through the Vaal Marina Monday afternoon, leaving devastation in its wake with fallen trees blocking roads, roofs blown off homes, walls collapsed and boats destroyed. According to ER24 the severe wind injured at least 50 people, of which 25 had to be transported to hospital. Celestine Lourens captured unbelievable photos […]

Heilbron, the small farming community in the Free State, was hit by a mega hail storm on Monday afternoon. The Heilbron Herald declared: “Woeste Haelbiu deur Heilbron dorp!” The paper said the hail was golfball-sized, and the rain so heavy that streets like Raubenheimer St turned to rivers. They’ll have more on the story in […]

A South African spear fisherman apparently got the surprise of his life when he had an extremely close encounter with a Great White shark during a diving salvage expedition. The video – which was reportedly first posted by SA Spearfishing’s facebook page yesterday – has gone viral and already been viewed over two million times […]

South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has laid charges Monday morning at the East London SAPS concerning the Mandela Funeral Report. The DA alleges that the ANC government stole R330-million from the poor in former President Nelson Mandela’s name to buy T-shirts. Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA National Spokesperson and Deputy Chairperson, said: “Having studied […]

Yikes, watch as this Land Cruiser gets taken by the current as the driver tries to navigate across the river… We’re not sure where or when this was filmed… but there are definitely South Africans involved (as you’ll hear with the swearing at the end!). It was uploaded by Camping Tricks to Facebook on Friday. […]

A fire that started mid-morning on Saturday in the Bainskloof Valley quickly spread due to high velocity winds and challenging undulating terrain. I spent the night with NCC hotshot crews as they tackled the right flank up the mountain… writes Western Cape photographer Justin Sullivan. Teams from Cape Winelands DM, Cape Nature, WOF (Working on Fire), […]

The ANC Women’s League President, Bathabile Dlamini, has criticised Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa for his support of the late Fezekile ‘Khwezi’ Khuzwayo (who alleged she was raped by Jacob Zuma), and hinted that Ramaphosa has his own history of abuse. In a move seen by many as strange for someone who is meant to represent […]

Noordhoek residents will be staging a walk for peace on Noordhoek Beach Sunday evening, following the brutal attack on Austrian holidaymakers – Klaus (63) and Johanna (68) Michl – who had been enjoying a wonderful holiday in South Africa up to that point. The couple was taking a walk on Noordhoek Beach in the Western […]

Some families of the victims of the Life Esidimeni tragedy in South Africa were overcome by emotions and had to receive emergency medical care today. Others experienced breathing problems, according to the SABC. The entire hearings have been emotional, but today they were heightened as suspended head of Gauteng Health Barney Selebano apologised to the […]

Heartbreaking footage of a starving polar bear, captured by National Geographic (NG) photographer Paul Nicklen and filmmakers from a conservation group called Sea Legacy, provides proof of climate change, says NG. The team was on Baffin Island, Canada, when they saw the bear which probably had just hours to live. It is illegal to feed […]

Cape Town is experiencing its worst drought ever and Day Zero is looming (when taps will be turned off and residents will have to queue for water). As the beautiful Mother City starts to welcome local and international tourists to its shores for the festive season, there are some concerns that visitors are not aware […]