In the small Free State town of Trompsburg, a new R380 million hospital continues to gather dust more than two years since its completion. Meanwhile, other clinics and hospitals in the region remain overstretched and under-resourced, according to health activist groups. Mariette Pittaway, the DA Spokesperson for Health in the Free State, says the new […]

Towards the end of each year hundreds of thousands of people escape dark, cold, rainy winters in Europe and North America for a break in sunny South Africa. Many are drawn by the country’s wide array of outdoor attractions: nature reserves, beaches and adventure activities like skydiving and water sports. All of these are reliant […]

The Council of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has confirmed that the University will be increasing fees for the 2017 academic year by an average of 8% for tuition and residence fees. The reaction on Twitter was that Wits was giving #FeesMustFall protesters “the middle finger” and that the University had waited, as predicted, […]

President Jacob Zuma has joined the gospel fraternity in expressing deep sadness and his heartfelt condolences on the passing of gospel sensation and multi-award winning singer, Sifiso Ncwane, who passed away today, 05 December 2016. The gospel legend died Monday morning at Fourways Life Hospital, after suffering kidney failure. “The passing of Mr Ncwane is a […]

Gauteng Weather service has issued warnings of heavy rain, hail and possible flooding in Joburg and Pretoria late Monday into Tuesday. Johannesburg and surrounding areas were hit by devastating floods on 10 November which left at least six people dead. Police confirmed two days ago that DNA results of the body found on the banks of the […]

A new video documentary exposes the sewage crisis in Cape Town’s beautiful ocean, which is increasing as the population grows. (Watch below.) Every day, millions of litres of untreated waste-water is being discharged from the famous and fabulous Camps Bay region into South Africa’s marine reserve… Well known local marine conservation photographer Jean Tresfon first brought the […]

ELDORADO PARK – South Africa’s Transport Minister has blamed men’s infidelity for so many men perishing on SA’s roads. “Men are the most people who die on our roads because of their unfaithful behaviours by having multiple partners,” said Minister Dipuo Peters. “They always rushing from partner to another,” she explained. The Minister made the observation at the […]

Research in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, shows that ivory poaching leads to higher proportions of tusk-less elephants. The findings by Elephant Voice Co-Founder Joyce Poole have made headlines around the world, featured by mainstream media from National Geographic to the London Times. In a Facebook post a few days ago, Elephant Voice – a non-profit elephant research and […]

Standard and Poor’s (S&P) is expected to announce its rating decision with regards to South Africa’s economy today. In the meantime, the Rand has weakened at the prospect of the country being downgraded to ‘junk’ status for the first time since 2000. S&P currently rates South Africa one notch above junk status. The rating agency’s […]

Andrew Sachs of Fawlty Towers fame passed away last week at the age of 86, in a care home, after suffering from a secret four-year battle with dementia, it has been announced. His wife Melody, whom he married 56 years ago, made the announcement Thursday saying: “My heart has been broken every day for a long […]

If it’s not cellphone charges, it’s bank charges that are upsetting South Africans… who feel their “ridiculous” charges are not in line with most of the rest of the world. One South African bank customer, MEL HAWES, has had enough and has a suggestion… She would like South Africans to stand together – protest, petition and […]

The Springboks returned to South Africa this week after an overseas tour in which they drew against the Barbarians and then lost to England, Italy and Wales. Both coach Allister Coetzee and skipper Adriaan Strauss expressed their deep disappointment at the outcome of the tour – but it is the words of Bok wing Bryan Habana […]

Nine copper thieves were arrested in one week as part of Eskom’s fight against electricity theft. In a statement on Wednesday, the power utility said the fight against electricity theft, particularly cable or copper theft, continues to show progress. The arrests took place in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and in Mpumalanga. The equipment that was […]

South Africans have taken to Twitter today to tease (and taunt) President Jacob Zuma, who – after a year in which he’s ducked and dived controversy and allegations of corruption (from his Nkandla house to his ties with the Gupta’s) – still “whinges” that it’s all a plot from outsiders to oust him. The hashtag […]

There’s a post going viral on Facebook at the moment that says: “Here’s what happens when you don’t know who you are messing with.” Along with the caption are two pictures of a buffalo picking on a baby elephant… And two photos of an adult elephant appearing to retaliate by throwing the buffalo high in […]

PRETORIA – President Jacob Zuma has conveyed a message of condolence to the government and people of Brazil after a chartered plane crashed over a mountainous region in Colombia on Tuesday morning. In a statement, President Zuma sent his condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all the victims of the crash. The chartered plane, […]

The African National Congress (ANC) has announced that it will present a Post NEC (National Executive Committee) media briefing Tuesday afternoon at its headquarters in Johannesburg. South Africans have been waiting all day with bated breath to find out whether a motion for President Jacob Zuma to step down would be passed. The motion of […]

So what’s your experience with your medical aid? GEORG KNOKE, a publicist in Johannesburg, posed this question today after having yet another negative experience with his medical aid regarding his spectacle frames. Georg says: “I hate medical aids! Apart from their horrendous fees, when finally claiming, there are a thousand excuses to NOT pay out! […]

The president of SA Rugby outlined plans on Saturday night for an overhaul of SA Rugby administration as well as for a Springbok review process following what he admitted had been a “profoundly disappointing” season for South African rugby. South Africa lost to Wales this evening 13-27, the first time apparently that the Boks have […]

A highly venomous Snouted Cobra has been on the loose in an apartment block in Lynnwood Glen in Pretoria since Thursday. Residents were advised to keep their toilet lids and bathroom doors closed to prevent it from entering into other areas of the flats. Snake handler Barry Greenshields, who identified the snake on Thursday, said he has never […]

A South African welding inspector, Wikus Ceronie, got the fright of his life yesterday morning when an angry hippo attacked his car while crossing the Kruger National Park border. Wikus was crossing the Jozini Dam, on his way back to South Africa from his first time ever working in Mozambique. He was cruising merrily along in his […]

PRETORIA – President Jacob Zuma has, on behalf of the government and the people of South Africa, conveyed a message of condolences to the government and people of Cuba following the passing on of former President Fidel Castro. The President said the people of South Africa share the loss of the Cuban people and stand with […]

South Africans have embraced the Black Friday tradition with the same enthusiasm as they’ve grabbed many other American traditions… queuing for hours since before dawn, fighting, laughing, grabbing bargains and tussling over toilet rolls!   Below are scenes from around the country where a riot apparently broke out over toilet rolls in a Roodepoort supermarket, while […]

The trial of alleged rhino poaching kingpin, Dumisani Gwala, at KwaZulu-Natal’s Ngwelezana courthouse has been “postponed AGAIN”, according to Saving the Wild’s founder Jamie Joseph. “Defense is making a mockery of justice system,” Jamie tweeted Friday, after yet another postponement in the trial. Jamie said: “It appears Gwala’s defense attorney is having difficulties understanding instructions. […]

South Africans have reacted with shock, horror and humour (see bottom of page) at revelations that Prophet (Detective) Lethebo sprayed members of his congregation with Doom insecticide last weekend in South Africa. The ‘Prophet of Doom’ claimed the spray would heal them. Playing Devil’s Advocate, Edenvale Radio presenter Viv Vermaak decided to find out what […]