The South African Cabinet has expressed its sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives after the tailings of an abandoned local mine in Jagersfontein burst open and released a disastrous mudslide around dawn on Sunday, 11 September 2022. The disaster in the small Free State town, which killed at least three […]

Until early 2022, there were 19 described species of chameleons in South Africa. That number has now changed, with three new species described, taking the total to 22. There are two typical chameleons (Chameleo) and 19 dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) species. There are very few biomes across South Africa where one cannot find at least a […]

South Africa’s popular radio presenter Mark Pilgrim has revealed that his immune system has crashed, and the bush holiday that was planned, to celebrate his birthday, has had to be cancelled. Writing on social media, Mark said that just 10 minutes before leaving with his girls and partner Adrienne, the doctor called “with the bad […]

SAA’s board chairperson has denied that South African Airways’ future is at risk. John Lamola today dismissed claims that the state-owned carrier – which was once the pride of the nation – is facing liquidation due to delays in the conclusion of the strategic equity partnership (SEP) transaction with Takatso Consortium. Lamola said the media […]

CapeNature is taking proactive steps to ensure the Western Cape’s precious biodiversity is protected, following the shocking escalation in succulent and other plant poaching, which has seen hundreds of thousands of plants being stolen from South Africa. The poaching has increased hugely since 2018, with most of these plants being destined for the Asian market. […]

The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has hiked the repurchase rate (repo rate) by 75 basis points. This increase means the repo rate will now be 6.25% per year from tomorrow (Friday) 23 September 2022, with prime now at 9.75%. The level of the repurchase rate is now closer to the level prevailing […]

Two suspects have been arrested for robbery and the brutal murder of 68-year-old farmer, Frans Venter, who was killed at his farm in Modderfontein, near Rustenburg, on Wednesday morning, 21 September 2022. As the community mourns the shocking killing, the South African Police Service (SAPS) issued a statement on Thursday afternoon about the arrests. SAPS […]

The pension of former National Lotteries Commission chief operating officer Phillemon Letwaba has been frozen by the Special Tribunal. The Special Tribunal has frozen the R2.8-million pension of former National Lotteries Commission chief operating officer Phillemon Letwaba. This follows an application by the Special Investigating Unit, which was authorised in 2020 by President Cyril Ramaphosa […]

Activists protest at Mini Blue Train to highlight PRASA’s failures. By Ashraf Hendricks As Metrorail’s service in Cape Town has deteriorated, one train has consistently run on time and safely for over 60 years: the Mini Blue Train in Mouille Point. On Wednesday, about 30 protesters from activist groups #UniteBehind held a protest at this […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa says resolving the energy crisis is critical to ensure that the economic and investment potential of the country is realised. His comments come after South Africa was plunged into Stage 6 load shedding for the second time this year, prompting the President’s urgent return to the country during an international trip. Households […]

On 15 September we (Ground Up) reported that Zimbabweans trying to leave South Africa were being turned back at Beitbridge border, apparently by the new Border Management Authority guards in Musina, Limpopo. As a result, people we spoke to were confused and eventually crossed the border through unofficial routes that can be dangerous. Despite attempts […]

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 19 (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will miss the United Nations General Assembly this week, instead returning home from Britain to address a national power crisis, his spokesman told local media including television channel eNCA. State-owned power utility Eskom moved to “Stage 6” electricity outages on Sunday for only the third […]

WINDSOR, England (Reuters) -Queen Elizabeth’s coffin arrived at Windsor Castle, her final resting place, on Monday after a day of matchless pageantry that drew world leaders to her funeral and hundreds of thousands of well-wishers wanting to say farewell to a revered monarch. By Michael Holden, Kate Holton and Alistair Smout. People lined the route […]

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has paid tribute to a former director of the Kruger National Park, Dr Salomon Jouberg (affectionately known as Doc Solly), who passed away suddenly on Wednesday 14 September at the age of 81. SANParks said: “It is with great sadness that we learnt of the sudden death of Dr […]

Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter, says the power utility is working hard to bring back failing generation units and restore stability to the grid. His pledge comes after multiple trips, breakdowns and delays in return to service at generation units caused the implementation of Stage 6 load shedding over the weekend. De Ruyter said teams […]

Speaking from the UK where he is attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the death of 19 learners and two adults in a collision between a bakkie and a truck near Pongola in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Friday. The learners were being transported on a bakkie when their […]

Watch the State Funeral Service for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at Westminster Abbey, London, below. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is attending the funeral of the UK’s longest reigning monarch which starts at Westminster Abbey before then moving to Windsor Castle for an intimate service, followed by a private […]

Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, has called on communities to remain on high alert after the South African Weather Services (SAWS) at the weekend issued a level 6 warning for disruptive storms in the province. The Office of the Premier said in a statement that municipalities that are to be impacted have been notified. These […]

Reuters – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, accompanied by SA’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, joined other world leaders to pay his respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday (September 18) as her body lies in state in London’s Westminster Hall in the UK. President Ramaphosa paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth, on the eve […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa will be cutting short his overseas trip to return home to South Africa to deal with the Eskom crisis which has plunged SA into Loadshedding (pre-planned power cuts) Stage 6. In a media briefing this morning, Eskom admitted that the powerlessness could get even worse, with unplanned blackouts that would take South […]

Just after 4am last night, South Africans were plunged into Stage 6 loadshedding. This came after the tripping of a generation unit each at Kusile and Kriel power stations, Eskom said in a tweet on its Twitter page. The power utility – which at this stage appears to not have much power – appealed again […]

A truck driver has reportedly been arrested after 21 people, including 19 children, were tragically killed in a horror crash between the truck and a bakkie. The devastating incident took place on the N2 between Pongola and Itshelejuba in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Video footage shows a bakkie, which was transporting the primary school children, […]

SA Rugby has issued a statement, on Saturday evening, responding to “unsubstantiated allegations” of failed tests for recreational drugs by Springbok players. The rumours are circulating among members of the media. “Disappointingly, these allegations have already appeared online despite the absence of any evidence to support them,” said the statement. SA Rugby says it has […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South African environmental authorities have confirmed four new infections and another seven suspected cases in a new outbreak of avian flu at Cape Town’s Boulders penguin colony, a popular tourist attraction and an important breeding site, officials said on Friday. City and provincial officials said the strain of highly pathogenic avian […]

Deputy President David Mabuza has acknowledged that illegal mining is a major challenge in South Africa, and says that the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will appoint specialised teams in each province to fight illegal mining. “It has grown to the point where it is a major source of concern not only for the […]