Perhaps it is fitting that the portraits of the “Big 5” animals are featured on South Africa’s banknotes because there is a price on their heads, as well as a price on their severed tails, feet, horns, and other dismembered body parts… writes Ingrid Newkirk, president and founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of […]

Some funeral parlour owners in Cape Town are pleading with the Mozambican authorities to release their colleague who was arrested while transporting a body last month… writes Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik. The owner of a Cape Town funeral parlour was detained in Mozambique last month. The reason for his arrest is unclear, but a colleague who spoke to […]

King Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu sadly passed away on Friday morning, in hospital, at the age of 72. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has led tributes, saying he is “deeply saddened” by the news of the passing of Isilo Samabandla, King Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu. “This sad news come at a time when we had all been […]

The contracts of more than 5,000 Community Healthcare Workers (CHW) in the Eastern Cape will be terminated at the end of March… writes Mkhuseli Sizani. The contracts of over 5,000 community health workers in the Eastern Cape will be terminated at the end of March. The provincial health department says it has run out of […]

Gauteng state mortuaries had 1173 unidentified bodies last year, and a further 120 bodies that were identified but were buried as paupers as they were unclaimed. This was revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in a written reply to DA questions in the Gauteng Legislature. According to Mokgethi, there is an increase every year […]

The Gauteng Social Development Department has distanced itself from fake social media messages about the distribution of food parcels in the province. The department’s Deputy Director-General for Social Welfare Services, Onkemetse Kabasia noted that a special food relief programme was implemented by the department since March 2020, as part of the COVID-19 response when the […]

Protesters proceeded to Empire Road and blocked traffic in Johannesburg… By Masego Mafata. A bystander was killed in Braamfontein on the third day of Wits student protests on Wednesday. Police allegedly shot the man several times. The protests are about exclusion from the university because of outstanding fees and historic debt, and financial exclusion of students […]

A romantic birthday dinner for Helen Zille turned into an ‘adventurous celebration’ on Tuesday evening when strong winds in Cape Town, South Africa, caused a tree to fall through the roof of the restaurant she and her husband were dining at. Zille, Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance, was celebrating her 70th […]

Hydroxychloroquine does not reduce deaths from COVID-19 and may even cause unwanted damage, recent studies have found. According to the new Cochrane Review, the drug probably does not reduce the number of people needing mechanical ventilation. “In addition, they note that no new trials of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for treating COVID-19 should be started,” the […]

The South African economy contracted by 7% in 2020, Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke, revealed in a media briefing on Tuesday. Announcing the results of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2020, Maluleke said the decrease was despite the economy growing by 1.5% in the last three months of the year, giving an […]

The Eskom Board announced on Tuesday that it will appoint an independent Senior Counsel to probe racism allegations against its Group Chief Executive André de Ruyter. According to the statement, this follows racism allegations made in the public domain against De Ruyter. Suspended Chief Procurement Officer Solly Tshitangano has accused the Group Chief Executive (GCE) […]

A joint scientific study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection highlights how the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa poses real and serious health risks to thousands of tourists, industry workers and its communities. “Five major diseases (dubbed The Sick 5 in our new campaign) have been identified that can inflict serious health […]

A safari park tracker in Limpopo, South Africa, was tragically attacked and mauled to death by two lions on Sunday morning, 7 March 2021, while he was following the tracks of a pair of cheetahs. Malibongwe Mfila, 27, had seen the spoor divert off the dirt road he was following in his jeep, and stopped […]

The rail agency’s policy dictates that employees should retire at 63. Zolani Matthews is 64… By James Stent PRASA’s new Group CEO is too old to take up the post. This is according to the rail agency’s own policy which states employees should retire at 63. PRASA’s lack of permanent leadership was identified by the […]

Police in South Africa have pounced on hundreds of fake COVID-19 vaccines this week, following a global alert issued by INTERPOL warning vaccines would be a prime target for criminal networks. South African authorities seized 400 ampoules during an operation – equivalent to around 2 400 doses – containing the fake vaccine at a warehouse […]

We are devastated to report the passing away of well known South African journalist Karima Brown, who died from Covid-19 related complications in the early hours of this morning. She was 54. Her family said that in accordance with Islamic rites, she will be laid to rest in a private burial in Johannesburg later today […]

Yesterday – Wednesday, 3 March 2021 – an unknown number of juvenile Nile crocodiles escaped from a legal breeding facility outside of Bonnievale in the Western Cape of South Africa, and although some have been recaptured it’s not known how many are still on the loose! In a message on social media, Cape Nature says […]

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, says the names of the Home Affairs officials, who helped the Bushiris with their travel documents to escape South Africa, are known by the department. Responding to oral questions during a hybrid sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday, Motsoaledi said the identities of the officials will, however, not […]

Millions of rands from a Lottery grant to build an old age home in Mpumalanga were used to pay for a luxury home on a sprawling estate in North West Province, which was purchased by a company belonging to a board member of the NLC. R5 million was paid towards a house for William Huma, […]

A case of child abuse and neglect has been officially opened, at the Mehlomnyama police station in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), against the parents of a seven-year-old boy who was badly assaulted by his 17-year-old stepbrother. KZN Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, has opened the case after shocking pictures went viral on social media, showing the young […]

The price of petrol is set to increase by 65 cents a litre as of Wednesday, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) said. In a statement on Tuesday, the DMRE said the prices of 93 (ULP and LRP) and 95 (ULP and LRP) will rise by 65 cents a litre. A litre of […]

Investigations into the source of the sulphur stench that was experienced in parts of Gauteng and Mpumalanga last month are ongoing. The update on the investigations comes after a visit by officials from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) and the Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga to the Sasol Secunda Plant on […]

Devastating photos have emerged in South Africa of the bones of 27 once majestic lions that have been slaughtered. The lions’ bones, discovered at a home in Johannesburg, are in demand in the Far East for use in traditional medicines and to be made into trinkets. South African police swooped on a house in Kempton […]

On 22 February it was announced that Western Cape minister for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEADPA) Anton Bredell had decided to dismiss appeals lodged against the Environmental Authorisation (EA) issued by his department in August 2020 for a proposed R4.5 billion development in Observatory. The Western Cape MEC for Environmental Affairs and Development Planning […]

The DA has filed a complaint with the Press Ombudsman following a Sunday Times article yesterday (Sunday 28 February). “The opening sentence of this article – based on an hour-long interview with DA Federal Leader John Steenhuisen – sought to create the impression that the DA was open to a coalition agreement with the ANC. […]