As South Africa marks six months since its first COVID-19 case was first reported, the country’s cumulative number of detected COVID-19 cases stands at 681 289. On Sunday, 1 573 new people tested positive for COVID-19, while 38 people succumbed to the virus. Of the latest fatalities, 37 are from Gauteng and 1 from the […]

CAPE TOWN – For millions of people around the world, lockdown during the global coronavirus pandemic has meant several months of isolation in the interests of protecting public health. But for billions of animals caged and confined in factory farms, laboratories, marine parks, roadside zoos, fur farms and circuses, lockdown lasts a lifetime. Animals can […]

A man was arrested in Pietermaritzburg after a combined police operation found him in possession of a rhino horn, valued at R1.2 million. “A joint operation between the Pmb Flying Squad and the Pmb Dog unit led to the arrest and detention of the following white male suspect for Possession of Rhino’s horn after he […]

As the world celebrates World Animal Day this weekend, South African current affairs show Carte Blanche investigates why a facility virtually on the doorstep of SA’s famous Kruger National Park has been allowed to open.   You can watch the show on Sunday 4 Oct in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas […]

The brutal murder of 21-year-old Brendin Horner on a farm in Paul Roux, west of Bethlehem in the Free State, has shocked the local community and South Africans around the nation. Brendin’s body was found tied to a pole by his neck, on De Rots farm. Dr Roy Jankielsohn – Leader of the official opposition […]

Lt Col Charl Kinnear (52) has been laid to rest today in the Western Cape, following his shocking murder on Friday 18 September. The South African Police Service (SAPS) said today that Lt Col Kinnear was “shot and killed by unknown gunmen”, metres away from the driveway of his home in Bishop Lavis. SAPS confirmed […]

Strong winds and rains have battered Cape Town over the past couple of days, leaving extensive damage including a large truck being overturned, the blue statue at Sea Point falling over, several trees blocking roads and business and residential properties damaged. (Check out photos of big waves at Kalk Bay Harbour.) Winds had blown at […]

United States President Donald Trump has announced that he and his wife, Melania, have tested positive for coronavirus. The 74-year-old US President tweeted at five to one in the morning (US time): “Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!” […]

There has been widespread condemnation after a pride of seven lions in the Karoo National Park in Beaufort West were killed, apparently put down by the South African National Parks (SANParks)… but this evening SANParks will be holding a webinar where its conservationists and other experts will answer questions, and explain their reasons behind the […]

A 2.8 magnitude earth tremor was felt in Gauteng, South Africa, on Thursday afternoon just after quarter to one, as confirmed by the South African Council for Geoscience (CGS). The epicentre was measured about 5km south east of Randfontein, in the West Rand of Johannesburg, said the CGS. Gauteng Weather said on Twitter: “BREAKING: Preliminary […]

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has placed the provincial Health Department head, Professor Mkhululi Lukhele, on immediate precautionary suspension for allegedly failing to exercise responsibility in the COVID-19 related procurement. The development comes after the Special Investigating Unit, in a report dated 22 September 2020, made the recommendation. “The Special Investigating Unit found that the Head […]

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a yellow warning for “severe thunderstorms with possible flooding of susceptible low lying areas” in parts of South Africa later today. SAWS warned there could be disruption to traffic because of reduced visibility and “strong damaging winds” that may cause some damage to informal settlements. The storm […]

Despite the South African economy shedding 2.2 million jobs due to the COVID-19 lockdown, unemployment in the country dropped from 30.1% to 23.3% in the second quarter of 2020, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA)… the lowest rate since 2009! However, before we all celebrate, the sharp fall in unemployment – as published in […]

South Africans have been urged to think twice before sharing unconfirmed crime-related information on social media platforms, following a fake kidnapping video that spread fear. The Provincial Commissioner of North West, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena urged members of the community to exercise caution, following a video that went viral on social media platforms, particularly on […]

Five suspects, arrested in connection with alleged human trafficking, are expected to appear in the Rustenburg and Kuruman Magistrate Courts today, in South Africa. The five men were arrested on Sunday morning following a Hawks Northern Cape and North West Serious Organised Crime investigation with the assistance of Crime Intelligence, K9, TRT, Crime Scene Investigation […]

Anyone following the Ellen Degeneres story? In short, our Be Kind hero was found to be lacking in leadership skills, and some staff outed her for an unhappy work environment… writes Kim Nicola Stephens (a Cape Town mom of three, and Sport & outdoor communication consultant). Then it escalated to racism, and paedophilia and eating children. I’m […]

A second earthquake has been recorded in the Western Cape this morning, Sunday 27 September 2020. It has also transpired that the rattling windows and thunder sound that many Capetonians reported hearing last night were from a smaller earthquake in Cape Town, and not effects from Saturday night’s larger 6.2 magnitude earthquake off the South […]

Residents of Cape Town were Saturday night told to “exercise caution” after an earthquake of 6.2 magnitude was measured off the South African coast. A WhatsApp Advisory message went viral at around 20h10, announcing the earthquake had struck approximately an hour before on Saturday, 26 September 2020. The message said that according to the US […]

“One tap in 26 years.” That was one of the comments on social media after the Alfred Nzo Municipality in the Eastern Cape posted a video on this week showing a ceremony to announce the installation of a single tap for a village. The views (61,000 so far) and comments haven’t stopped running since then. […]

On 9 April, sex worker and activist Robyn Montsumi was arrested on a drug charge and held at the Mowbray police station. A few days later she died in police custody. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating what is allegedly a suicide by hanging. Sex worker advocacy groups are demanding an update on the investigation. […]

South Africa reported 1 906 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday which brings the total number of people infected in the country with the virus to 665,188 since the outbreak. Meanwhile, 88 more Coronavirus related deaths were recorded. Of the additional fatalities, 22 are from Limpopo, 18 from KwaZulu-Natal, 13 from Mpumalanga and 11 from the […]

SAPeople editor Jenni Baxter sat down with Adrian Roos MP (DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Home Affairs) and Justin Adams (DA Abroad UK and Europe Chairperson) to discuss the critical situation SA citizens abroad are facing in obtaining their South African passports from Home Affairs and the SA embassies. To assist South Africans abroad the […]

The mystery of why hundreds of elephants (over 300) have been suddenly dying in Botswana – some literally dropping dead on their faces – has been solved, according to Botswana authorities. The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism said in a live broadcast on Monday that toxins in the water is to blame […]

South Africa’s Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, will today, Monday 21 September, host a rural safety imbizo in KwaZulu-Natal. The imbizo will take place at the Normandien Auction Saleyard Hall in Newcastle at 10am. The Imbizo follows the Minister’s first visit to the area on 2 September 2020, after the murder of two elderly farmers, […]

Many Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality residents are already experiencing Day Zero, with tanks delivering water to them daily. The situation is worse in the western areas like St Albans, and in KwaNobuhle, Uitenhage. Residents of these neighbourhoods are blaming the municipality for managing the situation poorly. Several neighbourhoods in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality are […]