The key to the jail cell in which South Africa’s legendary Nelson Mandela was locked for almost two decades is set to possibly fetch more than £1-million at an auction next month. It comes from the maximum-security prison on Robben Island, near Cape Town, where the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former South African president […]

PARIS (Reuters) – Princess Charlene of Monaco will be visited by her two children and her husband, Prince Albert, during the Christmas holidays, the prince’s palace said in a statement on Thursday, as she remains convalescing in a secret location. Charlene, a former South African Olympian who married Monaco’s ruler in 2011 in a lavish […]

Harry and Meghan have publicly shared the first photo of their daughter Lilibet in a Christmas card. The picture of the young family of four was released today, Thurs 23 December. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who live in California, wrote in a message on the card: “This year 2021, we welcomed our daughter […]

The recent rains that soaked most parts of the country have made a significant impact on water levels in some parts of the country, particularly the national average, according to the Department of Water and Sanitation’s weekly state of the reservoirs report, which shows the impact of summer rains in some areas. In a statement […]

Don’t miss this Sunday’s Carte Blanche. You can watch the show on Sunday 26 December in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas in most countries from 28 December if you’re abroad. CELEBRATION Honouring Healthcare Heroes When the waves of the pandemic surge, we stay at home. But healthcare workers keep going to […]

Unsurprisingly and absolutely fittingly, the incredible, devout, devoted and huge hearted Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder and chairperson of Gift of the Givers, has been named the Daily Maverick’s ‘South African Person of the Year’. The title is bestowed on “a person who has had the broadest or most significant impact on the country as a […]

South African expat and musician, Gugu Zulu, has scooped second position in Germany’s talent show ‘The Voice of Germany 2021’. The SA singer and songwriter, who now lives in Germany, wowed the judges and German audience with her mesmerising voice (watch Rise Up below!). After Sunday’s fabulous finale, Gauteng publicist, Georg Knoke, said: “Fantastic news […]

In an effort to strengthen strategic partnership relations between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has engaged with potential investors during her four-day visit to Dubai. During her trip the Minister held bilateral engagements with G Pennon, Chairman of the SOBHA Group, a multinational real estate and construction group, […]

A selection of photos we (GroundUp) took this year! © 2021 GroundUp

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has ended a week of self-isolation which followed his positive test for COVID-19 on 12 December 2021. The President thanked all South Africans along with leaders and friends internationally who conveyed their good wishes during this period. In turn, the President said he wishes everyone infected with COVID-19 a safe […]

Pigcasso, the abstract expressionist painter and rescued pig from South Africa, has made headlines abroad with the announcement this week that one of her paintings has sold for an incredible £20,000. Pigcasso’s page said on Wednesday: “WILD AND FREE (Pigcasso 2021) MAKES HISTORY! The magnificent Masterpiece that has inspired a global record has sold to […]

Let the Christmas countdown begin with these 6 local South African festive season movies. Showmax is counting down to Christmas with a merry line-up of local holiday movies. From laugh-a-minute comedies to feel-good tear-jerkers, these homegrown films will give you all the festive season feels for a very Mzansi Christmas.  Add these new holiday favourites […]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is “making good progress” in his recovery from COVID-19, while continuing treatment for “mild symptoms” the Presidency announced on Friday. The President is in “good spirits and comfortable in his recovery”, according to Minister in The Presidency, Mondli Gungubele. President Ramaphosa tested positive for the coronavirus viral infection on Sunday […]

With France banning travel to and from the UK  for most – although not all – travellers, the Western Cape has pounced on the moment to promote its beautiful beaches as a fabulous alternative to the French Riviera. From midnight tonight French local time, only UK citizens/residents will be allowed to leave France to enter […]

The South African government, through the African Renaissance Fund (ARF), has signed an agreement with the African Vaccination Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to donate 2 030 400 doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, valued at R288.6 million, to African countries. AVAT was formed following the establishment of the African Union’s COVID-19 African Vaccination Acquisition Task […]

South African expat Marnus Labuschagne has scored another century for his adopted homeland, Australia… becoming the Australian with the most runs since his Test debut on 7 October 2018. This was his sixth Test century, and his first against England. Labuschagne (27)  started this year on a good note, being hailed “an incredible player, a legend […]

There’s something for everyone on Carte Blanche this week – from a barber to the stars, to saving the Bearded Vultures, repatriating Africa’s stolen artefacts and Elon Musk’s venture to Mars. Carte Blanche has a packed 90-minute blockbuster adventure just for you. You can watch the show on Sunday 19 December in South Africa on […]

“I couldn’t be more excited after hearing the wonderful news that our beautiful City, Cape Town, has bagged a double at the 2021 World Travel Awards!” Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says. For the second consecutive year Cape Town has been named the World’s Leading Festival and Event Destination, which is fantastic news for everyone […]

A South African mom, who now lives in England, has decided to turn personal trauma from the past into a positive that can help others. Having tragically lost her father and brother only nine days apart, Ilze Lee and her children, Bradley and Leah, were still coming to terms with the loss when the children’s […]

CAPE TOWN – Intrepid adventurer Richard Kohler is just days away from leaving Cape Town for a solo surfski paddle across the Southern Atlantic to Salvador in Brazil, aiming to become the first person to complete the 7,000 mile journey alone and unsupported… writes Dave Macleod. 52 year old Kohler will be paddling a specially […]

Cape Town says it is destination-ready and can’t wait to welcome back its visitors… many of whom will be SA expats heading home for the holidays, or British sun-seekers desperate to soak up SA’s fabulous culture, cuisine and cool beaches. The UK has scrapped its red list (from 4am Wednesday) meaning that their travellers are […]

Encouragingly, the result of a major study in South Africa shows that vaccinated individuals who received two-doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have 70% protection against hospital admission. Whilst protection against hospital admission is a lot less than the highs of 93% in South Africa’s Delta-driven variant, 70% is still regarded as very good protection. The […]

The UK government has said that all 11 countries currently on its travel Red Llist, including South Africa, will be removed from 04h00 on Wednesday morning! “Tears rolling down my cheeks,” said SA expat Loulou C, who is in Scotland. “I am SO SO happy… going to cuddle my mum and not let her go; […]

Great news for the thousands of South Africans around the world who have inadvertently lost their South African citizenship – the Democratic Alliance (DA) has confirmed it will take the fight for the rights of South Africans unknowingly deprived of their citizenship to the Supreme Court of Appeal. Section 6(1)(a) of the South African Citizenship […]

A couple in Level Two informal settlement in Khayelitsha, Cape Town are growing vegetables on a small plot next to their home to feed their family and a local soup kitchen. They say they cleared the area that had once been used as a dump site. Xolani Mbokodi and his wife Vuyokazi Vapi live with […]