Spring has arrived and South Africans are enjoying another long weekend with this year’s Heritage Day falling on Friday, 24 September. Here are some brilliant ideas on how to enjoy South Africa and get rejuvenated to help you make it through to the end of the year. The question is, where is a great place […]

A group of caring South African expats living in Timaru in New Zealand have rallied together to set up a fundraiser for the Dickason family who last week suffered an unimaginable tragedy when South African mother Lauren Dickason allegedly killed her three children and reportedly injured herself. The group said the fundraiser is to support […]

Los Angeles-based South African expat Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong has announced the launch of an ambitious initiative to build the capacity for advanced health care in Africa. It’s the ultimate gift to the land he still loves (like many expats, ‘Jerusalema’ made him homesick!). It is an incredible gesture… and as President Cyril Ramaphosa said at […]

This Heritage Month, you can celebrate South African stories and talents in this collection of movies, comedy and documentaries that tell fascinating tales of the complicated, beautiful land we love. Most of these are also available to South Africans living abroad in many countries. Browse full collection  On Heritage Day (Friday 24 September) – settle […]

South African hotels have scooped the top FIVE spots for Africa City Hotels in the World Travel and Leisure’s “World’s Best” awards. Four of the five are in Cape Town. A thrilled City of Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said this week: “As Mayor of this beautiful city, it gives me great joy to see […]

There were scenes of jubilation at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport as the first official flight from South African Airways (SA) took off on Thursday morning. SAA employees sang and danced after the months of uncertainty. WATCH SAA flight take off for first time in over a year The first #SAA flight has officially taken […]

South Africa’s senior national women’s football side, Banyana Banyana, who soared to victory in the first ever Aisha Buhari football cup, has been congratulated by the Sports Minister. Minister  congratulated the team, saying: “Banyana Banyana’s dominance is indeed something that deserves all our praise. The ladies’ national team, under the guidance of Coach Desiree Ellis, […]

South Africa has now surpassed the eight million mark for adults who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. According to the Department of Health, the country administered 178 685 COVID-19 jabs in the past 24 hours, of which 100 853 people were fully jabbed. This brings the total number of administered doses to 16 358 076, […]

As we celebrate World Rhino Day today – 22 September – we recognise the pioneering technological innovations that are proving to be highly effective in protecting Africa’s threatened rhino populations from poachers. Watch the Video: Postcode Meerkat For almost five years, Postcode Meerkat – the most advanced wide-area surveillance system ever developed for counter-poaching purposes […]

An incredibly special NSRI crew member, Patrick van Eyssen, who has volunteered for 50 years without a break, has won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) Awards Ceremony. Amongst incredible stories from around the world of search and rescue (SAR) workers’ dedication, selflessness, bravery and innovation, the NSRI won two […]

SA’s Blitzboks claimed a second Canada Sevens tournament win in three years when they totally outplayed Kenya to the tune of 38-5 in the final at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday. South Africa were up 24-0 at the break and continued their dominance in the second half. With this win the South Africans also […]

The Cape Town International Airport domestic terminal has continued its post-third wave recovery for the first two weeks of September, with the domestic passenger numbers reaching 49% of 2019 levels. The periods compared are 1-12 September 2021, and 1-12 September 2019. While the figures are still much lower than 2019’s, with international passenger terminal recovery […]

It’s Heritage Day in South Africa on Friday… and to help you celebrate we’ve put together a choice of meals that cover some of the Rainbow Nation’s varied cultures! So take your pick from Samp & Beans to Cape Malay Koeksisters and Milk Tart (or Melk Tert)… 1. Milk Tart There is nothing like a […]

If you’d like to help South Africa get moved off the UK’s Red List – whether you’re an expat desperate to get home to visit your family, or you’re a British citizen dying to visit SA’s beautiful beaches, mountains, wildlife, culture – here are a couple of suggestions. Background: The UK announced this evening that […]

When a bus breaks down far from town, and people have nothing to eat or drink, who you gonna call? Gift of the Givers, of course! A caring traffic officer, Mr Skota, did just that when he attended to a bus that had broken down 15 km outside of Graaff Reinet in the Eastern Cape. […]

Teaching is a difficult profession, especially in some of South Africa’s poorest schools. But for many educators, it’s a rewarding calling. Now, despite the odds, a headmaster working in a remote village in Limpopo has won the Global Principals’ Award. This week, Carte Blanche meets the man who has been recognised for his excellence – […]

JOHANNESBURG, 16 SEPTEMBER 2021 – South Africa is free of the Beta Covid variant according to official data issued by the South African government. The data indicates that there has been no measurable level of Beta genomes sequenced for at least two weeks in the country. This is hopefully good news for travellers! Following the […]

An advertising agency in South Africa – NET#WORK BBDO – just decided to ignite a new era by burning its multitude of awards! But there’s a fantastic reason. Renowned SA writer Gus Silber explains all in this brilliant piece… The Meltdown – by Gus Silber “I have mixed feelings about awards,” the great South African […]

Entertainment streaming service Netflix has announced a commitment of $400 000 USD (approx. R5.5 million) in the form of a grant and creation of scholarships to extend the support for Black representation in the Film & TV industry in South Africa. The Netflix Black Creatives Empowerment Fund will be implemented in a two-pronged approach: $100,000 […]

The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra performed its first concert in front of an audience since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown, outside the main entrance of Groote Schuur Hospital on Wednesday. By Liezl Human. The concert was dedicated to frontline health workers nationally, recognising the work that they have done and are still doing. There […]

The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra is paying tribute and saying thanks to doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers across South Africa in the most beautiful manner – performing a concert right outside Groote Schuur Hospital, which has been at the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic in the Western Cape. The hour-long lunch time concert is […]

It may have been almost 40 years since their last single, but Abba are now back in the charts with two new songs – I Still Have Faith in You and Don’t Shut Me Down. The new songs form part of a ten-track album that will be released in November… writes Shanika Ranasinghe, Royal Holloway […]

South African Hard Enduro racer and Red Bull athlete Wade Young has won top prize at the 2021 FIM Hard Enduro Championship – HERO Challenge in Poland this past weekend. The series made its stop in Dabrowa Gornicza on 11 September 2021 and saw the KwaZulu-Natal born Wade, claim first place in round six of […]

Novak Djokovic had a dream. The Serbian tennis superstar wanted to make world history at the US Open by becoming the first male player to win 21 Grand Slam singles titles. But that dream was dashed by a young Russian, Daniil Medvedev… who outplayed him on Sunday to win 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. If there were […]

More than 60 people, most of whom were homeless, queued at the U-turn Homeless Service Centre in Claremont to receive a hot meal after getting their single-jab Johnson and Johnson vaccine against Covid-19 this weekend… By Marecia Damons. More than 60 mostly homeless people were vaccinated at the U-turn Homeless Service Centre in Claremont. The […]