Heritage Day, 24 September, marks the official launch of the new live-work-play precinct in downtown Johannesburg, Jewel City (a great new development SAPeople reported on earlier in August). Six blocks of previously unused buildings, from Maboneng to the newly refurbished Towers Main, have now opened for business. Jewel City has been built around the headquarters […]

Jellyfish can be found in almost every ocean in the world. These beautiful, graceful creatures are a sight to behold; their swift, pulsating motions gently propel them through the water. But the scene can quickly turn ominous as the animal transforms into a ferocious, formidable predator. These creatures have no special organs for respiration or […]

Birthday wishes have poured in for South African expat and Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron. Her African Outreach Project (CTAOP) said: “As we continue to push forward through these challenging times, there is NO ONE we’d rather have leading our tribe. Your sharp wit and sense of humor always keeps us on our toes. Your integrity […]

While most South African municipalities outside of the Western Cape are billions of rand in debt from irregular spending, mismanagement and corruption, the lone Midvaal in Gauteng has had a clean audit for the sixth year in a row. This week, to celebrate Women’s Month, women from the municipality came together to dance to Beyoncé’s […]

In a world-first for the endangered Temminck´s Ground Pangolin (Smutsia temminckii), a reintroduction program has been launched to release this species into an area where they became locally extinct decades ago – KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Manyoni Private Game Reserve in Zululand, KZN, is working closely with the African Pangolin Working Group, HSI Africa and Johannesburg […]

Thanks to improved service at Cape Town harbour, the wine industry, badly affected by the months-long lockdown and prohibition of alcohol sales in South Africa, was able to export 38 million litres of wine in July, 12 million litres more than in June.  Rico Basson, the MD of Vinpro, which represents 2,500 wine producers, thanked […]

CEO Jurie Roux welcomed the news from the South African Government that rugby has been given the green light to return to the playing field, under certain conditions. The news was gazetted by Nathi Mthethwa, Minister for Sports, Arts and Culture, on Thursday. It allows for a return to competitive action subject to compliance with […]

Black Is King, the brand-new movie by 24-time Grammy Award winner Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, is now streaming on DStv Now. The film – which is being heralded as “breathtaking” – will be available on DStv Now until 31 August 2020 for DStv Premium customers. Stream Black is King here. The film is based on the music […]

A big push is being made by South African chef Jan Hendrik at his Michelin-starred restaurant in the south of France (in Nice, on the Cote d’Azur) to serve as much South African wine as possible to help the local industry during its crisis as the ban on local alcohol sales continues. And he has […]

A beautiful BnB in Spain – Almijara Residence – which is owned by South African expats Paul Tilly and Maurice Jonker, has been voted the fifth best Bnb in the whole of the European country. A delighted Paul, who grew up in Zimbabwe, announced the news on social media today, saying: “As years go, 2020 […]

As they say – The Show Must Go On… or in this case, Online! Queen of Afro-Jazz Judith Sephuma will be presenting her brilliant show as ‘Virtual Queen’, streaming this week in harmony for lockdown fans. The multi-award-winning songstress, aka The Queen of Afro-Jazz, has recorded a 66-minute “on-demand” live studio show that will enable […]

South African cyclist Daryl Impey will join four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome at Israel Start-Up Nation next season after signing a two-year deal with the team. The 35-year-old Impey, the first African cyclist to wear the Tour’s yellow jersey in 2013, has ridden for Mitchelton-Scott since 2012. ‘It’s not often you get to […]

The events industry lit up South Africa tonight in a sea of red to raise awareness for the artists, musicians, concert promoters and others who have not been able to work or receive any financial benefits for months, because of the strict lockdown regulations. Western Cape photographer Andrew Gorman was in Cape Town to capture […]

Nobody loves their vetkoek more than a South African… and last week, many South Africans on their way to work in Olifantsfontein in Gauteng, were pleasantly surprised when they were gifted free vetkoek by Curro Academy Clayville school. But the kindness demonstrated by the independent mainstream school went even further than that. They had bought […]

Snakes are a diverse lineage of reptiles that are found on every continent except Antarctica. Despite differences in appearance, habitat preference, defence tactics and underlying biology, one thing is common to all 3,800 species of snakes — every last one is a predator. As predators, snakes are likely to fulfil important roles in ecosystems. Knowing […]

It’s been an incredible month for local author Lauren Beukes, whose 2013 novel “The Shining Girls” is to be made into a TV series by Leonardo di Caprio’s production company and whose latest novel has just been reviewed in The New York Times by no less than the thriller maestro Stephen King. “The Shining Girls,” […]

Keeping a promise to maintain a clean administration, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said today that a lifestyle audit showed that all members of his cabinet and their spouses live a lifestyle in line with their income and that there were no conflicts of interest. “When I became Premier last year, I committed to clean […]

The Kiffness – aka musician Dave Scott from the Western Cape – has added another parody to his Lockdown Parody Collection. This time he’s created his own twist on Pink Floyd classic – ‘Another Brick in the Wall’… and it features one of South Africans’ favourite words… https://www.facebook.com/thekiffness/videos/2386501168311006/

August is Women’s Month in South Africa, and appropriately enough, Showmax’s new series and movies showcase some of the toughest, most controversial and most talented women around. Meet the real Kelly Khumalo in the latest Showmax Original reality show, see Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron in two very different roles each, and watch the much-discussed […]

World record holder Wayde van Niekerk had to put his comeback on hold after a day of drama in which he tested negative for Covid-19 after originally producing a positive result. The 28-year-old had tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in the week and tests on everyone else at a South African training camp in Gemona, […]

In just 30 minutes, an Idols SA video has been liked over 2,000 times, and tweeted hundreds more. The video features judge Somizi streaking through the studio! He apparently lost a bet! Watch below. Idols SA said: “We’ll never unsee this, @somizi! @casspernyovest (Cassper Nyovest) is traumatised after the #IdolsSA judge loses a bet and […]

In these challenging times I would like to share the power of hope, trust and connection with you… writes Kate Crossland, a South African expat in the UK who has been a longtime SAPeople contributor.  On the 6th of June I replied to a comment on an SAPeople post of Mr President’s weekly letter. He […]

A junior school in Pietermartizburg, KwaZulu-Natal, is the latest to join the Jerusalema dance challenge that’s become an international phenomenon… the South African song that has swept the world and got everyone out of their seats and onto their feet, out of Lockdown lethargy and back in the groove! The latest group to join the […]

After a rapid rise in COVID-19 infections over the last two months, the daily increase in infections appears to be stabilising, particularly in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape… signalling the peak may have been reached. South Africa has recorded more than half a million confirmed cases of Coronavirus. Of the cumulative total of […]

Perhaps it has taken a small cruel virus to open my eyes… writes Steve Hall. This invisible thing has brought a new clarity to the vision I once had but maybe didn’t notice enough. Covid-19 arrived unwanted and indiscriminate, and no amount of border protection or customs officials could stem the tragedy of its travels. […]