Churches, mosques, synagogues and other places of worship in South Africa may resume their services under level 3 of lockdown… with strict conditions in place, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday evening. In March, places of worship were forced to close their doors to congregants, as government implemented a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread […]

After an 18-year battle with the South African government to honor an agreement it made in 2002, Limpopo farmer David Rakgase, who is 80, finally owns his Nooitgedacht farm for the original price he offered. After the High Court ruled against the government and in favour of Rakgase in September 2019, the government has honoured […]

As predicted by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) a monster cold front has gripped parts of SA, sending locked-down residents back under the blankets and duvets this morning! SAWS said today’s satellite image shows the cold front moving east, resulting in cold to very cold temperatures across the southern and central parts of SA. […]

Rhino poaching in South Africa has (fortunately) suffered a significant decline during lockdown… although sadly it has not ground to an absolute halt, and could spike after the pandemic as poachers make up for their losses. But for now, the good news is that in April 2020 the Kruger National Park recorded the fewest rhinos […]

The fight for the rights of South African citizens who work, live or study abroad to be allowed to leave the country is looking positive. Locked in South Africa (#LISA), which represents around 3,500 South Africans stuck in SA, confirmed today (Monday) that “this morning, the State Attorney made contact with our legal representative and […]

South Africa’s The Kiffness – aka David Scott – has posted another hilarious video to his incredibly popular playlist of Lockdown Parodies. This time it’s called “Nkosazan’ Dlamini Trafficker (SA’s New National Anthem)” and pokes fun at Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and the ban on cigarettes in South Africa. Scott […]

A group of caring family doctors in Cape Town, South Africa, have initiated a Masks for Medics crowdfunding campaign to raise crucial funds to provide PPE to healthcare workers caring for positive Covid-19 patients. While there have been campaigns to support frontline healthcare workers, this campaign is “focusing on the forgotten; the home-based carers, the […]

As the continent marks the 57th Africa Day, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, President Cyril Ramaphosa – as African Union Chair – will lead the continent’s celebrations, which include a special virtual broadcast and the Africa Day Solidarity Concert for the COVID-19 Response Fund. Africa Day is celebrated on 25 May 2020 and marks the establishment of […]

Over 60,000 people and counting have enjoyed this beautiful performance by the Stellenbosch University Choir – Die Donker (The Dark). As one YouTube user (Jason Tillett) says: “Afrikaans never sounded more beautiful! Ongelooflik ❤️” (The English translation is at the bottom of the article.) Update, 1 Feb ’21: Over 339,000 have now viewed this video […]

A video of South Africans appearing to be celebrating the lifting of the alcohol ban in Level 3 has gone viral in SA and amongst expats around the world. (Watch below.) The video, posted by Joburg marketer and public speaker Mike Said, shows a crowded bar erupting in cheers as Ramaphosa is seen making the […]

South Africans who have been stranded in India for over seven weeks are finally winging their way home to SA today! With money and medicine having run out for many, it is such welcome news. It’s believed the South Africans are being carried on an SAA plane which had brought Indian citizens – who were […]

US President Donald Trump is donating his salary for this quarter to the US Health Department for COVID-19 research. White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, announced the news at a press conference on Friday. McEnany said: “The President, as you are all well aware, donates his salary to various initiatives… across the Federal Government, and […]

The United Nations (UN) in South Africa has shared a video, featuring SA, that launches a new initiative to help citizens of the word share accurate information about coronavirus. Watch below. The campaign – Verified, which features two ticks – is a UN initiative to encourage everyone to check the advice they share. On the […]

Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, says South Africa is moving forward with confidence, backed by science, with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said government has taken the necessary bold steps needed to prevent the rapid spread of Coronavirus. “The numbers would have been extremely high and quickly overwhelmed the system, had we not taken […]

Before you read this article, pause for a moment and look at the nail on your little finger. That’s about the size of a new species of seahorse discovered in the waters of Sodwana Bay, South Africa, which falls within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site, in KwaZulu-Natal province. Hippocampus nalu grows to […]

South Africa’s top swimmers are in desperate need to get back into the water so they can resume their training for next year’s Olympic Games. The past eight weeks of dryland training is starting to take its toll. The University of Pretoria’s Kaylene Corbett, who had qualified in the 200m breaststroke for the Tokyo Olympics, […]

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) announced today that it has facilitated the repatriation by air of 5,239 South Africans stranded abroad. According to DIRCO Minister Naledi Pandor, hundreds more have also returned through the country’s land borders. As several countries went into lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, an initial 3 637 requested […]

In a victory for “invisible, undocumented children”, unwed fathers will soon be able to register the births of their children without the mother being present or giving consent. In a ruling this week, three judges of the Eastern Cape High Court, deemed the relevant provision of the Births and Death Registration Act, to be unconstitutional. […]

Some of South Africa’s greatest musicians from the last few decades are uniting to perform a unique ‘Lockdown Legends’ online concert that will raise much-needed funds for the SA music industry, and entertain South Africans at home with famous household names. The event – on 7 June 2020 – will feature many of the legendary […]

The Free State government has identified 25 quarantine facilities to accommodate people who have had contact with COVID-19 patients. “We have 10 quarantine facilities that are state-owned whilst 15 are privately-owned. The rest will be announced once ready for occupation,” Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela said. Addressing a media briefing on Tuesday, on the province’s […]

Wildlife is thriving off Simon’s Town during lockdown and “life’s a beach for these locals”, according to the City of Cape Town, South Africa. This beautiful Southern Elephant Seal was photographed early yesterday morning, Monday 18 May 2020, at the Simon’s Town harbour by Dave Hurwitz.  The seal was first sighted yesterday, according to the City, […]

The Class of 2020 at a South African school in KwaZulu-Natal – Felixton College near Empangeni – have put together a moving video message to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Watch below. “We are blown away by a few of the Felixton College (Felixton, Zululand) Grade 12 pupils who put together this message entitled ‘Hope is not […]

The country’s first public advocate for children and guardian of their rights will take up her post from 1 June, Western Cape Premer Alan Winde announced today. The Children’s Commissioner is Christina Nomdo. Winde said this was an incredibly important role, as the person was tasked with monitoring, researching, investigating, lobbying and reporting on children and […]

More than 15,000 small-scale farmers in South Africa have been approved for the COVID-19 Agricultural Disaster Fund, says Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza. Didiza said that 55,155 applications were received from smallholder and communal farmers, with the highest number of applications received from the Eastern Cape Province, followed by the Northern […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa will today, Monday, 18 May 2020, address the virtual 73rd Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), at the invitation of the Director- General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom. President Ramaphosa has been invited to participate as a guest alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who toured […]