Look at this new radio image – from South Africa’s Meerkat telescope – covered with dots, each of which is a distant galaxy! The brightest spots are galaxies that are powered by supermassive black holes and shine bright in radio light. But what makes this image special are the numerous faint dots filling the sky. […]

Government is engaging with mobile operators on the best ways to reduce the high cost of data without interfering with the work of regulators, says Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. Government’s efforts follow the release of the Competition Commission’s market inquiry report into mobile data services, which found that South Africa’s data prices […]

South African Springbok star Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira will be moving to the USA where he has signed a one-year contract with Washington’s brand new Major League Rugby franchise, Old Glory. He’s not doing it for the money… but to boost rugby in the States and help mentor young African Americans. Mtawarira confirmed the move in […]

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza has submitted a detailed plan on the redevelopment of District Six to the Land Claims Court. The submission of the detailed plan comes after the litigation brought by the District Six Working Committee against the 5th administration of government. In November 2018, the court directed that […]

Every now and then an important film hits our screens, a film that’s not just entertainment… but which resonates with many and sends an important message that every single South African should hear and see. Moffie is one of those. The film – by acclaimed director Oliver Hermanus – has already premiered at the Venice […]

The joyous occasion in the beautiful Western Cape town in South Africa was marked by a serious and frightening theme. Barrydale held its annual giant puppet parade and performance on Sunday. Music, dance, dress-up and puppets brought the town to life as it celebrated the tenth year of this event. Titled “The Final Spring”, the […]

Tonight South African expat and comedian Trevor Noah will be interviewing Miss Universe on The Daily Show. It’s extra special since Miss Universe is of course South Africa’s own Zozibini Tunzi. (Watch video below.) Zozi and the Miss Universe page shared preview photos of the interview – which, with the way they’re both laughing and […]

With a drop in demand during the holiday period and a return of some generating units to service, Eskom is not expecting to implement load shedding today. “Eskom will continue to use emergency reserves to supplement capacity if necessary over this period,” said the power utility on Wednesday. Eskom has not load shed in four […]

Most people know Robertson either as a small, drive-through town, or as the place of four fabulous wine festivals with names like Wacky Wine Weekend and Wine-on-River Festival… writes Cindy September. The town is aptly known as “The town of Wine and Roses”. But Robertson is so much more than that. It’s the town I […]

An exceptional maths and science teacher from Newcastle in South Africa – Khangelani Sibiya (known to many as KWV) – has been named Best Global Teacher of the Year at the Global Education Awards ceremony in Dubai. Sibiya, who teaches with passion and energy, was selected from 80 of the top teachers in the world […]

CAPE TOWN – New Zealand did the double at the fifth instalment of the popular Cape Town Sevens in South Africa as their men’s and women’s teams were crowned champions on a weekend where new sevens records were set in the Mother City. With a women’s tournament added to the action for the first time, […]

I totter around the Pick n Pay in Germiston with my fresh platinum rinse and a trolley as my perambulator. Octogenarians overtake me with their sneaky leopard-crawling techniques, beating me to the till… writes Viv Vermaak (who had double knee surgery a few days ago). “Are you a pensioner?” the cashier asks me. “Excuse me…?!” […]

Eish, South Africans may have one of the sexiest accents in the world… but turns out it’s also one of the most difficult to master, even for someone who once played a magician! Watch the ‘Escape from Pretoria’ official trailer below, and you’re likely to wish Harry Potter could wave his magic wand and improve […]

This “has to be the luckiest and bravest pangolin in the world”, says Phinda Private Game Reserve conservation manager Simon Naylor. The little pangolin was abandoned, possibly run over and almost died… but thanks to luck and the dedication of a whole bunch of kind people in South Africa, he is now thriving in the […]

South Africa’s golf star Ernie Els was humble in defeat on Sunday as the United States won their tenth Presidents Cup in Melbourne, Australia. Els, who captained the International Team in the Presidents Cup 2019, said to Tiger Woods’ players – “You deserved to win this. We gave it our everything, but you were the […]

South African photo-journalist Shiraaz Mohamed, who was taken hostage in 2017 in Syria, has escaped according to Gift of the Givers. Shiraaz was in Syria to highlight the plight and suffering of refugees and civilians displaced by the ongoing conflict in that country… when he was abducted on 10 January 2017 in Darkoush. Today Gift […]

The Springbok Sevens team have progressed to the Cape Town Sevens semi-finals after they beat Kenya by 17-5 in a very physical quarter-final characterized by a couple of massive hits on Sunday morning. The Blitzboks scored three tries – with Ruhan Nel dotting down twice – and had the big crowd on the edge of […]

Springbok Sevens Coach Neil Powell says South Africa will have a ‘serious look’ at their discipline as they head into the final day of the Cape Town Sevens. The SA Sevens team continued their good form by finishing top of Pool A, beating Fiji 26-14 and the USA 21-15 after a 49-0 demolition of Japan. […]

Carte Blanche investigates Child Kidnappings, Rogue Gas Dealers and the Vuvuzela men who are reclaiming their neighbourhoods… plus more, tonight – Sunday 15 December – on DStv Now if you’re in South Africa, and available to stream from Tues 17 Dec on Showmax International in most other countries.  UNDERCOVER > INVESTIGATIVE Child Kidnappings Statistics show that […]

In an emotional final, with tears flooding the studio, South African expat and dancer Oti Mabuse, together with her celebrity partner, actor Kelvin Fletcher, has been crowned winner of the UK’s popular Strictly Come Dancing! UK reporters expressed their “delight” for Oti. “A glitterball win has been a long time coming (for her),” said a […]

Cricket South Africa (CSA) today announced the appointment of Mark Boucher as head coach of the Proteas and Enoch Nkwe as assistant coach at a Media Briefing at Newlands in Cape Town, South Africa. It was Acting Director of Cricket Graeme Smith’s first opportunity to engage with the media and he also outlined the timeline […]

The Springbok Sevens team topped Pool A at the Cape Town Sevens in South Africa after they held on in their final match of the day on Saturday to beat the USA by 21-15. Discipline was again an early issue for the Blitzboks as they conceded too many penalties, while Chris Dry and Seabelo Senatla […]

Almost every South African expat in London – and friends and family who visit them – has laughed at one point or another at the ‘Mind the Gap’ warnings that are announced at many Underground stations, where there’s a space between the train and the platform. But there’s one station where the announcer’s voice is […]

Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi said something powerful on Thursday night in Monaco, after winning the World Peace and Sport Champion for 2019 award. Siya’s wife Rachel took to social media to share the message, saying it really hit her and “every single person in the room”. Siya said: “We may break all the records and […]

The next Brand South Africa Global South Africans (GSA) engagement will be in Edinburgh in Scotland TOMORROW – Saturday,14 December 2019??. You will see a Scottish man singing the South African National Anthem using the Scottish pipes on the day! There will be Food. Fun. Fashion and South African wine. A kids’ play area will […]