CAPE TOWN – In a combined operation of metro police and traffic cops, a record number of arrests were made over the past week in Cape Town, South Africa, including hundreds of taxi owners and drivers who hadn’t paid fines, drunk drivers, and people in illegal possession of drugs and unlicensed firearms, according to a […]

On Sunday evening Carte Blanche paid tribute to legendary musician, songwriter and activist Johnny Clegg. Best known for some of his iconic hits such as ‘Impi’ and ‘Asimbonanga’ – a song paying homage to Nelson Mandela and other struggle stalwarts of his time – the man fondly known as the ‘White Zulu’ succumbed to pancreatic […]

South Africa’s Karla Pretorius was named Player of the Tournament on Sunday night at the Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England… for her “outstanding performance” and for being SA’s “impenetrable wall”. With huge cheers from the crowd, it was obvious said the compere, that Karla was a popular winner. The Netball World Cup announced on […]

South Africa’s Akani Simbine streaked to a surprise victory in London in the 100 metres race on Saturday at the IAAF Diamond League championships. Simbine was on fire from start to finish, rocketing over the finishing line in 9.93 seconds, a season’s best. The South African athlete surprised all (and thrilled everyone from Africa) at […]

The question most people ask when we meet them somewhere on our travels through the vast dry Karoo region of South Africa is: “How do you find your stories?”… writes Chris Marais from KarooSpace. Those who read our Karoo books and our regular features in SA Country Life magazine and various other publications want to know what sets us […]

Here’s the line-up of hot topics dominating the headlines in South Africa this week that the Carte Blanche team are tackling this Sunday 21 July. You can watch the current affairs show here if you’re in SA or stream it from Tues 23 July on Showmax International if you’re overseas (available in many countries abroad). […]

A wild fire that burned across parts of iSimangaliso Wetland Park in uMkhuze, KwaZulu-Natal, last night – threatening the world heritage site – is now “back under control” thanks to brave firefighters, officials in South Africa confirmed this morning. Last night iSimangaliso posted frightening photos of the “unplanned bush fire”, asking its followers to “spare […]

On Tuesday night South Africa’s Ndlovu Youth Choir sang their HEARTS out for America – exciting the crowd with an extremely high energy cover of ‘Wake Waka!” on America’s Got Talent (AGT) 2019. Watch below. (They had us with the first word – “AFRICA…”) And in just three days the video has attracted over 1.8 […]

The Drakensberg Boys Choir honoured the passing of South Africa’s legendary maestro, Johnny Clegg, in their concert on Wednesday. Watch below. Drakies posted this video earlier today, saying: “This is the best way in which we could honour the late, great Johnny Clegg #RipJohnnyClegg.” Johnny Clegg passed away on Tuesday 16 July, after a 4-year […]

Late last year SAPeople ran a competition with South African Airways for a return trip for two from Heathrow, London, to South Africa. The lucky winner was Lucy Vaughan (and her boyfriend whom she surprised). SAPeople spoke to Lucy this week on her return from her holiday to SA… What made you enter the competition […]

Today – Nelson Mandela Day (18 July 2019) – President Cyril Ramaphosa shone a light on an incredibly special radio station, a first of its kind in the world. It’s RX Radio at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. RX Radio features eight to 18-year-olds behind the radio microphone, […]

CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said today was the best Mandela Day he had ever had because of what he experienced at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. “I came here to uplift the spirits of the young people,” he said, holding one of the young patients in his arms, “but […]

Loyiso Basso says he left a life of drugs and crime after he realised he was wasting his life and making his mother suffer. The 30-year-old opened a restaurant in Makhaya, Khayelitsha. It has been running for two years. Pamela Mkhabela, a neighbour, says: “People used to be so scared of him [Basso], but now […]

As South Africans and the world celebrate the 10th anniversary of International Nelson Mandela Day today, here’s a collection from South Africans around the world of some of the statues, plaques and rugby shirts (!) that honour SA’s former president. Mandela Day is intended to embody the words of Mandela: “It is in your hands […]

PRETORIA – President Cyril Ramaphosa has entered the battle between his Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan and the Public Protector Busiswe Mkhwebane by filing a supporting affidavit for Gordhan in the North Gauteng High Court, according to a statement released by the presidency today. Gordhan has applied to the same court for the suspension […]

After reporting on Johnny Clegg’s death on Tuesday 16 July, after a 4-year long, brave battle with pancreatic cancer, we couldn’t write or post anything yesterday. We were just too heartbroken. Like many journalists I had met Johnny (66) a few times, spent time at his home in Joburg and met his lovely wife Jenny, […]

JOHANNESBURG – There’s good news for unemployment in South Africa, as the SA unit of Ford Motor Co has announced on Wednesday that it will hire an additional 1,200 people to staff an extra shift at one of its vehicle assembly plants. According to a statement from Ford, this will increase production to 720 units […]

No matter how fabulous a South African expat’s life is abroad, there’s still nothing quite like a holiday back home… whether it’s once a year or once a decade. To fly home with SAA and catch up with family and friends over a lekker braai, watch the sun set in an African sky, and marvel […]

When New York was plunged into a blackout on Saturday evening, South African comedian Trevor Noah and a couple of friends from South Africa were hanging out together in his building… but when the lights came back on, they found themselves in a “compromising” position in front of the other residents of the building. Watch […]

Thanks to popular demand, here are even more ‘Expat Tax’ questions submitted by SAPeople members, with answers kindly provided by the expert tax team at Tax Consulting South Africa. Dear SAPeople Members, The positive responsive from the community has been phenomenal. We encourage you to continue submitting your questions and look forward to those unique […]

A young South African with special needs had his lifelong dream come true this weekend during a visit to the United States, when a local police department (PD) not only visited him, but allowed him to eat their donuts and wear a US police vest. Reece’s brother, Jared Webster, said: “Thank you Bagota Police Department […]

Wimbledon said today’s men’s final between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer was a “fitting end to a phenomenal year at The Championships”. In a nail-biting match, Djokovic won his fifth Wimbledon title in an instant classic, defeating Federer 7-6(5), 1-6, 7-6(4), 4-6, 13-12(3)!!! It was Wimbledon’s longest final match ever, closing in on five hours. […]

South Africa’s Daryl Impey today won the 170.5-km Stage 9 of the famous Tour de France cycling race… and he did it in brilliant Proudly South African Style! Watch the video below as he triumphantly points to his chest with both hands, showing the South African flag, after passing the finishing line in a VERY […]

DAR ES SALAAM – Elephant and rhino populations in Tanzania have begun to rebound after a government crackdown dismantled organised criminal networks involved in industrial-scale poaching, the country’s presidency said this week. A prominent Chinese businesswoman dubbed the “Ivory Queen” was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a Tanzanian court in February for smuggling […]

Here’s the line-up of hot South African topics that the Carte Blanche team are tackling this Sunday 14 July. You can watch the current affairs show here if you’re in SA or stream it from Tues 16 July on Showmax International if you’re overseas (available in many countries abroad). Cape Town Gangs Thirteen people dead […]