A few months ago Mthetho Mapoyi was an unemployed young man serenading patrons at Cape Town’s beachfront restaurants with the opera songs he used to imitate as a child, learnt from the only thing his father left behind when he deserted the family – an old Pavarotti CD. But his life has changed! SAPeople caught […]

As much of the world starts preparing to celebrate the most famous journey to Bethlehem, taken by Mary and Joseph over 2,000 years ago… social media followers are celebrating a modern day act of kindness taken by a couple of strangers to help a man on his way to Bethlehem, South Africa. Neville Manchu’s post […]

South African conservationist Gareth James Legg and his team have just returned from a very successful expedition to Everest base camp where they created some incredible awareness around the plight of the world’s big cats and the environment. During the trek the three passionate South African conservationists – who are all qualified safari guides – […]

Antonia Mtambo, (69) a pensioner and domestic worker from Willowfountain, Pietermaritzburg, was living in a home that became irreparable when a white-ant infestation destroyed her house and exposed her to the elements… Her plight broke the hearts of her employers of over 15 years – Michelle Hugo (68) and daughter Kerry (35)… and so they […]

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has confirmed that Tristan-Lee Niemand and another six South Africans detained in China have been released from prison and will be deported this week. The department said in a statement the South African mission in Shanghai has informed Minister Lindiwe Sisulu that the seven South African nationals […]

Almost everyday, hundreds of homeless people gather at the Service Dining Rooms for a warm cooked meal and cooldrink. Situated in Cape Town’s city centre, this charity has been feeding people in need for over 80 years. On Thursday, the organisation held its annual Christmas Party. where meals were prepared for over 400 people. The […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s rand traded slightly stronger early Tuesday, helped by a fragile dollar as markets counted down to a crucial U.S. Federal Reserve meeting amid speculation it will soon hit the pause button to its monetary tightening cycle. At 0645 GMT, the rand traded at 14.3500 versus the dollar, 0.3 percent stronger than […]

JOHANNESBURG – South African Airways (SAA) said on Tuesday that it had signed a partnership deal with Emirates airline which would see the two firms expand an existing codeshare agreement and work on other areas of cooperation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been at pains to stabilise struggling state-run firms like SAA, which has […]

A Johannesburg restaurant manager, who saved the life of a customer’s young son, has been publicly heralded for her quick action and extreme calmness in a situation that could have had a tragic ending. Lone Wolf Spur Steak Ranch owner Chris Marks posted a photo with the Gauteng restaurant’s store manager Nelly Malinga, and said […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has used Reconciliation Day to call on all South Africans to be part of the effort to promote investment, achieve inclusive growth, improve the conditions of the poor and create employment on a massive scale. “The Day of Reconciliation must … be a day on which we reaffirm our commitment to eradicate […]

JOHANNESBURG – The Springboks will arrive in Japan for the World Cup a week earlier than previously planned next year to play the tournament hosts in a warm-up match in Saitama, South Africa Rugby said on Monday. South Africa will face Japan at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium on Sept. 6, a little over two weeks before […]

BANGKOK – Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green has won second place in the Miss Universe competition! The crown was scooped on Monday by Miss Philippines Catriona Gray, with Miss Venezuela in third place. Miss South Africa organisers said Monday morning: “Good morning, South Africa. ICYMI, our Tamaryn has just placed 1st runner up out of […]

Sun City staff have been praised by the management, as well as by visitors to the resort for its quick clean up following the freak hail storm that hit Sun City on Saturday afternoon, wreaking havoc as it flooded several areas of the hotel and damaged almost 200 rooms. Tracey Lindeque was at the resort […]

A joint operation between police and a farm watch patrol in Limpopo, South Africa, has led to the arrest of two of three suspects in the tragic murder Friday morning of retired attorney Johan Kruger (57), who was shot dead on his farm, in front of his wife. SAPS said that two suspects in their […]

Watch the video below for a uniquely South African version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears… because of Eskom’s loadshedding! If you don’t understand Afrikaans, here’s a rough English translation: One day there was a Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Baba Bear. Papa Bear says: “Who ate my porridge?” And then Baba Bear says: “Who […]

Castle Lager has launched its latest #SmashTheLabel video – a special experiment with “real South Africans”. Watch below. “We asked strangers to describe someone based only on a picture,” says Castle. What the strangers didn’t know was that they were then going to meet each other. Castle is asking South Africans “What does reconciliation mean […]

Here’s what’s coming up on South Africa’s favourite current affairs show Carte Blanche on Sunday 16 Dec in South Africa. If you’re a South African living abroad – subscribe to Showmax to watch from Tues 18 Dec, and don’t miss out on the 14-day Free Trial. The State of the Nation 2018 In February Cyril Ramaphosa became […]

The former South African president, Jacob Zuma has officially opened a twitter account – @PresJGZuma The former president posted his first tweet early on Friday – a video introducing himself to his followers (which ended with “It’s me… former president Jacob Zuma” in case it wasn’t clear). Zuma says he wants to move with the […]

Watch and enjoy a “Proudly South African Christmas” from The Nixter, aka Nikki Horn. Nikki told SAPeople this week: “I’m still amazed at the reaction this video got (and is still getting) from South Africans and Saffas abroad. “I’m so proud to have been a part of making South Africans proud of their homeland. ❤️” […]

Christmas seems to be coming early for South Africans with a drop in petrol prices, today’s ruling that Jacob Zuma must pay for his own legal fees and news from Eskom that it’s unlikely to implement power cuts again until mid-January next year. This is thanks to electricity demands easing over the Christmas and New Year […]

A lot happened in the world of palaeontology in 2018. Some of the big events included some major fossil finds, a new understanding of our reptile ancestors and a major controversy whose outcome could rewrite human history. The Conversation Africa asked Dr Julien Benoit to discuss five important moments in palaeontology you may have missed […]

An incredible story of corporate love in South Africa has been posted on social media, a wonderful story of the kindness of corporates – showing their more human face – to help a proud grandmother be at her eldest granddaughter’s graduation next year. It began with Inge Beukes (@ComradeInge) tweeting on Sunday evening: “Called my […]

South African breaststroker and SA sport legend Cameron van der Burgh announced his retirement from international swimming today… just after winning his fifth World Championship gold medal. The 30-year-old made the announcement during his post-race press conference on Wednesday after winning the World Short Course Championship in the men’s 100m breaststroke. ‘It is an amazing […]

One of the most important criteria for me when deciding whether a city is worth living in is the public transport. The less I have to use a car, the better. Me and driving are a combustible marriage… writes SAPeople’s Ted Botha. New York was perfect for this and Cape Town has a MyCiti bus […]

Skabenga, the famous housecat-in-residence at the Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga, assists with a check-in today, by turning his back on the checker-inner and blithely ignoring the rather obvious mouse just to his right… writes Gus Silber. Skabenga – a mangling of the isiZulu term, S’gebengu, meaning “vagabond” or “hooligan” – is a former feral […]