At a time when the world is hearing so much negative news about South Africa’s political crises, BBC’s former Africa Bureau Chief Peter Burdin says we should look to the youth for the real story… Burdin, an international journalism lecturer and BBC editor, was nominated this week – by the South Africa Chamber of Commerce in the […]

A model of the spectacular “Kirstenbosch – South Africa” Exhibit for this year’s famous Chelsea Flower Show was unveiled at a launch at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden yesterday. Designed by the award-winning team David Davidson and Raymond Hudson, the exhibit will provide a glimpse of all nine of South Africa’s biomes to the over 150,000 people […]

Yikes. South Africans Roger Purchase and Les Davis were riding in the Bavaiaanskloof Game Reserve, near Port Elizabeth, when they encountered a somewhat “bad tempered” lone Buffalo Bull… What ensued is captured on film by Les. Fortunately nobody was injured! According to Roger, solitary bulls like this are sometimes called “Dagga Bulls” or “Dagga Boys”. […]

The 2016/2017 Fire Season took its toll on the Western Cape in South Africa – 17,000 fires were reported and damage is estimated to have exceeded R500 million with 142 fatalities. To try and prevent this tragedy recurring next year, a new project is being launched… “I’m excited to announce the launch of the Before the Burn […]

Are you a Benonian living abroad? If so – the Benoni City Times would like to share your story. They say “once a Benonian, always a Benonian”. And that counts for stars like Charlize Theron who was born here, and Charlene Wittstock – now Princess Charlene of Monaco – who grew up here. The City Times will be […]

PRETORIA – Deputy President Cyril Ramphosa says he is supportive of Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and his team who are heading to the United States of America (USA) for the forthcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings. Yesterday in Pretoria, Gigaba briefed Ramaphosa on his scheduled visit which will also include further interactions with […]

Immigration is not for the faint of heart. You have to really want to make it work and be willing to go to extreme lengths to do so, or else you will become one of the statistics of South Africans returning to their home country… writes guest contributor ADELE. According to statistics, almost half a […]

Five dune buggies took a unique offroad trip through some of the most beautiful kilometres of South African soil – Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve, near Port Elizabeth. The adventurers included Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University student Matthew Watson and Anna Lindstrom, Grace Gnahn, Madi Lacy, Matt Watson, Nick van der Merwe. They said “the experience was unlike any other” […]

South African professional surfer Jordy Smith has won his first Bells Beach title, making a dream come true… and chipping his tooth in the process. Jordy beat friend and fellow competitor Brazilian Caio Ibelli in the final in Victoria, Australia, on Wednesday; and was so excited he started pretending to ring the legendary bell whilst still […]

To mark the 120th anniversary since Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika was composed (in 1897) and the 112th anniversary since the death of its composer Enoch Sontonga, here are some of our favourite videos of the African melody being performed… Sontonga, who died on 18 April 1905 at just 32, wrote the first two stanzas of Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika. It’s a […]

It’s all systems go as South Africa gets ready for a National Day of Prayer this Saturday, 22 April 2017… and South Africans abroad are invited to join in to make this an even more powerful day of prayer, asking God for “restoration and peace in our nation”. Expats in cities like Perth have arranged gatherings […]

It’s a very difficult thing on occasion to ignore what’s going on around you. Or at least, not to react too negatively towards it. Being one who doesn’t read the newspaper or watch the news on TV, I pretty much get wind of happenings on social media (cue Facebook and Twitter…) With everything that’s been […]

If you’ve always dreamed of swimming with dolphins, here’s a chance to experience it vicariously… Mike Kirk uploaded this fooage, filmed in KwaZulu-Natal last week – at Umdloti Beach, near Durban – on 12 April 2017. Surfing with Dolphins at Umdloti Beach, South Africa https://youtu.be/8_2zeuAhElQ

Lungile Gongqa became the first Capetonian to win the annual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in 44 years, racing to victory in the Mother City on Saturday in a time of 03:09:43. It was an exciting close call between the South African and Warinyane Lebopo, from Lesotho, in the last few kilometres of the 56 km race. In third […]

George Airport in the Western Cape is doing it again. Last year it made headlines globally when it launched a 750Kw plant to become the first airport in South Africa that will get a lot of its power from solar energy… and this year it has received exemption from the South Africa Civil Aviation Authority […]

Siyabonga Duma, 28, wants to inspire other young people. The Port Elizabeth artist is making a living by turning beach sand into sculptures. The unemployed 28-year-old, who moved from Durban last year, displays his work at PE’s popular Hobie and Kings beaches. Every morning he and his 22-year-old brother Sizwe wake up early to collect sand […]

On Wednesday evening, a small but passionate group of South Africans in London congregated in solidarity with those who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. And on Saturday, a separate group will protest outside UK PR firm Bell Pottinger’s London office. The Democratic Alliance (DA) Abroad group in London, who arranged the candlelit […]

The first few months of 2017 have been both exhilarating and concerning for many South Africans. We have witnessed some great moments and some terrifying ones… writes JUSTIN SULLIVAN. I tend to expose the hard truths of reality sometimes (with photographs from the Western Cape fires to children in townships), and even though it may […]

Tens of thousands of marchers – some estimate over 100,000 – made their way peacefully to the Union Buildings in Pretoria today. CAROL ALLAIS was there to capture most of the photos on this page, from a remarkable day that will go down in history… In a show of unity – seldom seen anywhere in […]

President Jacob Zuma’s birthday celebrations are underway in South Africa… and although thousands marched to the Union Building in Pretoria today to call for the 75-year-old to step down as leader of the country, there’s apparently still a lot of love for the man his staunch supporters call by his clan name, Msholozi… as can be […]

LONDON (Reuters) – Cricket umpires have been given the power to eject disobedient players while tethered bails will be permitted to protect wicketkeepers from eye injuries as part of a series of law changes coming into effect from Oct. 1. The new ‘Players conduct’ rule will allow on-field officials to remove a misbehaving competitor temporarily […]

President Jacob Zuma has unintentionally united South Africans in a way never seen before… and seldom seen in any country on the planet: members of opposition political parties are gathered together in Pretoria, singing together, with one united voice: “Zuma Must Fall”. These South Africans – from all races and walks of life – have […]

Popular 50/50 television presenter Ntokozo Mbuli, who enters South Africans’ living rooms each Sunday, has announced she is becoming ambassador for the Rory Hensman Elephant Research and Conservation Unit (RHCRU). During her ten years on the wildlife programme Ntokozo has won multiple awards, and is also – unknown to many – the show’s executive producer. She says she […]

Are You Ready? Time to party!!! Turn it up and shake off the hassles of the day… Kryoman was in South Africa recently, in February – at the 2017 Ultra Music Festival, one of the world’s top electronic dance music (EDM) events, held at the Cape Town Stadium. Even if EDM isn’t your usual flavour […]

Opposition parties have reacted with more passion, and conviction to march tomorrow, following President Jacob Zuma’s attempts to paint the marches last week as ‘racist’! The Democratic Alliance (DA) uploaded this video of their leader Mmusi Maimane, passionately imploring South Africans to march on for a better future. The DA said: “Please WATCH and SHARE! – […]