Teachers have been inspiring students and adults around the world this week – from South Africa to the USA. Riaan van Straten melted hearts when photos were uploaded to social media of the sports teacher giving a piggyback to a young girl (with both legs amputated) who was desperate to participate in an athletics race at a school […]

South African expat Roelof Botha has been promoted to become a ‘steward’ of one of Silicon Valley’s most successful venture capitalist firms – Sequoia, famous for investing in companies like Apple, PayPal and WhatsApp. Botha is already well known for not only being the grandson of South Africa’s former Foreign Minister ‘Pik’ Botha (and son of […]

When South African expat Phumeza Gogela passed away in the UK on Christmas Eve, just a week after her 35th birthday and at 25 weeks pregnant, South Africans in the UK rallied to support her newborn baby Phumeza Esther (who was in a critical condition) and help her family find closure by having her body […]

 As Miss South Africa Ntandoyenkosi (Ntando) Kunene jetted back into South Africa – from the Miss Universe contest in the Philippines (which was won by Miss France – see below) – the 12 finalists in the next Miss South Africa competition were announced at a glamorous event in Johannesburg Wednesday evening. The winner will be crowned […]

South Africa’s awesome rugby Sevens team, the Blitzboks, did what any traveller to Sydney, Australia does – they headed to Bondi Beach on their day off, ahead of the Sydney Sevens rugby tournament this weekend. The South African team – which won the Sevens tournament in Wellington, New Zealand last weekend – posted photos on Twitter (see […]

Faf du Plessis and David Miller scored centuries apiece to set the Proteas up for a 121-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second Momentum ODI at Kingsmead  in Durban, South Africa, on Wednesday. This gives the SA national team a 2-0 lead in the series, leading into the third match at the Wanderers Stadium on Saturday. […]

Photos of a teacher’s kindhearted gesture during an athletics race in the Northern Cape is sweeping social media. Riaan van Straten scooped a Grade R-3 athlete up, onto his back, when he was told there was a “problem”. Angela Motswamere (5) desperately wanted to participate in a 60 metre race with her friends. Riaan told Netwerk24 that when he […]

After Gerrie Nel’s announcement that he has quit the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) to head up a Private Prosecutions Unit at AfriForum, South Africa’s top State Prosecutor playfully made fun of himself on the Complimentary Breakfast Show Wednesday morning – with a Law & Order parody video “putting it” to South Africa… watch below. AfriForum’s Private Prosecutions […]

The Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) has congratulated former Public Protector Adv Thuli Madonsela on being selected as the recipient of the 3rd Commonwealth Law Conference Rule of Law Award. Adv Madonsela said: “Words cannot express the honour and gratitude I feel about receiving the Rule of Law Award. Thanks.” Madonsela will fly to Australia […]

Springbok Sevens coach, Neil Powell, on Sunday acknowledged that his team’s victory in the Wellington Sevens tournament, in New Zealand, was especially ‘pleasing’. The 26-5 win over Fiji in the final was only the Blitzboks’ second tournament win at this venue since 2002, when South Africa won with Powell as a player in the squad. […]

Since Roger Federer beat the odds to win the Australian Open at the age of 35, and after six months away with an injury, the world can’t seem to get enough of him and his opponent – and good friend – Rafael Nadal. Here’s that famous clip of the two having a fit of laughter […]

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA – Chadian Foreign Minister Hon. Moussa Faki Mahamat has been elected incoming Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission by the gathered AU heads of State and Government, who form the Assembly of the African Union. Mahamat’s dream is for an Africa where the “sound of guns will be drowned out by cultural […]

It seems, for some of us, that the older we get the more inclined we are to be reckless. Who but the very bravest of long-distance drinkers, big-bike riders and hardened shoppers would take on the awesome pubs and padstalle of Route 62 in the Western Cape? Who but the youngest and silliest of us […]

Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille announced today she has resigned as DA Western Cape leader, to focus on her role as mayor of the City of Cape Town… as it embarks on a mission to redress the legacy of Apartheid in the city.  She said: “The DA-run City of Cape Town is taking a new […]

For the first time in five years Swiss tennis player Roger Federer (who credits his South African mother for much of his success) is a major champion again, after beating Spanish sportsman Rafael Nadal in an epic nail-biting five-set battle at the Australian Open. Federer danced with joy when he realised he had won (watch […]

South Africans have long LOVED Nando’s for its brilliantly conceived advertising campaigns… let alone its tasty peri-peri chicken. And now Americans are catching on quickly too with the fast food restaurant chain’s latest political statement even making it yesterday to the pages of esteemed national newspaper, The Washington Post. Nando’s grabbed attention – and customers – in Washington […]

The Springbok Sevens team on Sunday clinched the Wellington Sevens tournament and extended their lead on the overall World Rugby Sevens Series log. A thrilling 26-6 win over Fiji secured only their second ever tournament win in New Zealand. And Seabelo Senatla broke the Blitzboks’ try-scoring record, achieving his 180th try in the final. (Watch […]

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer credits much of his success on and off the court to his mom, Lynette, and to the family’s trips back to her homeland of South Africa when he was growing up. According to Roger’s dad, Robert, Roger inherited his athletic gifts from his mom… whom he admits is a better tennis player and golfer […]

Brave rhino poaching survivor Thandi – who was left for dead almost five years ago after her horn was hacked off (in an attack which ultimately resulted in the death of two other rhino) – has given birth to a second calf at Kariega Game Reserve in South Africa. The surprising and wonderful news has brought […]

On behalf of the people of South Africa, President Jacob Zuma has wished “all members of the Chinese Community in South Africa a happy and successful New Year – the Year of the Rooster.” (See 11 Chinese New Year Fun Facts below.) He said the Year is known for bringing success to those who have been patient, and signifies the […]

Over 30 cake sales are being held around South Africa today in a final bid for South Africans to raise  funds for Operation SA’s #SaveSyria initiative. The humanitarian campaign kicked off last month, and has already raised R12.45-million – money which, with a 100% donation policy, goes directly to the people in need in Syria. Social […]

Western Cape fire photographer and documentary maker JUSTIN SULLIVAN has become renowned for his photos that capture South Africa in its most heated moments – from the fire in Paarl that destroyed historical buildings, to the altercations in Cape Town between police and students during Fees Must Fall protests. In his latest compilation, Justin takes viewers […]

Trevor Noah had the privilege this week of telling Hollywood actor Laurence Fishburne about the very first time he saw him in real life – in Soweto, South Africa… and “nearly drove his car off a cliff”. To be exact, it was an embankment. But it was steep enough to cause the crowd that had gathered around […]

With just two days to go until the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines, Miss South Africa Ntandoyenkosi (Ntando) Kunene is already one of the favourites of the 86 contestants. Ntando (24) is a Bachelor of Education Honours graduate and is the official ambassador for Take a Child to Work Day. Ntando’s mission, if she […]

Two movies with South African themes have generated a lot of interest at the famous Sundance Film Festival in Utah, United States. They are ‘Trophy’ and ‘The Wound’ – shining a spotlight respectively on hunting’s role in wildlife conservation, and on sexuality and masculinity. Trophy is a documentary about poaching, wildlife conservation and the complex role […]