One of South Africa’s foremost jazz musicians, Carlo Mombelli, has just released his 12th studio album, “I Press My Spine to the Ground”. He is a bassist and composer who also teaches at the music school of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. His album features Kesivan Naidoo (drums), Mbuso Khoza (vocals) and Kyle […]

Wits Education Honours graduate Ntandoyenkosi Kunene was crowned Miss South Africa at the beauty pageant held at Carnival City on Saturday night. The 23-year-old hails from Mpumalanga (and was crowned Miss Mpumalanga in 2013). Ntando has said in interviews that being a beauty queen is about more than looks – it’s about inspiring young women and children. […]

South African singer-songwriter and poet Sydney Stanley Kitchen was unique – he even said so himself, and called his style of music ‘Afro-Saxon’. His attitude to the music industry was uncompromising… and while it didn’t help him further his career, it did establish him as an iconic figure. His lyrics were tinged with socio-political messages… […]

Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela has confirmed that she was on Friday approached by the Dominican Order to conduct a systemic investigation into the involvement of the Gupta family in state affairs, and the award of contracts to companies linked to the family. According to a press statement on the Public Protector’s website the Dominican […]

South African supermodel Candice Swanepoel is reportedly expecting her first child, according to entertainment outlet E! News. Congratulatory messages have been pouring into her Instagram account where she has dropped hints like a photo of herself gazing at her stomach with the caption: “Oh summer. Pls hurry.” Although the hugely successful Victoria’s Secret (VS) model has not […]

The Lighthouse Ladies received a warm welcome home at Grotto Beach on Sunday afternoon after walking close to 100 kilometres over four days to raise funds for a much needed drug rehabilitation programme in the Overstrand area. Members of I Love Hermanus community group, said: “We are so proud of this incredible group of selfless women… They […]

For decades one of Rome’s biggest heartaches has been the Tiber – the gorgeous river snaking through its heart has been totally overlooked. Until now, that is – and renowned South African artist William Kentridge is creating lots of buzz with a mural bigger than the one in the Sistine Chapel. The largest public art work in […]

One of the oldest houses in Johannesburg is in Emmarentia and was built in about 1886 by a city pioneer Louw Geldenhuys, after whose wife the suburb was named. Set in a beautiful garden towered over by massive palms, the first thing that catches your eye is the gorgeous, wide, red polished-floor stoop, with columns the size […]

As South Africa grapples with its worst drought in 100 years, prayers were answered for many in the last 24 hours or so as rain fell around the country…but the drought is far from over. Virginia reported a “lekker” 30mm, Hoopstad 50mm, and someone in Fairland reported their rain gauge was measuring 100ml and had overflowed […]

A Prince Albert resident was ‘blown away’ today by the special sight that greeted her as she headed over the Swartberg Pass. A blanket of beautiful, billowing clouds… “Sometimes we say we feel as though we’re floating above the clouds,” says guesthouse owner and Karoo blogger Yolande Singery. “Well today I truly was… and not […]

Many on social media are commending South Africans for their sense of humour, especially when the proverbial kak is hitting the fan with the allegations by ANC MPs saying they were offered jobs by the Guptas. Out come the jokes – such as “The ANC is a five-letter word (curry)” – but most popular is #StateCaptureMovieTitles, referring to the capture […]

Reactions to the confirmation by Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, that members of the Gupta family (who are renowned to have close ties with President Zuma) “offered me the position of Minister of Finance to replace then Minister Nene” have been met with outrage and – of course – humour in South Africa! Here are 15 of the top tweets: […]

At a packed launch of the English book version of the compiled letters between literary royalty Andre Brink and Ingrid Jonker, Brink’s widow said Cape Town’s revered bookshop the Book Lounge was the perfect place to introduce the book to South Africa. “We came here a lot,” said Karina Brink. “We called it our lounge.” […]

The largest oval vivid fancy diamond ever to appear is headed for sale in Hong Kong next month, where it is expected to fetch $30 million to $35 million. The internally flawless blue diamond, at 10.10 carats, was mined in South Africa and is one of a collection of 11 cut by jewellers De Beers […]

Paddlers in Hout Bay, South Africa, had a rare treat yesterday when they were joined by hundreds of dolphins. Alexandre Pino from Above Summit Productions, which uploaded the video, said that whilst being amongst hundreds of dolphins is probably a dream for most of us, “these paddlers got more than they bargained for”! Watch Video – […]

A video depicting South African police officers appearing to abuse a motorist – which went viral on Facebook Tuesday – has led to positive action. Within 12 hours of being uploaded by fellow motorist Carmen Bell, the post had been viewed over half a million times. Bell who didn’t know the motorist – Raymond van der […]

In the midst of twitter wars and political sparring – and during Anti-Racism Week – comes an inspiring tale from South Africa of the real SA people who are quietly getting on with building a caring and harmonious society…going beyond the call of their jobs to help others. True Ubuntu! The two heroes are Tumi Selau and Clement Molemela, employees in MiWay’s […]

The seventh annual Cape Town Carnival rocked Greenpoint on the weekend, festooning the fanwalk between the city centre and Cape Town Stadium with singers, dancers, puppets, oiled-up firemen, scenes of District Six and more. Under the theme “Street Life”, there were more than 2,000 costumed musicians and performers from communities and schools across the city, including the […]

South African bass-baritone Simphiwe Simon Shibambu sang for the Queen yesterday at a a Celebration of  the Commonwealth service which took place at Westminster Abbey in London. Shibambu delivered an incredibly moving performance of the traditional Xhosa song ‘Qongqothwane’, which clearly touched Queen Elizabeth II, who is head of the Commonwealth. She paused to chat with Shibambu for a […]

A month-old baby in dire need of heart surgery in the war-torn country of Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula has been evacuated by a South African mercy flight and flown 16,000 kilometres to safety and surgery after other countries were unwilling to risk going into the area. A team of South African medical aviation evacuation specialists […]

Springbok wing Bryan Habana will return to France to resume his club commitments with Toulon after the club released him to play for the Springbok Sevens in two rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Habana, holder of the Springbok record for the most Test tries, played on the World Series circuit for the […]

Following a vigil in Khayelitsha to support the family of murdered teenager Sinoxolo Mafevuka (19), one of the township residents sent Capetonian organiser, Kerry Nelson, the following email tonight… Bongiwe Mnyamana’s letter from Khayelitsha: “I just wanna thank you not only for what you did for the community and for the Mafevuka family…but you have touched me […]

Within days of a social media campaign being mobilised to raise awareness and show support for the family of murdered teenager Sinoxolo Mafevuka, two men – aged 21 and 26 – have allegedly been arrested in connection with the crime. Nineteen-year-old Sinoxolo was brutally raped and murdered two weeks ago in Khayelitsha, a township in the […]

South African-born, Los Angeles-based film director Gavin Hood, who made “Tsotsi” and the newly released thriller “Eye in the Sky” with Helen Mirren, said the entire movie was shot in South Africa, even though it “takes place” in Nairobi, London and Las Vegas. He said the movie, which is a tense drama starring Mirren, Alan Rickman […]

The Cell C Sharks – who this weekend became South Africa’s only unbeaten Super Rugby side – have put their might behind the Rhinos without Borders initiative… to increase awareness of the poaching crisis and raise funds to help 100 rhino be safely translocated to Botswana. With rhino poaching in South Africa reaching epic proportions, Botswana is […]