Nadine Gordimer was “a powerful voice for change in South African politics, (who) moved untold thousands with the pathos of her sparse, penetrating narratives”, Google wrote in its tribute to the writer on its corporate website. Gordimer is the focus of one of its popular doodles to mark what would have been her 92nd birthday […]

We’ve all seen it happen on videos shared on Facebook, the amazing choir that bursts out in song unexpectedly when the long-estranged couple meets at the airport. But what happens when the staff members at the local Woolies do it right in front of you? That is what happened today (Tuesday) to Drew Abrahamson and a friend in the […]

Over the past two years a group of Durban photographers – from Novos Digital Cinema – have been pouring their hearts and souls into a never before seen showcase of their home town: Durban, South Africa. And the result is spectacular. The video was not commissioned by anyone. It was purely shot out of a passion for what they do, and where […]

The dramatic skies over the Cape Peninsula and Table Mountain started Sunday night, when a huge even bank of clouds came over the mountains in an even spread, almost like a new plateau. People on the Camps Bay side said it looked like a new mountain range across the sea. But by Monday morning the clouds […]

South African whisky is not as well known as South African wine or brandy, but it is… maturing. South Africa is the sixth-largest consumer of Scotch whisky in the world. South African whisky has seen growth of 130 percent in the last 10 years. It was estimated that in 2013 South African whisky was nowhere near […]

When Trevor Noah appeared on the Ellen Degeneres Show a few weeks ago, one of the things he talked about was Nelson Mandela’s sense of humour. That part of the interview – where Noah also does a very good version of Mandela’s voice – was not included in the first clip that was released, but now it is. […]

Thanksgiving is a very big time in the US, when people do anything to get home to the family and turkey dinner. This year National Geographic’s biggest scripted series ever tells the story of the first Thanksgiving, when British settlers on the Mayflower landed at Cape Cod in 1620, except it was all shot near another Cape – Cape Town. “Saints & […]

Check out how the occupants of these cars handle the interruption to their car journey when they’re stopped by roadworks in the Western Cape… It’s one of those ‘only in South Africa’ moments…yet again finding a way to have a good time rather than whinging! The video was uploaded by Murray Williams to facebook. He […]

Here’s a pick of ten stories coming out of South Africa this week…from a buzzy area in Joburg and whale art in Woodstock to moulting penguins and a surprising re-count of marchers. 1.The New York Times focused this week on Melville, Johannesburg, which has risen from the ashes numerous times. Once again, it seems to have defied […]

Watch what happens when South African passengers on a flight from Durban to Joburg are told their plane has been turned back due to a storm over Joburg. Passenger Thabo Seopa filmed the scene as the passengers burst out into song, singing R. Kelly’s “I believe I can fly”. The incident happened on Monday 16 November […]

Just when the furore had almost died down over President Jacob Zuma’s comment about the ANC coming first, before South Africa, he seems to have opened up attacks on that same front again – saying the ANC came first, before democracy – and for laughing too much in the face of the country’s problems. Zuma […]

So what’s the first thing you notice about being back in South Africa after a while away? From the moment you leave the airplane, things start hitting you, the landscape, the smells, the sensations. After one week back, this is what had hit returnee Edward Robbins. The accent. Gyms. They just get it. Roadside shopping.  […]

It’s been one year since Ebola broke out in West Africa and terrified the world! Twelve months ago many tourists wouldn’t venture near Africa…even to countries thousands of miles away like Kenya in the east and South Africa (in the south) for fear of contracting the illness. But one year on, and thanks to strong […]

The double-hulled Polynesian voyaging canoe Hokulea – or Hōkūleʻa – has arrived in Cape Town, halfway around the world from Hawaii on a 60,000-mile journey. And there to greet the boat was one of its most famous supporters, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. On the Hokulea website, it said the visit to Cape Town was helping to celebrate ancestral connections and renewed friendship […]

Former South African supermodel Josie Borain and her teenage daughter Willow invited Superbalist.com into their log cabin overlooking Klein Leeukop. For two decades now Josie Borain has lived in a thatched roof log cabin filled with the type of curious things you pick up when living a life as full as hers is. Weird hats from countries […]

While many of us whinge about them, or swerve to avoid them, a South African man – Lymen Mlambo – has taken it upon himself to start fixing potholes in roads near Hartbeesport Dam without even being asked. And his efforts have been warmly and gladly received, with several people on Facebook offering their help and assistance. Local resident Vanessa […]

The people of Joburg were celebrating today as rain finally fell…although some complained it came too fast and left too soon. And, according to one Facebook user, the hail hitting her car felt rather like being trapped on a golf range. Here are just some of the videos and pics that were posted as the skies […]

Nothing like spending a Sunday morning doing a walkathon with your pooch. Which is what some 1,000 Capetonians did this weekend, with dogs of every shape and size and breed. The 22nd annual Wiggle Waggle, held in Constantia in the shadow of Table Mountain and with an impending rainfall, was in aid of the Society […]

This weekend two dedicated British mothers arrived in South Africa to complete their 5,795 Challenge to raise funds for orphaned children in Joburg. Since January, Jenny Chapman and Helen Thornhill (along with a friend), have run the equivalent air mile distance from Manchester to Johannesburg to raise funds for the Winnie Mabaso Foundation – a UK charity supporting […]

As superheroes hit the movie and TV screens of the world, South Africa is getting one of its own. And going from this trailer, it looks pretty special and amazing. So does Johannesburg! Director Gareth Crocker introduces clips from the series, “Jongo” https://vimeo.com/124604413 Based in the City of Gold and the Cradle of Humankind, the eight-part series “Jongo” […]

With so many countries lighting up their buildings to stand in solidarity with Paris after the attacks on Friday night, many expected South Africa to do the same. Imagine Table Mountain draped in blue, white and red to show support… Or the Hillbrow Tower… But so far…no famous South African landmarks have been lit up (apart […]

“Nomvula” is a very chill, very catchy Xhosa song by up-and-coming singer Nathi – he’s been called “a breath of fresh acoustic air” – in a gorgeous video shot around his home province of the Eastern Cape. The song is from his debut album, “Buyelekhaya”, and has already been viewed over 300,000 times on YouTube in less […]

On Saturday AB de Villiers will become only the seventh South African to play his 100th test! The 31-year-old was honoured at a special function last night, although – in typical AB fashion – he has played down the awesome achievement and says he would rather focus on tomorrow’s match against India in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) […]

If every cloud has a silver lining, The Telegraph in Britain is pointing it out – 25 silver linings, in fact (and we’ve added a 26th – see the end of the story). When so many things seem to be going wrong in South Africa – with a drought to boot – it’s nice to […]

A South African company has made a medical breakthrough with the development of a special machine that could make breast cancer diagnosis so much more simple, accurate and quicker for women. The Aceso machine, as it is called, has been designed and developed by Cape Town medical technology company Cape Ray. It was officially launched […]