Democratic Alliance Federal Leader, Helen Zille, delivered her final speech as DA Federal Leader this morning. Below is the full transcript of her address to the DA’s Federal Congress delegates at the Boardwalk Convention Centre in Nelson Mandela Bay, Port Elizabeth (PE). Writer Suzanne Brenner ‏summed up the speech with the following tweet: “And so endeth the reign of […]

When I first started telling folks I was heading to Johannesburg, you would have thought I said I was headed to war. “Girl, be careful out there!” “I hear it’s dangerous. Don’t go out at night!” “It’s sorta hood. Kinda like Brooklyn.” What? Have you been to Brooklyn lately? I mean sure, if you wander […]

After the announcements, postponements and outrage from some…the date is almost upon us when it will be mandatory for all minors to travel with an Unabridged Birth Certificate.  From 1 June 2015, the Department of Home Affairs in South Africa will require all passengers under 18 to travel with an Unabridged Birth Certificate. Travelstart.co.za have kindly provided […]

Here’s a BIG shout out from the students of Pietermaritzburg College in KwaZulu-Natal to save our rhino. It’s better than Chinese Whispers. It’s the Rhino Shout Out Challenge… South Africa’s rhino faces extinction if poaching is to continue at its current alarming rate. Yesterday it was announced that 550 rhino have already been poached in South Africa […]

South African artists present a unique South African identity to the world, and the high prices many local artists fetch internationally are testament to the growing interest in the calibre of local artists – as well as in that identity. South African art is finding its place in the global art market, and several of […]

A herd of 12 African elephant who were in urgent need of a new home in South Africa have been saved in the 11th hour. Louise Joubert, founder of SanWild wildlife and rhino sanctuary, had posted a plea on Facebook for help in sourcing a new home, ideally a private reserve, for the small herd who […]

Previously, I mentioned several unique things South Africans do that I got to observe in the time spent living in this country (away from my homeland, The Netherlands). Recently, I saw some people walking barefoot in the local supermarket. This phenomenon comes along quite often, and my initial reaction was to offer assistance. “Did someone […]

In celebration of the 22nd New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) an exciting line-up of over 25 films from more than 15 countries from Africa will be screened 6-12 May 2015. It is thrilling to see how the vision for Africa – from Burkina Faso to Botswana, from Ghana to South Africa – is being […]

Rhino Poaching arrests got a boost during April with the assistance of a couple of tourists in the Kruger National Park (KNP), helping to bring the total poaching suspects arrested in the Kruger in the month of April to 28. South African National Parks (SANParks) announced this week that they had arrested a further six suspected […]

On Earth Day 2015 Durban photographer Kierran Allen and 44 other photographers from around the world captured time lapse footage of the place each calls ‘home’. Watch the compilation below…and look out for Durban and Cape Town which are both featured. The global video was shot on five continents, in 11 time zones on 22 […]

Capetonian-based photographer Eric Nathan has captured an enlightening 15 seconds worth of load shedding in Cape Town. Eric uploaded the time-lapse video below which starts off with the city of Cape Town almost blacked out sans electricity during Eskom’s infamous load shedding…followed by the effect of the power being restored as house, office and street lamps light up the […]

So ja, you know you’re South African when… You respond to almost everything with “ya, no” (“ja, nee”)…or “yebo” You put the word “hey” or “man” at the end of most sentences. The sight of Christmas beetles means that summer has officially arrived. There is nothing better than a Wimpy breakfast and a Cream Soda […]

Australian writer and speaker Nick Vujicic, who was in South Africa for an inspirational congress, has shared an emotional moment he had in South Africa on his Facebook page. Nick, who was born without arms and legs, posted the photo above with the following message: “This little boy, with no arms and missing half a leg, […]

The idea was David Nyawo’s. Walk from Mbombela to Pretoria to protest killing in South Africa. First it was the killings of white farmers and policemen, but then it grew from there to xenophobic killings, and the slaughter of rhino and other wildlife. Nyawo, a teacher near White River, said at the start of his […]

South Africans love braaivleis, rugby, sunny skies and…South African ads! Even decades later anyone who was around in the ’80s can finish off that sentence or the legendary Cremora one: “it’s not inside, it’s…” (scroll down for the ad). It’s one of the many things South Africans excel at – producing good quality creative TV commercials (TVC) […]

Sjoe – try watch the video below without getting just a little emotional. And definitely crank up the volume – as, in the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “it’s music and dancing that makes me at peace with the world…and at peace with myself…let’s join.” In this show performed in France in 1999, legendary South […]

Kamers vol geskenke (Rooms full of gifts) is a pop-up creative showcase of 250 hand-picked local exhibitors. Boosting local South African design and entrepreneurs, Kamers is back with a bang for the Autumn 2015 show, which started this weekend with an event in Johannesburg before hitting Cape Town in May. 1. August Clothing Gorgeous casual wear for women […]

Tourists in the Kruger National Park recently got a fright when a buffalo used them, well their vehicle to be exact, to get lions off his back. The video was uploaded by Kruger Sightings on Monday 20 April 2015 and has already had over 180,000 views! The video was filmed by South African holiday makers in […]

As South Africans in SA have marched in cities around the country to protest against xenophobia and the violence in general that troubles their beloved land, those abroad are following suit to lend their support. Yesterday South Africans marched in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and today they gathered in London, and more is planned. For South Africans abroad the […]

South African expat – and accomplished musician – Kieran Ballard-Tremeer has become the first woman to swim around Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the iconic artificial island which can be viewed from space. Kieran (38) completed the 14.5 km swim around the palm-shaped island last Saturday morning in four hours and 25 minutes. The 38-year-old undertook the swim in aid […]

South Africans continue to stand and march together as a movement against violence sweeps the nation. Following last night’s march in Port Elizabeth, a huge peaceful rally – the People’s March Against Xenophobia – took place in downtown Johannesburg today and was said to have drawn more people than any such gathering since 1994. Except […]

I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time, but at every time of sitting down to write, it’s the one subject that slips from my mind. A safari reading list. There are so many wonderful books on Africa and it is always such a wonderful part of safari campfire conversation. Yet we never […]

Remember the 1980s TV series “Ballade vir ’n Enkeling”? Well, it’s back, better than ever. The mystery, once again, is about a journalist’s quest for the truth behind the disappearance of a famous writer, Jacques Rynhard. Slowly she uncovers the secret past of a liberal loner in search of freedom. The film (and a simultaneously […]

Check out the videos below for an awesome look at Cape Town and surrounds…and the incredible abundance of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities on offer. Both videos were filmed in the last month, with Bryn North’s version including footage of the landscape since the recent fires that raged across the Southern Peninsula of the Western […]

A group of dads in Salt Rock, KwaZulu-Natal, have launched perhaps the raddest skate park ever. It’s certainly unique. The Mamba Skate Park, which was officially opened last month, is totally different to most conventional skate parks you’ve seen or used – it’s a rolling track of 450 metres winding (or snaking!) through a jungle of […]