Still Life with African Woman, a work by South African ​expressionist Irma Stern, fetched R17,6-million at an art auction in London on Wednesday. The Bonhams London’s biannual South African sale was dominated by Stern once again, with nine of her paintings on sale. African Woman, in a replica Zanzibari frame, fetched the top price of £962 500. […]

Countries around the world are taking part in the Global March for Elephants and Rhino this weekend, with South Africa’s Soweto making history as it becomes the first time ever that the people of Soweto – who have marched so many times over the years – will now march together for animals. That is how serious the situation […]

When you’re a South African living abroad, a road trip back home can take on an aura of magic and wonder as you see your former homeland through new, more appreciative eyes. After living elsewhere, you now realise the raw and unique beauty that is South Africa. You see a magnified kaleidoscope of sensational scenes.  Your heart […]

Congratulations to 13-year-old Jordan Durand from Potchefstroom who has been crowned Miss Universe Junior 2014. Jordan won the title at a ceremony held in Bodrum, Turkey last night. The Potch teenager originally won the Miss Petite Teen South Africa 2014 competition, held by Pageants SA, back in May in Pretoria. As the National winner she qualified […]

South African billionaire expat Mark Shuttleworth celebrated a landmark victory against the Reserve Bank today by making a hugely generous gesture to South Africans who can’t afford their own constitutional court cases against the State. The South African Supreme Court of Appeal found in favour of the 41-year-old entrepreneur and ordered the Reserve Bank to pay […]

Renewable energy spells big things for South Africa’ economic future, if sustainable and affordable solutions are found. Working towards making solar power a feasible source of motoring energy, the Sasol Solar Challenge invites renewable energy addicts from across the globe to compete in an eight-day country-wide endurance challenge. Held every two years under the auspices […]

Storytelling is the new rock n roll, says Rian Malan. Known for his own expert storytelling, his latest project, with Ann Toerien, is bringing out the stories of Johannesburg. Invited artists will tell their tales of the city of gold in The Unbelievable Truth, four themed evenings about life in Jozi. To some, Johannesburg is […]

Photographic prize winner Rob Tarr and his partner Louise van den Aardweg have recently returned to Cape Town from what they describe as the trip of a lifetime: a nine-day ship-based photographic expedition for two, deep into the Arctic. Rob won this fantastic prize in the Oceans of Life annual photographic competition, organized by Birdlife South […]

A software application developed by the University of Cape Town to monitor patients on treatment for HIV and TB treatment is being implemented by countries such as Mozambique, Malawi, Vietnam and Pakistan. The electronic register, developed by UCT’s Centre for Infectious Disease, Epidemiology and Research (CIDER), is already in use in 3½000 clinics in South […]

This time of the year, you would usually not find Jules and me at home in Cradock. We would be tootling around somewhere on a back road in the vast Karoo. Namaqualanders just had a spectacular daisy season out in the west; summer is said to be on its way and is it shearing season […]

South African Artist and activist Ntsiki Mazwai has raised a point that many were wondering about – is it right that Heritage Day, a day when we are meant to celebrate the heritage and history of all South Africans, has had its name kind of hijacked by Braai Day? Ntsiki is known for her outspoken […]

At only 20-years-old South African Caspar Lee is a YouTube millionaire, living in London, who’s just starred in his first movie (with John Cleese), done an internet show with “living legend” Lisa Kudrow (from ‘Friends’), appeared on BBC Radio One and delivered his first live stand-up comedy routine. His routine begins with the words “hi, […]

South Africans (and even some non-South Africans) around the world celebrated National Heritage or Braai Day today. Here is a collection of some of our favourite photos and videos: 1. Happy Heritage Day! Debra Duvel – “Happy Heritage Day! From Hillcrest, Durban, Natal. My Favourite Photo of Cape Town. Photographed by my son.” 2. Canada […]

To celebrate National Heritage Day,  here’s a collection of  some of South Africa’s most fabulous indigenous flowers (including SA’s national flower, the King Protea)…as seen at the Sunday Tribune Garden Show in Pietermaritzburg this past weekend. (Update: View more indigenous flowers of South Africa, 2016.) All photographs by Lorraine Scholfield (thank you!).  Strelizia Regina The […]

It’s Heritage Day in South Africa tomorrow – 24 September 2014 – so wherever you are in the world, feel free to celebrate your “South African-ness”! Wave the SA flag, wear ‘Nou Gaan Ons Braai’ shirts, turn up Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika and throw a lekker tjop on the braai (or barbecue if you’re overseas). National Heritage […]

The Mercy Ship, a floating hospital that strives to bring hope and healing to the “forgotten poor”, will be docked at the Cape Town Waterfront from 30 September to 15 October 2014. During their stint in South Africa, The Mercy Ship – which has already helped many in Africa with free medical care – will […]

South Africa has launched a three-year incentive scheme to help black filmmakers develop their businesses to the point they can take on big productions – and create more jobs in the country’s growing movie industry. Trade and industry minister Rob Davies launched the South African Emerging Black Filmmakers Incentive Programme on 16 September. The programme, […]

Popular British video blogger Mr Ben Brown is in the Mother City uploading fantastic video blogs (vlogs) of South Africa every day. Ben is a well known “YouTuber” who posts a daily video blog of his adventures in life, his motto being that “adventure isn’t going to find itself”. His adventures have earned him a […]

Telling stories is an integral part of human life. It forges bonds, builds understanding and brings people together to celebrate their differences and similarities. And, of course, everyone has a story to tell about their experiences and heritage. To celebrate Heritage Month, the government recently launched the Tell Your Story campaign, to encourage South Africans to […]

After someone at CNN named Durban as the “Coolest City in South Africa You’ve Never Seen”, we asked the locals what they think makes Durban so cool…and the overwhelming response was its warmth – the ocean (unlike the slightly chilly Cape Town waters!), the friendly people, the hot curry Bunny Chows and the “hot and […]

A top-selling Australian magazine has featured a wonderful promotion of South Africa in its latest edition, describing the country as one of the world’s most exotic locations for food and wine with “magic around every bend”. South African expat Jane Berry, who now lives in Sydney, described finding the article in this week’s issue of Woman’s […]

“The history of our country is characterised by too much forgetting,” Nelson Mandela once lamented. The new Rainbow Makers series of documentaries aims to both help us remember the extraordinary stories, often untold, that shaped our road to democracy – and celebrate our 20 years of freedom. The four-part series, a project of the African […]

Minister of Police Nkosinathi Nhleko, his deputy Maggie Sotyu and National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega are set to release the latest South African crime statistics at the SA Police Service Training Academy in Pretoria this morning. You can watch the report streaming live below. The 2013/2014 figures were meant to be released yesterday but the announcement […]

Congratulations to South African surfer Jordy Smith who has just won the 2014 Hurly Pro Championship at Trestles in Clemente, Southern California! The Durban surfer beat Hawaiian John John Florence in the Final to take the title. John John beat USA champ Kelly Slater in the semi-finals while Jordy out-surfed Australian Adrian Buchan. Jordy wasn’t sure until […]

While Table Mountain was recently awarded the title of Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2014, an 8-year-old schoolchild has penned a tribute to the wonderful mountain which we all know is more than just a tourist attraction. It’s a  legendary landmark that’s launched a million memories and stands as one of the strongest symbols of ‘home’ for many South Africans abroad…while […]