Stunning South African supermodel Candice Swanepoel completed her last shoot for 2013 for Victoria’s Secret today. The 25-year-old posted a picture on Instagram, holding  her prized Jack Russell Milo, with the message “My last @victoriassecret shot of 2013! What a year!!! Thank you to everyone in the vs family for an awesome year. Much love […]

This article has been updated with the latest IEC announcements: 02 January 2014. The end of apartheid saw our first truly democratic elections in 1994. The Bill of Rights, a key part of our famously progressive constitution, ensures universal adult suffrage – the democratic right to have your vote counted. In 2009 our Constitutional Court […]

President Zuma unveiled a nine-metre high Madiba statue at the Union Buildings in Pretoria this morning, a day after the the country’s beloved Nelson Mandela was buried in Qunu in the Eastern Cape. The statue replaces one of Prime Minister Hertzog which has been relocated. In a speech to commemorate the National Day of Reconciliation and […]

President Jacob Zuma will officially unveil a new Madiba statue on Monday morning at 10 am at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The statue of the former South African President stands nine-metres tall, and the unveiling will be part of commemorating the National Day of Reconciliation and the Centenary of the Union Buildings. This event […]

Malawi’s President Joyce Banda received a standing ovation during her inspiring speech at Nelson Mandela’s funeral today. In case you missed it, here’s a transcript below: I stand before you today to join you, the people of South Africa, and the world, to mourn the loss of a great leader: Nelson Rohlihlahla Mandela. I join […]

South African President Jacob Zuma’s delivered a very moving eulogy today at the State Funeral in Qunu, Eastern Cape, for former President Nelson Mandela. Below is a transcript of the speech: “Today marks the end of an extra-ordinary journey that began 95 years ago. It is the end of 95 glorious years of a freedom […]

Au Revoir Tata Madiba! Just as South Africa’s former President Nelson Mandela illuminated his nation’s lives with messages of peace, hope and inspiration…so too is the world now honouring him by lighting its iconic landmarks in his name. As South Africa and the world bid a final farewell to Tata Madiba, the French will celebrate […]

In a conversation with CNN’s Anderson Cooper today, Archbishop Desmond Tutu revealed that he and Nelson Mandela did not agree upon everything. Laughing at the memories, the Archbishop shared the following anecdote during a live conversation to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. “I don’t think he liked getting my advice on his […]

Last Saturday, 7 December, something wonderful happened at Woolworths in Parkview, Pretoria. The Soweto Gospel Choir had been due to perform a rendition of James Brown’s “I Feel Good” as part of the Woolies nationwide Operation Smile Christmas campaign. But, as South Africa’s beloved former President Nelson Mandela had just passed away, the choir decided […]

South African singer Pierre de Charmoy has released a beautifully haunting tribute song to Nelson Mandela, aptly titled ‘Tribute to Madiba’.  “I was invited to participate in the making of the tribute song by music producers Jim Brown and Giles Chapman,” says the former best-selling solo artist who enjoyed hits in the ’80s with songs […]

Cape Town honoured the life of former South African President Nelson Mandela in a most fitting memorial service last night, as they celebrated Tata Madiba in an unforgettable concert at the Cape Town Stadium. (See the photos below by Louise van den Aardweg.) Although a small group of ANC supporters toy-toyed and tried to disrupt […]

South African singer Karen Zoid delivers one of the most beautiful renditions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”…in a very emotional and moving tribute to former South African President Nelson Mandela. Watch it here: Karen Zoid (35), who was actually born in Belgium, first shot to fame in South Africa 10 years ago with her first solo […]

While South Africa’s President Zuma was booed, it went to President Obama today to capture the humanity and spirit of Nelson Mandela and the lessons and legacy that he has left  behind. Speaking at the Memorial Service for Nelson Mandela, at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, Obama said that he  first heard about Nelson Mandela […]

For a man who spent a huge chunk of his adult life unable to be quoted, South Africa’s former prisoner and President became one of the planet’s most quoted and inspirational people. Here is a collection of some of the finest Nelson Mandela Quotes: “Death is something inevitable. When a man has done what he […]

When American talk show host Oprah Winfrey interviewed Nelson Mandela in 2000, she found him to be the most inspiring and humble man she had ever met…particularly when he asked what the subject of the show would be… The whole video interview is worth watching, but don’t miss 1:50 where Oprah reveals the extent of […]

South African musician Marshall Harmse has come up with a brilliantly catchy Christmas song, with a great video (see below) to get South Africans in the mood for Christmas. Well, sort of.  It’s more a protest song than a Christmas carol…with the chorus chant of  “My heart is as heavy as a stone is…Coz they […]

Innovative products and ideas from South Africa have transformed lives; South African inventors have made pool cleaning simpler with the Kreepy Krauly; South African doctors (including Dr Chris Barnard) have made heart transplants possible, and a young South African, Ludwick Marishane, has made it possible to bathe without water. Innovation proposes novel solutions to everyday needs, and helps […]

A wonderful story of inspiration is unfolding in Empire Road and other streets of Johannesburg where a well-known South African storyteller has discovered an unknown book-lover. Three days ago South African director, cinematographer and storyteller Tebogo Malope (29) posted a video interview with an unlikely bookworm – 24-year-old homeless man, Philani. The story of the […]

  Clay is usually used to make bricks or mould beautiful ceramic creations. It’s not something most people think of putting into a jar and using as a cosmetic. But Adolphina Setsena, one of the winners of the South African Breweries Foundation Social Innovation Awards of 2013, finds it as natural as brushing your teeth […]

South African author Anita Pouroulis has won one of children’s publishing’s top awards for her picture book ‘Oh, What a Tangle’.  The former primary school teacher from Bedfordview in Johannesburg won the Best World Children’s Book Award at the China Children’s Book Fair in Shanghai earlier this month. ‘Oh, What A Tangle!’ was released in the […]

Saturday night’s rugby match between France and South Africa was not only a big night for the Springboks, it was a huge night for Bongani Tembe, SA’s celebrated tenor. The opera singer proudly performed South Africa’s national anthem at the start of the test match that marked 100 years of international rugby between France and […]

A chance to work with Hollywood A-list actor Uma Thurman is on the cards for one lucky up-and-coming South African filmmaker with the Jameson First Shot competition. Thurman is set to bring a fresh spin to the competition, both as a skilled actor and as the first woman to take on the lead role for the […]

We love Jo’burg! I have always been a fan of Johannesburg, but never more so than a few weeks ago, after spending only four days there. This city is pulsing, pulling in vibes and influences from all over the world to create a metropolis quite unlike any other. Even the people who live there are […]

Nadine Gordimer turns 90 today and can look back on a life that has won her praise and honours as South Africa’s most acclaimed living author. She is a celebrated writer who is more widely read outside South Africa than at home. Lauded internationally as an icon of white liberal resistance to apartheid, she voted […]

South African President Jacob Zuma visited former President Nelson Mandela at his home in Houghton this morning, before officially opening the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory this evening. During this morning’s visit, the President conveyed the well wishes of South Africans and those of people around the world. Zuma reported that Madiba’s health remains the […]