Showmax had a great 2022: in the interim results from MultiChoice that were released in November 2022, paying Showmax subscribers increased by 50% and Showmax Pro subscribers increased by 111% – even before the FIFA World Cup. As always, this was driven by the content. At both the 2022 SAFTAs and Primetime Emmys, Showmax was […]

A 31-year-old female Constable has become the first woman in South Africa to complete the SA Police Service (SAPS) Special Task Force (STF) Selection Training Programme in the history of the organisation. While SAPS can’t name the constable for security reasons, they said she has 11 years’ service and is regarded as “the only female […]

Psychiatric institutions are sometimes thought of as prisons, where people with severe mental illness are locked away from society with little hope of recovery or a return to society. The Spring Foundation at Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital in Mitchells Plain is trying to change this. The Spring Foundation at Lentegeur Hospital is helping patients with severe mental illnesses […]

Cape Town International Airport recorded a spectacular recovery in passenger numbers during the peak season month of December 2022 when compared to pre-pandemic numbers. Preliminary stats from Airports Company SA (ACSA) show that: Cape Town International Airport recorded 266 656 international 2-way passenger numbers for December 2022, resulting in a spectacular 95% recovery when compared […]

South Africa’s Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, says for now, the SA government will not impose any internal restrictions as a result of the emergence of a newly found sub-variant of the COVID-19 virus. The first instance of the XBB.1.5 sub-variant was detected in South Africa in December and reported earlier this month. Phaahla explained […]

The World Economic Forum (WEF) announced on Tuesday that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be joining the WEF Annual Meeting in Switzerland. The meeting is scheduled to take place from 16 to 20 January in Davos. The WEF describes itself as “the international organization for public private cooperation”. This year’s theme is: “Cooperation in […]

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy is expected to visit the South African Antarctic Programme’s Research Station, known as SANAE IV, in Queen Maud Land. In a statement, the department explained that South Africa has had a presence in the Antarctic since 1960 and has contributed to scientific knowledge in the area and […]

Here’s what’s coming up on Carte Blanche tonight. You can watch the show today, Sunday 8 January in South Africa on DStv Now OR stream it overseas in most countries on Showmax from Tuesday 10 January if you’re abroad. amaGlug-Glug It’s considered by many the most loved ads. We track down the famous faces and […]

Australians sure do like those brekkies, barbies and mozzies. We’re not talking about “actual” mozzies here. We’re defo (definitely) talking about words — and Aussies can’t seem to get enough of these shortened words… write two lecturers from Monash University in Melbourne. Some say we’re lazy for clipping them. Others claim it’s just Aussies knocking […]

By the end of Stage 6 today, of the 2023 Dakar Rally, South African built vehicles are leading the way in three classes! Southern Africa Dakar Group proudly reported that they’ve been informed by Red-Lined Motorsport Adventure’s Terence Marsh that: the T1+ class is led by the South African built Toyota, the T1.1 class is […]

American actress Loulou Taylor has responded with humour to the frightening incident she experienced yesterday at Clifton 4th Beach when a seal pup attacked her. As news of the attack made headlines around the world, and a video went viral (watch below), Loulou – who was born in South Africa but grew up in Los […]

If you see an old school ambulance making its way through the streets of Ballito, don’t bother stopping it if you need medical attention… writes Juan Venter, from the North Coast Courier.  Instead of being a first-aid station, its owners have transformed it into a strictly thirst-aid station. Former Bloemfontein residents turned Ballito locals, Lee-Roy […]

As the summer sun finally arrives for people in the Southern Hemisphere, more than 100,000 tourists will head for the ice. Travelling on one of more than 50 cruise ships, they will brave the two-day trip across the notoriously rough Drake Passage below Patagonia, destined for the polar continent of Antarctica. BY: Elizabeth Leane, University […]

When holidays roll around, many parents begin to appreciate just how tenacious teachers have to be to keep children engaged for weeks at a time. Some, faced with children they describe as “too playful”, “restless” or even “destructive”, may turn to home tutors, holiday lessons at schools or unregulated television viewing. But holidays should be […]

After a bold revamp of her training regime Christie Mackenzie will start the 2023 Dusi Canoe Marathon on Thursday 16 February as the strong favourite to become only the third woman to wrap up a hat-trick of K1 Dusi Victories. Mackenzie won the last two women’s K1 titles in 2019 and 2021 and now stands […]

South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has announced that the price of both grades of petrol will decrease by R2.06 per litre, while diesel is to drop by between R2.68 (500ppm) and R2.80 (50ppm). The new prices, effective from today (Wednesday 4 Jan), mean that a litre of 95 unleaded petrol will […]

It wasn’t quite Christmas Eve, and perhaps they weren’t exactly three wise men, but the story of the rescue of three motorcyclists off a notorious mountain pass in South Africa has brought Christmas cheer to many in the country and around the world. Trygve Roberts, editor of MountainPassesSouthAfrica.co.za tells the story… “This is Sarel Vorster […]

South African Springbok captain Siya Kolisi (31) today confirmed that he will be leaving South Africa and joining Racing 92 in Paris, after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France later this year. In an emotional statement posted on Twitter, Siya said: “Are words ever enough to express the immense appreciation for the support that […]

Here is a full transcript of SA President Cyril Ramaphosa’s message for South Africans as the new year, 2023, begins… It is a time for fresh starts in a number of aspects that affect our lives and for making resolutions to do things better. It is also a time of hope – hope for a […]

Join us this Sunday as we look back on some of the most memorable Carte Blanche moments of 2022 in South Africa on DStv Now OR stream it overseas in most countries on Showmax from Tuesday 03 January if you’re abroad. Frontline Emergency Room Heroes In a story that offered a rare glimpse of medical […]

British TV bosses are splashing out over one million pounds to hire a fabulous Franschhoek villa exclusively for five months, for the filming of the new Winter Love Island in South Africa. The much-anticipated details of the new Winter Love Island in South Africa has now been revealed with the Ludus Magnus villa being named […]

Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa has lauded a group of young black South Africans for qualifying to compete in the Cape2Rio yacht race, which is set to start on 02 January 2023. UPDATE: South Africans make history at Cape 2 Rio yacht race. The group will be the first complete crew from townships across Cape Town […]

What do Lee Child, Jeff Kinney and Michelle Obama have in common? They’re all authors of the most borrowed books at various Cape Town public libraries this past year. As the year winds down, libraries across the city will still remain a hive of activity to keep children of all ages entertained during the holidays […]

Here’s what’s coming up on Carte Blanche this week. You can watch the show today, Sunday 25 December in South Africa on DStv Now OR stream it overseas in most countries on Showmax from Tuesday 27 December if you’re abroad. Solo’s Strength Solomzi “Solo” Nqweni was a man with big dreams: he’d moved to Scotland […]

Eskom has announced a loadshedding-free Christmas Day for South Africans. The power utility said on Saturday afternoon: « Loadshedding will be suspended at 05:00 on 25 December until 05:00 on 26 December. Thereafter, Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented until 16:00 on 27 December, whereafter Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented.« Eskom said the suspension […]