The Gauteng Health Department in South Africa has spent over R1-million – R1,064,420 to be exact – on e-tolls for its vehicles since January last year, according to the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom. Bloom was given the information by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in a written reply to Bloom’s questions […]

The fourth wave has sparked an increase in hospital admissions in children under the age of five, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD). In a briefing led by Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, the NICD’s Dr Waasila Jassat said there has been a rise in children who are in hospital for COVID-19 […]

Two hippos at a zoo in Belgium have tested positive for Covid-19. Fortunately the animals appear to have only a mild form of the illness. Antwerp Zoo said on Facebook: “Our hippos Hermien and Imani have tested positive for COVID-19.” The zoo said that despite the positive test, the animals – aged 41 (Hermien) and […]

The impressive JC Pretorius scored the winning try for the Springbok Sevens to defeat Australia 10-7 in a thrilling World Rugby Sevens Series final in Dubai on Saturday evening. This hard-fought win means a second Emirates Dubai 7s tournament tournament victory in as many weeks for the Blitzboks at their favourite desert hunting ground, where […]

As if travel bans weren’t bad enough, many South African families have had their holiday plans around the country ruined by last week’s petrol price hike. Popular Carte Blanche presenter Derek Watts says: “The inland price of petrol tipped over the R20-a-litre-barrier and, earlier this week, there were queues at the filling stations. We set out to find out how […]

A South African woman’s beautiful view from her outdoor kitchen is inspiring people across the world. But it’s not just Heather Leigh Wagner’s lovely Limpopo view that’s made over 71,000 people (and counting!) ‘like’ her post. It’s her story of overcoming tragedy and how the view literally saved her life that has moved over 9,000 […]

UK-based Africans are calling for a citizens gathering outside the South African High Commission in Trafalgar Square this Sunday 5 December. All are welcome to join and show solidarity against “the harsh punishment of Africans” between 12:00 – 14:00. The 3 core issues to be highlighted at the #stoppunishingafrica demonstration are: 1. Shell’s seismic exploration […]

The Boksburg SPCA has reported the good news that hero dog Kei, who suffered horrific injuries when she fought off an armed intruder to protect her owners two months ago, is healing well and back home with her human family in time for Christmas. The Boksburg SPCA posted an update this week, saying: “And just […]

SOUTH AFRICA (Reuters) – A South African high court, in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, on Friday struck down an urgent application brought by environmentalists to stop oil major Royal Dutch Shell starting seismic surveys to explore for petroleum systems off the eastern seaboard’s popular Wild Coast. The applicants, which included Greenpeace Africa and fishermen, […]

Those who have had COVID-19 may be reinfected more easily with the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, currently spreading across the world, according to preliminary analysis by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa. Scientists are noting a high rate of reinfections during the current resurgence, compared to the previous waves, Professor Anne […]

The furore over Miss South Africa’s decision to compete in Israel: here’s a feminist critique… By Amanda Gouws, Stellenbosch University The participation of Miss South Africa 2021, Lalela Mswane, in the Miss Universe competition in Israel on 12 December has created a furore. Some South Africans support her participation while others have called for her […]

British tourists reacted with fury on Thursday as they boarded the first British Airways (BA) flight home from Cape Town since Boris Johnson cancelled all flights back to the UK from South Africa last Friday. They were further angered by the disruption and chaos brought to their holidays when BA sent out a text late […]

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Dutch health authorities called for pre-flight COVID-19 tests regardless of vaccination status for travel from outside the European Union, revealing that about 90% of the 62 people who tested positive on two flights from South Africa on Nov. 26 had been vaccinated…. By Toby Sterling. Under rules in place at the time, […]

Across the world, right now – from Cape Town to Kabul and London to Beijing – the arts are being silenced. COVID-19, conflict, censorship, loss of funding, displacement – even natural disasters – are seeing to it that the volume is being turned down on one of humanity’s driving forces: creative expression. But right here […]

The South African Post Office (SAPO) says Christmas mail leaving the country will be delayed due to the international travel restrictions. Travel restrictions were imposed on South Africa after the detection of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. In a statement on Wednesday, the SAPO said cargo space on aeroplanes is limited due to […]

The Kiffness has come up with another kiff song – a cover of John Lennon’s Imagine, but with his own words sending a strong message to Shell, who were scheduled today to start a controversial oil exploration expedition – known as ‘seismic blasting – along South Africa’s beautiful Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape. The […]

The Van Der Merwe’s are literally cleaning up in England, as are other South Africans like Jorge Santos who moved to London, aged 24, to seek his fortune. “Twenty plus years later and I still love this city – its culture, energy, and opportunity,” he told SAPeople. A South African of Portuguese descent, Jorge was […]

South Africa should be applauded for having alerted the world about the Omicron variant that is now beginning to spread around the world, says President Cyril Ramaphosa. The President has criticised countries who have imposed travel bans on South Africa, following the identification of the COVID-19 variant last week. “We reject that in the strongest […]

The DA says it has has once again felt the need to step in and assist stranded South African residents abroad, and those who have to travel abroad from South Africa. Using the channels afforded to the DA in Parliament, the Department of Internal Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and […]

What are the most popular sports in South Africa? Though they have a deep connection with many, three stand out in particular.  South Africa loves its sports. No matter where you go, it is not difficult to find people enjoying the greatest sports out there. What are the most popular sports in South Africa? Let’s […]

A PET scan machine used for diagnosing cancer patients at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital has been out of action for more than three weeks because of broken air-conditioning that causes it to overheat. This was revealed today by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in an oral reply to DA questions at a sitting of […]

A well known German clinical epidemiologist, who’s pegged to possibly be Germany’s next Health Minister, says that Omicron may in fact be an early Christmas gift… and hasten the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Professor Karl Lauterbach tweeted that if Omicron is a less severe version of Covid-19, as has so far been seen in […]

The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, today (Tues 30 Nov) praised South Africa for identifying the new variant, Omicron, and the way in which the country shared the news with the world. Blinken said: “I really want to applaud and express gratitude to South Africa and its government for its extraordinary transparency and also […]

As the countdown begins to Shell’s seismic survey off the east coast of South Africa, conservationists are up in arms and trying to beat the clock in efforts to stop Shell from following through with this operation. Shell announced their plans to commence seismic surveys along the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast, an area renowned for […]

South Africans will be paying more at the pumps from Wednesday when fuel prices are expected to increase. According to the Mineral Resources and Energy Department, the price of petrol (both 93 and 95) will go up by 81c per litre, while the price of diesel 0.05% will increase by 72c and diesel 0.005% sulphur […]