A staggering number of teachers in South Africa have fallen ill during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. Many have tragically passed away. Yet, sadly, much of parents’ anger over the delay of schools opening (to save lives) has been targeted at teachers, the very people we should surely be heralding as our heroes. […]

Sand sculptor Sonwabo Micheal Somfele has relied on the money he makes from making drawings and images at Lookout Beach in Plettenberg Bay for four years. But since the Garden Route was declared a hotspot, and the beaches closed, he is struggling to make a living. Artists and small business owners in Plettenberg bay say […]

South Africa is showing signs of declining COVID-19 cases, with 9 010 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. This brings the total number of infections to 1 346 936 since the outbreak. “Regrettably, we report a further 344 COVID-19 related deaths,” said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, on Monday. Of the recent deaths, […]

Only five out of 147 cases of police brutality in Gauteng have been resolved in the past five years, according to Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko. Mazibuko revealed the news in a written reply to the Democratic Alliance’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). Police brutality cases over past 5 years […]

Light at the end of the tunnel! Eskom has suspended loadshedding thanks to the improvement of its generation capacity following the return of some generators to service. “Over the past 24 hours, Eskom teams have successfully returned two generation units each at Kusile, Kriel, and one at Tutuka Power Stations to service,” Eskom said on […]

Two giant radio galaxies have been discovered with South Africa’s powerful MeerKAT telescope, located in the Karoo region, a semi-arid area in the south west of the country. Radio galaxies get their name from the fact that they release huge beams, or ‘jets’, of radio light. These happen through the interaction between charged particles and […]

Due to the new regulations released by the Dutch government last week, KLM has adapted its flight schedule beyond 18 January 2021. KLM will operate 4 flights per week from Johannesburg to Amsterdam and 3 flights per week from Cape Town to Amsterdam, with a technical stop to Dar Es Salaam. Passengers will remain on […]

Higher education is the latest sector in South Africa to delay its re-opening dates with 16 universities still finalising their academic year. Addressing the media on Monday, Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, announced that universities will start the academic year between early-March and mid-April. The re-opening of higher education institutions is […]

For Cape Town ambulance paramedics Claire* and Mike*, the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic has been relentless. Suspected Covid-19 patients have replaced victims of gun-shots, stabbings and car accidents and each day is grimly the same.   Covid-19 call-outs have replaced call-outs to trauma victims, say Cape Town paramedics interviewed by GroundUp. More of their […]

Showmax subscribers in South Africa are now able to live stream kykNET and Mzansi Magic 24/7 with the launch of two pop-up channels on the streaming service. Showmax is testing live streaming of two of South Africa’s most popular local channels. Showmax is already the home for streaming the best South African series, with top […]

The charges in South Africa against the Centurion father of a newborn, who went out in the middle of the night to get formula milk for his hungry one-day old baby, have been dropped after the intervention of AfriForum’s private prosecution unit. Naas le Roux was arrested on 7 January for violating the national curfew […]

Eskom is currently implementing Stage 2 loadshedding as the country’s power system remains constrained and vulnerable, and is operating with less contractors as many are affected by Covid-19. At Medupi power station, for instance, well over half the pool of 75 contractors have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Eskom. “Regrettably, as the return […]

As the result of a red tide building up at Elands Bay on South Africa’s west coast, authorities have issued a Situation Yellow Alert as locals rush to collect crayfish being washed up on shore. Several marine species which are being washed up on the beach – including rock lobsters, octopus, white mussels and some […]

It’s freezing in Vienna, Austria, after two weeks of on-off snow… but while most people have snuggled up inside to keep warm, Proudly South African expat Ferdi de Beer has been out there enjoying the weather in his Springbok shirt, shorts and sandals like only a South African can! Watch below. When Ferdi ventured out […]

Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip Natasha Mazzone has published a list that should be the South African Government’s New Year’s resolutions. Hopefully someone in power will pick up the list and tick their way through it! Mazzone said: “Usually a new year starts with lots of excitement, plans, and projections but Covid-19 and the ensuing […]

The New Year has ushered in more rainfall for the summer season in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, leading to the wonderful sight of Inanda Dam, near Hillcrest, overflowing for the first time in years. Durban photographer Peter de Groot was there this morning, less than an hour from Durban, to capture these stunning photos. He said […]

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Ntuli sadly passed away on Saturday. KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala confirmed with “deep shock and sadness” that Ntuli died late on Saturday afternoon in a Durban hospital, due to Covid-19 related complications. Tributes have poured in, with almost everyone describing Ntuli – who was known affectionately […]

South African expat Marnus Labuschagne is being hailed a legend in the making for his consistent great performance for Australia’s national cricket team, after striking a century in the opening day of the fourth test between Australia and India at the famous Gabba, the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Compliments for the South African-born player included “he’s […]

The Cape High Court in South Africa has set four provisional liquidators the task of tracking down assets that can still be found after the mammoth Mirror Trading International (MTI) shut down in December. The shut down came about after numerous investors were unable to withdraw their money. Smoke and Mirror Trading International (MTI) Marketed […]

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape is seeking assistance from the public in finding the relatives of a young baby boy who was abandoned in an ‘open space’ in Mthatha on 8 January. Mthatha police say they are trying to locate the mother, father or any other relatives of the baby. […]

South Africa has an estimated population approaching 60 million. To achieve herd immunity against COVID-19, the government recently set the ambitious goal of vaccinating 67% of the population – roughly 40 million people. According to the outline of this plan, this would be achieved within 2021. But is this ambitious target even feasible? In my […]

DJ Fresh (48) and DJ Euphonik (37) have been taken off the air at music radio station 947, as they face rape allegations dating back to 2011. Update 10/02/21: DJ Fresh and DJ Euphonik have parted ways with 947. Geraint Crwys-Williams, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Primedia Broadcasting, announced on Saturday: “947 and Primedia Broadcasting […]

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde and MEC for Social Development Sharna Fernandez have called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene in the crisis at SASSA involving lapsed disability grants. The Western Cape Premier and the MEC for Social Development have called on the President to intervene in the crisis at SASSA involving lapsed disability grants. […]

The father who was arrested in South Africa for breaking curfew to buy formula milk for his newborn baby will appear at a press conference on Monday. The media conference will be hosted by AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit to address the South African police’s recent “abuse of power” following the arrest of the dad, less […]

Armed men have killed at least six rangers and wounded several others in an ambush in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) Virunga national park. This park is a sanctuary for endangered mountain gorillas. Staff working in the park have often come under attack. Judith Verweijen and Esther Marijnen – experts on armed mobilisation and […]