Due to a shortage of capacity, Eskom is implementing a second day of rotational load shedding (power cuts), according to the South African utility… but the weekend looks brighter. In a statement issued in the early hours of Thursday, Eskom said a number of its generating units are still out of service due to breakdowns. […]

Two of Africa’s largest economies and its two biggest tourist destinations, South Africa and Morocco, put the official stamp on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations this week, when ambassador Youssef Amrani presented his credentials to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Amrani called it a “watershed.” Morocco’s last ambassador left 15 years ago, and relations have been icy, […]

So much has been happening on the train front in South Africa the last few months – new trains being built, shiny new blue engines and coaches spotted around the country, a government “war room” started to cut down delays and identify problems, plans announced to fence urban lines to stop vandalism – it’s hard […]

The South African National Parks (SANParks) today announced three successful operations in the Kruger National Park (KNP), where six suspected poachers were arrested since the beginning of October 2019. During the operations, three heavy calibre hunting rifles were confiscated and the majority of suspects were thankfully arrested before shooting any animals. In the same period, […]

Eskom’s stage 2 load shedding will cost the Western Cape economy R150 million per day, according to WC Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier. The fact is that the load shedding announced by Eskom today will damage the economy in the Western Cape, he said in a statement on Wednesday. “The impact of […]

After almost two years of disputes between various stakeholders over the presence of African Wild Dogs in Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa, the park is once again home to a free-roaming pack… wrties Tamlyn Jolly from the Zululand Observer. While the original, 14-strong pack of dogs was relocated to a nearby game reserve – […]

Instead of sitting in the dark and twiddling your thumbs, download series and movies to your phone to watch after the power goes out. Streaming apps like Showmax and DStv Now let users download content.  Here’s our pick of what to watch during load-shedding: Godfather of Harlem The first episode has just come out! This […]

South Africa is having a good year at the International Emmys: first The River was nominated as best Telenovela and now Zog, animated in Cape Town by Triggerfish for the UK’s Magic Light Pictures, is up for Best Kids’ Animation. Co-directed by two-time Oscar nominee Max Lang (The Gruffalo and Room On The Broom) and […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa will face loadshedding today as state power firm Eskom – which many South Africans refer to as Eish-kom – said it will cut up to 2,000 megawatts of power from the national grid on Wednesday due to a shortage of generating capacity. Eskom said on Twitter that the power cuts would […]

The trial of former South African President Jacob Zuma has been postponed to 4 February next year. His trial will then proceed after a 15-year delay. The former president faces charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering linked to the multi-billion rand arms deal at the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Today Zuma appeared alongside representatives of […]

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is expected to make an announcement soon that unabridged birth certificates (UBC) will no longer be required for overseas tourists travelling to South Africa with children. This will come as a huge relief to not only the many potential visitors who have been turned back from travelling to South Africa… […]

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA – At least three mortar bombs were fired on Sunday at Mogadishu’s international airport, injuring at least six people in the compound where several embassies are located, a diplomatic source said. The missions of the United Nations and African Union, as well as several embassies, are based inside the perimeter fence. The Horn […]

Eastern Cape Police in South Africa have warned the Uitenhage community to guard against physically picking up or handing any strange or foreign objects that they recover at the Strelitzia Dam… after residents discovered three old – but lethally dangerous and still live – mortars on Friday! The local residents had no idea how dangerous […]

MUMBAI – India maintained their formidable home record by (unfortunately!) crushing South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the second test at Pune to clinch the three-test series with a match to spare on Sunday. Made to follow on, South Africa were bundled out for 189 in their second innings in a little […]

South African wheelchair athlete Ernst Francois van Dyk raced into third position on Sunday 13 October 2019 at the Chicago Marathon in the Men’s Wheelchair Race. It’s an incredible feat considering Van Wyk only arrived in Chicago on the eve of the competition! With no mention of jetlag, a very positive Van Wyk wrote on […]

Carte Blanche investigates Dangerous Gases in your Home, behind-the-scenes action with the Johannesburg Crimefighting Squad and more.You can watch the “Behind the Scenes Action” episode today – Sunday 13 Oct – on DStv Now if you’re in South Africa, and stream it from Tues 15 Oct on Showmax International in most other countries.  Dangerous Gases in […]

YOKOHAMA, Japan – Winger Kenki Fukuoka produced two pieces of individual brilliance as a high-paced Japan advanced to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals – where they’ll face South Africa next weekend – for the first time with a 28-21 victory over Scotland at Yokohama on Sunday. The win ensured Japan finished top of Pool A […]

TOKYO – Japan sent tens of thousands of troops and rescue workers on Sunday to save stranded residents and fight floods caused by one of the worst typhoons to hit the country in recent history, which killed 18 people and briefly paralyzed Tokyo. There were also 13 people missing, public broadcaster NHK said, as Typhoon […]

KOBE, Japan – South Africa midfield back Damian de Allende is unlikely to abandon his conservative playing style any time soon with the World Cup quarter-finals a week away and defences adept at shutting down attacking options out wide. Inside centre de Allende has been given the green light by his coaches to play more […]

TOKYO – One of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit Tokyo paralyzed the Japanese capital on Saturday, leaving millions confined indoors and streets deserted as fierce rain and wind killed two, flooded rivers and threatened widespread damage. And just after the storm hit, an earthquake also shook Tokyo. (See Update at bottom of page.) […]

TOKYO – Two men were killed, over 60 people were injured and more than six million people were advised to evacuate Tokyo in Japan as a powerful typhoon bore down on the Japanese capital on Saturday, bringing with it the heaviest rain and winds in 60 years. (UPDATED 16h30 SA time from 1 fatality to […]

The City of Cape Town in South Africa has announced it is banning all fireworks during public celebrations like Diwali, Guy Fawks and New Year’s Eve, after pressure from the public. Cape Town’s safety official Alderman JP Smit said in a statement Friday that this year Cape Town will no longer have special ‘designated firework […]

Watch the video below to see two men leap out of a pool faster than you can say ‘elephant’, when a large mother elephant jumps in to boot them out. The mother was trying to protect her baby who was stuck in the pool. But the men were wanna-be good samaritans. They were attempting to […]

OSLO – Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for his peacemaking efforts with Eritrea. Ethiopia and Eritrea, longtime foes who fought a border war from 1998 to 2000, restored relations in July 2018 after years of hostility. The prize, worth nine million Swedish crowns, or around $900,000, will […]

When the headlines around you are getting you down, escape to this page where proudly South African citizen Jennifer Conry has listed the reasons daily – from 30 Aug 2019 until December 2019 – on why she is so passionate about her beautiful homeland – South Africa (SA). Siya Kolisi: “Through hard work and dedication, […]