WASHINGTON – A fatal accident in which the driver of a Tesla Motors Inc Model S car operating in Autopilot mode was killed in a collision with a truck has prompted an investigation by federal highway safety regulators, the U.S. government and Tesla disclosed on Thursday. The investigation of the first known fatality to involve […]

The City of Tshwane has received international recognition this week in Liverpool, England, winning the World Wi-Fi Day Award for Most Innovative City or Government Program to bridge the Digital Divide. An award in this category recognizes cities, governments and organizations that develop local and national plans to bridge the digital divide. The Tshwane Free […]

A growing number of international tour companies refusing to promote elephant riding is putting South Africa’s elephant-back safari industry under pressure to pack in the lucrative but unethical/questionable practice of riding elephants. With an increasing global awareness for the welfare issues and cruel training methods associated with elephant-back riding, a drive to end the practice […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa cleared Anheuser-Busch Inbev’s $100 billion-plus deal to acquire SABMiller on Thursday, putting the world’s largest brewer “on track” to complete the merger within the next six months. The Competition Tribunal, which gives the final word on mergers in Africa’s most industrialised country, said in a statement that concessions made by AB […]

Almost 360 pupils from a high school in Joburg’s Alexandra township that has achieved a high matric pass rate for two years running have received bicycles as part of a project to expand the mobility – and thus the productivity – of ordinary South Africans. The township was identified for the Urban Scholar Bicycle project because of the transport […]

Johannesburg is apparently awash with blue as Democratic Alliance (DA) supporters have gathered for the unveiling of the ‘Jobs Not Jets’ billboard, which ANC supporters had allegedly attempted to halt… even throwing rocks. The DA reported an hour ago that the “atmosphere is INCREDIBLE at our billboard unveiling in Joburg. South Africans want JOBS, NOT […]

American multinational General Electric (GE) has invested R500 million in its GE Africa Innovation Centre in Rosebank, Johannesburg, the tenth innovation hub set up globally but a first for GE in Africa. The 2,700 square-metre facility, which was 90 percent designed, built and executed in the country, houses GE’s innovation across Africa within its key business sectors […]

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa launched an Anti-Racism Song on Wednesday to “tackle the continuing salience of race and racism and the negative role social media has played in spewing the racial bigotry”. Speaking at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg yesterday the Minister said music can play an important role in fostering social cohesion and building a non-racial society. In […]

A record 200 parties and 61,014 candidates – aged 18 to 90 – will contest the 3 August municipal elections, about 65 percent more parties and 12 percent more candidates than the municipal elections of 2011, according to the Electoral Commission (IEC). In a statement released on Wednesday, the IEC gave the following data: – There are a total of 4,649 unique […]

As the fallout continues at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) over the imposition of censorship by COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the resignation of the acting CEO, the protests by journalists and the declaration by the chairman that everything is fine at the public broadcaster, here are some of the best of the statements and memes on social media. […]

The Walt Disney Company on Tuesday released an animation short made by South African company Triggerfish Animation Studios that could become a fully fledged series. The release of “A Dogshow with Cat” comes barely a week after Triggerfish’s collaboration with Magic Light Pictures, the TV show “Stick Man”, which was shown on BBC last year, won the top […]

At last night’s sold-out Sentebale Concert at Kensington Palace, Prince Harry joined the musicians on stage to thank the star-studded crowd for standing in the rain, the Basotho Youth Choir for coming all the way from Lesotho, and Coldplay for headlining the charity gig. “You rocked the palace,” he said. The youth choir was invited to […]

Two South African tourists, who were at Istanbul’s main airport Tuesday night, have spoken to international news outlets about the horrific attack by three suicide bombers, which has tragically left at least 41 dead and 239 wounded. (Updated: Wed 14:15 SA time.) According to reports by Sky News and other outlets, Paul and Susie Roos from Cape […]

At the invite of Prince Harry, a Lesotho choir will perform tonight alongside British supergroup Coldplay at the prince’s Sentebale charity concert, at Kensington Palace, in London. It’s been an incredible week in the UK for the talented Basotho Youth Choir of six boys and six girls – aged between seven and 19 – who come from a country of […]

Seventy-three names have been put forward to take over the position of public protector, once Thuli Madonsela leaves at the end of her seven-year term in October. Of the total 73 nominations that were handed in by Friday last week and announced today, however, numerous have already declined the offer. These include Madonsela herself, who cannot […]

The office of President Jacob Zuma has warned the public to wary of scams looking to collect money on his behalf, one day after it was reported that the National Treasury said Zuma has to repay R7.8 million on non-security upgrades at Nkandla. The presidency warned the public of “scams on social media where people are asked […]

Italian actor Bud Spencer passed away peacefully on Monday in Rome, at the age of 86, with his family around him. His family tweeted a message saying: “With our deepest regrets, we have to tell you that Bud is flying to his next journey.” According to his son his last words were “thank you”. The actor […]

Dogs have been making news in South Africa the past 24 hours as Netcare911 shared a wonderful photo of a dog being treated by its paramedics; and the NSPCA launched an anti-dog fighting campaign conceived to shock and raise awareness. Netcare911 posted the photo below on Twitter yesterday saying: “Paramedics treating a dog for smoke […]

The National Treasury of South Africa has confirmed in a media statement this afternoon that it has submitted its report to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), in line with the Court’s order, regarding the SA President’s homestead in Nkandla. On 31 March 2016 ConCourt ordered that: “The National Treasury must determine a reasonable percentage of the costs of […]

South Africans have praised CEO of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Jimi Matthews, for his resignation and explanation that he can “no longer be a part” of what is going on at the SABC. In recent times the national broadcaster has introduced a policy refusing to show violent protests around the country, alleging this is to prevent […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) has confirmed that a hyena attacked a teenage boy, while he slept in his camp at the Kruger National Park, last night. SANParks said the “unfortunate incident” occurred at about 04:30 this morning, when the hyena entered the campsite at Crocodile Bridge. The animals attacked the teenage visitor who was sleeping […]

President Jacob Zuma and Public Protector Thuli Madonsela have congratulated Durban DJ and music producer DJ Black Coffee for his fantastic achievement, becoming the first South African music artist to win a Black Entertainment Television (BET) award. As reported last night, Black Coffee was announced as the winner in the ‘Best International Act – Africa’ category […]

South African DJ Black Coffee has been named the Best International Act from Africa by the international BET (Black Entertainment Television) Awards, making history as the first SA artist to win an award in this category. It was his first nomination. Black Coffee immediately tweeted: “Thank you Africa ?????????? #thisoneisformypeople #southafrica #bestinternationalartist #BETAwards16.” Congratulatory messages have […]

Ireland were determined to secure their first ever series win on SA soil… but the Springboks hung on and defeated Ireland 19-13 in Port Elizabeth today, bringing a Castle Lager 2-1 series victory to South Africa, an important first win for coach Allister Coetzee who has been under pressure and scrutiny in his new role. […]

In an interview with the BBC about his time on the Daily Show in the US, and facing the upcoming US election – and the controversial candidacy of Donald Trump, who was the subject of a viral tweet this week – Trevor Noah said that he found aspects of the US not dissimilar to South Africa. Talking […]