The South African Rand traded at almost R21.22 to the British pound today (Monday), its worst level ever. The  U.S. dollar is R13.94, meanwhile, slightly up on it worst-ever level of R14.07 on 24 August. The news comes two days before Rand Merchant Bank and the Bureau for Economic Research are to release their business confidence index […]

The go-ahead has been given for the Springboks to leave South Africa on 11 September to take part in the Rugby World Cup (RWC), as planned. However a South African judge did say that “transformation is grinding very slowly”. An application by small political party Agency for New Agenda (ANA) to bar the Boks from playing […]

South Africa’s Anaso Jobodwana has won a brilliant bronze medal in the men’s 200 metre athletics in Beijing, China. It’s the second medal for South Africa at the 2015 IAAF World Championships after Wayde van Niekerk’s sensational gold win in the 400m yesterday that made all kinds of new records. (See here for more.) The double […]

In a drastic, but vital, step to prevent poachers from killing rhino in South Africa’s first World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) have implemented a rhino de-horning programme throughout the Western Shores section of the Park. Unfortunately these are the kind of measures that have become necessary in South Africa. In […]

The ANC, DA and EFF have reacted with outrage at the alleged “institutionalised racism, discrimination and harassment” at Stellenbosch University (SU) exposed in the video ‘Luister’. The ANC Chief Whip described SU as a place where Black students “struggle against being forced lectures in Afrikaans that they don’t understand” and where such students are “regularly made […]

Less than a week ago, safari company Camp Hwange was celebrating the “cat bonanza” they had been enjoying lately. Sadly this turned to tragedy yesterday morning when one of their professional guides was mauled to death by a male lion while out on a walking safari. The attack took place at Hwange Park in northwestern […]

Gift of the Givers announced this morning that they will be responding with Food Aid today to assist former Aquarius miners in Rustenburg, North West, who are suffering from such starvation that some are reportedly resorting to eating rats and even cats. Others have died, according to a report on Friday (14 August 2015) – entitled “Dismissed Aquarius mineworkers […]

On what would have been Reeva Steenkamp’s 32nd birthday today, South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Adv. Michael Masutha has said in a media statement that the decision to release her killer, Oscar Pistorius, in two days’ time was made prematurely. Minister Masutha has referred the decision to the Correctional Supervision and Parole Review Board (CSPRB) […]

Stabilo UK has responded to Bic South Africa’s faux pas with a brilliant advert that says it all. For Women’s Day, Bic SA posted an image celebrating the occasion with a photo of a woman in an office suit accompanied by the words: “Look like a girl, Act like a lady, Think like a man, Work like […]

President Jacob Zuma said today that Omar al-Bashir could not be arrested in South Africa, during his recent trip to the country, because he was invited by the African Union and not the South African government. Al-Bashir was not visiting South Africa, said President Zuma. The South African President was responding to a question from DA […]

It may be winter, but Durban dazzled today for the long-awaited second South African Ironman 70.3 race. (The 70.3 figure refers to the total number of miles…which is equivalent to 113 km – 1.9 km swim, 90km bike ride, 21.1 km run) Within four hours and seven seconds, Stuart Marais became the first ever Standard Bank Ironman 70.3 […]

Only a day after The Telegraph newspaper identified Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer as the person who had shot and killed with a bow and arrow Zimbabwe’s famed Cecil the Lion, social media has turned not only Palmer but hunters in general into some of the world’s most hated villains. Twitter yesterday was bristling with comments […]

It’s a sad day for South Africa today as news comes that former cricketer Clive Rice has passed away, just five days after his 66th birthday. Clive was the Protea’s first captain ever. The much loved and respected sportsman passed away in hospital this morning, after a long battle with brain cancer. The news came […]

South African residents with accounts and investments in foreign tax jurisdictions have been given until 12 August 2015 to approach the South African Revenue Service (SARS) via its Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) to regularise their tax affairs. In a media statement this week, SARS provided an update on the work it has done on foreign bank accounts held […]

Facebook Africa was officially launched last night at the World Trade Centre in Johannesburg, with former Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) South African chairman, Nunu Ntshingila, appointed as the social networking company’s new Head of Africa. Nunu spent over 15 years with the advertising agency as Managing Director, CEO and Chairman, overseeing award-winning campaigns for companies like Coca-Cola. During […]

It was confirmed today that legendary singer and songwriter Rodriguez will be returning to South Africa early next year. This time he will be performing in Johannesburg and Cape Town again, as well as in Durban and Port Elizabeth. His last tour to the country was sold out within minutes of bookings being opened…so if you’re keen for […]

Video footage has surfaced of the leopard attack which took place yesterday, Thursday 2 July 2015, in the Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa. Curtis Plumb, a field guide working for Nhongo Safaris – one of the Open Safari Vehicle (OSV) companies operating in the Kruger – was attacked by the leopard during a game drive. […]

The brightest stars – well, planets – in the sky over the past month have been Jupiter and Venus as they’ve danced closer together. Last night – 30 June 2015 – they were at their closest, separated by just a fraction of a degree…as can be seen in the picture below, taken at Blouberg Beachfront in the […]

“I’m innocent” is a refrain prison warders hear with such monotonous regularity, they mostly don’t listen. Zonderwater warder Levi Maphakane proved the exception to the rule. He not only listened to repeated protestations of innocence by inmate Thembekile Molaudzi – sentenced to life imprisonment on four counts including murder and robbery more than a decade […]

An American tourist and her three children were allegedly held in a detention centre at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg today and were due to be deported this evening. UPDATE: Thanks to the intervention of Gift of the Givers (GOTG), the family was released late this afternoon and allowed to enter the country. Dr Imtiaz Ismail Sooliman […]

A rhino called ‘Hope’ is making headlines around the world since she survived a brutal poaching attack, and against all odds, continues to live. Wildlife television presenter Bonné de Bod, along with cinematographer Susan Scott, is currently making ‘STROOP’ – the Afrikaans documentary feature film (with English subtitles) on the rhino poaching crisis. The filmmakers were […]

Four South African adverts scooped prizes in the Film category of the 2015 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in the South of France. The awards ceremony was held in the south of France last night. South Africa won in the Silver and Bronze categories while the top Grand Prix prize went to the Leica Gallery ad from […]

The photos of an unfortunate African Rock Python, and its equally unfortunate meal – a porcupine – are making news around the world with headings like ‘Python comes to prickly end’ and ‘Snake bites off more than he can chew’.  The story of the python and the porcupine began on Sunday 14 June 2015 when one […]

The big question being asked in South Africa today is “where were you on that epic day 20 years ago?” Yes, it’s been two decades since former President Nelson Mandela walked on to that rugby field in his #6 Springbok jersey with the chants of the crowd accompanying him…”Nelson…Nelson…Nelson”. South Africans are being invited to […]

Friends, acquaintances and customers are rallying to support the family of Joe Kanyona who was tragically killed on Saturday evening in Cape Town. Joe, with his easy smile and friendly nature, was well known to customers as the doorman for the popular Beerhouse On Long. The 32-year-old has left behind his wife and their four-month-old […]