SAA’s board chairperson has denied that South African Airways’ future is at risk. John Lamola today dismissed claims that the state-owned carrier – which was once the pride of the nation – is facing liquidation due to delays in the conclusion of the strategic equity partnership (SEP) transaction with Takatso Consortium. Lamola said the media […]

CapeNature is taking proactive steps to ensure the Western Cape’s precious biodiversity is protected, following the shocking escalation in succulent and other plant poaching, which has seen hundreds of thousands of plants being stolen from South Africa. The poaching has increased hugely since 2018, with most of these plants being destined for the Asian market. […]

Saving Africa’s rhinos will require a multidimensional strategy, with private game reserves and national parks cooperating and anti-poaching efforts working in tandem with education campaigns, according to Joe Cloete, the CEO of Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. Cloete says this isn’t a new approach, but it is one that needs to be developed […]

Thirty years ago, on a hot, humid August night in Barcelona, Elana Meyer and Derartu Tulu combined to create one of the most iconic moments in Olympic Games history. Now the two are getting together to celebrate that piece of history for the first time since that embrace and lap of honour reverberated around the […]

The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has hiked the repurchase rate (repo rate) by 75 basis points. This increase means the repo rate will now be 6.25% per year from tomorrow (Friday) 23 September 2022, with prime now at 9.75%. The level of the repurchase rate is now closer to the level prevailing […]

Two suspects have been arrested for robbery and the brutal murder of 68-year-old farmer, Frans Venter, who was killed at his farm in Modderfontein, near Rustenburg, on Wednesday morning, 21 September 2022. As the community mourns the shocking killing, the South African Police Service (SAPS) issued a statement on Thursday afternoon about the arrests. SAPS […]

Once billed as “the Ikea of Africa,” Steinhoff employed over 130 000 people on over 40 brands across four continents. Steinhoff-owned companies every South African will know include giants like Ackermans, Incredible Connection, Morkels, Pennypinchers, PEP, Russells, Tekkie Town, and Timbercity. On 5 December 2017, CEO Markus Jooste resigned amid an investigation into accounting irregularities, […]

The pension of former National Lotteries Commission chief operating officer Phillemon Letwaba has been frozen by the Special Tribunal. The Special Tribunal has frozen the R2.8-million pension of former National Lotteries Commission chief operating officer Phillemon Letwaba. This follows an application by the Special Investigating Unit, which was authorised in 2020 by President Cyril Ramaphosa […]

Several pesticides found to cause cancer, genetic mutations and affect reproductive health, will be phased out and banned by 2024, according to the national Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture will phase out some pesticides over the next two years and ban them completely by June 2024. Farm women marched in Worcester on Tuesday […]

Around 91 new property owners have shot the lights out in the best possible way, with Rawson Developers’ very first Atlantic Seaboard luxury apartments sold out in less than half an hour. The launch of this joint venture with the Berman Brothers Group drew property investors and residents from across the income spectrum and world, […]

Africa’s conservation heroes were celebrated at the prestigious 2022 African Conservation Awards at the African Rangers Congress in Botswana on Saturday, 17th September. The awards are an annual celebration to honour the courageous men and women who are committed to protecting Africa’s natural spaces and in doing so raise awareness of the critical and diverse […]

‘Little Amal’, the giant refugee puppet that was created by a South African company, strolled into Times Square in New York on Friday. The 3.66-metre tall (12 foot) puppet represents a 10-year-old Syrian refugee searching for her mom who disappeared after she went in search of food. Little Amal is in New York to visit […]

Activists protest at Mini Blue Train to highlight PRASA’s failures. By Ashraf Hendricks As Metrorail’s service in Cape Town has deteriorated, one train has consistently run on time and safely for over 60 years: the Mini Blue Train in Mouille Point. On Wednesday, about 30 protesters from activist groups #UniteBehind held a protest at this […]

Global superstar John Legend has given a nod of approval to South African musician Mthandazo Gatya’s duet of his hit ‘Nervous’, publicly liking the video on TikTok, and retweeting it on Monday on Twitter. And Gatya’s dreams could be coming true with a Black Coffee collaboration! Gatya – who had a hit during Lockdown with […]

About 60 volunteers from Fisantekraal and surrounding communities rolled up their sleeves on Saturday to remove waste from the river which flows into the Mosselbank River. The clean up, organised by the Mosselbank River Conservation Team, marked World Clean-Up Day in Greenville. The Mosselbank team tackle environmental issues in the Greenville and Fisantekraal communities, said […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa says resolving the energy crisis is critical to ensure that the economic and investment potential of the country is realised. His comments come after South Africa was plunged into Stage 6 load shedding for the second time this year, prompting the President’s urgent return to the country during an international trip. Households […]

WINDSOR, Sept 19 (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth’s black pony Emma watched the monarch’s funeral procession pass by in the grounds of Windsor Castle, where she was held on a lead by a groomsman. The queen’s two corgis, Sandy and Muick, were also brought out for the arrival of the coffin at the castle, where Queen […]

On 15 September we (Ground Up) reported that Zimbabweans trying to leave South Africa were being turned back at Beitbridge border, apparently by the new Border Management Authority guards in Musina, Limpopo. As a result, people we spoke to were confused and eventually crossed the border through unofficial routes that can be dangerous. Despite attempts […]

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 19 (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will miss the United Nations General Assembly this week, instead returning home from Britain to address a national power crisis, his spokesman told local media including television channel eNCA. State-owned power utility Eskom moved to “Stage 6” electricity outages on Sunday for only the third […]

WINDSOR, England (Reuters) -Queen Elizabeth’s coffin arrived at Windsor Castle, her final resting place, on Monday after a day of matchless pageantry that drew world leaders to her funeral and hundreds of thousands of well-wishers wanting to say farewell to a revered monarch. By Michael Holden, Kate Holton and Alistair Smout. People lined the route […]

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has paid tribute to a former director of the Kruger National Park, Dr Salomon Jouberg (affectionately known as Doc Solly), who passed away suddenly on Wednesday 14 September at the age of 81. SANParks said: “It is with great sadness that we learnt of the sudden death of Dr […]

On Saturday 17 September, 44 determined individuals united in a grueling summit for a worthy cause. The Rhino Peak in the Southern Drakensberg – a 21km hike/run with over 1,300m of vertical climb – was their mission; and raising funds for rhinos, vultures, and cranes was their driving force.  The top finishers A beautiful albeit […]

Eskom CEO, Andre de Ruyter, says the power utility is working hard to bring back failing generation units and restore stability to the grid. His pledge comes after multiple trips, breakdowns and delays in return to service at generation units caused the implementation of Stage 6 load shedding over the weekend. De Ruyter said teams […]

Speaking from the UK where he is attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the death of 19 learners and two adults in a collision between a bakkie and a truck near Pongola in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Friday. The learners were being transported on a bakkie when their […]

Watch the State Funeral Service for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland at Westminster Abbey, London, below. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa is attending the funeral of the UK’s longest reigning monarch which starts at Westminster Abbey before then moving to Windsor Castle for an intimate service, followed by a private […]