Up and down the coast of Cape Town, a growing number of people have taken to the extremely cold water every day throughout winter, extolling the healing magic of cold water swimming. For them, it’s been an unexpected reprieve from the ongoing pandemic, claiming the icy-cold waters helped them fight the loneliness of lockdown, boosted […]

Prince Harry has unveiled a million-dollar donation to a Lesotho charity from his lucrative book deal. The decision to donate some of the profits from his memoir was announced on Thursday during the Sentebale Polo Cup in Colorado, USA where he made a surprise appearance. The Sentebale Polo Cup is a charity match named for […]

With the murder rate for the last quarter up by 60.2%, Police Minister Bheki Cele said the stats are “high and unnatural” as a result of the lockdown… although opposition party, the DA, says these figures are more an indictment on the failings of the Minister and the South African Police Service (SAPS). The latest quarterly […]

There has been an international outcry after a wild lion, named Mopane, was allegedly killed by an American trophy hunter outside of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, in disturbing similarities to the killing of ‘Cecil’ which made headlines six years ago. The trophy hunter is allegedly again an American – named as Phillip Smith (not […]

South Africa has surpassed the 10 million mark of administering COVID-19 jabs, with over 4.6 million South Africans now fully vaccinated. According to the Department of Health, the country distributed 191 806 COVID-19 shots on Thursday, taking the number of administered jabs to 10 167 749 since the start of the vaccination rollout programme. In addition, 137 215 […]

The South African Cabinet, which held a virtual meeting yesterday, said in a press statement today that it welcomes the renaming of Brandfort in the Free State to Winnie Mandela, “in honour of the Struggle and liberation icon who was banished to the town during the height of apartheid”. Plans to unveil the name were […]

South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is expected to increase drastically following Cabinet’s approval for the vaccination of people aged between 18 and 35 years from tomorrow, Friday 20 August 2021. Cabinet said it had received a report from the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC) indicating that over nine million vaccines have been administered in South […]

South African golfing legend, Gary Player, has shared a moving tribute to his beloved wife Vivienne (‘Viv’), who died this week from cancer. He said “the unthinkable has happened”. Player may have accumulated a mountain of international golfing championships, but the sports star’s biggest win in life was a lifetime shared with his childhood sweetheart. […]

South Africans who have parcels to send to Australia have been advised to take the items to their local SA post office by no later than 7 September 2021. The South African Post Office said that they’ve been informed by Qantas that the Australian airline has scheduled a second repatriation flight to Australia, presenting customers […]

The number of Nando’s restaurants in the UK which have had to shut their doors has now risen to almost 75, according to the Daily Mail, as the South African-owned fast-food Peri-Peri chicken chain battles to get its hands on… well, chicken! Nando’s explained on Twitter yesterday: The UK supply chain is having a bit […]

At least 1,227 ATMs and 310 bank branches were vandalised or destroyed during the recent unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, which occurred between 9 and 17 July. And over R119-million in cash was stolen, it was confirmed by the South African Banking Risk Information Centre (SABRIC) today. SABRIC, which has been assessing […]

Ziggi Goredema lost his job and home at the start of lockdown and began making and selling the hanging lampshades… By Ashraf Hendricks. Ziggi Goredema lives in a weathered tent in Van Riebeeck Park, near Cape Town’s city centre. On the tree above his tent hang unique lampshades, which he has made from materials like […]

Annelee Murray may not be a Springbok rugby player herself, but she’s as much a legend as the sports stars she worked with for over 200 matches! Proudly South African and Proud Bok Supporter, Annelee is celebrating her 20 year journey as the first lady of Springbok rugby (aka the Boks’ Public Relations Manager) with […]

In response to the tragic murder of 29-year-old, Meghan Cremer, the vibrant Western Cape show-jumper and bakery manager, who was assaulted and murdered in Cape Town in August 2019, Bronwyn Litkie launched Facebook group SA Women Fight Back. The group, which was founded on 8 August 2019, the day before Women’s Day, began as a […]

South Africa’s Paralympic team have headed off to Japan for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Here’s a guide to the events our 34 SA athletes will be competing in, along with an explanation as to what each category classification means. But first, here’s a wonderful message from Olympic gold-medal winner, Tatjana Schoenmaker for the SA Paralympic […]

According to research conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the South African economy could face massive losses of more than R181-million every week it’s on the UK’s ‘red list’ for travel. The comprehensive study conducted by WTTC, reveals the staggering consequences the UK ‘red list’ represents to the South African Travel & […]

UK celebrity Michaela Strachan says her dogs were poisoned by crystal meth in Cape Town, South Africa, where she is based… and they are apparently not the first dogs to overdose on Tik. The 55-year-old TV presenter, who has been living in South Africa since 2002, said she had to rush her pet pooches Rio […]

A team from the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) is investigating a luxury coach crash which claimed the lives of at least 28 people, including about three children and a baby boy, at Kei Cuttings in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, yesterday (Monday 16 August). According to the RTMC, the crash occurred when a luxury […]

AfriForum, which originally launched a medal fund on 10 August for Olympic and Paralympic medallists, says it has now joined hands with Atterbury Trust’s medal fund so that the athletes can receive their rewards collectively. (See details at bottom of page if you’d like to contribute.) The fund-raising amongst South Africans for Olympic medallists – […]

If you missed Saturday’s match where South Africa beat Argentina 32-12 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, here are some of the highlights below… The Springboks built on an encouraging first half in which they held a 21-9 lead over Los Pumas to outscore the visitors three tries to none. This followed on a triumphant […]

At least 50 people marched to the Phoenix Police Station under the banners of the African United Activists and Qina Mhlali Movement in Durban at the weekend. A group of 50 people marched to the Phoenix Police Station to demand justice for those killed and attacked during the July unrest. They want a judicial commission […]

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been “inundated with messages of love, support and concern” since undergoing unspecified surgery in hospital on Saturday. Zuma’s Foundation said all the messages have been “well received and appreciated”. According to the SA Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Zuma will also be having “other procedures scheduled for the coming […]

Today, South African Red Bull KTM rider Brad Binder won the Austria MotoGP in spectacular fashion – braving out heavy rain – in front of 86,000 spectators. This was his second win in the premier class, since making the move up in 2020. MotoGP tweeted: “You really had to see it to believe it!” and […]

You may have an illegally-sourced succulent in your home… In an illicit trade rivalling that of rhino horn and perlemoen poaching, massive hauls of succulents are being stripped from delicate ecosystems in South Africa’s outermost corners by rare plant collectors with the help of local guides. This week Carte Blanche investigates the latest trend that […]

Phumelela Mbande has a dream. The young Olympic star from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, who was given an opportunity to play hockey when she was young, now wants to pass it forward and get involved in hockey clinics, teaching hockey in disadvantaged communities. Phumelela recently returned from the Tokyo Olympics, where she represented SA as […]