South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a statement recently (29 January 2021) arguing that the hunting industry is key to South Africa’s economic growth, and accusing conservation pressure groups of “cultural imperialism”. The statement appeared on the Professional Hunters’ Association of South Africa’s website. Here is the full transcript: HUNTING INDUSTRY KEY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH […]

King Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu sadly passed away on Friday morning, in hospital, at the age of 72. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has led tributes, saying he is “deeply saddened” by the news of the passing of Isilo Samabandla, King Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu. “This sad news come at a time when we had all been […]

An all-female crew took to the African skies yesterday, and celebrated by posting a couple of photos to Facebook page, Women in Aviation. Captain Denise Semedo – who spent six years based at Lanseria Airport outside Joburg, South Africa – said: “All-female crew today on the Phenom 300. Praise the Lord!” Captain Semedo told SAPeople […]

Natasha Mazzone, Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip, has been recognised for her leadership skills in South Africa and given the honour of The Star of Italy, the country’s equivalent of Knighthood. Ivan Meyer, DA Federal Chairperson, tweeted a message of congratulations to Mazzone, the daughter of an Italian, on Thursday afternoon. He said she received […]

In line with several countries around the world, South Africa’s National State of Disaster has been extended to mid-April. Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has gazetted the extension. In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of CoGTA said this means that the current measures contained in the regulations to save […]

In the aftermath of the police killing of a bystander, Mthokozisi Ntumba, during a student protest on Wednesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the South African government will not abandon its students. Addressing the National House of Traditional Leaders in Parliament on Thursday, the President said: “We will not abandon our students. We will fund their […]

The contracts of more than 5,000 Community Healthcare Workers (CHW) in the Eastern Cape will be terminated at the end of March… writes Mkhuseli Sizani. The contracts of over 5,000 community health workers in the Eastern Cape will be terminated at the end of March. The provincial health department says it has run out of […]

Gauteng state mortuaries had 1173 unidentified bodies last year, and a further 120 bodies that were identified but were buried as paupers as they were unclaimed. This was revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in a written reply to DA questions in the Gauteng Legislature. According to Mokgethi, there is an increase every year […]

Health Minister, Dr Zwelini Mkhize, says the South African government remains committed to vaccinate 65% of the population, or 40 million people, as per the original plan by the end of the year to help the country reach herd immunity. Answering oral questions before the National Assembly on Wednesday, Mkhize said: “We are still targeting […]

The Gauteng Social Development Department has distanced itself from fake social media messages about the distribution of food parcels in the province. The department’s Deputy Director-General for Social Welfare Services, Onkemetse Kabasia noted that a special food relief programme was implemented by the department since March 2020, as part of the COVID-19 response when the […]

At last, a mother has been able to fulfil her long-cherished dream of swimming in the sea with her son, after undergoing a first-for-Africa procedure to relieve the debilitating effects of secondary lymphoedema, which affected one of her legs. And it’s thanks in large part to a couple of incredible female medical experts who travelled […]

Protesters proceeded to Empire Road and blocked traffic in Johannesburg… By Masego Mafata. A bystander was killed in Braamfontein on the third day of Wits student protests on Wednesday. Police allegedly shot the man several times. The protests are about exclusion from the university because of outstanding fees and historic debt, and financial exclusion of students […]

Queen Elizabeth II has broken her silence over the Oprah Winfrey interview with her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, which aired in South Africa on DStv on Monday evening. The Queen said the royal family was “saddened” by how challenging the couple said their experiences had been, and promised to address some […]

With an ever-increasing litter problem in Fourways, the Jukskei River, and its surrounds, The SW Living Creatures Trust, led by Sean Williams (50) from Lonehill, Johannesburg, has embarked on a clean-up project that is gaining momentum. Launched in November 2020, the Live Life Always project, which has created job opportunities for 10 otherwise unemployed Diepsloot […]

A romantic birthday dinner for Helen Zille turned into an ‘adventurous celebration’ on Tuesday evening when strong winds in Cape Town, South Africa, caused a tree to fall through the roof of the restaurant she and her husband were dining at. Zille, Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance, was celebrating her 70th […]

The university has previously said that only students who have less than R10,000 debt could register. By Masego Mafata.   Wits students are demanding that all students be allowed to register regardless of how much they still owe the university. Wits University has previously said that only students who have less than R10,000 debt could […]

Hydroxychloroquine does not reduce deaths from COVID-19 and may even cause unwanted damage, recent studies have found. According to the new Cochrane Review, the drug probably does not reduce the number of people needing mechanical ventilation. “In addition, they note that no new trials of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for treating COVID-19 should be started,” the […]

The South African economy contracted by 7% in 2020, Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke, revealed in a media briefing on Tuesday. Announcing the results of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2020, Maluleke said the decrease was despite the economy growing by 1.5% in the last three months of the year, giving an […]

The Eskom Board announced on Tuesday that it will appoint an independent Senior Counsel to probe racism allegations against its Group Chief Executive André de Ruyter. According to the statement, this follows racism allegations made in the public domain against De Ruyter. Suspended Chief Procurement Officer Solly Tshitangano has accused the Group Chief Executive (GCE) […]

A joint scientific study by Blood Lions and World Animal Protection highlights how the captive lion breeding industry in South Africa poses real and serious health risks to thousands of tourists, industry workers and its communities. “Five major diseases (dubbed The Sick 5 in our new campaign) have been identified that can inflict serious health […]

Across the world people have been divided in their views of the explosive Oprah Winfrey interview with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, which DStv aired in South Africa last night. But here’s a video everyone’s sure to enjoy – Black Wendy’s spoof of the interview. The Black Wendy Channel is created and hosted by South […]

A safari park tracker in Limpopo, South Africa, was tragically attacked and mauled to death by two lions on Sunday morning, 7 March 2021, while he was following the tracks of a pair of cheetahs. Malibongwe Mfila, 27, had seen the spoor divert off the dirt road he was following in his jeep, and stopped […]

The first substantial peer-reviewed clinical trial of the drug against Covid-19 finds no evidence that it is a wonder medicine. By Elsabé Brits. A study in Columbia of 398 people with mild Covid-19 symptoms found that ivermectin offered no statistically significant benefit over placebo. This is the first peer-reviewed large clinical trial of the drug […]

The South African government on Sunday announced a further 31 Coronavirus-related deaths and 862 new cases. The latest numbers are down from the 1 227 new cases and 81 deaths reported on Saturday. Of the latest fatalities, 12 occurred in Gauteng, 11 in the Western Cape, four in Mpumalanga and two each in the Free […]

The Carter Center, founded by former US president, Jimmy Carter in 1982, has selected 13 cities from around the world, including Cape Town, to participate in its first global Inform Women, Transform Lives campaign. This initiative, which runs until October, aims to enhance awareness of women’s rights to information. Each city was tasked with selecting […]