An amazing initiative is making a difference in South Africa where there’s a huge need to learn coding without requiring computers, which so few have. Over 16,000 of the 25,000 schools in the country do not have computer labs, and consequently, the workshops are focusing on “CODING UNPLUGGED”, referring to the fact that coding can […]

Every morning, a group of about 20 women gather on the Msunduzi Riverbank in Ehhashini location, outside Pietermaritzburg. Here they make bricks from mud and grass to earn a living. A group of women, mostly widows, in Pietermartizburg started a brick-making project in 2006. They make bricks for local residents out of mud and grass. […]

Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA) has increased its Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) ownership to a revised 20% target, with a significant worker ownership component. “This updated agreement will result in employees increasing their current holding of around 5% in CCBSA to an approximate 15% shareholding in CCBSA,” CCBSA Managing Director Velaphi Ratshefola said. Coca-Cola […]

South Africa has put a temporary halt to the rollout of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines, after it was found that the vaccine may not have the same efficacy (or effectiveness) against the mutated COVID-19 501Y.V2 variant, which is predominant in South Africa (and has been blamed for the sharp spike in Coronavirus cases during the […]

Oscar Pistorius will be eligible for parole over a year earlier than expected because of an oversight that was made when judgment was delivered. The news has naturally upset murder victim Reeva Steenkamp’s family, who described the timing of the decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to amend the Paralympian’s prison term as […]

Incredible scenes have been witnessed in South Africa over the weekend, as parts of the country are still being battered by the heavy rains set off by ex-Tropical Cyclone Eloise. Roads disappeared in Mpumalanga (see video below), and in the Northern Cape, Premier Dr Zamani Saul helped the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) distribute […]

The DA has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thandi Modise, requesting a full investigation into exactly how and who paid for an “extravagant” trip by Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) Julius Malema and others to the home of former South African President Jacob Zuma in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, on Friday. The insinuation is that […]

What’s going on in Senekal is amazing! Just months ago, the small Free State town was the scene of racial violence and chaos. Hijacked by political leaders with agendas, the nation held its breath, fearing that civil war may break out. But the people of Senekal refused to sit back and watch. They got together […]

Dozens of learners come running when Phakamisani Primary School principal Xola Faku calls through a loudhailer, telling them their lunch has arrived. It is midday on Wednesday in the informal settlement of Qolweni, in Bitou, and for many learners at the school this is the only meal they have during the day. Phakamisani Primary School […]

Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has suspended the Tourism Equity Fund’s (TEF) activities until discussions have taken place with AfriForum and Solidarity. This decision comes after the two institutions sent an urgent letter to the Minister about the fund, which intends to only offer financing to black-owned tourism businesses. In the Minister’s reply, she announced that […]

The Western Cape province will officially begin its COVID-19 vaccine rollout programme by no later than Monday 15 February, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announced in a statement. “We anticipate delivery of the Western Cape’s share of South Africa’s first batch of vaccines at our Cape Medical Depot within the next 5 to 10 days […]

The impact of heavy rains, caused by tropical storm Eloise, has resulted in Stage 2 load shedding in South Africa that will continue through the weekend. Eskom says the loadshedding, which has been implemented from noon today, has been exacerbated by the forced shutdown of five generating units at the Medupi Power Station. The power cuts […]

Professor Thuli Madonsela, South Africa’s popular former Public Protector, has been appointed as Knight of the Legion of Honour by France’s President Emmanual Macron. The prestigious honour will be bestowed upon her once the Covid-19 situation allows. UPDATE April 2021: Prof Thuli Madonsela has now had the French Knighthood bestowed upon her at a ceremony […]

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has launched an investigation into allegations of price gouging in South Africa, relating to garlic and ginger. What is price gouging? “The law defines price gouging as an unfair or unreasonable price increase that does not correspond to or is not equivalent to the increase in the cost of providing […]

Whisky Magazine announced today (4 February) that Andy Watts, Distell Master Distiller of a range of proudly South African whiskies, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky and Three Ships Whisky, will be bestowed the great honour of being inducted into Whisky Magazine’s Whisky Hall of Fame! The induction will take place on 25 March during an online […]

If people who work for the government tell us our safety depends on us not knowing what they do, we might suspect that they wanted to cover up wrong-doing. Unless, it seems, they work for state security agencies. South Africa’s media are awash with shock at “bombshell” revelations about the country’s security services at the […]

The novel Coronavirus has claimed more than 45 000 lives since the first case was reported in March last year. This is after 398 more COVID-19 related deaths were reported on Wednesday, pushing the death toll to 45 344. Of the latest fatalities, 138 are from KwaZulu-Natal, 97 in Gauteng, 67 in the Western Cape, 46 in […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) today, 04 February 2021, says it welcomes the decision by the Constitutional Court – dated 1 February 2021 – to dismiss the application for leave to appeal a High Court decision allowing for the Skukuza Regional Court to continue operating inside the Kruger National Park (KNP). The application for leave […]

Greyhound and Citiliner have announced they will be closing operations on 14 February 2021, after 37 years in South Africa… another casualty to Lockdown and the Coronavirus Pandemic. The company thanked its customers and said: “It has been our pleasure connecting you across Southern Africa for the past 37 years.” Chris Hunsinger – DA Shadow […]

The first episode of The Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD) launched exclusively on Showmax on Friday, 29 January and within hours was trending on Twitter and on screens. Statistics reveal is has broken all previous Showmax first-day viewing records, claiming top spot on the streaming service. The episode landed on Showmax at 00:00, with die-hard fans […]

Ford Motor Company this morning announced an investment of $1.05 billion (R15.8 billion) in its South African manufacturing operations. This marks the biggest investment in Ford’s 97-year history in South Africa, the company said. The South African government welcomed the announcement, which is one of the largest-ever investments in the South African automotive industry. It […]

South Africa has become the second largest exporter of fresh citrus in the world, after record-breaking exports that delivered 146 million cartons of citrus in 2020. Citrus is one of South Africa’s most important subsectors in the agricultural sector that provides a significant contribution to job creation and economic activity in South Africa’s rural communities. […]

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, has expressed sadness at the passing of sport broadcaster, Sandile kaNqose. The popular broadcaster, who always had a ready smile, reportedly passed away on Monday at the age of 42. A die-hard sport fan, who had an insatiable passion for broadcasting, Nqose resumed his career at eNCA in […]

Traders who missed the peak tourist season say that despite the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night that beaches are now open once again, the damage has been done. Thembisile Ngidi, who has plied her wares on Durban beachfront for 15 years, says the busiest days of the year are in December, and this season they […]

Queen Elizabeth II led tributes on Tuesday evening for Captain Sir Tom Moore, the 100-year-old war hero with youthful zest and determination who captured the heart of the nation, and the world, with his daily walks (with his zimmer frame) around his garden during the UK’s first Lockdown, which raised almost £33-million for the NHS […]