Residents of parts of the Karoo in South Africa, who have been experiencing a devastating drought, were celebrating yesterday as they received their first early downpour in over six years. Baraka Gifts and Decor in Steytlerville, in the Eastern Cape, described the sense of elation beautifully: I was so very fortunate yesterday afternoon to experience […]

Sediment from coffer dams built by diamond mining companies on the West Coast is smothering the seabed and damaging the inshore reef systems, perhaps permanently, diamond divers have warned. Diamond divers have warned of damage to the seabed and inshore reef systems from “coffer dams” on the West Coast. Coffer dams are temporary sea walls […]

The number of new Coronavirus cases in South Africa has risen by 4011, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 821 889 since the outbreak. Meanwhile, 183 people died on Tuesday, which brings the death toll to 22 432 since the outbreak. Of the latest fatalities, 82 were recorded in the Eastern Cape, 50 […]

Two members of the ‘Crusaders’ right-wing organisation – brothers Eric Donald Abrahams (55) and Erroll Abrahams (50) – were today found guilty, convicted and sentenced in the Middelburg Regional Court for contravention of Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Matters Act (POCDATARA). The men were found guilty of preparing and planning to “carry […]

For the first time in almost 800 years, the planets of Jupiter and Saturn will be so closely aligned on 21 December (Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere) that they’ll create what looks like that radiant star you sometimes see twinkling on Christmas cards… the Star of Bethlehem, which followers of the Christian faith believe […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that former Free State premier Ace Magashule, who is out on bail on charges of fraud, will be presenting himself to the ANC party’s Integrity Commission on December 12. According to DA leader John Steenhuisen, this announcement about one of the ANC’s “most corrupt cadres” – following a […]

Durban, South Africa, has been rocked by yet another explosion this morning, leaving 13 injured. The New Germany sky was stained with billowing black smoke on Tuesday morning as flames ravaged Zeta Chemicals in Otto Volek road. Less than a week ago, fire broke out at an Engen’s Durban refinery following an explosion at the […]

Tributes have poured in from around South Africa, and the world, following the sad passing of theatre legend Dawn Lindberg. The theatre doyenne died yesterday, 7 December, at the age of 75 from Covid-19 related complications. Ismail Mahomed, former chief executive officer at the Market Theatre Foundation, led the tributes with the following tribute. He […]

New water tests conducted by activists at the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) show that the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works in Milnerton is discharging effluent with high levels of E. coli. This is in direct contradiction to tests done by the City of Cape Town. Tests by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) show the […]

The South African economy finally began its journey to recovery during the third quarter of 2020, after being sent into a tailspin by the national lockdown when it recorded a severe decline of 51%. During the third quarter, South Africa’s economy rose by an annualised rate of 66.1%, Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) revealed on Tuesday. Addressing […]

The local production of hand sanitisers in South Africa has contributed to saving lives and earning export revenues for the country as local manufacturers diversified and innovated. The data was released by Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel on Tuesday. He said that between June and November 2020, permits for the export of […]

Special Investigating Unit investigators on Tuesday morning pounced on the National Lottery Commission (NLC) offices in Pretoria, South Africa, as it probes alleged maladministration at the agency. The swoop comes after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Monday secured a search and seizure warrant from a local magistrate court as part of its investigation into […]

Three Springbok Rugby World Cup winners, Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Bryan Habana, were named in the World Rugby 15’s Team of the Decade as part of the World Rugby Awards Special Edition held on Monday evening. There was also special recognition for Siya Kolisi and his Springbok colleagues for their fundraising efforts […]

SANTA MONICA, USA – Music legend Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman) has sold his entire catalogue of songs to Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). The landmark agreement, announced by UMPG today, encompasses more than 600 copyrights spanning 60 years from 1962’s cultural milestone “Blowin’ In The Wind” to this year’s epic “Murder Most Foul”. (Listen […]

Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed to postpone the remaining matches in the current One-Day International (ODI) Series being played in SA. The decision was taken jointly by the two Boards to ensure the mental and physical health and welfare of players from both teams, CSA said in […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) is today celebrating Captain David Simelane, South Africa’s first black game capture rated pilot. Nicknamed “Blackhawk”, Simelane completed his game capture rating, which is an endorsement on his pilot license, with flying colours on 2 December 2020. SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni said in a statement: “We are extremely proud of […]

South Africa’s Justice and Correctional Services Ministry has kick-started the process to extradite fugitives Shepard and Mary Bushiri who escaped the country while facing criminal charges. “Given our sound and healthy diplomatic, strategic and political relationship, and our common citizenship of the SADC Community, we are convinced that the Republic of Malawi will honour the […]

An extensive and sobering report, Serial Rape in South Africa, has been published revealing the extent and brutality of the rape crisis in SA. The report, published by Afriforum, contains devastating rape statistics and has used news reports, available data, research performed by various institutions, court cases and other sources. According to the latest annual […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness at the recent death of South Africa’s ambassador to Senegal, Lenin Magigwane Shope. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Presidency said ambassador Shope passed away at his official residence in Dakar, Senegal, earlier last week. President Ramaphosa offered his sincere condolences to Shope’s mother, Ma Gertude Shope, a […]

The South African Department of Health has issued an urgent announcement to all parents and learners who attended Ballito Rage event in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) to get tested for COVID-19 after it was identified as a super-spreader event. Anyone who attended a Ballito Rage event is a ‘contact’ “We confirm that we have now identified a […]

A mysterious grant of R5.5 million has been given by the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) to a Limpopo organisation which says it never got the money. (Plus see the DA’s revelations below.) The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) gave R5.5 million to a Limpopo organisation which says it never got the money. The NLC has confirmed […]

MPUMALANGA – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has launched a manhunt for a suspect following the recovery of a stolen bakkie that was being smuggled inside a truck! The hidden vehicle was discovered yesterday afternoon, 5 December, at the Lebombo Port of Entry where it’s believed the driver was hoping to cross the border […]

Nelson Mandela’s former personal assistant, Zelda la Grange, yesterday marked the anniversary of Madiba’s death (5 December 2013) by sharing with the world the three principles by which her former boss lived. Zelda, who worked for South Africa’s late President, wrote on Facebook: “It’s been 26 years since the day I met Madiba in the […]

The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) population has declined by over 95% since the 1900s and by nearly 65% over the past 30 years. In the early 1900s, there were an estimated 1.5 million to 3 million African penguins inhabiting islands off the coast of southern Africa. By last year, this had fallen to about 17,900 […]

John Steenhuisen – Leader of the Democratic Alliance – has urged South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend corruption-accused Secretary-General, Ace Magashule, at the NEC meeting this weekend… or expose his promised words that ANC members charged with corruption need to step aside, as hollow. Three months ago, when the Covid-19 procurement scandal was exposed, […]