In a recent interview with News24, Police Minister, Bheki Cele, scapegoated and victim-blamed farmers for the brutality, torture, rape, mutilation and murder of farmers and their families. To state that the motive for these brutal attacks is due to worker conditions show utter ignorance on the part of the Minister… writes Dianne Kohler Barnard MP […]

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has dismissed Health MEC Bandile Masuku for his failure to execute his duties over the procurement of personal protective equipment in the department. Masuku was one of the first government people fingered for PPE contract irregularities. The demotion comes after the Special Investigations Unit found that Masuku had failed to carry […]

The Western Cape Division of the High Court has dismissed Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s application to stop a parliamentary inquiry into her fitness to hold office. After the Democratic Alliance was granted a request by the Speaker, Thandi Modise, for an investigation into the public protector’s fitness to hold office, Mkhwebane launched a court case […]

After repeatedly excusing himself from appearing before the Zondo Commission investigation state capture, and demanding that the commission chief recuse himself, former president Jacob Zuma will be issued a summons to appear at 10 am on the 16 to 20 November, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo ordered today. “Failure to comply with the instructions of […]

Antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 detection will be rolled out to all ports of entry in South Africa with immediate effect. The purpose of the rollout is to ensure level 1 travel regulations are met – which stipulate that all travellers who arrive at a port of entry without a certified negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR test result […]

As the threat of a COVID-19 pandemic emerged earlier this year, many felt a sense of apprehension about what would happen when it reached Africa. Concerns over the combination of overstretched and underfunded health systems and the existing load of infectious and non-infectious diseases often led to it being talked about in apocalyptic terms. However, […]

The number of COVID-19 deaths in South Africa continues to climb after 160 more people succumbed to COVID-19 on Thursday. Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has expressed his concern about the noticeable spike in the number of deaths in recent weeks. However, according to the Minister, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) confirmed there […]

Musician Tactix SA is on a mission to make two athletic heroes in South Africa famous in the hope of helping them reach their target to help feed hungry children. The men – Kabelo Mabalane and Peteni Kuzwayo – ran 600 km (579km to be exact) from Joburg to Durban in 17 days to try […]

A story about a farmer’s encounter at a spaza shop in Paul Roux, Free State, is lifting spirits around the nation. The farmer, Gareth Going, shared his incredible experience on Facebook yesterday (Wednesday), a day after hundreds of farmers turned up in front of the Senekal Magistrate’s Court where two suspects in the Brendin Horner […]

Eight officials from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries were placed on suspension following a forensic investigation into R2.1 billion worth of contracts allegedly irregularly awarded by the Waste Management Bureau. The bureau’s mandate includes promoting and facilitating minimisation, re-use, recycling and recovery of waste, and disbursing of revenue collected from waste management charges. […]

At least 55,000 people have since July signed a petition to be sent by the Democratic Alliance to President Cyril Ramaphosa  asking him to take urgent action against farm attacks and to apologise for a public statement in which he denied farm killings were taking place in South Africa. In the same week that two […]

In line with the mission of World Animal Day on 4 October, young South Africans have stepped up to raise welfare standards and conserve our collective wildlife heritage, starting in South Africa… writes Louzel Lombard Steyn. A new generation of conservationists are on the rise and on World Animal Day, young leaders have called for […]

The newly launched Earthshot Prize, publicised by Prince William in an interview with the famous environmentalist Sir David Attenborough as the most prestigious in the world, will award one million pounds to five people each year for the next decade for their contributions to clean up the environment and the world. The five prizes awarded […]

Former Proteas cricketer Vernon Philander has asked for his family’s privacy to be respected as they recover from the horrific fatal shooting of his younger brother Tyrone in Cape Town yesterday. Vernon said: “Our family is coming to terms with the brutal murder in my hometown of Ravensmead earlier (yesterday). I would like to ask […]

Condolences have poured in after Willem de Klerk, the son of former South African President FW de Klerk, passed away on Wednesday 7 October following a long “courageous” battle with cancer, believed to be in his jaw. The FW de Klerk Foundation said the 53-year-old passed away at his home in Durbanville, Western Cape. The […]

The body of missing man, Leighton Frank Agg (41), has been found, his devastated sister has confirmed. Leighton was last seen in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, on 30 September. His family issued a call for help in finding him and hundreds responded. Last night – Wed 7 Oct – his body was retrieved just outside […]

The owner of the well-known Pofadder Hotel, Leon Brits (40), has been brutally murdered. According to local reports, his wife Suretha (30) discovered his body in their undercover swimming pool, at around 11h45 on Wednesday morning after she couldn’t reach him on the phone. The community has been urged to remain calm. UPDATE 29 MARCH […]

Anyone in South Africa wanting to report corruption, take note: You can only do it during business hours, even though whistleblowers tend to call out of office hours and not from their place of work. The Public Service Commission – the custodian of the corruption hotline – recently told a portfolio meeting of Parliament that […]

Anyone who benefitted off of the VBS bank heist will sleep less peacefully from tonight, because its former chief financial officer agreed to a deal to cooperate with the National Prosecuting Authority. For his cooperation, Phillip Truter will have three years suspended on his 10-year sentence. Truter will cooperate with the NPA in its investigations […]

While South Africa’s Police Minister Bheki Cele has today expressed “shock and disgust” at the vandalism and arson of State infrastructure by a group of farmers during a demonstration at the Senekal Magistrate Court, AfriForum has insisted that it is in fact Cele and President Cyril Ramaphosa who must accept responsibility for the events in […]

Thousands of workers and union supporters downed tools in support of a nationwide strike on Wednesday. In Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth memorandums were handed over to government representatives (protests reportedly took place in other cities, but these were the ones our reporters witnessed). The largest union federations participated in the strike, including […]

Almost exactly eight years ago, I found myself stalled on the steep slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro for our group’s final ascent to the highest point on the African continent, writes Sine Thieme. It was the darkest of nights, my hands and feet were frozen solid, and I could hardly breathe. I was sure I couldn’t […]

Birthday wishes have poured in for South Africa’s living legend Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who celebrates his 89th birthday today. The SA Government News site said “Happy Birthday Arch!” with a special message from President Cyril Ramaphosa, extending his warmest congratulations. “I wish Archbishop Tutu a very happy birthday in the company of Mama Leah, […]

Reports on Tuesday 6 October of a warrant issued for the arrest of former Free State Premier and current ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule are unfounded says Pieter-Louis Myburgh, author of 2019’s ‘Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule’s web of capture‘. The investigative journalist tweeted at around 23h30 on Tuesday evening: “Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi has […]

South Africa’s famous Table Mountain went GOLD tonight in support of Childhood Cancer. The light display was in place for one hour, allowing Cape Town’s iconic mountain to emanate a golden hue between 20h00 and 21h00. Western Cape Premier Alan Winde explained that Table Mountain was going gold “for the fighters and survivors of #ChildhoodCancer”, […]