Over the past seven days, COVID-19 cases in Gauteng have doubled, with hospital admissions increasing and 20 more deaths, according to Premier David Makhura. “Gauteng has entered a new period in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic is gaining momentum. We must face this reality head-on and mobilise all resources and energy to […]

This Sunday Carte Blanche investigates a mystery that took place at a guest house on a farm in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, near to Kareedouw. You can watch the show on Sunday 14 June in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas in most countries from Tues 16  June if you’re abroad. […]

The city has been hit by hail, lightning, thunder and heavy rain since Wednesday, report Ashraf Hendricks, Buziwe Nocuze and Lucas Nowicki of GroundUp. Cape Town is being treated to hail, thunder, lightning and pouring rain. Walkways and roads across the Cape Flats have turned into pools. In Qandu Qandu, informal settlement in Khayelitsha some […]

South African legal history will be made in the Cape High Court on Tuesday where the first part of novel litigation involving a R14.25m defamation suit by mining interests against activists has been set down for hearing. The defendants argue that it is a ‘SLAPP’ suit. SLAPP is an acronym for Strategic Litigation Against Public […]

On 15 March 2020, the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, declared a national state of disaster and 11 days later, an intense lockdown ensued! This breathtaking drone video – ‘PERSPECTIVE’ by Timothy Hay and Simon Mulholland – captures a never-to-be-seen again, empty, picturesque and pristine KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). WATCH VIDEO Perspective – KZN Lockdown “Covid-19 […]

For anyone who’s been lucky enough to visit Dalebrook Tidal Pool in Kalk Bay, South Africa, recently – they would have witnessed the breathtaking – almost spiritual – scene of stone sculptures rising stoically against the backdrop of  the beautiful Western Cape skyline. There are at least 50 of them, created with love by a […]

China has outlawed the use of pangolin scales in traditional medicine and upgraded pangolins to the same first-tier protection status as pandas, in a significant move that will hopefully protect the seriously endangered species. The delisting of pangolins from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacopoeia was reported by China’s Health Times newspaper, according to The […]

The Kiffness has become famous in South Africa during Lockdown for keeping the nation’s citizens entertained – and in stitches – with his parody songs… like the new national anthem he produced to make fun of tobacco laws! But this parody of the Beatles’ hit ‘Hey Jude’ is different. Watch to the end and you […]

The Independent Electoral Commission has welcomed today’s judgment by the Constitutional Court declaring parts of the Electoral Act unconstitutional, notably regarding the law that only candidates of political parties can contest national and provincial elections. The court ruled, “The Electoral Act is unconstitutional to the extent that it requires adult citizens to be elected to […]

South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation says the torching of water tanks in Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, is a “major setback” in efforts to provide water to desperate communities in need. The department is placing water tankers and tanks in communities around the country, including at schools, under Water Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s direction. […]

As predicted by the South African Weather Service (SAWS), parts of South Africa have been hit by an intense cold front yesterday and today (Wed and Thurs 10-11 June 2020). Many Capetonians awoke to a scene that looked like snow… but was in fact bucket-loads of hail. Whilst in other parts of the Western Cape, […]

According to the South African Airlines (SAA) website, repatriation tickets from Washington, USA to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg have increased in price by 133.3% from roughly R15 000 to R35 000 in under a week! A shocked volunteer, helping South Africans stranded in the US to get back home, contacted SAPeople on Wednesday […]

South African Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has condemned the killing of eight people by an alleged drunk driver in Jozini, KwaZulu Natal. Eight people lost their lives and 27 others were injured, after the driver of a truck carrying a load of sugarcane, lost control of the vehicle. The truck hit two buses, one minibus […]

Cecil Afrika has ended his celebrated 12-year Sevens career and unless called upon, South Africa’s highest point-scorer will not wear the national colours again after a mutual agreement between the player and Sevens management. The 32-year-old’s national contract will run its course at the end of July and with no international matches or tournaments scheduled […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) reiterates its call for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and other government regulatory authorities to facilitate flights in and out of the country… writes Ghaleb Cachalia – DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises. South Africans grappling with the challenges of repatriation back home from abroad and the need […]

It is a sunny Tuesday afternoon. Farida Ryklief stands in front of a huge big pot of soup and a crate of bread on a table outside a kitchen in Delft, Cape Town. She is serving beetroot soup blended with soya, macaroni and mixed vegetables. She moves her hands in and out of the soup […]

Swedish investigators today announced they are closing the investigation into the 1986 assassination of the country’s late Prime Minister Olof Palme (59)… whose death some had suspected was linked to South Africa. Palme was an outspoken critic of South Africa’s then apartheid system – he advocated sanctions against SA and funded the then banned African […]

British comedian Michael McIntyre (the same guy who said South Africans have the funniest accent!) has produced a video that’s pure gold… and that most people around the world will relate to, whether you’re a comedian or not. In the video he visits a fortune teller in 2019 who predicts what he’ll be up to […]

As the number of COVID-19 infection cases in South Africa continues to rise, with the national death toll now at 1080, President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to the families of COVID-19 victims, who have succumbed to the virus. “Each one of these deaths is a tragedy. Each one represents a unique life: a […]

The lifting of the ban on the sale of alcohol since the beginning of lockdown level 3 in June has ushered in a surge in crime and murders after a lull between March and May. During lockdown there were between 20 and 30 murders a day, which by Sunday had spiked to 69. This was […]

Thirty general practitioners from Gauteng, South Africa, have come together during lockdown, put aside their stethoscopes for a few minutes, and sung a ballad to show encouragement to others during this particularly tough time. The Gauteng General Practitioners Collaboration celebrating the camaraderie of medical professionals as “Voices that Care” was posted by on the GGPC […]

In celebration of World Oceans Day yesterday, Shark Attack reached out to members of the public to get their views on the “bather safety nets” – aka shark nets – in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. There are currently 37 beaches along the KZN coastline that have “shark safety” gear installed. This shark safety gear is […]

Monday 7 June 2020 was the first day of school for Grade 7 and 12 learners across South Africa, under the COVID-19 learning environment – complete with face masks, screening and social distancing protocols. On the first day of the reopening of schools, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga visited various schools across Gauteng to oversee […]

On Monday (7 June), members of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria (as well as at consulates in Johannesburg and Cape Town), in condemnation of the killing of George Floyd… whose death in the US has kindled global protest and debate about justice, prejudice and police brutality. Demonstrators branded […]

The mayor of Johannesburg, Geoff Makhubo, has gone into self-isolation after a member of his staff tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a funeral in the Western Cape. Makhubo earlier today visited a school in Johannesburg to see the safety preparations made for returning learners. Makhubo said that even though he had tested negative recently, […]