The South African government has declared this week’s KwaZulu-Natal floods as a provincial disaster. National Disaster Management Centre head, Dr Mmaphaka Tau, said the classification came after deliberations with sector departments and the KZN Provincial Disaster Management Centre. The devastating floods had claimed over 300 lives by Thursday. Dr Tau said the disaster management centre […]

A once trusted gardener is appearing in court this week charged with the horrific murder and rape of a safari lodge owner after six years of detective work… largely by her niece, and almost eight years after the murder. Retired teacher Christine Robinson, 59, was allegedly brutally attacked at the 125 acre Rra-Ditau lodge which […]

To put the devastation KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has experienced over the last few days into words is impossible, writes Kierran Allen, from Kierran Allen Photography. The loss of property, lives and livelihoods is really unfathomable. My heart goes out to each and everyone of you that is going through this! We are here to help! In […]

As the South African government counts the cost of the KwaZulu-Natal floods which have wreaked havoc and devastation, and claimed at least 259 lives, it has been revealed that there are five crocodiles on the loose near Tongaat, north of Durban. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife announced in a News Alert on Wednesday afternoon: “Ezemvelo has been […]

An emotional President Ramaphosa has told the people of KwaZulu-Natal that the SA government will intervene to help families affected by the floods. The coastal province has been lashed by heavy rain, floods and mudslides which have left a trail of destruction amongst homes and businesses, and tragically claimed at least 259 lives. During a […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit flood-stricken parts of KwaZulu-Natal today, Wednesday 13 April 2022, to offer support to affected communities and assess the response of government and civil society to this critical situation. At least 59 people have died so far due to the devastating KZN floods. The President’s programme started at approximately 09h30 with […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – At least 45 people were killed, with some reports saying 59, after Monday’s intensely heavy rainfall in South Africa’s province of KwaZulu-Natal flooded settlements, ravaged homes, swept away roads and displaced dozens, officials said. (Videos at bottom of page.) UPDATE WED 13 APRIL: the KZN Floods Death Toll has tragically reached 306. […]

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Multiple people were shot and at least 13 were injured on Tuesday in a New York City subway station, the fire department said, in the latest spasm of violence in the city’s sprawling transit system. By Maria Caspani. The shootings occurred during the morning commute at the 36th Street subway station […]

South African learners have contributed to breaking a Guinness World Record™ title through their participation in a global award-winning initiative, FAST Heroes, that is aimed at creatively helping their grandparents become more aware and better prepared if a stroke occurs. The record was broken by 150 000 learners globally. FAST Heroes, a health educational campaign, […]

Watch below as an extremely frustrated woman tries to get a trucker – who is stuck in the snow – to move his truck back a little so she can get to work, but as he tries to explain – it would be too dangerous. The incident occurred yesterday in Lesotho. He explains: “If it’s […]

Just months after two separate High Courts granted interim urgent interdicts against two different seismic surveys off the East and West Coasts of South Africa – both predominantly as a result of insufficient consultation with affected communities – Tosaco Energy has received authorisation from the Department of Mineral Resources and Environment (DMRE) to proceed with […]

Several parts of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, have been struck by severe thunderstorms and heavy rains, leading to floods and a call by the provincial government to delay any travelling in the province. (See videos at bottom of page.) Disaster management teams have already responded to a number of incidents which include a wall collapse in […]

Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal has announced that billionaire SpaceX and Tesla entrepreneur Elon Musk will not be joining the Twitter board, despite the South African expat being the largest shareholder (owning 9.2% of the social media platform). Agrawal said in a post on Twitter: “Here’s what I can share about what happened. The Board and […]

Dale College Boys’ High School in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, has suffered two tragedies in less than a week – with two members of the school’s rugby fraternity dying within days of one another. Lisakhanya ‘Carter’ Lwana was killed in a suspected hit and run accident on the R63 last weekend, following a hiking […]

Her Royal Highness Princess Thembi Ndlovu passed away earlier today (Friday 8 April). Tributes have poured in from around the world for the Princess, who was sister to the late Zulu King Zwelithini. KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Sihle Zikalala tonight expressed his deep shock at the news, on behalf of the government and the people of […]

Hollywood actor Will Smith has been banned from attending any Academy events or programmes for the next 10 years, as of today (8 April 2022) as punishment for slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage during last month’s Oscar awards. However, Smith will be allowed to keep the Best Actor Oscar he received for his role […]

Matt Sates claimed his first World Championships and Commonwealth Game qualification time on day two of the South African Swimming Championships in Gqeberha. The 18-year-old, from Pietermaritzurg, who has been setting the US college circuit alight for the University of Georgia, won the 200m freestyle title in an impressive 1:46.15 to ensure he’s up for […]

A new travel policy for former Members of Parliament will (finally) see a significant reduction worth millions in the flight costs for all members, including former Executive Members and their spouses. There are currently 209 former Members of the Executive, including their spouses, widows and widowers, who enjoy benefits, as defined in the Ministerial Handbooks […]

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has warned of rainy and cold conditions, associated with localised flooding is some parts of the county this weekend. “The SAWS strongly urges the public to avoid crossing rivers and swollen streams, especially in cases where the water is more than ankle-deep. SAWS also recommends moving to higher ground […]

KZN learners are missing school because they can’t cross the river (road!) during heavy rains. Residents say they have waited years for a bridge. By Nokulunga Majola. “We cannot have children not go to school because they cannot cross the river when it is full,” says Sakhile Masikane, of Emakhabeleni, outside Kranskop in northern KwaZulu-Natal. […]

The South African government has reduced fuel tax after the latest hike in fuel prices, which has been blamed on the sanctions imposed on Russian oil. Experts say this has cushioned the blow, but is unlikely to take away the pain of filling up. Layton Beard, national spokesman of the Automobile Association of South Africa, […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has told Diplomatic Heads of Mission that they are tasked with leading the drive to promote South Africa abroad and champion the message that the country is open for business. Speaking at the SA Heads of Mission Conference in Pretoria on Thursday, the South African president also criticised the United Nations Security […]

A  newly-formed pack of African Wild Dog has been successfully released in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP). The release took place on Saturday 2 April and is a great step forward in conservation efforts for this priority species. African Wild Dogs are Southern Africa’s most Endangered Carnivore with only 5,000 to 6,000 left in the wild, […]

DA Leader John Steenhuisen is calling for South Africans to urgently voice their objections to proposed new health regulations. The South African Cabinet confirmed in a statement on Thursday the pandemic will from now be managed in terms of the National Health Act, 2003 (Act 61 of 2003). “The draft health regulations that will inform […]

Protea is South Africa’s National flower (the King Protea to be exact, not the sugarbush variety in the photo). There are many reasons why it’s our national flower but I like to think it’s because of this, writes Lauren Bradley… Protea have an amazing root system which allows them to survive in soil with very […]