The South African government says it has withdrawn its support and that of South Africa for the Miss South Africa pageant, following the pageant’s “intransigence and disregard of advice against partaking in the Miss Universe pageant scheduled to be held in Israel during the month of December 2021”. The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture […]

The FW de Klerk Foundation has announced that a private cremation and service for former SA President FW de Klerk will be held next Sunday – 21 November – for family members only. The funeral will not be open to the media. De Klerk died on Thursday at the age of 85 from mesothelioma cancer. […]

Worldwide bestselling author Wilbur Smith has died at the age of 88, at his home in Cape Town, South Africa. He had spent the morning reading and writing, with his wife by his side. A message on his Facebook page says: “We are sorry to announce that the beloved, global bestselling author Wilbur Smith passed […]

Springbok Captain Siya Kolisi delighted fans, including loyal South African expats, who made their way to Edinburgh for the weekend to witness South Africa beat Scotland 30-15. (Read the full article here.) Siya picked up mobile phones to take selfies with the fans, many decked out in their SA rugby fans’ gear, and proudly holding […]

The Springboks overturned an 8-10 halftime deficit into a deserving 30-15 victory over Scotland in the second Test of the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour in front of a packed Murrayfield in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon. Scotland held a two point lead at the break following a penalty goal and a converted try, while South Africa […]

South African rugby giant Eben Etzebeth will not be prosecuted for the alleged attack and racial abuse of two men after a night out at a bar in Langebaan in August 2019, it was announced in court yesterday (Fri 12 Nov). The 30-year-old World Cup winner was accused of using his legally held firearm to […]

A survey conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that African people who have diabetes and contract COVID-19 have a significantly higher chance of dying. WHO Africa Region’s Dr Benido Impouma made the announcement at a media briefing ahead of World Diabetes Day on Sunday, 14 November. Africa has recorded at least 8.5 […]

People complain of poor and rude service and long queues at state clinics in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, while at the Bedford Orthopaedic Hospital patients say they wait weeks for surgery. By Mkhuseli Sizani All five clinics in Mthatha have slow service and long queues. Patients in Bedford Orthopaedic Hospital in Mthatha say they wait weeks […]

“Credited with pulling (South Africa) from the brink of civil war, those who would valorise FW de Klerk argue his political contribution is underappreciated. Others say his hand was forced by shifting global power dynamics.  Whatever his motives as its leader, is it possible to ignore the role he played in a National Party determined […]

A fantastic new coding game created in South Africa, called RANGERS, is introducing learners without computers to coding and at the same time informing them about the challenge of game poaching in Africa. The RANGERS coding game has the same coding complexity as award-winning TANKS, but with a Game Poaching theme. According to Prof Jean […]

Bafana Bafana’s 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign continued in fine form this evening at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The Sou!th African national football team beat Zimbabwe 1-0. South Africa needed the win to keep themselves ahead of Ghana in order to finish at the top of Group G. Bafana Bafana tweeted: “FULL TIME at […]

Reeva Steenkamp’s parents, Barry and June Steenkamp, are apparently “very emotional” at the prospect of meeting up face-to-face with Oscar Pistorius (34), the man who killed their daughter in the early hours of Valentine’s Day, 2013. As  reported on Monday, Pistorius is eligible for parole, and part of that process includes a successful ‘Victim Offender […]

On 18 March 2006, former President Nelson Mandela delivered this powerful speech on the occasion of the 70th birthday of former President FW de Klerk, who died today. Watch below. In the speech, Mandela said: “FW you and I have shared in some not too unimportant events over the last decade and a half. I […]

Before passing away today, former SA President FW de Klerk filmed a message for all South Africans in which he unequivocally apologised for the pain and suffering caused by apartheid. He said despite apologising on several occasions, that while some believed him, others didn’t. He admitted that in his younger years he defended “separate development” […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he learnt with “great sadness” today of the passing of South Africa’s former Deputy President and former State President Frederik Willem “FW” de Klerk. The Presidency issued a statement saying: “The Former Deputy President passed away earlier today, Thursday, 11 November 2021, after an extended period of illness. He was 85 […]

Barbie, yesterday, announced a collaboration with celebrated SA fashion designer Gert-Johan Coetzee, who has created a new ready to wear South African-inspired collection, and couture dress made specifically to fit the number one fashion doll in the world. The Barbie Loves Gert collection, comprised of 31 looks, celebrates the uniqueness of South Africans. This is […]

With Christmas coming up, you may find yourself inadvertently breaking the law by sending cash, local face creams, biltong or jewellery to friends or family abroad. The South African Post Office (SAPO) has warned customers against posting prohibited items (see list below) overseas as it dramatically delays outgoing mail. The Post Office said there have […]

South Africa’s last white President, FW de Klerk, has passed away at the age of 85. The FW de Klerk Foundation released the following statement on his passing: It is with the deepest sadness that the FW de Klerk Foundation must announce that former President FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye […]

Suspects have made off with R200-million worth of confiscated cocaine from Hawks’ offices in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Hawks – South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) which targets organised crime and corruption – claims the incident took place sometime between Friday at 16h00 and Monday 07h00, and that their offices were ransacked. The […]

The parents of the Moti brothers – Zia, Alaan, Zayyad and little Zidan – are “overjoyed” by the safe return of their four sons who were abducted 22 days ago, by armed men on their way to school in South Africa. In a message posted to Auto Moti (the family business) in the early hours […]

A 47-year-old Dutch tourist narrowly missed losing his testicles in South Africa, after a cobra bit him whilst he was sitting on the toilet. The snouted cobra (Naja annulifera) bit the man while he was holidaying on a nature reserve in SA. Apparently he spotted the snake at the bottom of the toilet bowl just […]

The Chancellor of the National Orders and Director-General in The Presidency Ms Phindile Baleni today announced the names of those South Africans – and eminent foreign nationals – who will be awarded National Orders by President Cyril Ramaphosa at a ceremony on 18 November 2021. Amongst the names are some who bravely sacrificed their own […]

Medical experts in SA are attempting to get the message out to South Africans that it is beneficial to take the COVID-19 vaccine, as they try to address vaccine hesitancy in the country which has been largely fuelled by social media posts and WhatsApp messages based on misinformation. Adverse side effects are one of the […]

Twenty-five years ago, a Khayelitsha community member saw that his neighbours did not know how to care for their pets. He took a shopping trolly and went door-to-door, feeding dogs and cats and educating people on their pets’ needs. Mr Joe Manchu soon attracted volunteers including many community children. A bath was donated which was […]

Our faulty approach to life sentences is catching up with us. Our prisons are crowded with “lifers”, at great cost to us all. By Edwin Cameron Long prison sentences – especially life sentences – are not the answer to our country’s disturbing problem of violent crime. And wrong policy on this has given us another, […]