South African student voices have largely remained unheard in formal discussions around COVID-19. A pandemic that should not be put to waste, COVID-19, on some podiums, is seen as laying the groundwork for germination of seeds of change… write Peet van Aardt, University of the Free State and Brian Sibanda, University of the Free State. […]

The Eastern Cape Department of Health says it’s boosting efforts to register people for the Covid-19 vaccine who are homeless and over the age of 60. A few homeless people in Nelson Mandela Bay say health officials have neglected them during the pandemic. The people we spoke to say they either did not have a […]

Tim Noakes has a long history of making misleading and false claims, including promoting the debunked theory that the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine contributes to autism and promoting hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19… writes Eduard Grebe. In a recent tweet, he linked to an utterly misleading BizNews article on the recent release of thousands of emails to and from […]

Eskom says it regrets to announce the implementation of Stage 1 load shedding between 5pm and 10pm on Monday evening… and cautioned that more power cuts are likely in the near future. According to the State-owned entity, tonight’s load shedding was due to the loss of two generation units at Kusile, and one each at […]

Three police officers who had been arrested and criminally charged for corruption have lost an arbitration between themselves and the South African Police Services (SAPS) to keep their jobs. “They were arrested by the Road Traffic Management Corporations’ (RTMC) National Traffic Anti-corruption Unit in 2018 and 2019 during undercover operations on the N4 in Mpumalanga […]

South Africa has recorded over 5 000 new COVID-19 cases for five days in a row – with another 5 074 new infections detected on Sunday – bringing the total number of infections to 1 696 564. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the death toll has now increased to 56 974 after 45 […]

Legendary South African TV, film and theatre actress, Shaleen Surtie Richards, has sadly died at the age of 66. No further details have yet been issued. The South African government tweeted: “We have lost an icon.” Shaleen became a household name with her roles in movies like Fiela se Kind and popular TV series like […]

A team of academics at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Division of Medical Gastroenterology have performed South Africa’s first successful bowel enteroscopy (endoscopy of the small bowel). The cutting-edge procedure was carried out at Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH), and is set to transform the way clinicians access and examine the previously inaccessible small bowel […]

Despite yesterday winning his match in the third round of the French Open at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris, Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer (39) has withdrawn from the tournament. In a statement posted on his Twitter account, Federer, whose mother is a South African expat, said: “After discussions with my team, I’ve decided I […]

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have broken their silence for the first time since welcoming their daughter Lilibet Diana into the world on Friday 4 June, admitting they feel very “blessed”. Royal family ‘delighted’ with birth of baby girl, Lilibet Diana Buckingham Palace has welcomed the news, saying: “Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of […]

Charismatic – and controversial – Nigerian preacher and pastor, Prophet TB Joshua, has passed away at the age of 57. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in South Africa led tributes from the continent and abroad. A post on the evangelist’s Instagram page says: “God has taken His servant Prophet TB Joshua home – as it […]

When great white sharks disappeared from two well-known congregation areas on South Africa’s coast recently, the possible reasons were hotly debated…. writes Alison Kock, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. The appearance of a pair of shark-eating killer whales in the area was one. Another was the decline in numbers of smaller shark species that […]

Patricia de Lille has tested positive for Covid-19. In a tweet an hour ago (around 10am on Sunday), Patricia said: “Good Morning. I have tested positive for Covid-19. I took the test on Friday after showing some symptoms.” Lille said that as per South Africa’s COVID-10 regulations, she immediately self-quarantined. “I also informed those who […]

Frans Steyn and Morné Steyn are in line to experience the rare honour of facing the British & Irish Lions for a second time after being named in a dynamic Springbok squad featuring several Rugby World Cup winners and exciting uncapped players for the Castle Lager Lions Series and Georgia internationals. Mark Alexander, President of […]

The arrival in London of a new Serpentine Pavilion is a design diary highlight every year… by Matthew Barac, London Metropolitan University. Each commission sees a new temporary garden building – a pavilion – created by a selected international architect. It is organised by the Serpentine Galleries in Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, regularly attracting over […]

It’s been three and a half years since the epic crash of retailing giant Steinhoff – the biggest corporate scandal in South Africa’s history… which wiped more than R200 billion off the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The company has admitted unlawful conduct, yet there have been no charges and no prosecutions. Currently, Steinhoff faces about 90 […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – For the Khoi and San – South Africa’s first inhabitants – a verdant patch of land in Cape Town embodies victory and tragedy… writes Wendell Roelf. The two communities drove back cattle-raiding Portuguese soldiers there in 1510. But, a century and a half later, it was where Dutch settlers launched a […]

A radio DJ from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, has bravely shared her heartbreaking – and heartwarming – real-life story that is inspiring South Africans across the nation. Angel’s life may have sadly begun in a cardboard box… but now she’s dreaming of becoming Miss South Africa, and vibrantly showing others how to think outside the box. Fikile […]

The war on poachers in South Africa appears to have taken a sharp turn in the right direction… with successful convictions during May, as well as several arrests. Just in the past week, the South African National Parks (SANParks) has arrested another four poaching suspects. SANParks announced today (5 June 2021) that well executed operations […]

Passengers on the inaugural United Airlines flight from New York to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, received a warm welcome on Friday 4 June 2021. The flight left Newark International Airport on Thursday, where the Consul General of South Africa in New York, Dr Motumisi Tawana, spoke at the launch. In South Africa, Tourism […]

South Africa’s COVID-19 cases continue to rise, with 5 361 new infections reported on Thursday. The additional cases are from the sample of the 43 776 tests conducted in the last 24 hours, which represents a 12.2 positivity rate. Meanwhile, Health Minster Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, also announced that 54 more people succumbed to the […]

The Kiffness – Alugalug Cat has been a surprise hit worldwide! The song – in which South African musician David Scott harmonises with a wailing cat – has clocked up 1.3-million views on YouTube… and inspired several covers of the track by musicians abroad. Today, he’s uploaded a new video… showcasing some of their talents. […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Researchers in South Africa are working on a potentially new method to deter rhino poachers and smugglers by using radioactive markers to make smuggled horns detectable at global ports of entry and less desirable to buyers. The new radioactive study is a collaboration between the University of Witwatersrand and a global team […]

The Rhino Conservation Awards celebrates its 10th anniversary, an initiative that has dedicated the last decade to recognising individuals and organisations who have worked tirelessly to conserve and protect our wild spaces. And it’s time for nominations for this year’s heroes. (See details at bottom of article.) The awards highlight outstanding efforts by those who […]

Two more poachers, caught on South African soil, were sentenced on Thursday (3 June) after they killed an elephant in November 2018 in the Skukuza National Park. The two men – both from Mozambique – were sentenced at Malamulele Regional Court to eight years imprisonment. Enock Sibanda (31) and Eckson Shirinda (28) both pleaded not […]