President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished South Africa’s Hindu community well as they observe the religious festival of Deepavali. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Deepavali commences on the 14th of November 2020. President Ramaphosa said the observance of Deepavali in South Africa had deep historical roots dating back to the arrival of Indian indentured […]

Residential robberies are on the increase as criminals in South Africa try to make up for lost time during Lockdown, Police Minister Bheke Cele said on Friday, as he released the Quarter Two crime statistics (July to September) of the 2020 / 2021 financial year. With the festive season on the horizon, Cele said criminals […]

South Africa’s National Deputy Commissioner of the Police Service Bonang Mgwenya has been dismissed from her position following an internal disciplinary hearing this week, which found her guilty of allegations of criminal involvement. Mgwenya last month briefly appeared before the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court after she was arrested by the Investigating Directorate on criminal charges […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa says there is no place for religious intolerance in South Africa. Responding to an oral question in the National Assembly on Thursday, regarding rumours that extremist groups, alleged to be adherents of Islam, were on the rise in certain parts of South Africa – sentiments which have been seen to be Islamophobic, […]

We are delighted to announce that the Democratic Alliance (DA) and DA Abroad, in conjunction with SAPeople, today submitted petitions to Parliament with over 15,000 signatures calling for South African citizens living abroad to receive their citizenship and travel documents timeously, and for urgent assistance to those currently unable to apply to renew their passports. […]

Unemployment in South Africa has soared to 30.8% in the last three months, the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the third quarter of 2020 has revealed. The survey also revealed that it was mainly men who worked in most industries able to continue work during Lockdown, and that working from home was more prevalent […]

Travel experts have welcomed the announcement by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa that tourists from all countries will be welcomed to SA’s sunny shores with an amendment to the Alert Level 1 lockdown rule that had certain high risk countries placed on a banned ‘red list’. Addressing the nation on Wednesday evening, the President said: […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa proudly announced on Wednesday evening that a local South African company has entered into a preliminary agreement with multinational firm Johnson & Johnson, as one of the companies to manufacture and package its candidate COVID-19 vaccine. “In recognition of the country’s manufacturing capability, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world, […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa tonight extended the National State of Disaster to 15 December 2020, and announced a Resurgence Plan with interventions to curb the further spread of Covid-19 infections, expressing concern at the lax behaviour of some South Africans as the pandemic continues to grip the country and world. His announcement unleashed an […]

Mongameli Bobani, the controversial former mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, has died after being admitted to hospital with COVID three weeks ago. Bantu Holomisa, the leader of the United Democratic Movement, released a statement this evening confirming Bobani’s passing. Bobani was ousted in a no-confidence debate last December, and the city has sat without a […]

Kimi Makwetu, the well known and much admired auditor general who was serving out his term at the end of November, has died after a battle with cancer. Makwetu, 54, was an incredible voice of stability and reason during turbulent times in South Africa, giving the country consistent and starkly reliable news about all the […]

The SA Broadcasting Corporation, which has long been suffering from financial mismanagement – helped substantially by the high-flying days of former COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng – and trying to figure out new ways to add revenue in a tough broadcasting world, today announced that it would be cutting 400 jobs. “While this decision was not an […]

One of new blue commuter trains that are being rolled out – very slowly – in a few parts of the country was spotted today on the iconic False Bay line running from Muizenberg to Simonstown. The False Bay line is one of the most gorgeous routes in the world, running on the coast, but […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa is to address the nation tonight at 8pm about the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch here: Even though South Africa is now at Level 1, with minimal restrictions and compulsory social distancing and mask wearing, there has been talk of it being moved back to Level 2 to avoid a […]

Hennenman farm attack victim, Eddie Hills has sadly passed away, the family revealed on Wednesday morning. He had been declared brain dead on Monday. His sister, Ruschelle Oosthuizen, said: “Thank you for everyone’s prayers Daddy and Baby Brother are now standing with Army Angels and they protect us from above. Love you ‘Wille honde‘ so […]

The first report by the provisional liquidators of STA Travel paints a grim picture of the defunct travel agency. STA Travel has gone into liquidation, a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic. With assets of R3.7 million and liabilities of R213.5 million, few people will see their money back. About 200 employees and 27,000 customers are […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated his commitment to strengthening South Africa’s ties with the United State. Speaking during a virtual business and investment roundtable on Tuesday, President Ramaphosa began by congratulating the Americans for their successful elections held last week, which saw Joe Biden projected to win. (Read President Ramaphosa’s congratulatory message to Joe Biden […]

Researchers from the HIV Prevention Trials Network have announced a “breakthrough” in the prevention of HIV in women. Wits researchers have announced a “breakthrough” in HIV prevention in women An injection every eight weeks was found to be much more effective than a daily pill The trials were conducted in seven African countries and included […]

This has to be one of the week’s most powerful videos, the moment a former Prima ballerina – suffering from Alzheimers – hears the music to Tschaikovsky’s Swan Lake and begins to dance in her wheelchair, automatically connected to the music and to her graceful movements from decades ago. “Grab a tissue, brace yourself for […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) said it is saddened by the recent untimely death of Prince Lethukuthula Zulu, the eldest child of Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and Queen Sibongile MaDlamini. “The DA extends its sincere condolences to His Majesty and to the entire Zulu Royal household at this extremely difficult time, […]

Two senior Hawks officers and a former colleague are expected to appear in court soon after they were this morning arrested for alleged fraud and corruption relating to promotional appointments in the agency. Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale in a statement said: “The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation members in their quest to rid the organisation of […]

German biotech company BioNTech and US pharmaceutical Pfizer announced on Monday promising early results from their phase 3 clinical trial for a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. (See main points at bottom of article.) These early results are what is known as an “interim analysis”. It’s an early look at the data […]

Judge Tintswalo Annah Nana Makhubele was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa following the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission on 14 October, until a Judicial Conduct Tribunal completes impeachment proceedings against her (for having served as chairman of PRASA while a judge). Her suspension was to take effect after she finalised “part-heard and reserved judgments,” […]

By-elections will be held in 95 wards across 55 municipalities throughout South Africa tomorrow, 11 November, 7am-9pm. Some 600,000 registered voters can vote, and 20 of the municipalities are in the Northern Cape. A total of 444 candidates from 40 parties will contest the by-elections, 305 (69 percent) male and 139 female. (See here for […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it condemns the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) “blatant attempt” to further fan racial conflict related to Brackenfell High School in the Western Cape. Brackenfell has been at the centre of a furore over a private matric party allegedly attended by white students only. The private party was organised […]