Gross domestic product for South Africa fell by just over 16 percent between the first and second quarters of 2020, giving an annualised growth rate of ‑51 percent, according to figures released today by Stats SA. The one sector to see good growth (15 percent) was agriculture. [Thread]Steep slump in #GDP as #COVID19 takes its […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the plunge in South Africa’s gross domestic product during the second quarter of 2020 reflects the severe impact of the global Coronavirus pandemic on the economy and should spur all South Africans to do all they can to help rebuild the economy.   While the 16.4% contraction in the second quarter […]

Clicks has announced Tuesday afternoon that it is delisting the TRESemmé brand with immediate effect, and has accepted the resignation of the senior executive responsible for offensive advert which caused hurt in South Africa and led to the EFF launching protests across the country against systematic racism. Clicks said in a media statement that all […]

SAPeople has collaborated with the Democratic Alliance (DA) to petition South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister to resolve the passport renewal application crisis that is currently brewing abroad. SAPeople is inundated daily with cries for help from South Africans abroad who are unable to contact their own Embassies, and whose passports are expiring – putting their […]

The South African Government has expressed concern at the vandalising and torching of Clicks stores across the country, saying it goes against the spirit of peace and respect for human rights. In a statement on Monday, government said it noted the public outrage following the Clicks advertisement, where black hair is portrayed as “dry and […]

A campaign spearheaded by Western Cape photographer Angela Gorman has been launched to urgently save Muizenberg’s iconic Beach Huts before they “crumble into the sand”. Angela told SAPeople that despite being renovated in 2017, the usually photogenic and very Instagram-able huts, are now in a state of total disrepair… as can be seen from Angela’s […]

After 400 Clicks stores across the country were apparently shut by Economic Freedom Fighters supporters today, and seven damaged and/or petrol-bombed, charges are to be laid against the EFF, several of whose leaders exhorted members to “Attack” the pharmaceutical chain today over a controversial advertisement. Clicks apologised publicly on Friday for the TRESemme hair product […]

Not even half of all school children who qualify to benefit from the National School Nutrition Programme are receiving meals, according to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) briefing to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee. This was revealed on Tuesday (1 September), when the state of reopening schools, updates on the National School Nutrition Programme, and […]

The water situation in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has reached a crisis and prompted the City to finally declare it Day Zero. Nelson Mandela Bay has declared Day Zero as dam levels fall 19%. Water is being trucked in after some areas’ taps ran dry for six days. Businesses are struggling to operate. The […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has conveyed his condolences to the family of activist and writer Achmat Dangor who passed away on Sunday. The President described the passing of the 71-year-old acclaimed author and political activist as “a loss to the literary, arts and culture fraternity and the country at large”. “Achmat Dangor was born into a […]

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) says it has received information from Pioneer Foods on its intention to recall a batch of Liqui fruit Red Grape Still 330ml cans. In a statement on Sunday, Pioneer Foods said it has received reports of small shards of glass in a single batch of Liqui Fruit Red Grape still […]

A band of citizens in inner city Johannesburg this weekend became the latest private grouping trying to make an impact on the often-overlooked and dire garbage situation plaguing the streets, and they took to one of the worst-hit areas, Hillbrow. “The CleanCitySA Adopt a Street Volunteers Network was successfully launched in Hillbrow today,” CleanCitySA said […]

A video filmed in the UK has gone viral on Twitter, showing a man with what appears to be a towel wrapped around his waist, on a construction site, yelling at a white-skinned South African (something he mentions) who is not in view. It appears that the South African may have been the foreman on […]

Did a senior High Court judge order the assassination of another judge?* We (GroundUp) have learnt that a report has been handed to the Minister of Justice that a senior judge may have ordered the assassination of another judge. The allegation was made by an awaiting trial prisoner. The report finds that the allegation cannot […]

South Africans have laid to rest the tragic teenager, Nathaniel Julies, who was allegedly gunned down by police officers in Eldorado Park, Johannesburg. With some disruption between EFF supporters and local residents, who accused the EFF of trying to hijack the funeral for their own party promotion, a service for the slain 16-year-old was conducted […]

On the first Saturday of September every year, International Vulture Awareness Day is celebrated – a time to not only reflect on the importance of vultures and the essential role they play in a healthy ecosystem, but also a time to spread awareness and take action… writes Chris Kelly, Species Director – Wildlife ACT These […]

On Wednesday the Auditor General released publicly the final first special audit report into COVID government expenditure made under TERS till the end of July – including UIF COVID-19 Ters transactions – indicating serious risks and violations. As a result, the Unemployment Insurance Found Commissioner Teboho Maruping was suspended. Here are some of the AG’s […]

The head of department for Human Settlements in Mpumalanga, who has made statements in the media before on behalf of the province, has appeared in court after it was discovered he has been living in South Africa illegally for 25 years and claimed on three separate occasions to have been born in different places in […]

The shocking death of Nateniël Julies, an innocent 16-year-old boy with Down Syndrome who was brutally gunned down on the streets of Eldorado Park – during a clash between police and suspected gang members – could herald a turning point in the manner in which South Africa’s police are trained. This week current affairs show […]

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has retained its spot as Africa’s top university, despite a drop of 19 places, tying at 155th among more than 1 500 institutions in the 2021 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, which were published on Wednesday, 2 September 2020. The annual THE World University Rankings assesses institutions […]

Eskom today said two station chiefs had been suspended after Stage 4 loadshedding this week was responded to with “apathetic behaviour,” and said that urgent culture change at the utility had to be accelerated. The managers of the Tutuka and Kendal power stations were summarily suspended pending disciplinary enquiries, Eskom said in a statement. It […]

The Vaal Dam has continued to fall this week, hitting levels unseen since the beginning of 2017, when large parts of the country were in the grip of a devastating drought. But other dams feeding the north of the country have kept good levels. “As the Vaal Dam persists to drop week-on-week, it now hovers […]

In a bid to sell more South African wine overseas, a new matchmaking portal has been launched to bring together buyers and sellers of Western Cape wine. Cape Export Network is a platform for South African wine producers to freely advertise their products and connect them with international importers and buyers of wine, and has […]

The Eastern Cape, which in 2018 changed the name of Grahamstown to Makhanda, is at it again. This time it wants to change East London, King William’s Town, Berlin and the East London Airport. The proposals are to change the name of East London to KuGompo, King William’s Town to Qonce, Berlin to Ntabozuko and […]

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen says it is unfortunate that, in leaving the party he (until recently) wished to lead, John Moodey – who resigned as DA Gauteng Leader yesterday – has “spread blatant falsehoods which appear to be an attempt to justify his reasons for leaving”. Addressing the media today, Steenhuisen said it’s […]