Cape wine producers are warning of a “job massacre” because of the renewed ban on alcohol sales. Wine producers already reeling from previous bans on alcohol warn that the new total ban is the nail in the coffin for them. They doubt that table wine sales contribute much to medical emergencies from alcohol abuse. Workers […]

Residents of the Western Cape, South Africa, have been saddened to hear of two water-related tragedies yesterday. In the first, a surfer collapsed and died in Kommetjie, and in the second a man was fatally run over by a boat trailer in Hout Bay. Dave Smith, NSRI Kommetjie duty coxswain, said the NSRI crew had […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has put global emergency preparedness under sharp scrutiny. It’s also placed national health systems’ capacity to predict and respond to major emergencies under the microscope. Much of the response to the pandemic is focused on testing, case management and control measures such as personal hygiene, quarantine and social distancing. But in most […]

As Cape Town’s homeless population has grown more visible during lockdown, with everything from blankets to plastic bags to tents serving as homes – on the Sea Point Promenade, along highways, in vacant lots – the city says there are safe spaces available for them to get shelter and food as well as partake in […]

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa, reeling from years of corruption, has started a recruitment process to employ 3,100 security guards to protect the country’s trains and railways, which have been battered by years of arson of stations and trains as well as rampant cable theft. Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula said that the […]

Employment and Labour Deputy Minister Boitumelo Booi says the COVID-19 Temporary Employers/ Employee Relief Fund, set up to help those who found themselves out of work due to lockdown, will be extended to August. This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the national state of disaster to August as the COVID-19 pandemic spurs national efforts […]

Three people have declined to serve on a government panel. That’s not exactly news. But, given who they are and the panel on to which they were invited, their refusal has exposed major fault lines in South Africa’s treatment of wild animals.   The high-level panel was set up by the Minister of Environmental Affairs, […]

While the number of new COVID-19 cases is stabilising in the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal is expected to join Gauteng as the country’s epicentre, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has warned.   “In the country, Gauteng is still at the top of the rate of infections. KwaZulu-Natal is taking over now,” Mkhize […]

The City of Cape Town’s newly built facility – meant for Covid-19 patients in Makhaza, Khayelitsha – was torched allegedly by people protesting over land on Saturday. Protesters torched the Desmond Tutu Community Hall and a new facility for Covid-19 patients in Makhaza, Khayelitsha, on Saturday. The new facility opened a week ago and damage […]

A vaccine against COVID-19 is urgently needed if we’re to stop the virus spreading and prevent potentially millions of further deaths. We’re now one step closer to that goal. Yesterday, we published early results from our clinical trial of the vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (also known as AZD1222), designed by the University of Oxford and developed […]

Denel, the largest manufacturer of defence equipment in South Africa, has announced the resignation of its Group Chief Executive Officer Danie du Toit. Du Toit will continue to render his services until 15 August, while an interim Group CEO will be appointed shortly. Denel said on Monday its board has taken far-reaching steps to stabilise […]

No fewer than 15 Springboks – with a combined total of 522 Test caps worth of experience between them – have opted to return to South Africa in the last year. First to have their passports stamped by local customs were JP Pietersen and Ruan Pienaar, who returned to South Africa last year during the […]

The Queen conferred the Honour of Knighthood on Captain Tom Moore at an Investiture at Windsor Castle on Friday 17 July, announced the Royal Family page today, featuring the below photos. ‪In April, World War Two veteran, Captain Sir Tom Moore embarked on 100 laps of his garden with the aim to raise £1,000 for […]

As a medical professional, being on the frontline, I was constantly worried about contracting COVID. And three weeks ago I tested positive for it… writes Dr Andrew Williams, a medical practitioner in the Western Cape, whose post has gone viral, in which he candidly shares his fears and guilt of contracting COVID-19 in South Africa, […]

The South African Police Service has invited former members of the force to reenlist, including for posts in the hugely overwhelmed and understaffed Hawks, whose work includes state capture cases. The SAPS will also be creating new units to deal with taxi violence, cold cases and gangs, among other things. In a statement put out […]

Nestle has announced that while it will keep producing the much-beloved Peppermint Crisp, Milkybar and BarOne, it will retire a number of its well-known chocolates, namely Milkybar Double, Milkybar Peanut, Nestlé Crunch, Milo Slab and BarOne Peanut. (Watch the video below.) Four days ago Nestle also announced the end of Chocolate Log at the end […]

South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has paid tribute to legendary Agent and Casting Director Moonyeenn Lee, remembering her for fearlessly defending the rights of actors. “Over the years, she would travel around the world introducing producers and directors to South African actors. She consistently did everything in her power to […]

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has recuperated from COVID-19 and is back in the saddle today, at the same time that the Western Cape’s new positive cases have dropped to below three other provinces. The Western Cape was the epicentre of the virus in South Africa early on during the pandemic, mostly because of – […]

South Africa’s Eskom confirmed in a statement on Saturday that a man was fatally electrocuted in Ekurhuleni Region on Thursday night while allegedly operating an Eskom pole-mounted transformer, which is illegal. It appears the tragedy occurred in a community that was desperate for their power to be fixed. A shocking video of the incident went […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone the spotlight on injustice in the world while also exposing risks that have been ignored for decades, says United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres. He said the 26 richest people hold the same wealth as half the global population; and 100 million more people could be pushed into extreme poverty and […]

Hundreds of bikers roared down Roeland Street in Cape Town on Saturday morning to protest against farm murders. They gathered outside Parliament in leather jackets and long boots carrying placards saying: “Stop farm killings” and “No farms, no food”. Some bikers performed “donuts” (spinning around on their bike wheels). “The government is not doing anything […]

At least two people were killed and seven arrested after a botched robbery of COVID equipment and cellphones at the cargo section of O.R. Tambo International Airport today. South African Police said in a statement the men entered one of the cargo areas at about 12.30 p.m. and held the staff at gunpoint. On being […]

People returning to South Africa from abroad may now apply to self-isolate for a fixed period rather than staying in quarantine facilities provided by the state, according to new regulations published in the Government Gazette. AfriForum, which has campaigned for four months against compulsory quarantine in state facilities, welcomed the announcement but cautioned that the […]

The signs painted on the safari vehicle driving through Nelspruit clearly pointed out the lunacy of the government’s lockdown regulations. While taxis can load 14 passengers in stuffy vehicles – risking the spread of COVID – open-sided safari vehicles that are rarely filled up have been told they cannot operate. Closed since March 2020, safari […]

The two men accused of the brutal murder of Fanie and Colleen Engelbrecht were today handed two life sentences and 25 years for the murder of the elderly couple, as well as robbery with aggravating circumstances and for the possession of illegal firearms. Fanie (78) and Colleen (74) were killed on Mother’s Day in 2018 […]