South Africa’s unemployment rate has risen to 29 percent, the highest level record since the quarterly labour force survey was introduced in 2008, although it had reached 29,3 percent in 2003, the Department of Statistics announced today. A total of of 15.5 million people are not economically active, about 2.7 million of them discouraged work […]

Officials may throw statistics around and claim that South Africans are moving abroad faster than Herschel Jantjies scored his try for the Springboks – 8 professionals apparently leave for every 1 that arrives (according to Carte Blanche) – but the stories of South Africans, particularly young families, happily moving back to their homeland continue to […]

The director of a film festival in Mexico has asked the Mexican government for permission to screen a South African film in the coastal town of Tulum’s main plaza… because he believes it’s that important! Tulum World Environment Film Festival director Cesar di Parra said at an awards ceremony on Sunday: “We believe the message […]

Over a thousand people were left homeless and one person died after a fire swept through Cape Town’s Masiphumelele’s Wetland informal settlement in E-Section in the early hours of Monday morning. The fire, said by residents to have been caused by a candle in one of the shacks, started at about midnight and was ultimately […]

Every day on SAPeople’s Facebook page there are hundreds of conversations between people who would not normally have a chance to communicate with each other… between those who live in SA and expats; between people of different ages, and different cultural backgrounds. The hope of course is that we can listen to different opinions and […]

South African Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan announced on Monday that Jabu Mabuza has been appointed as acting group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Eskom following a board meeting earlier today. Gordhan said in a statement: I have informed the Eskom annual general meeting this afternoon of my decision to appoint Mr Jabu Mabuza as […]

The population of South Africa rose by 900,000 in the past year, and now stands at 58.8 million, according to figures released today by the Statistician General Risenga Maluleke. He said the main driver of population growth was births, but immigration also contributed. Of the total, 51 percent were female and 49 percent male. About […]

South African conservationists have welcomed news that Vietnam authorities have seized more than 125 kg of rhino horn in its crackdown on wildlife trafficking in Southeast Asia, although it is tragic that this is a reactive rather than proactive response to the demand for rhino horn. It’s too late for any rhino who were killed. […]

In the face of news headlines in Australia claiming that Nando’s is in crisis with stores shutting down, and is a “very cruel” company that has left many of its franchisees broke, Nando’s South Africa told SAPeople the company in Australia has celebrated its most successful year yet, and has only closed underperforming restaurants. According […]

PRETORIA – In another blow to the public protector, a judge of the North Gauteng High Court today interdicted Busiswe Mkhwebane or her office from enforcing remedial action she had recommended the president take against Pravin Gordhan, pending a judicial review of Mkhwebane’s report against Gordhan. The decision was handed down by Judge Sulet Potterill, […]

The family of the Ukranian tourist who was murdered on Sunday morning whilst hiking in Table Mountain National Park, in Hout Bay, has revealed that the father of three – named as Ivan Ivanova – was in South Africa on a business trip, and had stayed for two extra days to rest. A Western Cape […]

JOHANNESBURG – The Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture has proposed amending the South African Constitution to allow the government to seize land without compensation… but only in limited circumstances. The recommendations in the final report were released Sunday by Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza, and members of the […]

The internet’s falling in love with a video mash of Trevor Noah and Whitney Houston. In the video – created by social media user Myster Giraffe – it appears that Trevor is impersonating Whitney singing her 1987 hit “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. And he’s ‘singing’ it well! The face swap video has already been […]

JOHANNESBURG  – Helen Zille (68) is to join think tank The Institute of Race Relations (IRR), the former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader announced on Sunday. The ex-Premier of the Western Cape – who stepped down in June, after two terms – tweeted today: “I am very pleased to be part of the IRR South Africa […]

A new facility that rehabilitates wild animals that have been injured or abandoned, with a view to returning them to the wild, has been opened at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, outside Port Elizabeth. At the R5 million (or $350,000) facility, the animals are treated before being released back to the wild, Shamwari said in a […]

SINGAPORE – Singapore said this week it had seized 8.8 tonnes of elephant ivory, a record haul by authorities in the city-state, which conservation groups say is a transit point for the illegal wildlife trade. The elephant ivory, estimated to be worth $12.9 million, came from nearly 300 African elephants, and was heading to Vietnam […]

A 44-year-old male tourist from the Ukraine has been fatally stabbed in Hout Bay whilst walking in Table Mountain National Park, the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed on Saturday afternoon. Lieutenant Colonel Andrè Traut from SAPS Western Cape said the man was walking in Table Mountain National Park around East Fort at 11h00 this […]

A group of 80 young South African dancers from across the country have set off to the UK with their bags packed and their hearts full with hope to compete in the World Lyrical Dance Championships 2019. It’s sure to be an incredible experience for the group – aged between 7 and 19 – as […]

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – The Springboks’ replacement scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies scored a try in the final minute of play to help South Africa snatch a 16-16 draw with New Zealand in a tense Rugby Championship clash in Wellington on Saturday. Jantjies pounced on an error by Aaron Smith to silence most of the sold-out crowd, […]

JOHANNESBURG – It’s been a long battle for tens of thousands of gold miners in South Africa who say they have suffered dreadful illnesses because of decades of negligence in health and safety. Finally yesterday, a class action settlement of R5-billion ($353-million) was approved by the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg. A victory at last… […]

“Did you know I was a falconer?” Johnny had said to me some time ago. “I used to have falcons, you know, as pets.” I remember how he smiled with his eyes. His voice sang with laughter and amusement as he told the story of how he would need to feed the falcons mice, and […]

JOHANNESBURG – Ratings agency Fitch downgraded the outlook for South Africa’s sub-investment credit rating on Friday, citing fiscal pressures including increased support for struggling state firms such as the power utility Eskom. South Africa’s public finances are under huge strain as economic growth has proved weaker than expected while a handful of state companies have […]

In an affidavit submitted to the state capture inquiry, and now made public, President Cyrial Ramaphosa has given details of his meetings with the Gupta brothers and Gavin Watson, the head of Bosasa, the company at the centre of many of the state capture allegations because of allegedly bribing numerous government departments for work. The […]

The cigarette maker Philip Morris has opened a flagship store in Johannesburg, hoping to promote its heated tobacco product IQOS, according to the company. The store for IQOS, which stands for I Quit Ordinary Smoking, is in Sandton. South Africa, with an estimated 7 million smokers, is the only market in Africa where the company […]

Watch the Johnny Clegg memorial service – being held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg – live below. (Update: the service is now over but you can still watch it below. It’s very moving…) Dr John Kani opened the proceedings. He said: “Today we pay tribute to an incredible human being, a cultural reservoir, […]