JOHANNESBURG – South African business confidence fell to its lowest level in 34 years in August, as a sharp drop in export volumes and a weaker currency aggravated already tough economic conditions, a survey showed on Wednesday. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s monthly business confidence index (BCI) fell to 89.1 in August […]

Tanzania has seized ivory tusks equivalent to killing at least 117 elephants, its tourism minister said, part of its drive to stamp out organised criminal networks involved in years of industrial-scale poaching. The elephant population in Tanzania, famed for its wildlife reserves, shrank from 110,000 in 2009 to barely 43,000 in 2014, according to a 2015 census, […]

This 52-minute SuperSport documentary honours the life and career of Springbok and Western Province winger Chester Williams, who first won South African fans’ hearts when he scored four tries against Samoa in the 1995 Rugby World Cup. (Watch trailer below or full doc here.) If you are in South Africa, you can stream Supersport’s all-day […]

Kelly Malan thought her baby was going to choke to death last Monday, and as she desperately tried to flag down a car in the busy Sandown peak traffic in Cape Town, South Africa… there was one good guy, a knight in a shining bakkie, who not only pulled over to help, but took her […]

‘Knuckle City’ is this year’s South African entry for the highly coveted best International Feature Film award (previously known as the Foreign Language Film award) for the 2020 Academy Awards. Six South African film submissions were received for the 2020 Oscars consideration. They were: Flatland, Racheltjie De Beer, Poppie Nongena, Back of the Moon, Knuckle […]

Mobs have attacked foreign-owned businesses on the streets of at least three South African cities in recent days. This has caused outrage across Africa. There have even been retaliatory attacks. The South African government, under pressure to protect her large international migrant community, quickly defused the attacks. Such attacks are not new. For more than […]

The South African Broadcasting Corporation has suspended three employees and given notice to a freelancer for their alleged involvement in an act of sabotage by airing the wrong address by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 5 September in an attempt to discredit him and the SABC, the broadcaster has said. “The SABC now has strong prima […]

In a new global livability survey by the Economist of 140 cities around the world, three each in South African expat hotspots Australia and Canada make the top 10 most livable cities, while five in Africa – including Harare – make the 10 least livable. The most livable city for the second year in a […]

With several violent and tragic incidents occurring around South Africa recently, it’s a welcome relief to see there’s one corner of the country where the people are uniting to make things better… voluntarily. Where the locals are creating more than just a better, prettier town. They’re building pride and hope. Karoospace.co.za writer and local Karoo […]

ABUJA – At least 640 Nigerians have signed up to take free flights home from South Africa after xenophobic attacks on foreigners, a spokeswoman for Nigeria’s president said on Tuesday. Private Nigerian airline Air Peace plans to operate two flights with Boeing 777 aircraft, the first leaving Lagos late on Tuesday to return on Wednesday […]

Economic Freedom Fighter Julius Malema’s words on xenophobic attacks and South African men has touched a nerve around the country… and with expats around the world, including South African comedian Trevor Noah. Noah posted the video with a tweet saying: “I don’t always agree with Julius Malema but this statement on Xenophobic attacks in SA […]

Arrest warrants have been issued by the National Prosecuting Authority for two Rwandan men suspected of involvement in the death of former Rwandan intelligence, Patrick Karegeya, in a Johannesburg hotel almost six years ago. The NPA was also in the process of asking Rwanda for the extradition of the two men, Ismael Garafanga and Alex […]

The so-called “Dros rapist”, Nicholas Ninow, has pleaded guilty to, among other things, raping a seven-year-old girl in the bathroom of a Dros restaurant in Pretoria last year. The 22-year-old also pleaded guilty to two other charges brought against him by the state: possession of drugs, and obstructing the administration of justice. He pleaded not […]

Two people died during a stampede as shops were looted in Samora Machel, Philippi, Cape Town, at the weekend. (Watch Carte Blanche’s latest episode below on the looting taking hold in SA against foreign nationals.) The looting started at Super Spar then moved to immigrant-owned small businesses. While people were taking items from the supermarket, […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s Denel named a new chief financial officer (CFO) on Monday – Carmen Le Grange – as the struggling state-owned defence firm seeks to improve corporate governance and return to profitability. A cornerstone of the country’s once-mighty defence industry, Denel recorded a 1.76 billion rand ($119 million) loss – its first in […]

In fantastic news for wildlife conservationists – and for rhinos and lions – the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa, announced today that it will no longer be offering cub petting to the public, with immediate effect. The Reserve has been popular with local and international tourists for 30 years […]

The city of Johannesburg has cut off water supply to the all-important Gautrain station in Sandton because the landlord – which apparently has ties to the Gupta-linked Regiments Capital company – owes R8 million in rates it allegedly has not paid since 2013. The express train that runs between Johannesburg and Pretoria and O.R. International […]

One of Cape Town’s local baboons made itself totally at home at a restaurant in a South African vineyard last weekend, tucking into not just one, but two large bowls of spaghetti bolognese… with some garlic bread to top it off! According to witnesses, the baboon strolled up to a table at the restaurant last […]

South African athlete Jean Jacques Wallis is representing South Africa fantastically at the 2019 World Wingsuit League in China… and today SA stands a chance at podium 1st, 2nd or 3rd position, as Jean Jacques has made it through to the Finals! The World Wingsuit League 2019 event, which is taking place at Heaven’s Gate, […]

The annual Witness Spring Garden Show in Pietermaritzburg is in full swing this weekend, and SAPeople contributor Lorraine Scholfield was there today to capture these beautiful photos in honour of South Africa’s Heritage month this month… starting with these stunning Red Madiba Proteas. You can’t get more florally South African than this! As explained on […]

A suspect has been apprehended following the reportedly brutal killing of a women during a farm attack outside Bethlehem in the Free State, South Africa, last night. The deceased was named by the Democratic Alliance (DA) as Mimie Frost. The DA’s leader in the Free State, Dr Roy Jankielsohn, expressed condolences to Frost’s family, and […]

South Africans around the country have been glued to their televisions on Saturday morning, watching the funeral service of 19-year-old Uyinene Mrwetyana, who was tragically raped and killed on Saturday 24 August, when she went to pick up a package from the Post Office. Thousands of mourners gathered at the Abbordford Christian Centre in East […]

JOHANNESBURG – This morning the Springboks, who are in Japan preparing for the Rugby World Cup (RWC), woke up to the devastating news that World Cup winner Chester Williams died after a suspected heart attack on Friday. “This was horrible news to wake up to,” coach Rassie Erasmus said in a statement. “There was a […]

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo – Looking grey and gaunt, but relieved it’s over – South African mine worker Philippe Bota, who was kidnapped by militia in eastern Congo in late July. was released on Thursday. According to the official Twitter account of the province, Maniema, where he was taken, Bota had been captured for […]

Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya could trade her running shoes for soccer boots as early as next year after the 28-year-old signed for South African women’s club JVW FC. The South African athlete will not be able to defend her 800 metres title at the world championships later this month after the Swiss Federal Tribunal […]