PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron wants to declare April 7 as a national day of commemoration of the Rwandan genocide, his Elysee office said in a statement on Sunday. The presidency made the announcement as the Rwandan government started commemorations marking the 25th anniversary of the genocide against Tutsi and moderate Hutus, raising the […]

There’s good news for South Africans living in the Vaal Triangle, as the government says it has set aside R341 million for the rehabilitation of all wastewater treatment infrastructure in the region. In an expose by Carte Blanche last year,  the current affairs show found that the situation at the Vaal River – which provides […]

Condolences have poured in for the family and friends of two competitors in the Ironman African Championships who lost their lives after the swim portion of today’s race in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Ironman South Africa announced on their Facebook page on Sunday afternoon: It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of […]

An American woman and her driver are still missing after having been kidnapped at Uganda’s most popular wildlife park by four gunmen demanding a ransom of $500,000, according to local police. (UPDATE: American tourist and driver, kidnapped in Uganda, rescued!) Businesswoman and beautician Kimberley Sue Endecott, 35, and Ugandan driver Jean Paul were on a […]

Kruger National Park (KNP) rangers have helped a family reach  closure in South Africa by recovering the remains of their relative, a suspected poacher who was killed by an elephant and then allegedly eaten by a pride of lions. With the help of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Komatipoort and Skukuza, the rangers […]

DA Gauteng Premier Candidate Solly Msimanga has issued an invitation for President Cyril Ramaphosa, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and former Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau to join him and current Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba at a townhall meeting to address the residents of Alexandra on Thursday 18 April 2019. Following the burning and riots in Alex […]

A foetus’ head is decapitated during childbirth at a hospital in Boksburg in South Africa. A woman’s uterus is removed without her consent during a routine procedure. Negligence in obstetrics and gynaecology wards at Gauteng state hospitals has the Department of Health crippled by claims for damages. With new cases still emerging, this week Carte Blanche […]

HONG KONG – Hong Kong authorities said they seized 82.5 kilograms of rhino horn and cut pieces worth $2.10 million, the biggest haul in five years, as the Chinese controlled territory tries to tackle growing trafficking in endangered species. The move comes after seizures by Hong Kong earlier this year of 40 kilograms of rhino […]

At the Home Affairs offices in Pietermaritzburg, you can get to the front of the queue if you pay R300. “We stand for you in the queue and you have to pay us R300,” GroundUp was told by a woman who was part of a group sitting on the side of the road outside the […]

It was flying musical chairs at an SABC-hosted elections debate in Hout Bay, South Africa, on Friday morning as supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Land Party and Black First Land First (BLF) got into a heated debate, apparently over proposed land reforms. Referring to the “horrific scenes” of chairs and other objects being […]

JOHANNESBURG – Woolworths Holdings launched a limited edition makeup line in collaboration with Beyonce’s make-up artist Sir John on Thursday, seeking to strengthen its private label brand in its first international collaboration. The South African department chain has invested heavily, like its peers, in its beauty business by partnering luxury international brands such as House […]

Eskom national spokesperson Khulu Phasiwe has resigned from possibly one of the country’s most nightmarish jobs – speaking on behalf of South Africa’s beleaguered power utility. In a tweet confirming his resignation on Friday, Phasiwe posted a picture saying “It is Finished”. He said: “I’d like to thank Eskom for entrusting me with the huge […]

Legendary KwaZulu-Natal rugby player, Beast Mtawarira, will reach an incredible milestone tonight when he sets the record for being the most capped South African rugby player in Super Rugby history. The Sharks said in a statement on their website that Beast has become a “firm crowd favourite” with his never-say-die attitude over the course of […]

HOEDSPRUIT, South Africa – Riff Raff, the South African elephant who had faced a possible death sentence for knocking down fences and trampling on farmland, has secured a reprieve after activists intervened, arguing he’s a victim of a human-elephant conflict. Landowners in Hoedspruit near the Kruger National Park had sought a court ruling to have […]

Thousands of residents of Alexandra in Johannesburg shut down the township on Wednesday morning, demanding that Mayor Herman Mashaba address them on solutions to problems with overcrowding, water and electricity. Residents started blockading streets in Alexandra with burning tyres and garbage at about 5am. Protesters marched down London road, moving towards the N3 highway, and […]

Police in South Africa have confirmed that an arrest has been made after a video depicting the assault of a child at a crèche went viral on social media. In the video, a woman assaults a minor while hurling expletives at the child. The video, which went viral on social media last Thursday, caused an […]

On Saturday the 13th of April, the Mdzananda Animal Clinic will be hosting its third Downward-Facing-Adopt-A-Dog yoga event in Cape Town, South Africa. Yoga lovers and dog lovers alike are invited to join this one of a kind yoga class with homeless dogs. The class will be held under the trees in the beautiful outdoor […]

Extreme weather events, such as Cyclone Idai that has recently devastated Beira, Mozambique, and Hurricane Harvey that hit Houston, USA, in 2017 are the types of climate extremes that cities increasingly have to prepare for. Cities, particularly those with extensive informal settlements in the developing world, are being hit hard by these new climatic realities. […]

Hugh Masekela is today being celebrated by Google who is treating users in the UK, US, South Africa and a few other countries to a special Hugh Masekela doodle on what would have been the late jazz musician’s birthday. The ‘Father of South African Jazz’ would have turned 80 today, 4 April 2019. The musician […]

While the South African government says it is doing all it can to keep the lights on, and admitting that “only” Stage 1 load shedding is anticipated for the busier winter season, Australians have freaked out over just an hour of power cuts tonight and demanded better service. South African expat Stephen Kramer, who now […]

A KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) graduate has made sure everyone knows just how happy and proud she is to graduate, by performing a traditional Zulu dance on stage. The University of KZN said Bachelor of Social Science graduate Zandile Sanele Shange “had the crowd on their feet” with her impromptu dance. Twitter user uNdlunkulu Xoli said: “Every year, […]

In a victory on the war on rhino poaching, three members of the notorious Ndlovu rhino poaching gang have each been handed a sentence of 25 years imprisonment in South Africa today. (Update 24 Nov ’20: Ndlovu rhino poaching gang to hear judgment on Appeal.) Judge Pickering handed down the sentences at the High Court […]

Julius Malema’s firing of what looked like an assault rifle at the EFF’s five-year anniversary in July 2018, has set off imitators around South Africa, threatening public safety, claims civil rights organisation AfriForum. AfriForum cited three subsequent incidents involving firing shots in the air, all of which occurred in March 2019. In one, the owner […]

Just a warning upfront – this video is definitely not for the sensitive. We may all know and understand that animals prey on each other in the wild, and it’s part of the circle of life… but in this particular sighting, what the impala is seen to be enduring is quite upsetting. On the positive […]

BEIRA, Mozambique – Hundreds of thousands of people are in need of food, water and shelter after Cyclone Idai battered Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. And, as of today (Tues), at least 843 people had been reported killed by the storm, the flooding it caused and heavy rains before it hit. View the factbox at the […]