Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp is limiting worldwide the number of times a user can forward a message to five, starting yesterday, as the popular messaging service looks to fight “misinformation and rumours”, company executives said on Monday. Previously, a WhatsApp user could forward a message to 20 individuals or groups. The limit of five is in […]

News of Jacob Zuma’s record deal with the eThekwini Municipality is making global news as Reuters reports today that the former South African president – long known for singing and dancing at political rallies – has been chosen as the voice of anti-apartheid liberation songs in a South African history project. Regardless of whether one is […]

AfriForum was victorious in the Northern Gauteng High Court on Monday against alleged illegal land invaders and the South African Police Service (SAPS). The victory follows an urgent application to force the SAPS to remove land invaders who had apparently illegally occupied land in the De Wildt area in the North West. AfriForum said in […]

Legal challenges to a brutal clampdown on dissent by Zimbabwe’s government were set in motion on Monday, as fears that the country is veering back towards authoritarian rule drove some leaders of the main opposition party into hiding. The fragile state of Zimbabwe’s economy was also in focus as President Emmerson Mnangagwa headed home early […]

On Sunday, SAPeople posted a beautiful line from a beautiful song that sends chills down most expats’ spines. It speaks to those of us that live faraway: I may be walking through the streets of a city called London But the dust on my boots & the rhythm of my feet, and my heartbeat Say […]

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has extended her condolences and those of the department to the family and friends of Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo. Kumalo, 71, was a former Permanent Representative of South Africa to the United Nations. He reportedly died peacefully in his sleep at home on Sunday. Sisulu said Kumalo has left […]

Public hearings into allegations of impropriety at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) get underway in Tshwane this morning. Announced in October 2018 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is investigating allegations of impropriety following reports of poor governance and precarious investment processes. The PIC is the only investment management company in South […]

South Africa turned down a request from its southern African neighbour Zimbabwe for a $1.2 billion loan in December, a spokesman for the finance ministry said on Monday. “South Africa doesn’t have that kind of money,” National Treasury spokesman Jabulani Sikhakhane said. Zimbabwean officials were not immediately available for comment. Zimbabwe was hit by anti-government […]

Congo’s political standoff deepened on Sunday after the top court backed the contested presidential election victory of Felix Tshisekedi, then his main rival rejected the ruling, called for protests and declared himself leader. As Tshisekedi’s supporters celebrated the ruling in the streets of Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, runner-up Martin Fayulu said the decision had […]

Shafted by the Guptas, the people of Blinkpan, Mpumalanga have come together across race and class to help each other… It was a dismal Christmas for thousands of coal miners in Mpumalanga when the formerly Gupta-owned coal mines of Optimum and Koornfontein, now under business rescue, stopped paying workers and contractors in October last year. […]

International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has extended condolences to the families of four South Africans who tragically drowned in Mozambique’s Portuguese Islands. This follows the recovery of the four bodies after a protracted recovery mission that was hampered by bad weather. The four young South Africans – Lesego Matsepe, Mmatholo Mogafe, David […]

BAMAKO – Ten U.N. peacekeepers were killed and several were wounded while repelling an attack by armed assailants near a village in northern Mali on Sunday, the West African nation’s U.N. mission said. The identity of the attackers was not immediately clear. U.N. peacekeeping and French forces are stationed in northern Mali to combat well-armed […]

According to press rumours, South African expat Charlize Theron is dating fellow Hollywood star, Brad Pitt. The Star tabloid newspaper in the UK claims “the new lovebirds were all over each other at a showbiz function last week”. They were reportedly introduced by Charlize’s ex-fiance, actor Sean Penn. According to a source speaking to the […]

If you’re a South African expat living in the United States, look up into the night sky on Sunday and – if it is clear – you may witness the so-called “Super Blood Wolf Moon” total lunar eclipse, which will take a star turn across the continental US during prime time for viewing. The total […]

The recently announced 2018 national matric pass rate in South Africa of 78% made for some great headlines… but many say the truth is nothing to celebrate. That great pass rate is based on rather low expectations. In South Africa, qualifying for tertiary studies now requires only 40% in your home language, only 50% in […]

Author of such books as ‘African Tears’ and ‘Beyond Tears’, Cathy Buckle last night posted a letter on social media to her friends and family… except she couldn’t post it herself because she’s in Zimbabwe. So a friend posted it on her behalf. This is her letter… Dear Family and Friends, This has been one […]

South African grain and red meat farmers are bracing for hard times after dry weather conditions and an outbreak of the highly contagious foot and mouth disease suspended meat exports, officials said on Friday. Maize prices have climbed amid concerns that dry conditions in the main part of South Africa’s maize belt have delayed crop […]

Now this is something you don’t get in a lot of countries! Supermarket staff that burst into song! But it’s been known to happen around South Africa – at supermarkets and petrol stations. And today lucky shoppers in KwaZulu-Natal were delighted when they were graced with a staff performance. Durban artist Sam Cross was doing […]

Congratulations to the South African Police Service (SAPS) who have today arrested suspects in the Menzi Primary School robbery incident which rocked South Africa earlier this week. The stolen goods have been found at a shop in downtown Johannesburg. The brand new state-of-the-art school – which cost R105,508,403 to build – had been officially opened […]

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s biggest mobile operator Econet Wireless said on Friday the government had ordered it to shut down its internet services until further notice following days of deadly protests over steep fuel price hikes. (Please see UPDATE at bottom of page.) Zimbabweans accuse President Emmerson Mnangagwa of failing to live up to pre-election pledges […]

PRETORIA – Saudi Arabia plans to build an oil refinery and a petrochemicals plant in South Africa as part of $10 billion of investments in the country, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said on Friday. In comments following a meeting with South Africa’s energy minister Jeff Radebe in Pretoria, Al-Falih said Saudi oil would be […]

The recent horrific fire that tore through Wupperthal, destroying much of the historical village near Clanwilliam, devastating over 60 shops and homes, and tragically leaving at least 200 people homeless… left the Cape West Coast community desperate for assistance and in dire need of the basic essentials. Fortunately South Africans have stepped up to help […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the anti-apartheid activist and journalist Hugh Lewin, describing him as a valiant soldier who fought fearlessly for human rights and justice. The acclaimed author, who was 79-years-old, passed away at his home on Wednesday. Lewin worked as a journalist at the Natal Witness, Drum Magazine and the Golden […]

French bank Societe Generale said on Friday it agreed to sell its South African unit offering custody, trustee and clearing services to South Africa-listed bank ABSA as part of a strategy to review its scope of businesses. Societe Generale did not disclose the amount of the transaction. The French bank also signed an agreement with […]

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s office has dismissed Angelo Agrizzi’s claim that the Minister was among the directors of Dyambu Holdings – the company that gave birth to Bosasa. “This is incorrect and false,” said spokesperson Ndivhuwo Mabaya. Agrizzi, who is the former Chief Operations Officer (COO) of Bosasa, made the claim at […]