JOHANNESBURG  – The judge leading an inquiry into claims of influence-peddling (or ‘state capture’) against former South African president Jacob Zuma rejected an application by the Gupta brothers to cross-examine witnesses, saying they could only do so if they testified. The public inquiry, which is being telecast live in South Africa, is reviewing allegations that […]

A set of quintuplets has been safely delivered in South Africa, only the third set since 1994! The Buthelezi babies were born at Clinix Botshelong Empilweni Private Hospital in Vosloorus, Gauteng. Clinix congratulated the South African medical team, led by Dr Moeng Pitsoe, on the successful delivery; and also congratulated the proud parents and wished […]

South African rhino poaching documentary, STROOP, has been selected as the opening night screening for an international film festival in Germany, Europe. The elated producers called the invitation, to open the Wildlife Film Festival Rotterdam on 24 October, “unbelievable news”. “We feel really honoured as the festival director phoned us to tell us the good […]

The release of crime statistics in South Africa always triggers great angst among ordinary citizens, and obfuscation on the part of the South African authorities. This year was no exception. In their latest release of crime statistics, the South African Police Service seem to have tried to downplay crime rate increases (and exaggerate crime rate […]

A small stone flake marked with intersecting lines of red ochre pigment some 73,000 years ago that was found in a cave on South Africa’s southern coast represents what archaeologists on Wednesday called the oldest-known example of human drawing. The abstract design, vaguely resembling a hashtag, was drawn by hunter-gatherers who periodically dwelled in Blombos […]

South Africa is celebrating the world’s first lion cubs born through artificial insemination, which experts say is a pioneering moment in the conservation of the big cats. The fluffy pair were born on August 25, 2018 at the Ukutula Conservation Center in the North West province. They were conceived through non-surgical artificial insemination using fresh […]

South African artist Portchie is currently exhibiting in London, and expats have until Sunday to soak in the wonderful art… featuring fabulous flowers and both South African scenes as well as UK scenes (check out the London Taxi cushions!). The packed opening night last week, of The Special Moments Exhibition, was buzzing with South African […]

An independent team has been appointed to investigate the cause of the sad death of two learners in Gauteng, South Africa, yesterday. The deceased were siblings – a 10-year-old in Grade 4, and a seven-year-old in Grade 1. Both were at Kumalo Primary School in Katlehong. The elder child allegedly first complained in class of […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday there was no reason to believe that any country would impose sanctions on South Africa over the government’s plans to redistribute land to address racial disparities in ownership. Ramaphosa announced in late July that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) plans to change the constitution […]

Farmworkers on the Nieuwe Sion farm in the Western Cape were recently delighted when the British owners of the farm – David and Elaine Potter – handed over not only the keys, but the title deeds too, to an awesome village containing 22 homes for them. The state-of-the-art village cost R30-million to create. It includes […]

In delivering today’s Crime Statistics for the 2017/2018 financial year, Police Minister Bheki Cele called the rate of murder “scary”. Fifty-seven people are murdered in South Africa every day, a statistic – he says – that requires more stringent action by the police. Sounding despondent, he said the stats are “nothing to write home about, […]

Nike footwear and apparel company has been praised for its latest advertisement, featuring South Africa’s Caster Semenya. Watch below. Nike posted the ad on YouTube yesterday, saying: “When you’re born to do it—just do it. #justdoit” Semenya followed up by posting it on Twitter yesterday evening. She said: “Too fast? Too bad. I was born […]

The incredible water-conserving efforts of Capetonians, along with the rain and snow in the Western Cape, means that within a month Cape Town citizens will be rewarded with the luxury of perhaps flushing the loo, or languishing in a bath. Cape Town Deputy Mayor, Ian Nielson, announced an upcoming relaxation of the water restrictions which […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said on Monday that there is a significant downside risk to revenue collection due to a recession and problems in tax collection by the revenue service. “There is now additional downside risk to the tax revenue projected at the beginning of the year because of the […]

The African National Congress (ANC) say it rejects the South African Sunday Times’ story claiming former president, Jacob Zuma, and other top ANC officials have held secret meetings to topple President Cyril Ramaphosa. In a statement on Sunday, the ANC said that the story – titled “Exposed: Zuma plot to oust Cyril” – was “sensational […]

According to a report in South Africa’s Sunday Times today, former President Jacob Zuma and a handful of top ANC officials, are secretly plotting to topple President Cyril Ramaphosa. The ANC officials are named by the paper as including ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule, former North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo, ANC Women’s League Secretary-General Meokgo Matuba […]

Fabulous South African flowers and incredible exhibits are on display of this year’s Witness Garden Show in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Regular SAPeople contributor Lorraine Scholfield was there and captured these stunning photos… The Garden Show is open from 9am to 5pm daily, and ends tomorrow – Sunday 9 September 2018. Proteas First… Blushing bride proteas Pincushion […]

Tesla shares tumbled more than 6% to $263.24 on Friday after the electric car company’s CEO, South African expat Elon Musk, smoked marijuana on a webcast. (Watch below.) He also wielded a sword, and his company announced its recently-appointed accounting chief had resigned because of “discomfort” with the attention on Tesla, and the pace of […]

As predicted, more snow has fallen across parts of South Africa this week! Popular SAPeople contributor and Moving to the Platteland co-author, Julienne du Toit, captured these gorgeous photos in Richmond this morning… (See Updated photos at bottom of page.) Snow Report SA had predicted light snow on the southern high ground in the Northern Cape […]

A South African mom and grandmother took on armed hijackers in her drive-way and won! Watch below. The Alberton woman (42) told News 24 she was no hero and just did what she thought was best to protect her teenage daughter, who was a passenger in the car. The family has been receiving counselling, since […]

CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s plans to change the constitution to allow the expropriation of land without compensation could hit property prices and trigger a banking crisis, the chief executive of Nedbank warned parliament on Friday. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Aug. 1 that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) planned to change the constitution […]

A South African expat living in the US recently discovered she was a sperm donor child. She is now on a mission to find the former Wits Medical School student who donated his sperm. Another South African expat, a medical practitioner living in the UK, was once a sperm donor from Wits. Below they each speak […]

Burt Reynolds, whose good looks and charm made him one of Hollywood’s most popular actors as he starred in films such as “Deliverance,” “The Longest Yard” and “Smokey and the Bandit” in the 1970s and ’80s, has died at age 82. Reynolds died on Thursday morning at the Jupiter Medical Center in Florida, his manager, […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised a new investigation into a water ministry contract with German software firm SAP on Thursday, citing allegations that public money was spent unlawfully. The investigation by South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU) comes after the country’s anti-graft agency said in March it was conducting its own […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s slide into recession is a “transitional issue” from which the economy will soon recover, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in comments published on Thursday, repeating promises for a stimulus package to reignite growth. Ramaphosa has staked his reputation on reviving the economy after a decade of stagnation under his predecessor, scandal-plagued […]