Almost two years ago I photographed a fire that threatened St Francis Bay as well as Cape St Francis… writes Christopher Scott. People feared the inevitable, but all was saved. A close shave as some would say. Today 18th December 2018, a week before Xmas I saw a posting ‘FIRE in St Francis Bay, houses […]

Even his detractors would concede that Cyril Ramaphosa has greatly improved the political atmosphere in South Africa since assuming the presidency in February 2018. True, the scope for any further deterioration was minimal. So squalid was his predecessor’s rule that virtually any new leader from outside the Zuma patronage machine would have offered some respite […]

Turkish Airlines is now flying twice a week between the Zambian capital Lusaka and Istanbul, via Dar es Salaam. The new route was launched on 14 December 2018 and it makes Lusaka the 306th destination serviced globally by Turkish Airlines – more than any other airline. Turkish Airlines’ Senior Vice President of Sales Kerem Sarp […]

Fire fighters have been battling a runaway fire that has destroyed approximately 15 houses in the seaside resort of St Francis Bay, near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Strong gale force winds of at least 60kmh were hampering efforts, but in the past hour the Kouga Municipality has reported that the […]

Antonia Mtambo, (69) a pensioner and domestic worker from Willowfountain, Pietermaritzburg, was living in a home that became irreparable when a white-ant infestation destroyed her house and exposed her to the elements… Her plight broke the hearts of her employers of over 15 years – Michelle Hugo (68) and daughter Kerry (35)… and so they […]

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has confirmed that Tristan-Lee Niemand and another six South Africans detained in China have been released from prison and will be deported this week. The department said in a statement the South African mission in Shanghai has informed Minister Lindiwe Sisulu that the seven South African nationals […]

Almost everyday, hundreds of homeless people gather at the Service Dining Rooms for a warm cooked meal and cooldrink. Situated in Cape Town’s city centre, this charity has been feeding people in need for over 80 years. On Thursday, the organisation held its annual Christmas Party. where meals were prepared for over 400 people. The […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s rand traded slightly stronger early Tuesday, helped by a fragile dollar as markets counted down to a crucial U.S. Federal Reserve meeting amid speculation it will soon hit the pause button to its monetary tightening cycle. At 0645 GMT, the rand traded at 14.3500 versus the dollar, 0.3 percent stronger than […]

The argument has dragged on long enough about who should take the credit for bringing South Africa’s apartheid regime to an end. Of course, some will immediately respond by saying that apartheid has not yet been defeated – it still lives on in innumerable ways. But at least the regime that promulgated the legislation and […]

JOHANNESBURG – South African Airways (SAA) said on Tuesday that it had signed a partnership deal with Emirates airline which would see the two firms expand an existing codeshare agreement and work on other areas of cooperation. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been at pains to stabilise struggling state-run firms like SAA, which has […]

A Johannesburg restaurant manager, who saved the life of a customer’s young son, has been publicly heralded for her quick action and extreme calmness in a situation that could have had a tragic ending. Lone Wolf Spur Steak Ranch owner Chris Marks posted a photo with the Gauteng restaurant’s store manager Nelly Malinga, and said […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has used Reconciliation Day to call on all South Africans to be part of the effort to promote investment, achieve inclusive growth, improve the conditions of the poor and create employment on a massive scale. “The Day of Reconciliation must … be a day on which we reaffirm our commitment to eradicate […]

The U.S. military said on Monday it had killed 62 militants in six air strikes on Saturday and Sunday in the vicinity of Gandarsh in Somalia’s south-central Banaadir province. The military’s Africa Command (Africom) said four strikes were carried out on Saturday, killing 34 militants, and two more on Sunday, which killed 28. “Africa Command […]

BANGKOK – Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green has won second place in the Miss Universe competition! The crown was scooped on Monday by Miss Philippines Catriona Gray, with Miss Venezuela in third place. Miss South Africa organisers said Monday morning: “Good morning, South Africa. ICYMI, our Tamaryn has just placed 1st runner up out of […]

Sun City staff have been praised by the management, as well as by visitors to the resort for its quick clean up following the freak hail storm that hit Sun City on Saturday afternoon, wreaking havoc as it flooded several areas of the hotel and damaged almost 200 rooms. Tracey Lindeque was at the resort […]

A manhunt has been launched in the Western Cape, South Africa, after an armed robbery on a farm in Phillipi by a gang of eight to 10 men, in which they allegedly shot the foreman in the back. He tragically succumbed to his injuries on his way to hospital. One of the suspects was also […]

JOHANNESBURG – South African retailer Edcon – owner of well known outlets like Edgars, CNA and Jet – has asked shopping mall owners to give it a two-year 41 percent reduction in rent… in exchange for a small stake in the company, as it battles to survive, according to a Sunday Times report. Citing a […]

It appears stealing is becoming a family business in South Africa with everyone from mum and dad to children getting involved. As Jingle Bells plays in SA malls, and tinsel sparkles all over, the festive shopping season is in full swing – and thieves are gearing up for the action too. Last week an exasperated Spur […]

Things are looking a little brighter at Sun City today after a monster hail storm hit yesterday afternoon, 15 December 2018, damaging large parts of the hotel – including around 200 rooms – and resulting in two people being taken to hospital. Sun City confirmed on Sunday morning that Sun Central and the Valley of Waves […]

South Africa’s famous Sun City was hit by a major hail storm on Saturday that resulted in extensive damage, and several grumpy hotel guests who didn’t feel the hotel was well equipped to handle the storm. Sun City confirmed in an official statement Saturday evening: A hail storm hit the North West region of the […]

A joint operation between police and a farm watch patrol in Limpopo, South Africa, has led to the arrest of two of three suspects in the tragic murder Friday morning of retired attorney Johan Kruger (57), who was shot dead on his farm, in front of his wife. SAPS said that two suspects in their […]

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that the body of a 75-year-old French national has been recovered from a yacht which ran ashore this morning near Southbroom, on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. SAPS said: “Earlier this morning at 06:30 members from Port Shepstone Search and Rescue Unit, K9 Search and […]

The Royal Regiment of Scotland yesterday paid tribute to a South African soldier who passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning at Fort George barracks at Ardersier, near Inverness in Scotland. He was just 26. The Royal Regiment said: “It is with the greatest sadness that we must inform you of the tragic […]

Castle Lager has launched its latest #SmashTheLabel video – a special experiment with “real South Africans”. Watch below. “We asked strangers to describe someone based only on a picture,” says Castle. What the strangers didn’t know was that they were then going to meet each other. Castle is asking South Africans “What does reconciliation mean […]

Here’s what’s coming up on South Africa’s favourite current affairs show Carte Blanche on Sunday 16 Dec in South Africa. If you’re a South African living abroad – subscribe to Showmax to watch from Tues 18 Dec, and don’t miss out on the 14-day Free Trial. The State of the Nation 2018 In February Cyril Ramaphosa became […]