Deputy President David Mabuza said today that Solomon Mahlangu’s commemoration should serve as a launch pad for a society-wide reflection on the steps the country must take to build a non-racial society. “Such [discussions are] particularly important in the context of the centenary of President Nelson Mandela’s birthday,” Deputy President Mabuza said on Friday. He […]

Jan Van Riebeeck arrived in South Africa in 1652. Who of my generation does not know this? It was drilled into all our minds at primary school. And even if we were not lucky enough to go to school, the mythology certainly did not pass us by. The version of history taught to us started […]

The South African Presidency has withdrawn their appeal against the court judgement ordering former President Jacob Zuma to personally pay the legal costs, estimated at R10 million, for trying to block the release the State of Capture report. DA Federal Council Chairperson, James Selfe, said he welcomes the withdrawal. “While this is a victory for […]

A community library in Lavender Hill started by South African hero John Nicholson has been shut down by the City of Cape Town… writes GENEVIEVE SERRA from The Daily Voice. For the first time in 15 years, the library – called Siyafunda, which means “we can read” in Zulu – has closed its doors. John – […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has put in place a process that will deal with the issue of e-tolls in South Africa, says the Gauteng Provincial Government. “The process has started and the President himself is going to lead it,” Gauteng Premier David Makhura said in a statement on Thursday. The Premier allayed the fears of motorists […]

South African expat Justin van Pletzen, who has been living in Dubai since 2016, not only spotted, but confronted one of South Africa’s most wanted fugitives – Ajay Gupta – in the United Arab Emirates city yesterday. Two videos, shot from different angles, were posted to YouTube, showing the encounter between the Indian businessman at […]

Team South Africa got off to a golden Commonwealth Games start as Henri Schoeman won the men’s triathlon event on Thursday’s first day of competition at Gold Coast, Australia, writes MARK ETHERIDGE. Schoeman shrugged off a dreadful start to his year, when he was incorrectly accused of doping at the Rio Olympics, and stood proud […]

South African comedian Trevor Noah has launched his own Foundation – The Trevor Noah Foundation – in South Africa, following in the footsteps of fellow SA expat celebrity Charlize Theron. Trevor launched the new Foundation on Wednesday. He is in South Africa – from his home in New York – for a two-day special television […]

The Department of Water and Sanitation says the steady rainfall over the past two weeks has seen several dams across South Africa overflowing – including the Vaal Dam which reached over 100%… but sadly excluding most dams in the Western Cape, like Theewaterskloof Dam which dropped to 10.3%. In KwaZulu-Natal, eThekwini Municipality is even considering lifting […]

No other woman – in life and after – occupies the place that Winnie Madikizela-Mandela does in South African politics. A stalwart of the African National Congress (ANC), she nevertheless stands above, and at times outside, the party. Her iconic status transcends political parties and geographical boundaries, generations and genders. Poets have honoured her, writers […]

The UK will introduce a ban on ivory sales, Environment Secretary Michael Gove confirmed yesterday as he set out the country’s plans to help protect elephants for future generations. The Government, he said, is publishing the response to its consultation on a UK ivory sales ban, and confirming robust measures that will be brought into […]

Team South Africa are in action across six sporting codes on Thursday (5 April) at the Commonwealth Games in Australia – badminton, bowls, cycling, hockey, swimming and triathlon. But first there’s the Opening Ceremony on the Gold Coast in Queensland this evening. If you’re in South Africa – watch the ceremony live on SuperSport Channel […]

South African property icon – Pam Golding – passed away peacefully yesterday, 03 April 2018, at her home Wittebomen in Constantia, Cape Town. She was 90-years-old. Pam launched her career in the male-dominated real estate industry in 1976, when she and her late husband Cecil were a “typical, young married couple with two small children. […]

It has been announced on Tuesday afternoon that former SABC 1 news anchor, Noxolo Grootboom, is set to make a return to South African TV screens… albeit briefly. The legendary Grootboom will cover the state funeral of the late Winnie Madikizela Mandela on 14 April 2018. Grootboom delighted her fans when she appeared briefly on […]

Freedom fighter Winnie Nomzamo Madikizela-Mandela will be laid to rest on 14 April 2018, during a state funeral. President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement on Monday night outside the home of the late struggle stalwart in Orlando, Soweto. He had earlier met with the Mandela family to offer his condolences and support. “At a national […]

With the death yesterday of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at the age of 81, the reactions in South Africa were divided. Some praised a woman who kept Nelson Mandela’s name alive and sacrificed so much of her life for her country – even the opposition called her a “true freedom fighter and an iconic South African” (in the […]

Tributes have poured in for Winnie Mandela who passed away on Monday at the age of 81. Actor Idris Elba tweeted she “lived a full and important life contributing to the liberation of a nation by force and ACTUAL ACTIVISM”, and supermodel Naomi Campbell said “I cherish the times I spent with you, embracing me in […]

Efforts are underway to increase overseas voting stations for the 2019 National Elections. In 2014, many expats missed out on voting because their nearest voting station was a couple of expensive flights away. For instance, South Africans living – or on business – in Australia found themselves having to travel from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and […]

Winnie Mandela, ANC anti-apartheid activist and wife of former President Nelson Mandela, has passed away in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the age of 81. Her family said in a statement Monday: “It is with profound sadness that we inform the public that Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela passed away at the Netcare Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South African […]

The 2018 Commonwealth Games here on the Gold Coast, Australia, sees just over 6,600 athletes from around the globe leave their homes and converge on a single site, writes MARK ETHERIDGE. That site is the Commonwealth Games Village and for roughly 10 days, depending on different athletes and their schedules, this becomes their home from […]

At least three trucks (some reports say five) were torched near Mooi River Plaza on Easter Monday in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, causing traffic chaos and blocking thousands of holiday makers returning from Durban to Johannesburg. UPDATE 30 APRIL 2018: 18 Trucks Torched, 35 Damaged, 54 Arrested in Mooi River Protests, South Africa The N3 was completely […]

Not everyone was amused by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s April Fool’s joke yesterday. The South African born and raised expat, who now lives in the USA, tweeted that his electric car company, Tesla, had gone bankrupt… “completely and totally bankrupt”. Musk tweeted: “Despite intense efforts to raise money, including a last-ditch mass sale of Easter […]

Not paying your e-tolls is not a traffic infringement in South Africa, but under the Administrative Adjunction of Road Traffic Offences Act (Aarto) it instead counts as disobeying a road sign. According to Fred Nel, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport, this means that when the demerit system does come into effect, drivers […]

South African comedian Trevor Noah had his fans back home guessing on 1 April 2018 whether his announcement about a show back home is an April Fool’s joke or not. It didn’t help that Trevor started the message with  the words (in capitals): “THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOL’S JOKE!” Trevor said: “I am surprising […]

Western Cape ANC MP Cameron Dugmore posted the most incredibly moving account of his Two Oceans Marathon experience yesterday in Cape Town, South Africa. Writing on Facebook Dugmore captioned his story “My Two Oceans” and said: “I had a tough but eventually awesome Two Oceans. I clearly did not train enough and was battling from […]