JOHANNESBURG – Moody’s Investors Service today downgraded the ratings of 10 South African regional and local governments (RLGs) and three government-related entities (GRIs) and changed the outlooks to negative. At the same time, Moody’s affirmed their national scale ratings. The rating actions conclude the review for downgrade that commenced on 4 April 2017, Moody’s said in a […]

Uber says it is devastated to confirm the brutal attack of a driver-partner this past weekend, whose car was set alight while he was in the vehicle. Uber stressed “this sort of violence is completely unacceptable, unlawful and needs to stop”, and called on Government and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to prevent these crimes and […]

Democratic Leader Mmusi Maimane has met with broken father and husband, Blessing Nyirenda, in Knysna today, and contributed R10,000 towards the fund that neighbour Scott Edkins set up for Blessing. (Please note: Mmusi did not share this photo and news – we at SAPeople did, as we thought many of our readers who have been […]

The Australian Minister of Immigration, Peter Dutton, has told a local radio station that he will review a South African grandmother’s deportation, after he read about her plight in ‘The Australian’ newspaper… in which she described her deportation, scheduled for 23 June, as a “death sentence”. Linda Oppel (58), who sold all her belongings when […]

Knysna local ESTER BEUKES wrote the following messages to SAPeople early this morning, while most of us were sleeping… Photos on this page are by DIRK ERASMUS and show the 7 June fires around PE (Draaifontein/Crossways). 03h48 Note 1 Unfortunately it’s not over yet. I woke up with a terrible headache… a sure sign of […]

The latest updates on the Knysna Fires are starting to look more positive… and there is hope on the horizon. In an official update on Sunday the Western Cape Government said weather Conditions are improving along the Garden route “Fire-fighters hit the ground running this morning as Day 5 of the Knysna Fire dawned. As cooler weather prevailed […]

We are so sad to confirm that the mother of three-year-old Catherine, who died in the Knysna Fires, has now also succumbed to her injuries, and passed away in Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, last night. She had suffered 70 percent burns to her body. Enala and her daughter had been trying to outrun the fire in […]

The Eden Fires, including Knysna, have claimed at least one other life and left more people critically injured, according to an official statement by the Western Cape Government Saturday evening. Early this evening the Western Cape Government said a 63-year-old man, John Blaauw, lost his life near Concordia, bringing the number of confirmed fatalities in the area to six. […]

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has refuted  messages circulating on social media andWhatsApp… which are spreading fake news and misinformation on the #CapeFires. In a statement Saturday late afternoon, SAPS said: “Various fake news reports are being spread on social media and WhatsApp and are posing a huge threat on efforts to relieve and successfully counter the […]

Knysna resident Scott Edkins, has launched a heartbreaking campaign to help rebuild the life of one of his neighbours… the father of the little 3-year-old girl, Catherine Nyirenda, who was tragically killed in the Knysna fires this week. Her mother, Blessing Nyirenda’s wife, is currently fighting for her life in Tygerberg Hospital. Scott wrote this heartfelt […]

With fires out of control in parts in the Southern Cape, the NSPCA Disaster Teams are now also assisting people to evacuate. NSPCA announced Saturday afternoon that another NSPCA Disaster Team will be dispatched to the Eastern Cape first thing tomorrow morning from Gauteng and Kulula.com has once again donated the flights for free. Earlier today the […]

The heart of the action in Knsyna today is at the Knysna High School Sports Ground where firefighting and rescue crews wait to be deployed, and where –  on Saturday afternoon, just after 13h00 – residents from Brenton have also been instructed by the Knysna Municipality to evacuate to immediately. SAPeople contributor ESTER BEUKES captured photos […]

Knysna Municipality has just issued the following instruction: “RESIDENTS AT FLENTER LOCATION, RHOBOLOLO, GREENFIELDS AND JOODSEKAMP NEED TO GET READY FOR EVACUATION. PLEASE MOVE TO AREA OF KHAYALETHU HALL, DAMSEBOS SPORTS GROUNDS, HORNLEE SPORTS GROUNDS!” UPDATE: Brenton has been added to this list at 13h15. Knysna Municipality says: “Brenton residents please evacuate to the Knysna High […]

Residents in Sedgefield have been asked to prepare to evacuate, but to not panic. At this stage (10h30) there is no need to evacuate and the fires are being monitored, according to Knysna Municipality. A special page set up for ‘Knysna Fires 7th June’ issued a message this morning, saying: “*Attention all Sedgefielders* : _Please do […]

PRETORIA – The Presidency has dismissed false reports which claim that President Jacob Zuma said Knysna in the Western Cape was not his concern. The Presidency on Friday said the disturbing claims are contained in an online “fake news” report. It warned the public to be vigilant against online fake news reports. “The online report […]

MiWay has launched a disaster relief fund that is sure to be incredibly useful in South Africa where extreme weather – and weather-related disasters – have detrimentally impacted on so many people. The amazing Gift of the Givers will manage the fund… which MiWay – an insurance company owned by Santam – will kick-start with a generous donation of R300,000!! […]

It’s hard not to shed the odd tear looking at Facebook lately… the fires that have been ravaging the southern Cape may have brought devastation, but they’ve fired up the hearts of South Africans and corporations around the country. Engen is the latest company to lend its support to Knynsa and Plettenberg Bay fire-fighters. The South African […]

South African artist Beezy Bailey has posted a beautifully moving and poignant response to the loss of his home, and incredible works of art, in the devastating fires which ravaged the southern Cape this week. Posting the photo above on Friday morning, Beezy wrote: “I believe that Armageddon is the end of the beginning and not the […]

Western Cape Cabinet Ministers have launched an urgent humanitarian effort in the wake of the devastating fires and storms in the Eden District of the Southern Cape, which left at least nine people dead, including a 3-year-old child. Almost 10 000 residents were displaced in the Eden district as fires swept through approximately 20 suburbs of Knysna and […]

While the Western and Eastern Cape have been experiencing gale force winds and stormy weather, and the southern Cape has been ravaged by huge fires… the cold front has brought gentle snowfall to some parts of the Western and Northern Cape… SNOW REPORT posted these photos, taken today: By Esti Le Roux‎ : Roggeveld Beautiful view of […]

DHL has responded to the Knysna Fire where around 10,000 residents have already been evacuated from in and around Knysna. The fire that has been raging in the region has been described by the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre, as one of the most destructive blazes in recent memory. DHL Team will be operating between […]

Carte Blanche producer and former 50/50 presenter, Johann Botha, has been tragically shot and killed during an armed robbery at a bar/restaurant in Johannesburg. The bar owner Werner ‘Swazi’ Perchtold was also killed. The shocking incident occurred on Wednesday evening, at the Zebra House Inn in Gauteng’s Maboneng district. According to police spokesperson, Captain Kay Makhubele, three men and […]

Knysna Clubhouse is absolutely fine and has been untouched by the devastating fires in the region. The Clubhouse posted a message a few minutes ago, reassuring its supporters that all is well. The photo in question was likely taken in 2010 when there was a fire. The picture was tweeted by a user called @The_Real_Goud, and published by […]

Following massive fires and a major storm – in which eight people lost their lives – the Western Cape Government has issued the following updates, and asked evacuees to please not return home until informed that it is safe to do so: Knysna Fire update: Humanitarian support is being co-ordinated for an estimated 8,000-10,000 residents […]

Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters has survived a hijacking incident, which occurred early Wednesday evening outside Hyde Park Shopping Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her personal belongings were stolen, but the thieves fled leaving her car behind. She was unharmed. Fikile Mbalula, RSA Minister of Police, said he was “shocked” by the “brazen” attempt and that […]