DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) – South Africa is close to spinning a state-owned bank out of its postal service that will lend to the country’s poor and distribute welfare grants, in a bid to loosen the grip of private sector banks. Financial services, the largest sector of the South African economy at 20 percent of […]

LONDON (Reuters) – There is no cause for alarm about the welfare of Queen Elizabeth or her husband Prince Philip after all senior royal staff were summoned to a meeting at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, a well-placed source told Reuters. The Daily Mail newspaper had reported that senior aides from across the country had been […]

The Constitutional Court has announced a date for the hearing on whether a Secret Ballot should be allowed in Parliament for voting in the Motion of No Confidence in President Jacob Zuma. The date is Monday 15 May 2017, at 10h00. The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) called it “a date with history” and EFF leader Julius Malema tweeted […]

PRETORIA – Despite the recent rains, the water levels remain critical for the City of Cape Town. Dam levels are now at 22.8% for storage levels, which is 0.6% down from a week ago. With the last 10% of a dam’s water mostly not being useable, dam levels are effectively at 12.3%, the City said on […]

As announced by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation last month, several foundations will convene on Friday to hold their inaugural dialogue: “Why does South Africa need a National Dialogue? A Call to the Nation.” It will be the first time in history that three former South African presidents – Thabo Mbeki, FW De Klerk and Kgalema Motlanthe […]

Johnny Clegg fans in Australia and New Zealand are invited to join a facebook page to help convince the iconic musician that a trip Down Under should be included in his Final Tour… after Clegg announced last week that he would be performing his last tour before going into retirement. South African expat Craig Barker, who now lives […]

The security guard that was shot and wounded in the Nyanga Junction hostage standoff on Monday 1 May in Cape Town, has tragically succumbed to his injuries in hospital this morning. The South African Police Service (SAPS) made the announcement at 11h00 on Tuesday. Yesterday National Police Acting Commissioner Lieutenant General Khomotso Phahlane had thanked […]

A journalist (and friend) who spent six harrowing months following, interviewing and filming rhino poachers around Kruger National Park to shed light on South Africa’s rhino wars has been shot and killed… writes PAULA FROELICH. Godknows Nare was one of the best investigative journalists I have ever met. A Zimbabwean living in South Africa, he worked as […]

ANC leaders – including the President of South Africa – were booed at Cosatu May Day rallies in Bloemfontein, Durban and Polokwane on Monday. Watch videos below. President Jacob Zuma was forced to leave the rally in Bloemfontein, where he had been due to address workers, after they turned on him… heckling and singing anti-Zuma songs. […]

The Fundimvelo Thula Thula Rhino Orphanage, which has rescued so many orphaned rhino… but which experienced a brutal poaching attack in February, has made the heartbreaking decision to close down. In a statement today, Thula Thula said the following: The late night attack had resulted in an assault on staff and the tragic loss of two […]

Unexpected turbulence has caused multiple injuries – some serious – on a flight between Moscow and Bangkok, and is making headlines around the world… as a reminder to air travellers to always buckle up when seated on a plane. At least 27 passengers were injured on the Aeroflot aircraft about 40 minutes before landing. They were immediately […]

Thousands of demonstrators have taken to South Africa’s streets demanding President Jacob Zuma step down, as his party’s membership plummets. Has the African National Congress (ANC), once led by freedom fighter Nelson Mandela, who then became South Africa’s first democratically elected president, lost its way? “I saw firsthand the abject poverty of the people in […]

Tennis superstar Roger Federer beat John Isner in a sold-out exhibition match –  Match for Africa – on Saturday evening in Seattle, USA… raising over $2-million in the process. The event was held to raise funds for his foundation – the Roger Federer Foundation which supports children’s charities in South Africa, Switzerland and other countries in […]

Not everyone in South Africa is buying the ‘coup plotter’ story… with many saying it’s a ploy from supporters of President Jacob Zuma to divert attention from the real issues facing the nation. Others – like former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor – believe the motives are even darker. According to special police unit, the Hawks, Elvis […]

A 14-year-old male teenager from Port Elizabeth has survived a shark attack in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, late Saturday afternoon. NSRI said in a statement on their website that NSRI Plettenberg Bay duty crew were activated at 17h07 on Saturday 29 April, following reports that a person had been bitten by a shark at The Waves… […]

The South African Police Services (SAPS) paid tribute this week to Warrant Officer Rudolph Johannes Pretorius as he bids farewell to the SAPS after 43 years of excellent service as dog handler and effecting 35,000 arrests! Warrant Officer Pretorious joined the SAPS family shortly after he completed his matric in 1973. He always had a passion […]

The Royal Palace of Monaco has released two videos showcasing Princess Charlene‘s trip back home to South Africa. Watch below. Charlene (nee Wittstock) visited the South African branch of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. Speaking at a cocktail party organised in aid of water safety and drowning prevention, Charlene pointed out that “here in […]

Ndileka Mandela, granddaughter of former South African President Nelson Mandela, says she supports nationwide calls for the current president – Jacob Zuma – to resign and step down. “If the people are calling for that, yes, he should listen to the people and then step down,” she says in an interview with Al Jazeera English’s current […]

Heineken beer’s “World’s Apart” experiment – and advert – is going viral… and even though it’s not South African, it applies as much to people in SA as around the world, to people who have opposing views. The ad asks whether two strangers with opposing views can prove there’s more that unites than divides us… […]

South Africa’s Gift Ngoepe made a dashing debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday evening… with all eyes on him as he made history, becoming the first athlete born in Africa to record a hit in a Major League Baseball (MLB) game. And for the 27-year-old from Randburg, it was about more than just his own incredible personal […]

PRETORIA – The Hawks have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly plotting to assassinate top government officials. The man, who is the founder of the Anti-State Capture Death Squad Alliance, was arrested in Midrand on Wednesday by undercover coup plot snipers, as he was in the process of explaining to alliance donors how the assassination of […]

Now here’s a view of South Africa we don’t often see… sideways! European Space Station (ESA) pilot Thomas Pesquet tweeted this photo Thursday morning, 27 April 2017, to say Happy Freedom Day to South Africa. Along with the SA flag, Thomas said: “Side view! This is us flying around South Africa, on our way from […]

Johnny Clegg is embarking on his final world tour – The Final Journey… after nearly 40 years enjoying one of music’s most remarkable careers. Below one of his biggest fans – whose life has been shaped by his music and anthropological background – pays tribute… In a statement Wednesday, it was revealed Johnny was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 […]

PRETORIA – The Minister of Energy has reacted to the Western Cape High Court’s ruling on South Africa’s controversial nuclear agreements today. The Court has set aside the agreements – signed by government with vendor countries – declaring them “unlawful and unconstitutional”. These deals were with Russia, the United States and South Korea. The Minister of Energy, Mmamoloko Kubayi, […]

There’s been an “intense storm” over Cape Town today… with lightning, hail and “LOTS” of very welcome rain, according to locals. Radio station KFM captured a brilliant flash of lightning – watch below. Capetonian Johanna Adams said: “Thank you Lord. Our prayers. The hail was as big as marbles, if not bigger. This was on my lawn:” […]