NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Carrie Fisher’s unexpected death on Tuesday did not just leave “Star Wars” fans heartbroken. It thrust movie studio Walt Disney Co into a dilemma over the fate of her iconic character, Princess Leia, as it moves forward with the blockbuster film franchise. Fisher, 60, enjoyed a new round of fame […]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame as Princess Leia in the “Star Wars” films and later endured drug addiction before going on to tell her story as a best-selling author, died on Tuesday aged 60, her family said. Fisher, a mental health advocate who spoke about her own struggles with bipolar […]

HERTZOGVILLE – Calls for crime to fall in South Africa were repeated today as news came that a couple was seriously assaulted on their farm in Hertzogville, in the Free State, late on Christmas evening. Some reports claimed that the attacks were solely to “terrorize” the farmers and that nothing was stolen. However, according to OFM News, […]

LONDON (Reuters) – Madonna, Elton John and Paul McCartney paid tribute on Monday to British pop idol George Michael, who has died age 53 after a career of soulful ballads and dance songs that provided a soundtrack to much of the 1980s and 1990s. (Scroll to bottom for stories of George Michael’s incredible generosity and […]

While this Christmas photo of the baby rhinos is so cute, the very fact that we have these photo opportunities with animals that should be being reared in the wild, but who have been orphaned through human greed, is tragic… and no more so than this Christmas week which has seen a massive slaughter of South […]

Former Wham! singer, George Michael, has tragically died on Christmas Day at the age of 53, his publicist announced on Sunday evening. He reportedly died peacefully in his bed from heart failure. (Updated Mon 26 Nov, 10h30 SA time.) His former manager said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved […]

LIMPOPO – According to the South African Police Services (SAPS) facebook page, SAPS thwarted the theft of a bakkie on Friday, which was being smuggled across the Limpopo River. SAPS said the Provincial Commissioner spotted the vehicle being smuggled across the river between South Africa and Zimbabwe while he was in the police helicopter overhead. “The […]

Queen Elizabeth focused on what she called the value of doing small things with great love in her annual Christmas message on Sunday, reflecting on inspirational examples of “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”. (Watch below.) Queen Elizabeth, 90, missed a traditional Christmas church service on Sunday for the first time in decades due to a […]

PRETORIA – Transport Minister Dipuo Peters has implored South Africans to drive more carefully, as flagrant scenes of careless and selfish driving have been witnessed around the country.  The minister warned yesterday that public transport operators and motorists that overload and drive unroadworthy cars will have their vehicles impounded if they are found on the roads. Roadblocks and traffic […]

Following the “unfortunate incidents” that occurred in Polokwane on Saturday, 12 November 2016, after the match between Bafana Bafana and Senegal, the South African Football Association (SAFA) has “released” Head Coach Ephraim Shakes Mashaba with immediate effect, SAFA announced Thursday. Mashaba had been placed on suspension after the incident – in which he made strong […]

As the first refugees arrive from Aleppo, a South African non-governmental organisation – Gift of the Givers – has been helping set up refugee camps and distribute blankets, mattresses, food, milk powder and diapers in the Idlib region in the north west of Syria. The tragedy in Eastern Aleppo has meant an increased need for […]

South Africa’s Proteas wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been named as the ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year, and Marais Erasmus was awarded the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year. De Kock is the second South African player after AB de Villiers (2010, 2014 and 2015) and ninth overall to clinch this award. In the voting […]

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco are sending out a glamorous and beautiful family photo for their annual Christmas Card, featuring their children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella (and a painting of the late Princess Grace). The card says simply: “May the joy and peace of the holiday season be with you in this New Year 2017.” […]

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has warned taxpayers and corporate organisations to be on the lookout for scams and fraudulent activities over the festive period. “The South African Revenue Service has noted several scams, including the issuing of fake third party appointment (AA88) notices to companies, the unauthorised use of its logo as well […]

Julius Malema is clearly enjoying a good holiday after a long year of politics. Usually he prefers to keep his private life private, but today he shared photos – and perhaps the secret to his happy marriage – on Twitter. He and his long-time girlfriend Mantwa Matlala married two years ago in Polokwane in December […]

GAUTENG – #Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime, SAPS, Department of Home Affairs, Customs, and SARS brought the Johannesburg CBD to a standstill on Tuesday morning when they confiscated about R60 million worth of protected brands on counterfeit goods. The authorities searched 120 shops at Quebec Building in town where they confiscated clothes, bags, cosmetics, accessories, and jewellery […]

South African musician and film score composer Trevor Rabin (62) is to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with fellow members of British super group ‘Yes’. The SA expat proudly told Rolling Stone magazine that “you’d probably know better than I, but I think I’m the first South African!” On Facebook, Trevor wrote: […]

MIDRAND – A total of 845 fatalities have already been recorded on South African roads between 1 December and 19 December, says Transport Minister Dipuo Peters. Addressing the media on Tuesday, Minister Peters said the number of fatalities has increased by 17% compared to the same period in the previous year.  This devastating figure comes despite efforts to campaign for […]

As South Africa sent condolences today to victims of the probable terrorist attack that struck in Berlin on Monday evening, an SAPeople follower from Germany has described the feelings her country is currently going through. Cornelia H. from Munich, who loves spending her holidays in “beautiful South Africa”, says: “Germany is in a state of shock. Everyone is […]

Prince Harry opened up about grieving and carrying on his mother Princess Diana’s legacy in a documentary – ‘Prince Harry in Africa’ – aired on ITV in the UK on Monday night.  Speaking about his mom’s death 19 years ago, the prince said: “For a huge part of my life I didn’t really want to think […]

The number of tourists to South Africa has increased in the past year, and Germany has knocked the UK off the number one spot of the country whose tourists visit SA the most, according to the latest Tourism and Migration report by Statistics SA (Stats SA). The Big 5 are: Germany, UK, USA, France and The […]

HOUT BAY – It was a sad and unusual scene today in Cape Town, South Africa, as a juvenile whale carcass was towed to shore in Hout Bay and away for safe removal. National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) had received a call at around 09h25 about the sighting of a whale, suspected to be entangled […]

A paddler in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, was lucky to escape unharmed from a very close encounter with what is believed to have been a 4-metre Great White shark… that took a rather large bite out of his paddle-ski! Ben Swart (55), from Pretoria, was with two friends – Nick Bester and Ronald Pronk – when he […]

Conflict on campuses, hint of justice for miners, a heated election, our most successful Olympics, and other stories on GroundUp this year Accusations against police are commonplace in South Africa. Police work under stressful conditions for mediocre pay. Accusations of brutality are often too glibly made. However a description of officers assaulting a homeless man and […]

After last week’s Inquiry into the collapse of good governance at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Professor Mbulaheni Obert Maguvhe has resigned as Chairperson of the Board of the country’s national broadcaster.  On Monday the Presidency announced that President Jacob Zuma has received and accepted the resignation of Professor Maguvhe.   “The President has thanked Professor […]