PRETORIA (Reuters) – South African police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse rival marches by hundreds of citizens and non-nationals in the capital on Friday, following looting this week of stores believed to belong to immigrants. Anti-immigrant violence has flared sporadically in South Africa against a background of near-record unemployment, with […]

Eskom has been in South Africa’s news today as it scoops a prestigious international award… and as its former (and disgraced) CEO Brian Molefe – of Saxonwold Shebeen fame – is sworn in as an MP, with possible sights on a senior cabinet position. And – perhaps putting its famous load shedding days (and nights) firmly in […]

As tensions mount between South African citizens and foreign nationals in Rosettenville and Pretoria West, and a protest march is planned in Tshwane tomorrow, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has issued a media statement addressing the apparent resurgence of xenophobia. He said South Africa is not unique and that “as in other parts of the world, immigration […]

South Africa could be witnessing a step towards a safer country for all, as the Democratic Alliance (DA) heightens its campaign calling on the South African government to reintroduce Rural Safety Units. Crime statistics, released yesterday, show murders are on the increase and – according to the DA – it’s time for the police chief to […]

CAPE TOWN – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has proposed a new personal income tax bracket for those earning salaries of above R1.5 million. In tabling his Budget Speech 2017, in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Gordhan basically said “those who earn more must pay more”. The Minister has also proposed an increase in the dividend withholding […]

In a heartbreaking update on the farm attack which rocked the community of Dullstroom this weekend, it has sadly been announced that Sue Howarth tragically passed away this afternoon. Sue was well known in Border Collie circles, and had 3 rescue Border Collies herself. A fellow animal lover Patti Baron-Lowe said she has “passed away […]

South Africa’s youngest ever Member of Parliament, Hlomela Bucwa, gave her first parliamentary speech Tuesday… and brought hope to many in the nation. Social media users said it was “amazing”, “filled me with hope”, “if this is the voice of the next generation, we have a good future ahead” and “so proud, there is hope […]

Many see the decision by South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) to send the disgraced former CEO of the power utility Eskom to parliament as the precursor to another attack on the National Treasury and to remove finance minister Pravin Gordhan. The decision to give Brian Molefe a seat in the country’s parliament has […]

A plea to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma to “go now”… or history will judge him “to be the chief architect of the destruction of the ANC”, has gone viral. The author of the hard-hitting words is former ANC (African National Congress) treasurer, Mathews Phosa, writing in an opinion piece in the Sunday Independent. Phosa predicts that, with the current state […]

As predicted, former Eskom chief Brian Molefe is to be sworn in as a Minister of Parliament (MP). In a press statement issued on Friday, the Parliamentary Communication Services confirmed: “Parliament wishes to acknowledge the nomination of Mr Brian Molefe, to fill a vacancy on the North West list of ANC Members of Parliament, which […]

CAPE TOWN – President Jacob Zuma says government will not be apologetic in pursuing socio-economic radical transformation “vigorously” to improve the lives of the majority of South Africans, and that the government “will do all in its power to ensure that land is returned to the people”. He also said BEE policies should not be misinterpreted as […]

Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip John Steenhuisen, had strong criticism for President Jacob Zuma, the Speaker and several members of the ANC, at today’s 2017 SONA (State of the Nation) Debate. He said that Zuma, in his monotonous voice with a speech written by Luthuli House, had put his own benches to sleep and made […]

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane delivered the following speech to the National Assembly at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) Debate in South Africa on Tuesday… and it’s been causing a buzz on Twitter ever since. Users described Maimane’s speech as ‘profound’ and ‘to the point’. Maimane said the ANC has “turned from liberator […]

President Jacob Zuma and President Donald Trump of the United States of America held a telephone conversation this afternoon, 13 February 2017 at the request of President Trump. It went a lot better than Trump’s call earlier this month to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia! According to the Presidency, President Zuma congratulated President Trump […]

A beautiful letter of gratitude to former President Nelson Mandela, written by a child, was shared today at the NM Foundation’s launch of the Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018 ‘Be the Legacy’ two-year programme. Madiba would have turned 100 years’ old next year, on 18 July 2018. The programme to honour Mandela, was launched at Donaldson Orlando Community Centre […]

The South African Presidency has confirmed a request from the White House in Washington for a teleconference between SA’s President Jacob Zuma and US President Donald Trump. The call is expected to take place Monday afternoon, 13 February 2017. Jokes and memes have been posted on Twitter, referring to the now famous picture of Zuma being […]

This week marks an important moment in the history of South Africa. Twenty-seven years ago, today, the world watched as Nelson Mandela was released from prison on 11 February 1990, twenty seven and a half years after he was arrested on 5 August 1962. The Nelson Mandela Foundation released a media statement on Saturday saying: “A […]

A different battle was fought on the streets of SONA (State of the Nation Address) in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday – one that saw ANC school children aggravate EFF supporters, resulting in police using unnecessary force to disperse children no older than 15… writes JUSTIN SULLIVAN. An elderly man raising his hand to a younger […]

The State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa, was a lot of the same old same old. Chaos. Brawls. Political parties kicked out of parliament (EFF). Parties walking out (DA). Buthelezi wearing his feather. Lots of pointing, and even more ‘points of order’. Swearing, insults and fists being thrown. And although […]

CAPE TOWN – After the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in which President Jacob Zuma announced that radical economic transformation is coming South Africa’s way, Nando’s delivered again… with an ad saying “Some addresses will leave you in a state”. During SONA2017, President Zuma declared, in his annual address to the nation, that “today […]

CAPE TOWN – President Jacob Zuma has said he is looking forward to delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) this evening. “The time has come… we are very happy this moment has come,” he said. (Watch below.) Meanwhile the National Assemply Speaker Baleka Mbete clarified no members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) […]

The question many South Africans are asking today, is why President Jacob Zuma has authorised the employment of 441 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for service in cooperation with the SA Police Service (SAPS) “to maintain law and order” at the Opening of Parliament, where Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) […]

Opposition parties have reacted with outrage to the announcement that the army will be on hand to help “maintain law and order” at the Opening of Parliament on Thursday, where President Jacob Zuma will deliver his State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2017. Both the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemned […]

eNCA are calling it ‘the moment of the day’ – when President Jacob Zuma laughed – and laughed off – their TV journalist’s question about reshuffle rumours. The South African President was briefing the press following a business meeting luncheon in Cape Town today, ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday. The […]

South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, has been chosen by the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to receive the 2016 Award for Science Diplomacy… for using science and technology to support development in SA and sub-Saharan Africa. Pandor (63) is being honoured by AAAS not only for integrating science […]