A cut in funding from the Lottery has forced the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), to reduce its free services, including the work it does in poor communities. Since its launch 62 years ago, one of the services it has offered is the care and treatment of beasts of burden, like […]

Following a complaint by the DA, the Public Protector has found Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown guilty of misleading Parliament, when she failed to disclose if there had been any contracts of engagement between Eskom and Gupta-linked, Trillian. The report has now given President Cyril Ramaphosa 14 days to take action against the Minister after it found […]

Here are the latest hot topics due for broadcast on Carte Blanche this Sunday, and available for South Africans living abroad from Tuesday – 27th February 2018, if they’re a subscriber of Showmax International. Otto van Tonder What’s worse than a bad credit record when you desperately need to secure finance? Getting ripped off by the […]

A mountain drive through a scenic pass in South Africa is magical, and exploring South Africa’s passes is now on the list of ‘must do’ attractions for both locals and tourists… writes Beverley Ballard-Tremeer. The passes may not be the longest or the highest in the world, but never-the-less many are spectacular. Two are listed in […]

On Tuesday vet Myra Marais was called out to deep rural Limpopo for a very sick calf… In a Facebook post to Mutale Animal Clinic yesterday, Myra described her heart-stopping experience… ‘It has been raining cats and dogs here in Limpopo, so while I was examining the little calf in knee high mud and shoulder […]

In this week’s episode, Showmax international subscribers will find out from the Carte Blanche team about the most important development of last week: the end of Zuma’s presidency. Country on the verge of change It’s been a tumultuous week of anxiety and insecurity as South Africans waited for developments in the political arena, which culminated […]

Gauteng’s top Engen Maths and Science Schools (EMSS) 2017 matriculant Esther Shuping had two secret weapons to ensure her success – her mother Puleng Shuping and the brilliant EMSS teachers, who helped her secure a clean sweep of straight As.  And although Esther begun her B. Pharmacy studies at Wits University earlier this month, she […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the most important people are ordinary South Africans, who are faced with socio-economic challenges ranging from poverty to diseases. The President said ever since he delivered the State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week, many have given him an indication of a sense of patriotism with the message, “Send me”. […]

Operations are back to normal at OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni, following the discovery of an unattended bag earlier in the day… which sparked fears of a planted bomb. Speaking to SAnews, Senior Manager Corporate Affairs at the airport Leigh Gunkel-Keuler, said the bag was found near the international arrivals airport terminal. “Upon the discovery of […]

Messages of congratulations have poured in from Heads of State across the world for South Africa’s newly-elected President Cyril Ramaphosa. “President Cyril Ramaphosa received messages of congratulations from a number of Heads of State and Government during a round of telephone calls on Sunday 18 February 2018. President Ramaphosa took the calls at his official […]

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa – forgive me, President Ramaphosa – is self-evidently a private and reserved human being. Since his decision to contest the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC), he has been the subject of an endless series of “think-pieces”, more or less informed including by this author, as well as a year or […]

Watch South African expat Kevin Fraser’s Tribute to Zuma. The comedian, who now lives in Australia, will be performing in Pretoria at the end of this month, followed by Namibia and Johannesburg. He says: “I’m so excited to get back to Africa and celebrate, I’m going to kiss that Motherland soil as I go through […]

Jenna Lowe’s family has been invited to attend the 6th World Symposium for Pulmonary Hypertension in Nice, France… where the official theme song will be Kristi and Jenna’s song: “I Need More Time”! The symposium – which runs from 27 February to 1 March – will be attended by approximately 4,000 doctors from all over […]

Capetonians are celebrating the news that Day Zero has been pushed back to 4 June 2018, as a result of the lowest daily consumption average yet of 529 million litres a day for the past week. Well done Cape Town!!! But as these photos – taken by Byron Martin on Sunday – show, more needs to be […]

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) officially released the statistics for the unemployment rate in SA during the fourth quarter in 2017. The statistics, released on Tuesday, show the rate has dropped down to 26.7%.  Stats SA says that 5.9 million people are unemployed but actively looking for jobs. The unemployment rate for females remain higher than […]

Good-hearted South Africans raised over half a million rand for Cape Town ‘superhero’ Darryn August, after he was allegedly stabbed and thrown off a train by attackers in April 2016, while he was trying  to protect passengers including a pregnant woman. But Carte Blanche has revealed another side to the story, in an episode that […]

The Hawks have welcomed the sentencing of the thirteen accused who are implicated in one of the biggest cash heists ever carried out in South Africa. The accused include three former police officers, amongst them a former commander of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime unit in Mpumalanga, Bhekane Welcome Gcabashe, and two other ex-officers, Lekele […]

On Monday at around 2am, the third fire in less than a year blazed through the informal settlement of Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay. Around 350 people have been displaced, according to City of Cape Town Fire and Rescue spokesperson Theo Layne. On Monday, residents were busy registering their names with officials. Rescued belongings were […]

SpaceX has now launched the most powerful spacecraft since the Apollo era – the Falcon Heavy rocket – setting the bar for future space launches. The most important thing about this reusable spacecraft is that it can carry a payload equivalent to sending five double-decker London buses into space – which will be invaluable for […]

While Capetonians awoke to a slightly overcast day, there is the promise that the latest Cold Front is going to start showering the region with much-welcomed rain later today, filling some of the Western Cape’s parched dams which have been drying up during its worst drought in recorded history. “Here comes thaaat Cape Town front […]

Former acting National Police Commissioner, Khomotso Phahlane, appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes court Thursday morning, to face alleged corruption and money-laundering charges. Phahlane and his wife, Beauty, handed themselves over to the authorities. Phahlane has been facing allegations of corruption and has been under investigation by the police watchdog, Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). […]

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and concerned friends and family have called on fellow South Africans to please help in finding missing Eastern Cape grandmother Denise Bartlett, who was abducted from her home in Sterkstroom on Monday evening. (UPDATE 9 February 2018: Awesome news as E. Cape granny Denise Bartlett has been found alive!) […]

This February, South Africans living abroad can curb their homesickness with a bumper crop of new Mzanzi Magic, kykNET and Via series. South Africans living abroad have access to a uniquely South African catalogue of series and movies – with the latest seasons of some of the biggest series currently airing in South Africa. (And […]

As South Africa works out exactly what the state of the nation is, the Office of the ANC Chief Whip and DA Leader Mmusi Maimane have welcomed the postponement of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) as announced by the Presiding Officers today. The ANC Caucus said it will await the outcomes of the […]

In line with Level 6 drought measures, Deputy Mayor Alderman Ian Neilson today announced that the February 2018 water and sanitation accounts of Cape Town water users will reflect a tariff increase. He said: “This is an absolutely necessary step to reducing household demand and to ensure that the City can continue to supply water and […]