On a night when Alison Botha desperately needed a hero – after being raped, stabbed and left for dead – she became one. Her story is heartbreaking and empowering. Painful and uplifting. And has now been turned into a film – “Alison the Movie” – which will have its world premiere on Friday. (Watch trailer below.) For […]

After being chased by an elephant whilst on safari in South Africa, Arnold Schwarzenegger – who’s no stranger to extreme action – admitted “some of us had to change our pants” afterwards! Fortunately the frightening experience hasn’t stopped the Hollywood star from being “in awe of these beautiful, strong creatures” and urging people to stop killing […]

As more and more celebrities like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian – and even US First Lady Michelle Obama – wear their African designs, South African and other African designers are turning heads in the fashion world. From Ankara print dresses to Xhosa-inspired cardigans, these hip designs are not just hitting the catwalks but also store shelves. While designers […]

Former Miss Earth South Africa Catherine Constantinides – who started her first business at the age of 16 – has been selected to head to the US as one of the 2016 Mandela Washington Fellows. The young Play Your Part Ambassador’s star keeps shining as she works to make South Africa and the world a better […]

President Jacob Zuma, accompanied by Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday for a State Visit. (Both are seen in the photo below arriving at Hamad International Airport). The visit is intended to strengthen and elevate bilateral relations between South Africa and the State of Qatar. According to a statement from the Presidency, these […]

Visitors to the famous Sunland Big Baobab tree in Modjadjiskloof (formerly Duiwelskloof), have been upset recently to discover that one of the branches from the possibly 6,000-year-old tree has broken. The legendary 22-metre-high tree, in Limpopo Province, South Africa, holds the record for being the widest of its species; so wide in fact, at 47 metres in circumference, that there’s […]

According to the popular press it was more likely in 2015 for a person to die while taking a selfie than to be killed by a shark – this is globally. This means that, officially, the deadly “monster” shark from the “Jaws” movie franchise has become less frightening than capturing your own image on a […]

A Durban man, Sifiso, is being celebrated on social media for displaying “the true spirit of South Africa”… because he went that extra mile to return a lost wallet. In a post Monday evening by Ian Edwards, Ian said: “This is Sifiso. On Friday I lost my wallet outside the Sunningdale Medical Centre. Sifiso picked it up and […]

South Africa was proudly represented at an International Pentecostal Service at St Peter’s Catholic Church in Cardiff, on the south coast of Wales, yesterday. South African expat Monica Francis Maier told SAPeople she “represented my beloved South Africa”. Here is the prayer Monica delivered for South Africa: May we stand together and pray for God to heal […]

A couple of awesome youngsters in South Africa are leading the way with some very cool, inspirational behaviour. One is in Gauteng. The other in the Western Cape. The one carries heavy bottles of water to school – 5km each day – to help others; and the other cleans roadside gutters to uplift his community. They are Nkosinani […]

Many have welcomed the move by the South African Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday to require its 18 radio stations to play 90 percent local music from 12 May. The corporation said this was being done in “a bid to ensure that the broadcaster prioritises more local content that reflects the diversity of South African cultures”. It said the music to […]

A post written by South African graduate Zukisani Ndwendwe in tribute to his parents – who did all that they could to encourage their children’s academic studies – has gone viral highlighting the importance of education… and gratitude. Zukisani’s parents couldn’t read or write themselves, but they made sure that their children could. Today Zukisani […]

In a beautiful corner of the south of France lies a town called Montpelier… and there you will find a growing group of South African women – all married to well known SA rugby players – who share recipes and friendship through a blog called C’est la Vie, while their husbands play for French Top […]

Germany has awarded South African Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, with the Grand Cross of Merit and described her as symbolising the new South Africa: “modern, innovative, progressive, outstanding female leadership”. The German Ambassador to South Africa, Walter Lindner, said at the ceremony: “With the Grand Cross of Merit we recognise Naledi Pandor’s continuous […]

South Africans applying for UK Visit visas are now able to make use of a new online system called Access UK, as part of the British Home Office’s commitment to making the UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI) service quicker, easier and more convenient for applicants. As part of a global rollout, Access UK (formerly know as […]

Eskom has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with French multinational electricity company Engie to start construction of the Kathu Solar Park project in Northern Cape, it has been announced. It is expected to be operational in late 2018, providing 100 MW of power. “The Kathu Solar Park project supports South Africa’s strategy of increasing the […]

Whilst waiting anxiously to find out if her old classmate, who now lives in Canada, will be the perfect match for her to receive a lifesaving kidney, Johannesburg-based Di Wilkinson has been updating her blog “Diary of a Living Donation”. As reported by SAPeople last month, Di and Jill Hamilton (née Symes), first met in their teens at school in […]

South Africa will not be applying for the opening of legal international commercial trade in rhino horn at the 17th Conference of Parties to CITES (CITES COP17), says Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa. Minister Molewa made the announcement on Sunday in Pretoria, following the work that has been finalised by the Committee of Inquiry on […]

President Jacob Zuma has condemned the burning of 23 schools in Vuwani in Limpopo in protests that have turned violent and which he describes as suspicious. Today it has been reported that 50 schools in the area have been closed indefinitely, affecting almost 30,000 pupils (26,987 to be exact). The South African president said: “I wish […]

When Laduma Ngxokolo’s mother Lindelwa taught him to knit, she sparked a love of fashion that inspired him to become a designer. Today her son’s collections are showcased on the catwalks of Europe’s fashion capitals. And earlier this year he walked away with the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa Award at the 2016 Design […]

We all know how awesome South Africa is… but just in case you needed a reminder, or would like to share the awesomeness with someone else – here’s a video, created by appreciative non-South Africans, about the top 10 most amazing facts about South Africa! The video was produced by the Top 10 Archive, a YouTube channel […]

With news that a Spur restaurant is opening in New Zealand, South African expats in and around Auckland have expressed joy… while some South Africans back home have (jokingly!) pointed out that it will make last year’s brilliant advert – in which South African rugby players enjoyed a “distinct advantage” over the Kiwis” – no longer […]

One of the best things about a holiday in the Kruger National Park is the feeling that I am partaking in a family tradition – my granddad has been going there since he was a baby, and my dad too. On a recent family trip, while having sundowners at Lower Sabie, looking over the beautiful Sabie […]

There’s a wonderful officer from the Johannesburg Municipal Police Department (JMPD) who not only assists children cross the street safely to school… but packs them off with a sandwich too! According to Gauteng resident Tiffany Dewar, ‘Mama Dora’ buys two loaves of bread each day and makes sandwiches for all the kids who go to […]

Just in time for Freedom Day last year, 27 April, South African band Rubber Duc uploaded their new song – #StepDown. Now, a year later, it’s going viral all over again as the “new South African anthem”. Vocalist Nick Jordaan said #StepDown was inspired by all the “beautiful, passionate, brave, and courageous people of our beloved country, […]