It’s summertime in South Africa, and time to head for the beach. The country has more than 2 500 kilometres of coastline, stretching from the cold waters off the arid West Coast region, southwards around the tip of Africa, and heading up again all the way to the lush St Lucia estuary in the east. […]

A group of South Africans  gathered in London last week to sing Christmas Carols including Silent Night…and its Afrikaans version “Stille Nag…Heilige Nag”. The SA Gemeente London’s ‘Kerssangdiens’ was held on the 7th December at City Temple in Holborn and everyone you see on stage is proudly South African. “Whilst all in South Africa are […]

Somewhere between Wellington and Paarl in the dark hours of early morning a few nights ago – Robyn Gwilt and a couple of other photographers were enjoying “the smell of Africa and sheep, and the cold wind making our cheeks glow pink!” They had set out from Cape Town at 11 pm to find and photograph […]

It’s the Christmas Song that’s swept South Africa this season – the local-is-lekker version of Twelve Days of Christmas. And it’s not just the melody and words that make it so great…but the way it’s changing perceptions, and making a Summer Christmas just as cool and ‘real’ for kids as the snowy winter one they see in […]

British photographer Richard Humphries, who recently won an award for his graphic photographic portrait of “South Africa’s Rhino War”, describes the poaching scenes he witnessed in the Kruger National Park as nothing less than a “full-on war”. Richard has a history with South Africa, having lived in the country, with his wife Jill, for three years from […]

Congratulations to South African actor Stelio Savante for winning the Award of Merit as leading actor for Once We Were Slaves. The film, with Stelio in the lead role, premiered at LA Shorts Fest this past July. The short film is directed by Dallas Jenkins and is the story of an influential event 2,000 years ago, from […]

A letter of thanks from an injured Dutch tourist to the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in South Africa [see below] has touched the nation, gone viral on social media, and filled SA citizens with immense pride in the country’s rescue workers, many of whom are volunteers. The incident occurred last month, on 10 November, when a 31-year-old orthopaedic surgeon from […]

Both locals and South Africans abroad will be pleased to know the South African Post Office (SAPO) is back to full operation! But please do exercise a little caution as they catch up on the backlog… SAPO made the announcement a few hours ago, revealing that they have appointed a special team to implement ground-breaking initiatives […]

The rare and adorable twin elephants that were born in South Africa last week have provided a feel good ‘Christmas miracle’ story in times of Eskom-generated darkness. The twins, who were born on Thursday at the big-four Pongola Game Reserve in Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, have not yet been named as experts have given them their space, and […]

Nelson Mandela may have freed the nation, but his impact was global, with people taking inspiration from his forgiving and compassionate nature. “Our history books will refer to this period as the ‘The Age of Mandela,’” said Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor in her reflections on the former statesman. Pandor was among a host […]

Today – Friday, 5 December 2014 – marks a full year since South Africa’s beloved statesman and icon of peace Nelson Mandela passed away. Here are some ways to honour his memory today. 1. Buy a book The Nelson Mandela Foundation has launched a campaign requesting individuals, companies and organisation to buy a book – one […]

Many South Africans, who have become expats themselves, may find the latest survey by banking giant HSBC quite interesting. It turns out that thousands of expats from different nationalities rate South Africa as one of the best countries for children to grow up in! Regina Graeff from ExpatCapeTown.com compiled the following report. With her kind permission we hereby publish […]

In a series of powerful videos, South Africans of all kinds share their experiences of finding out they were HIV-positive, and how being open about their status helped them fight the stigma of the virus and find real support from true friends and family. Cindy Pivacic, 56 Ten years ago, Cindy Pivacic’s partner infected her […]

On yesterday’s World Aids Day 2014, the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) called on all the people of the country to join its campaign for the next 12 months: Zero Stigma, Zero Discrimination.   World Aids Day, commemorated on 1 December every year, gives all communities the opportunity to unite in the fight against HIV, […]

On 5 December South Africa will mark one year since Nelson Mandela passed away in his Houghton home, after many months of ailing health. The world mourned his departure, having lost one of its greatest inspirations. US President Barack Obama said we should “pause and give thanks for the fact that Nelson Mandela lived”. The […]

Cape Town has a new beacon of light, shining brightly into the night…and the future. It’s the new 24-metre high art installation, designed by artist Christopher Swift, that is now providing a physical and figurative glimmer of light on Signal Hill in Cape Town. Powered by solar energy, the light from the eight-pointed star (which […]

Saturday 15 November marked a new beginning for the city of Joburg as one woman bravely began her mission to transform the city that’s been called the unfriendliest in the world, into JOYburg. Sue Jameson, Joy Activist and Laughter Coach, kicked off the first part of her first prize in the Vodacom #Firsts competition with her ‘my #First Laughter Mob’. […]

A kind and unassuming waiter by the name of Vincent has become the most talked about South African employee in the past 24 hours. Yesterday he performed a good deed at the Wimpy branch in Canal Walk, Cape Town…which did not go unnoticed. And today he is being celebrated all over social media for his kind […]

A non-profit organisation that works with teachers in the Western Cape’s poorest areas to improve the quality of teaching and learning in maths and science is getting international recognition. The Western Cape Primary Science Programme (PSP), with over 30-years’ experience in the field, received the Global Best award for science, technology, engineering and maths in […]

Every year thousands of tourists flock to the Arctic to view the psychedelic swirling skies of the aurora borealis, or northern lights. But few know that this beautiful display is actually a geomagnetic solar superstorm in our atmosphere.   This general lack of knowledge of the sun’s effect on our atmosphere is why the South […]

African music, Nelson Mandela once said, is about the aspirations of Africa. “The curious beauty of African music is that it uplifts even as it tells a sad tale. You may be poor, you may have only a ramshackle house, you may have lost your job, but that song gives you hope.” A collection of […]

Peter Tshisevhe is more than just a poor boy from a poor family. He is one of the best mergers and acquisitions lawyers in the world, his success allowing him to inspire and sponsor talented youngsters from his rural home of Tshakhuma. The lesson he teaches the kids he mentors is that they are more […]

South Africa’s top jazz acts, including legendary jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, will be showcasing the country’s cultural zeitgeist at the prestigious annual EFG London Jazz Festival, which kicks off today, 14 November. This year’s top South African acts will be featured as part of the SA Season in the UK, a programme which is designed to […]

Turn up the videos below and watch the Loeriesfontein dancers having a blast at the recent ‘Rieldans’ competition in Clanwilliam in the Western Cape, South Africa. Rieldans is one of South Africa’s oldest dancing styles and can be traced back to the Khoi San of the Cape. It’s danced at a highly energetic pace with […]

A Norwegian group has made a brilliant video spoof, highlighting the fact that stereotypes about Africa harm dignity, and calling on viewers to challenge the perceptions and vote for better fundraising campaigns that don’t perpetuate debilitating myths of Africa. The video opens with a scene from a “reality show” in which volunteers race to throw food at “starving” […]