Let the Christmas countdown begin with these 6 local South African festive season movies. Showmax is counting down to Christmas with a merry line-up of local holiday movies. From laugh-a-minute comedies to feel-good tear-jerkers, these homegrown films will give you all the festive season feels for a very Mzansi Christmas.  Add these new holiday favourites […]

There’s something for everyone on Carte Blanche this week – from a barber to the stars, to saving the Bearded Vultures, repatriating Africa’s stolen artefacts and Elon Musk’s venture to Mars. Carte Blanche has a packed 90-minute blockbuster adventure just for you. You can watch the show on Sunday 19 December in South Africa on […]

“I couldn’t be more excited after hearing the wonderful news that our beautiful City, Cape Town, has bagged a double at the 2021 World Travel Awards!” Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says. For the second consecutive year Cape Town has been named the World’s Leading Festival and Event Destination, which is fantastic news for everyone […]

A South African mom, who now lives in England, has decided to turn personal trauma from the past into a positive that can help others. Having tragically lost her father and brother only nine days apart, Ilze Lee and her children, Bradley and Leah, were still coming to terms with the loss when the children’s […]

A couple in Level Two informal settlement in Khayelitsha, Cape Town are growing vegetables on a small plot next to their home to feed their family and a local soup kitchen. They say they cleared the area that had once been used as a dump site. Xolani Mbokodi and his wife Vuyokazi Vapi live with […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on scientists from fellow BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – to work alongside South African scientists in further researching the various characteristics of the COVID-19 virus and its mutations. The call for collaboration comes after the detection of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 in South Africa […]

This month, South Africa’s Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, has announced that the government will launch its new eVisa (Electronic Visa) system in March 2022. The system will simplify international visitors’ visa applications to South Africa, and thereby invigorate both South Africa’s tourism sector and the wider economy. At the time of launch, citizens of […]

Here are this week’s topics coming up on Carte Blanche – you can watch the show on Sunday 12 December in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it on Showmax International in most countries from Tuesday 14 December if you’re abroad. INVESTIGATIONS Chemical Alert It’s banned in several countries and at the heart of […]

A National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) assessment in South Africa said it’s satisfied with the security plans, route security, and access control for the state memorial service of the late former President FW de Klerk, on Sunday. De Klerk died from cancer last month, aged 85. His family held a private funeral service […]

Heartless poachers have brutally shot dead four rhinos at a private game reserve in South Africa, and horrifically wounded a fifth with a shot to the head – just to saw off their horns for cash. The ruthless gang used high-powered rifles fitted with silencers to butcher the herd and even sawed off a fibreglass […]

South Africa has recorded 22 391 new COVID-19 cases, representing a 29.8% positivity rate. This means there are now 3 093 452 laboratory-confirmed cases since the outbreak, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Thursday. This as there has been 19 988 045 tests conducted. Gauteng recorded the highest number of infections after 11 […]

Troukoors (Wedding Fever), the first Showmax Original romcom, will be available to binge from 13 December 2021. Talented Ilse-Lee van Niekerk (Getroud Met Rugby, 4 Mure, Die Boekklub) stars as Jessica, a wedding planner who’s surrounded by love but struggling to find it for herself. Troukoors is made by SAFTA winner Louis Pretorius and SAFTA […]

Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has paid tribute to the late former struggle veteran, Ebrahim Ebrahim. “It is with a very heart that I learned of Ebrahim Ebrahim’s passing,” the Minister tweeted on Monday. Sisulu described the former Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, affectionately known as Ebie, as a committed member of the African […]

Netflix has parted the waves to reveal the trailer for Cape Town-based Triggerfish’s third animated feature, called ‘Seal Team’. This fun feature film will be available to stream from 31st December 2021. Seal Team is the story of Quinn, a seal who spends his days relaxing in the sun, splashing in the beautiful waters off […]

As if travel bans weren’t bad enough, many South African families have had their holiday plans around the country ruined by last week’s petrol price hike. Popular Carte Blanche presenter Derek Watts says: “The inland price of petrol tipped over the R20-a-litre-barrier and, earlier this week, there were queues at the filling stations. We set out to find out how […]

The Boksburg SPCA has reported the good news that hero dog Kei, who suffered horrific injuries when she fought off an armed intruder to protect her owners two months ago, is healing well and back home with her human family in time for Christmas. The Boksburg SPCA posted an update this week, saying: “And just […]

Across the world, right now – from Cape Town to Kabul and London to Beijing – the arts are being silenced. COVID-19, conflict, censorship, loss of funding, displacement – even natural disasters – are seeing to it that the volume is being turned down on one of humanity’s driving forces: creative expression. But right here […]

The South African Post Office (SAPO) says Christmas mail leaving the country will be delayed due to the international travel restrictions. Travel restrictions were imposed on South Africa after the detection of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. In a statement on Wednesday, the SAPO said cargo space on aeroplanes is limited due to […]

The DA says it has has once again felt the need to step in and assist stranded South African residents abroad, and those who have to travel abroad from South Africa. Using the channels afforded to the DA in Parliament, the Department of Internal Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and […]

What are the most popular sports in South Africa? Though they have a deep connection with many, three stand out in particular.  South Africa loves its sports. No matter where you go, it is not difficult to find people enjoying the greatest sports out there. What are the most popular sports in South Africa? Let’s […]

A PET scan machine used for diagnosing cancer patients at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital has been out of action for more than three weeks because of broken air-conditioning that causes it to overheat. This was revealed today by Gauteng Health MEC Nomathemba Mokgethi in an oral reply to DA questions at a sitting of […]

As the countdown begins to Shell’s seismic survey off the east coast of South Africa, conservationists are up in arms and trying to beat the clock in efforts to stop Shell from following through with this operation. Shell announced their plans to commence seismic surveys along the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast, an area renowned for […]

South Africans will be paying more at the pumps from Wednesday when fuel prices are expected to increase. According to the Mineral Resources and Energy Department, the price of petrol (both 93 and 95) will go up by 81c per litre, while the price of diesel 0.05% will increase by 72c and diesel 0.005% sulphur […]

South African Airways has cancelled all of its flights to and from Mauritius following the imposition of a travel ban on South Africa by the Mauritian government. Restrictions were also placed on at least five other Southern African countries after the Omicron variant was identified by South African scientists last week. SAA interim CEO Thomas […]

South Africa has reported 2 858 new COVID-19 cases, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) figures. This was 362 fewer infections logged than the previous day. According to the data, this takes the total number of registered cases involving COVID-19 to 2 961 406 since the outbreak. Gauteng remains the hardest-hit province […]