In the face of the potential pandemic, The Gift of The Givers is issuing a call to action to all South African citizens, private & corporate, individuals and companies, to come together and support the medical staff and facilities on the frontline, who will be treating those affected by the coronavirus. To raise funds to […]

Dear Family and Friends, In the bright light of the moon a pair of owls call to each other across the neighbourhood: Hoo hoo, Whoo hoo. It’s not quite 4.00am but already their dominance of the darkness is being disturbed as Zimbabwe wakes to try and get a head start on the next sixteen hour […]

Ntsokolo Konzapi, who is 72, survives by supplementing his pension by collecting and selling discarded plastic containers to recyclers in Port Elizabeth. He scratches through illegal dumping sites around Motherwell, mostly to collect 2-litre containers for cooking oil, milk, water and soft drinks. He packs them into sacks, carrying one on his head and dragging […]

South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that the Ranch Resort in Polokwane will host the 122 repatriated South Africans from Wuhan, Hubei Province, in China. On Trip Advisor the resort is rated as ‘Excellent’. “Three sites were identified. Of the three sites that were shortlisted, The Ranch Resort was selected. An agreement has […]

Could COVID-19 cause a global economic meltdown? That’s the burning question asked by South African current affairs show Carte Blanche, this Sunday 15 March 2020 at 19:00. You can watch the show on Sunday in SA on DStv Now OR – if you live abroad (in most countries), you can stream it overseas from Tuesday. […]

This weekend only, DStv customers on any package will be able to livestream all the DStv channels using the DStv Now app.  Don’t make plans for the weekend of 14-15 March. Stay in and watch DStv Premium using the DStv Now app. It doesn’t matter which DStv package you’re on, as long as you’re an […]

China, home of kung fu, kung pao chicken and the coronavirus… writes South African teacher in China Michael Herbstein. As a Saffer living in China during these exciting times, and having a mother that some would politely describe as neurotic, I’m constantly shared an endless stream of news surrounding COVID-19 from back home. Some of […]

In another step up for womens’ rugby in South Africa, the Springbok Women celebrated International Women’s Day on Sunday with the news that they will defend their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title between May and July, with the tournament featuring a historic first Test match in Madagascar. This year’s Rugby Africa Women’s Cup marks the […]

It has been two decades since former radio and TV presenter Tracy Going’s very public civil trial against an abusive former boyfriend came to an end. But although he will always be a part of her “nightmares and flashbacks”, he has still not paid the penalty fine for the grievous bodily harm he caused her… […]

People readily help each other. We donate blood and food or help old people across the street. Among non-human animals this propensity to help is very rare. There are a few observations of helping behaviours in non-human animals. For example, vampire bats provide food to other group members and save them from starvation. In more […]

The South African government has dismissed reports contained in a Mail & Guardian article that South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers are not willing to travel to Wuhan, China, to repatriate citizens. Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) Acting Director-General Phumla Williams said the article is misleading and misinforms readers and the public about […]

On Friday 28 February 2020, Capetonian marathon swimmer, musician and mother-of-three Carina Bruwer became the first woman to swim across Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth, in support of Muzukidz, an organisation that offers underprivileged children the opportunity to learn the violin. Bruwer completed the gruelling crossing from Pollock Beach in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, to […]

As coronavirus hit South Africa today with the first confirmed case, and continues to spread around the world, anxiety is rising. Shoppers fearful of quarantine measures have been stocking up on supplies to last out a week or two of isolation. Recent days have seen reports of shortages of hand sanitiser in shops around the […]

Aaron Lipschitz (5) from Sea Point, Cape Town, is the first child in South Africa to be diagnosed with Interleukin-12 Receptor Defect, a rare genetic condition that affects the immune system. Of the few known cases worldwide, Aaron is the only child who is unable to tolerate any food without becoming very ill. The only […]

Humans and four-legged friends are invited to strut their stuff along the fifth annual Paws on the Promenade – a dog walk fundraiser by the Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Khayelitsha, in partnership with Vondi’s Holistic Pet Nutrition. The dog walk will take place on Sunday the 15th of March at 9am. Starting at the Mouille Point […]

While the South African economy has over the last couple of years taken a beating with a recession in SA announced today, the country’s people continue to rise above often difficult circumstances, says the SA government news site. Fourth-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures this week showed a decline of 1.4 % in the final […]

They’ve fought them from the air, with specialised camouflage reconnaissance teams and tactical boots on the ground, but the latest weapon in the fight against rhino poaching might not be as high-tech as you would expect… Fast, four-legged and furious – free-tracking hounds could prove to be the game-changer in the fight against poachers as […]

Thirty-two elephants in South Africa face being shot dead after two rogue bull elephants killed a conservationist trying to shepherd the herd back to a KwaZulu-Natal reserve from which they had strayed. Sources close to the KZN authorities say that a cull of the entire herd has been proposed, but no decision has yet been […]

This is a question I have asked myself many times… writes Dr Louise de Waal, Campaign Manager of Blood Lions. Petting a predator is incongruous and unnatural, so why this obsession with petting wild animals in captivity? Why do we believe it is acceptable to put our own needs well above the animal’s requirements? Is […]

Eskom has announced that no load shedding is expected on Monday and the possibility of power cuts during the week is also low. “We are utilising emergency generation reserves to supplement power, as we had more unplanned breakdowns [on Saturday],” Eskom said on Sunday. Eskom said additional generation units would return to service on Sunday. […]

The petrol price will again come down by between 19 and 54 cents a litre this week. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced a 19 cent decrease in the price of 93 (ULP and LRP) and 95 (ULP and LRP) as of Wednesday. Meanwhile, both grades of diesel (0.05% Sulphur) and diesel (0.005% […]

World record holder and Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk continued his comeback from an injury-enforced layoff when winning the 400m title at the Free State Championships under difficult conditions in Bloemfontein on Saturday. In cold, wet and windy conditions, Van Niekerk floated out the blocks and coasted around the track to secure a convincing victory […]

The Dusi Canoe Marathon pre-race favourites, Andy Birkett and Khumbulani Nzimande, took the men’s honours while Cana Peek and Christie Mackenzie won the ladies stage despite a few incidents on Thursday. Euro Steel’s Birkett and Nzimande played their cards close to their chests during the first half of the stage and while the Cape crew […]

For two months late last year, the deadly antibiotic resistant CRE (Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae), ravaged the maternity ward of Tembisa Hospital in Gauteng killing 10 babies. But this wasn’t the first time that a number of infants have died in the same period inside a public health facility in South Africa. Carte Blanche investigates the hospitals […]

Five men stood in court today accused of the brutal execution of Heila Kilian in April 2018 on a homestead just outside Stilbaai (Still Bay) in the Western Cape, South Africa. Witness Shaun Vorster described the terror and torture of the night’s events. The crime – almost two years ago – was so horrific it […]