The “arrogance” of the Gupta family, who have been implicated in ‘state capture’ in South Africa, “has no bounds”, says the Democratic Alliance (DA)… as the family has applied to have their South Africans passports renewed while living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Guptas fled South Africa in February 2018 as evidence of their […]

In this time of peace and goodwill the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has let the nation down as criminals were able to stroll into the Littleton Military Base, and walk off with at least 19 R4 automatic rifles, manufactured for extreme warfare, says Kobus Marais – DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. […]

South Africa has seen a 30% reduction in road fatalities since the start of the festive season, says Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula. Although that is definitely a step in the right direction, it still means 589 people tragically died on South African roads between 1 and 22 December 2019. The Minister credited increased law enforcement […]

The South African government has put in place contingency plans to mitigate against the impact of inclement weather conditions during the summer period, according to Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. “We have entered a period that is prone to various disasters and it is important for the country to have contingency plans in place to mitigate […]

Just in time for Christmas, Ed Sheeran has posted this video featuring Ella Mai… with beautiful examples of love and dance around the world including couples in Zanzibar, New York, London and more. As the video shows, love comes in all shapes and sizes (with some of the older couples having the best dance moves!). […]

The Springboks and Rassie Erasmus, who were also honoured at the World Rugby Awards last month, have been nominated in the prestigious Team and Player of the Year categories at the SA Rugby Awards. The Springboks’ successful 2019 season is reflected by the nominations in a number of the main categories in the annual SA […]

On the 17 December 2019, a devastating wildfire destroyed Lismore Winefarm in Greyton, Western Cape  – the home and livelihood of well-known pioneering farmer and winemaker, Samantha O’Keefe (48) and her two children, Quinn (14) and Keenan (16). The fire which started in the nearby nature reserve and initially posed no threat to Lismore is believed to […]

Government is engaging with mobile operators on the best ways to reduce the high cost of data without interfering with the work of regulators, says Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams. Government’s efforts follow the release of the Competition Commission’s market inquiry report into mobile data services, which found that South Africa’s data prices […]

Two former Eskom senior managers are among those arrested in South Africa for alleged fraud, corruption and money laundering worth R745 million. Hawks spokesperson, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the former managers as well as two other business directors among others, were arrested in the early hours of Thursday in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng provinces by […]

The South African government says it has noted rating agency Fitch’s decision to affirm South Africa’s long-term foreign and local currency debt ratings at ‘BB+’ and maintain the negative outlook. The country’s foreign and local credit ratings by the agency, therefore, remain one notch below investment grade. According to Fitch, South Africa’s ratings are constrained […]

The government is due to announce its decision on a massive new wind energy project on the West Coast within the next two weeks. This is the proposed 140MW Boulders Wind Farm. It will consisting of 45 turbines standing 165m high. The German-owned developer plans to erect it on farmland close to Paternoster, Britannia Bay, […]

Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza has submitted a detailed plan on the redevelopment of District Six to the Land Claims Court. The submission of the detailed plan comes after the litigation brought by the District Six Working Committee against the 5th administration of government. In November 2018, the court directed that […]

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) awarded the Komape family R1.4 million for emotional shock and grief after the loss of their five year-old son Michael, who drowned in a Limpopo school pit toilet in 2014. The award overturns a decision by the Limpopo High Court in 2018, which denied the family’s claim for damages […]

As 2019 comes to an end GroundUp reflects on another tumultuous year. South Africans came out in their numbers to protests against gender based violence. The army was deployed to the Cape Flats to assist police with gang violence. Refugees and asylum seekers were chaotically evicted from outside the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ offices in Cape Town and […]

South Africa’s national carrier, South African Airways, has been placed in voluntary business rescue. It’s an historic moment as it’s the first business rescue attempt of a state owned entity. The decision places the country in unfamiliar territory – politically, economically and legally. What happens next will determine whether the decision was the right one […]

The joyous occasion in the beautiful Western Cape town in South Africa was marked by a serious and frightening theme. Barrydale held its annual giant puppet parade and performance on Sunday. Music, dance, dress-up and puppets brought the town to life as it celebrated the tenth year of this event. Titled “The Final Spring”, the […]

Carte Blanche investigates Child Kidnappings, Rogue Gas Dealers and the Vuvuzela men who are reclaiming their neighbourhoods… plus more, tonight – Sunday 15 December – on DStv Now if you’re in South Africa, and available to stream from Tues 17 Dec on Showmax International in most other countries.  UNDERCOVER > INVESTIGATIVE Child Kidnappings Statistics show that […]

The 2010s saw African films make even more headlines at the world’s biggest festivals, from AFI to Berlin, Sundance to Toronto, earning Oscar and Golden Globe nominations along the way. As we prepare to enter the 2020s, Showmax has released a list of four global breakthroughs to stream during your holiday. Breakthrough animation: Revolting Rhymes […]

The next Brand South Africa Global South Africans (GSA) engagement will be in Edinburgh in Scotland TOMORROW – Saturday,14 December 2019??. You will see a Scottish man singing the South African National Anthem using the Scottish pipes on the day! There will be Food. Fun. Fashion and South African wine. A kids’ play area will […]

South Africa’s Aimee Barrett-Theron will have the honour of officiating the opening match of the Women’s Six Nations for the third year in a row when France hosts England in Pau in February, while Jaco Peyper has also been tasked with holding the whistle in the men’s Six Nations next year. Barrett-Theron will be the […]

Springbok Women’s Sevens coach Paul Delport confirmed six debutants in his tournament squad of 12 players for the inaugural women’s leg of the Cape Town Sevens, from 13-15 December at Cape Town Stadium. Forwards Rights Mkhari, Buhle Sonamzi, Catha Jacobs, Sizo Solontsi will join backs Meghan Phillips and Liske Lategan for their first ever appearance […]

The Council Meeting called for Wednesday 11 December 2019 is illegal, and any decisions taken at that meeting are null and void, according to the Democratic Alliance’s  Mike Moriarty, Gauteng Provincial Chairperson “Whether or not one agrees with the ruling made by the Chair of Chairs, Alex Christians, last Thursday, 5 December 2019, regarding the […]

The South African Government has conveyed its condolences to the family and friends of struggle stalwart, Prof Ben Turok. “Government mourns the passing of this great patriot and great South African whose resilience and courage inspired the fight for freedom across South Africa and Africa,” a statement issued by the Government Communication and Information Systems […]

The board of South Africa’s national airlines recently took a unanimous decision to go into voluntary business rescue. The step removes the threat of the directors being sued by creditors for reckless trading – for now, at least. The airline told its staff two weeks ago that it wouldn’t be able to pay staff salaries. […]

How to save electricity and how to cope with load-shedding are actually two very different enterprises, and South Africans find themselves thinking hard about the first while trying to cope with the second… writes Helen Moffett. First, take an absolutely volcanic rage-y rant on the powers that be that got us into this mess as […]