Lack of accountability leads to wasteful expenditure and mismanagement, says activist. Contractors have abandoned more than 50 major school upgrade projects in the Eastern Cape after government departments failed to pay them on time. Many of these schools have been stripped of valuable materials and vandalised after being abandoned. One example is Makhanda’s Grahamstown Primary […]

On a Wednesday and Friday afternoon in the Howick old Agricultural Hall, you may find yourself captivated if you look inside. You will see dance teacher Phillip Gumede (65) guiding his dance students through their paces writes Trish Beaver. To the elegant strains of the waltz or the more upbeat funky samba, the children practice […]

Refugees sitting outside the offices of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cape Town say they have been victims of xenophobia in South Africa and the UNHCR should help them settle elsewhere. Carine Kavira, who says her brother was shot dead in a 2012 xenophobic attack, says she won’t leave the UNHCR […]

As South Africa’s Springbok rugby team vies for victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup tournament, it is worthwhile to reflect on the historical substance of sports unity since 1994. South Africa held its first democratic elections in 1994. In mainstream history and school textbooks this represented a turning point that brought unity to South […]

On Monday charges were laid at the South African Police Service (SAPS) by AfriForum against the Tshwane Metro, Proco Management, Linked Thoughts Consulting and Faragamo Trading. The civil rights organisation said this follows Proco Management, Linked Thoughts Consulting and Faragamo Trading acting as go-between when three farms were sold to the Metro at prices significantly […]

Carte Blanche revisits the towns in the Northern Cape where the economy is collapsing under the weight of destitute workers in drought-stricken areas where almost 60 000 workers in the region have lost their jobs and more.You can watch the “Calling for Action” episode on Sunday 06 Oct on DStv Now if you’re in SA, […]

South Africans living in the UK are in for a treat this month as the phenomenal Drakensberg Boys Choir (DBC) will be travelling to the UK from 11-21 October to perform for a variety of audiences. (See details at bottom of page.) This is only the fifth time the choir is touring to the UK, […]

Tragically over 60,000 sheep from South Africa have set sail on a three-week journey to the Middle East. Most will suffer, some may die, along the way in overcrowded conditions that Carte Blanche said could only be described as “cruel and vile, to say the very least”. The sheep are forced to stand in their […]

Before leaving South Africa after their 10-day visit, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited President Cyril Ramaphosa and his wife at Mahlamba Ndlopfu in Tshwane and exchanged gifts, several of them centered around the famed Ankole cattle that Ramaphosa breeds. The duchess first gave the first lady, Dr Tshepo Motsepe, a copy of her […]

Before he arrived at the Anthony Harris Tennis Academy in 2016, Mikaeel Woodman learned to play with his father at the Mitchells Plain Tennis Club. There the courts have no facilities, no toilets, and no clubhouse. Residents drive their cars up to fences and turn on the headlights to allow for play after dark. Within […]

There is no doubt that young people in South Africa face a myriad of problems: high unemployment, poor educational outcomes, various forms of poverty, and less than ideal mental and physical health, including high rates of HIV. Young people are also often characterised as being politically apathetic, lazy, and engaged in general unrest. Young South […]

English is only one of 11 official languages spoken in South Africa. It’s currently the preferred language of education and is used in many of the nation’s schools. But most children entering the education system are not native English speakers and many are still in the process of learning English by the time they arrive […]

Cash-strapped consumers will have to dig even deeper into their pockets as the price of petrol is set to increase by 18 cents a litre next week. Announcing the price changes on Sunday, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said a litre of 95 (ULP and LRP) will rise by 18 cents a litre […]

In Sunday’s special 90-minute extended broadcast Carte Blanche revisits several stories of corruption and dodgy deals from the last year to find out if revealing their truth has brought any change, and if not, why not? Interspersed between fresh investigations and gritty confrontations, South Africa’s popular current affairs show includes several follow-up inserts this week. […]

Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has reaffirmed his commitment to root out police corruption, which is said to be stifling crime fighting efforts in the province. The commitment comes in the wake of allegations of police in Tshwane being involved in drug-related and other corrupt activities. The allegations link police officers to the […]

Some of Cape Town’s rivers and canals are so polluted they are essentially open streams of sewage, and although the City of Cape Town is aware of this, the water and waste directorate has vastly underspent its budget for the past two financial years. Participants in the annual Peninsula Paddle, an event organised by scientists […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Ministers of State Security, Ayanda Dlolo, and International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Naledi Pandor, to urgently answer on the whereabouts of Former President Jacob Zuma’s former ally and top spy, Thulani Dlomo. Given the myriad of allegations against him and his purported role in State Capture – […]

With over R102,000 raised and many hearts captured, Tannie Poppie is finally making her way to Italy where she will prepare her famous ‘roosterkoek’ to new adoring fans! This incredible dream has been made true by 43-year-old Capetonian, Stan Engelbrecht, who befriended Poppie six years ago… and the kindness of strangers around South Africa who […]

We were making progress until 2011. So what happened? Uyinene Mrwetyana’s murder set off a wave of protests across the country. The release of the latest crime statistics confirmed perceptions: South Africa is becoming more violent; the number of murders has increased every year since 2012. When it comes to crime stats, murder is a […]

Police Minister Bheki Cele has called for heightened cooperation from international law enforcement agencies when it comes to sharing resources and information in the war against drugs. The Minister made the impassioned plea during his address at the Interpol 2nd Global Drugs and Illicit Substances Conference in Cape Town on Tuesday. Over 400 delegates from […]

The man accused of murdering Uyinene Mrwetyana has been summarily dismissed at the South African Post Office (SAPO) for intentionally misleading the organisation and stating under oath that he had never been convicted of any criminal offense. The man misled the post office about his conviction related to a 1998 carjacking conviction with an eight-year […]

Growing up can be very challenging for young people as they try to find their place in the world. In Hammanskraal, a small town in northern Gauteng, an organisation called Rre le Mme has taken the responsibility of equipping young people with the life skills that will assist them to handle any challenges they may […]

News of a pregnant young mum in South Africa who was stabbed to death in her bed whilst on holiday has made headlines around the world from Australia to the UK, whilst back home some social media users have been asking why this has not made bigger news locally. Karen Turner (31) was asleep at […]

The captain and crew of a submarine in Simon’s Town, South Africa, got a shock a few days ago as they left their naval base… when a giant humpback whale showed its interest by spectacularly breaching right in front of them! Trace Photography ZA captured these once-in-a-lifetime photos. The 30 ton fully grown 16m whale […]

The inaugural ATP Cup has drawn its first nation-based groupings with South Africa drawn to face Serbia and France in Brisbane in January 2020. SA’s Kevin Anderson will be up against world number one Novak Djokovic who will headline Group B for Serbia. The countries’ groupings were drawn during a live video streaming event from […]