Wikipedia mania is about to hit South Africa… in the form of the first Wikimania conference to be held in sub-Saharan Africa – in Cape Town from 18-22 July. And the key focus will be to increase regional contribution to the world’s largest free, collaboratively-built online encyclopedia. According to Wikimedia SA President, Douglas Scott, there […]

South African expats in the UK are in for a major treat as top South Africans artists Prime Circle, Just Jinjer and Tailor will be performing together on one stage in London in August! PLEASE NOTE: EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. After successful runs in Johannesburg and Cape Town, Real Concerts are bringing A Night To […]

South African expats in Europe recently enjoyed a lekker 2018 get-together in the Blackforest, Germany. Event organiser Samantha Gross said the drive was long, “a never ending road for all… until we met”. “The house was beautiful, and we started preparing as soon as we arrived… proudly decorating the house with our Flag, and wine […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Glencore said on Tuesday that eight people were injured at its South African smelting operations in the North West province during a protest. Glencore said a security company at its Wonderkop Smelter fired rubber bullets to disperse the protestors, who were demanding employment, resulting in eight people sustaining minor injuries. (Reporting by […]

The Durban Survivors’ Dance Crew have sent an impassioned plea to Ellen DeGeneres, requesting sponsorship for a trip to Los Angeles, USA, which would uplift the recognition of South Africa in the dance industry. The letter says: “Our group name is Survivors Dance Crew and we are based in Durban. The crew was established in […]

Meet Martha Hester Sehao, perhaps one of the last people alive from the 1800s… The 121-year-old South African woman has had seven children, of whom she has outlived three. Hailing from Ventersdorp in the North West province of SA, Martha says there’s only one secret to her long life… https://www.facebook.com/BrightVibesAfrica/videos/983504248500688/

ATHENS (Reuters) – A 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook the southwestern area of the Peloponnese in Greece in the early hours of Monday. Its epicenter was offshore, 26 km (16 miles) west of the town of Methoni at a depth of 30.4 km, the U.S. Geological Survey said. There were no early reports of serious damage or injuries, […]

Dam levels are rising and Day Zero in 2019 is fortunately unlikely, but for hundreds of thousands of people, the rains bring hardship. Cape Town’s much-needed rains have raised the dam levels to over 40% (as of 21 June), higher than at the same time in 2017 and 2016, but still lower than 2015. Day […]

The Board of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants’ (SAICA) says it has noted the statement issued by Khaya Sithole, which makes mention of allegations against SAICA’s acting CEO and executive team.  The SAICA Board said it distances itself from all the allegations and wishes to reiterate its support for its whole leadership team. […]

South African comedian Trevor Noah jokes that he hopes his mom watches the latest documentary about his meteoric rise “and finally starts believing that I’m not a drug dealer!” The documentary – the first in a series by OZY and PBS – is called Breaking Big, and takes an in-depth look at 12 talented men […]

The South African government says it regrets the withdrawal of the United States from the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. “This development is indeed worrisome and goes against the letter and spirit of multilateralism and the Charter of the United Nations, of which the US was one of the founding countries,” the Department of International […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa‘s government is considering layoffs and early retirement packages for staff in the public sector to avoid breaking its pledge to cut spending after unions clinched above-inflation wage increases, the Treasury said on Friday. Under a deal reached in May, the government will raise salaries of public sector employees, including teachers, police, and […]

The South African football team,  Kaizer Chiefs has on Friday confirmed the new signings of Khama Billiat, Letlhogonolo Mirwa and Andriamirado Andrianarimanana. The newly signed players will be playing during the upcoming 2018/19 Assa Premiership season. Billiat is the most recent player to join Kaizer Chiefs from Mamelodi Sundowns. Mirwa joins the Naturena based team for […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has shuffled his backline and included exciting fullback Warrick Gelant as one of five changes to his side as he seeks a series clean-sweep against England in the third and final test at Newlands on Saturday. Gelant takes over from the experienced Willie le Roux, who drops to the […]

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi claimed today that the Medical Schemes Amendment Bill and the National Health Insurance (NHI) Amendment Bill will introduce measures that will lift a financial burden from beneficiaries who are subjected to high healthcare costs. However the DA says no amount of spin will make NHI a success. After Dr Motsoaledi […]

When Free Speech is counter-attacked by intense scrutiny, intimidations and death threats because of unpopular views, we should all be concerned as that’s not how Constitutional democracy operates, write Neo Nino Mofokeng. Shashi Naidoo is yet another high profile South African who has been scrutinised, viciously attacked by the popular left and in the extreme, […]

This coming Sunday Carte Blanche joins forces with a United Nations arms expert in a special investigation spanning three continents to reveal the origin of weapons confiscated along the Kruger National Park’s border fence with Mozambique… and unmask the real architects behind the poaching of rhinos in Africa. (The programme will be aired in SA only.) […]

Government will consider introducing computer coding in South Africa’s education system, Communications Deputy Minister Pinky Kekana said on Wednesday. “The time has come for us to introduce basic coding in our education system,” said the Deputy Minister. Addressing the IBM South Africa annual Think Johannesburg conference at Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, Kekana said government acknowledges […]

South Africa’s Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Commissioner Khehla Sitole recently announced a new “high density stabilisation intervention” to tackle crime. The strategy focuses on cash-in-transit heists, car hijackings, murder, house robberies, and gang and taxi violence. It includes the deployment of desk-based police officials to the streets, particularly in “identified hotspots”, while dedicated […]

PRETORIA (Reuters) – South Africa‘s current account deficit widened more than expected in the first quarter to register its largest shortfall in two years as the trade balance swung to a deficit after a steep decline in exports, the central bank said on Thursday. Investor sentiment in South Africa picked up after President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged to clean up poor […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) on Tuesday announced the arrest of two field rangers suspected of being involved in rhino poaching. The two suspects were based at the Houtboschrand section and are alleged to have shot and dehorned a white rhino in May 2018. Stroop documentary filmmaker Bonné de Bod said: “This is not the […]

In this week’s episode of Carte Blanche, the current affairs show investigates if the man running for the position of Public Protector can clean up the rot in the Hawks department, SA youths stuck in China, cash-in-transit heists and amazing projects at Tygerberg. This week’s episode is now available to South Africans abroad if you subscribe […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Rassie Erasmus praised his much-maligned predecessor Allister Coetzee on Monday for the improved skills of the South African side that have seen them clinch a three-match home series against England with a game to spare. Coetzee was sacked as Springbok coach in February after securing 11 wins out of 25 tests – and […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South African middle distance champion Caster Semenya has taken her challenge to a female classification ruling by the governing body of athletics to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the court said on Tuesday. Semenya, a double Olympic and triple world 800 metres champion, would have to take medication to lower her higher […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa flyhalf Elton Jantjies believes it is coach Rassie Erasmus’ attention to detail that has seen the side claim back-to-back test wins over England and be on the brink of a series clean sweep in Cape Town on Saturday. Erasmus replaced Allister Coetzee this year and after a narrow loss to Wales with […]