A call has been made for Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, to place the National Lotteries Commission under administration, fire its board and suspend its Chief Operating Officer, in the light of ongoing revelations of fraud, corruption and nepotism involving multi-million rand Lottery grants. The request by Dean Macpherson, the Democratic Alliance’s Shadow […]

Today marks the beginning of what promises to be a wonderful new life for 12 tigers and five lions at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) in South Africa. The big cats have been relocated after being rescued from a life of circus suffering in Guatemala by Animal Defenders International (ADI). The animals’ journey to freedom […]

The case in South Africa against a 25-year-old suspect in the murder of young Limpopo medical intern, Shongile Pretty Nkhwashu, has been postponed to 31 January 2020. The suspect, Ntiyiso Shilumane, hid his face as he appeared in the packed Mankweng Magistrate Court today, charged with the murder of 24-year-old Shongile. He was apparently her […]

POLOKWANE – The South African Police Service in Makhado have requested the public’s urgent help in finding a 37-year-old woman, Camille Brink… and her two daughters Kaylee Brink (9) and Emily Brink (2). The three allegedly went missing on Sunday, 19 January 2020 at about 21:30. SAPS said: “It is alleged that the mother of […]

It was a bizarre and disturbing sight. About 100 sharks – finned and gutted – dumped on Strandfontein beach along the False Bay coast. Why were they there? What was their intended destination before being illegally abandoned? Who was responsible? The pile of bodies were mostly soupfin sharks. Word has it they were from either […]

It might have been closer than expected, but South Africa’s Kevin Anderson won through to the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Earlier, the other South African in the singles draw, Lloyd Harris, went down in straight sets to the 14th seed, Diego Schwartzman, of Argentina. […]

The government has approved in principle the huge Boulders wind farm project on the West Coast peninsula near Paternoster, St Helena Bay and Vredenburg… writes John Yeld. The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) issued an environmental authorisation for the project on 14 January. However, its approval comes with conditions that include changes to […]

After heavy rains falling in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo over the past week, dried-up rivers have come back to life and started flowing again… answering prayers and bringing welcome relief to farmers and residents in the region. At Herbertsdalenear Mossel Bay, relieved residents are able to use water from their taps again, after […]

A video has gone viral showing a taxi driver had crammed 58 school children into his Quantum taxi, a vehicle that has a holding capacity of 14 (according to the officer at the end of the video). There has been widespread condemnation for the incident, and Joel Seabi, Limpopo Transport and Safety Spokesperson, said Law […]

South African tennis player Lloyd Harris’ run of good recent form may have come to an abrupt halt – when he was beaten in the first round of the men’s singles at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday – but he leaves the tournament on a world ranking high of 72. To be honest, […]

Vernon Kruger today broke his own World Record in Dullstroom, South Africa… for staying in a 500 litre wine vat, on top of a 25 metre pole, for 67 days! To understand just how high that is – it’s the equivalent of an 8-storey building! And not only has Vernon broken his world record… but […]

In a video that will remind music fans of Sinead O’Connor’s legendary “Nothing Compares 2 U”, James Blunt – who is renowned for sharing his raw emotions – has exposed his heartbreak like never before, in a song where he sits side by side with his beloved dying father. The tearful British singer and songwriter […]

The National Lotteries Commission has given more than R11 million to non-profit organisation (NPO) called I Am Made for God’s Glory, which has in turn paid R2 million to a private company of which the sole director is the cousin of the chief operating officer of the National Lotteries Commission. According to leaked bank statements, […]

It was a once functional South African town falling apart… but instead of accepting their unfortunate fate or continuing to wait for the government – in a municipality so badly mismanaged it’s been under administration, and the DA called in December for it to be declared a Disaster Area – Harrismith residents and business owners […]

The scorching temperatures experienced in large parts of South Africa, could put many at risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Babies, children and the elderly are particularly sensitive to the heat. Appropriate hydration is key to avoiding heat-related ailments and illnesses, but before you reach for something cold to cool you down – a […]

A South African teenager is recovering in hospital after she was bitten by a crocodile while she was swimming in Elands River (Elandsrivier), near Swartruggens in the North West province with her two friends. According to the North West Dept of Conservation and Tourism, the 15-year-old girl – Hesmari van Loggensberg – accidentally stepped onto […]

The dream of becoming a lawyer for Enoch Mpianzi was cut short on a school orientation camp on Wednesday, after he allegedly drowned following a river rafting exercise during the excursion. The body of Enoch, a 13-year-old Grade 8 boy from Parktown Boys High School, who went missing during a school orientation camp in Brits, […]

A devastating drought that has gripped the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has resulted in 45 million people becoming severely food insecure, a United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) report has revealed. The record number, made up mostly of women and children, was also attributed to widespread flooding and economic disarray. In the report, […]

A lovable dog in Bloemfontein has survived a horrific attack, after being held down by three young boys who lit fireworks and exploded them on the dog’s head… blowing off his ear and tearing a hole in his skull. Fortunately there are more kind humans than not, and Brody’s sad story has a happy ending. […]

South African tennis player Lloyd Harris is one victory away from capturing his first ATP Tour tennis title after reaching the final of the 250 Tournament in Adelaide, Australia. The 22-year-old, ranked No91 in the world – but who reached a career high of No82 last July – saw off a fellow qualifier in the […]

A 62-year-old woman in South Africa, who ran out of patience after waiting for an RDP house for over 20 years, has built herself a Wendy house. Gloria Matebe is a grandmother of two young girls. She spent six months building her home from discarded pieces of timber that she collected from a nearby dumpsite […]

As from next month South Africans will pay a fee of €80 instead of €60 when applying for a Schengen Visa from South Africa. The increase also affects children, who will now have to pay €40 instead of €35, as it is currently. South Africans will also be subjected to several changes in terms of […]

South Africa’s Lloyd Harris claimed another big win at the ATP 250 event in Adelaide, Australia, when he reached the semi-finals to continue his strong run of form in 2020. The 22-year-old from Cape Town took out the No4 seed, Pablo Carrena Busta, 6-3, 6-3 in the quarter-finals and in doing so he looked like […]

Thabo Rateleki had never skied outside of South Africa before but he’s competing at the Youth Winter Games in Lausanne, Switzerland… and flying the flag high for Africa, being one of only two competitors from the continent at the Youth Olympics. In fact, Rateleki had never been on a plane before. But, standing at the […]

More than 900 learners at Ibhongo Lethu primary school in Upington started school today with no toilets at all. There are four blocks of about six classrooms for learners from grades 1 to 7 with toilets for each block, in the school, which was built in 2014. But the toilets were vandalised in late 2018, […]