JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The death toll from a gas tanker that exploded in Boksburg, Johannesburg on Saturday has nearly doubled to 18, authorities said, adding that they’d arrested the driver and charged him with culpable homicide. The blast, which tore the roof off the emergency department at the Tambo Memorial hospital, destroyed two houses, several […]

Eskom has announced a loadshedding-free Christmas Day for South Africans. The power utility said on Saturday afternoon: « Loadshedding will be suspended at 05:00 on 25 December until 05:00 on 26 December. Thereafter, Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented until 16:00 on 27 December, whereafter Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented.« Eskom said the suspension […]

Forty-seven white-backed vultures have been killed in a mass poisoning incident in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Another five were injured. One of the key reasons for poisoning of vultures is for use in the traditional medicine trade. The gruesome discovery of the birds – some with their heads removed – was made on Sunday (18 […]

Stage 6 loadshedding will be implemented from 20:00 tonight, until 05:00 tomorrow morning, according to the latest alert from Eskom. (See separate Cape Town schedule below.) The power utility promised that Stage 4 loadshedding will resume at 05:00 tomorrow morning until further notice. “This is necessary to ensure sufficient generation capacity is available tonight to […]

A Field Ranger in the Kruger National Park (KNP) was unfortunately severely injured by an elephant shortly after 08h00 this morning (Tues 20 December). The unnamed ranger was on patrol in the Pretoriuskop Section, in the south-western part of the Kruger, when the incident occurred, according to the South African National Parks (SANParks). « Preliminary […]

Brisbane’s famous cricket pitch – the Gabba – has received a ‘below average’ rating from the ICC, and has received one demerit point. The dismal rating follows the first Test between South Africa and Australia, which was held at the Queensland venue, and which received much criticism from both sides. Australia won the match by […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected leader of the governing African National Congress (ANC) on Monday, overcoming the “Farmgate” scandal (referring to the robbery and subsequent cover-up at his Phala Phala farm) and paving the way for him to contest the presidency again at 2024 elections. By Kopano Gumbi, Alexander Winning […]

A freak wave at Durban’s North Beach, KZN (KwaZulu-Natal), on Saturday afternoon tragically claimed three lives and left 17 people seriously injured. According to the KZN Premier, 35 lifeguards worked diligently in a mass rescue effort, and paramedics treated more than 100 people involved in the tragedy. KZN Emergency Services spokesperson Robert McKenzie told the […]

A scientist with terminal cancer, who lives in Oxford in the UK, has posted a tweet that has stopped social media users mid-scroll, and elicited an outpouring of love, well wishes and compassion. On Sunday morning, Professor Mark Stokes – who describes himself as a scientist, dad and not a robot – published the following […]

LUSAIL, Qatar (Reuters) – Argentina won their third World Cup in extraordinary style on Sunday, beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from 2-0 down after 80 minutes. By Mitch Phillips It was an incredible […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress nominated just two candidates to run for its top job on Saturday, leaving President Cyril Ramaphosa facing the health minister he suspended over corruption allegations in a party vote. By Tim Cocks and Alexander Winning The winner will have the ANC’s blessing to run for president […]

Christmas arrived early at an orphanage in Johannesburg today, as the UK’s former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse, and her sister Phemelom, popped in to have a dance lesson with the girls! Ilamula House was opened by The Winnie Mabaso Foundation in 2014, for vulnerable, abused and orphaned girls in Mid Ennerdale. Global star […]

As movie fans across the world stream into cinemas to watch blockbuster sci-fi movie, Avatar: The Way of Water, which was released this week, visitors to the Tokyo Disney Resort are being treated to a taste of Pandora… and that taste includes South African favourite – Rooibos! Chefs at the resort have created exotic tastes […]

The Kruger National Park (KNP) has reminded guests that Rest Camps in the famous South African park are also subject to the National Loadshedding schedules, and has supplied some recommendations on how to prepare to best handle possible power cuts during your visit to the Kruger. Whilst most South Africans are probably experts at handling […]

South African comedian Trevor Noah has been announced as the host of the prestigious Grammy Awards for 2023, the biggest night in the music industry. This is the third time that the SA expat – who recently left The Daily Show – has been selected as master of ceremonies. Trevor’s the cover star of this […]

Dry weather and habitat loss in the Western Cape, South Africa, are possibly making human encounters with these beautiful creatures more common. By Ashraf Hendricks and Liezl Human. WATCH Snake handler has caught twice as many snakes this season Snake handler André du Preez has removed twice as many snakes than he did last season. […]

An emotional Chad le Clos claimed a long-awaited gold medal in the 200m butterfly at the World Short Course Championships in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday. The former Olympic champion raced like he did at the start of his international career, hanging back as American Trenton Julian burned himself out swimming at world-record pace and then […]

Ellen DeGeneres says she is “heartbroken” following the news that her longtime DJ, and executive producer on the Ellen show since 2014, died by suicide earlier this week. Stephen ‘tWitch’ Boss – who was popular with South African and worldwide audiences – tragically passed away at the age of 40 in a hotel room, after […]

US President Joe Biden has announced an agreement aimed at bolstering trade ties between the United States and Africa on Wednesday (14 December) after years in which the continent took a back seat to other US priorities. “The United States is ‘all in’ on Africa’s future,” Biden told African leaders – including DIRCO Minister Naledi […]

The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has advised motorists to avoid Hendrick Potgieter Road due to a collapsed bridge in Roodepoort, Johannesburg. The section of the road between Falls and Van Staden Streets has been closed to traffic. The road caved in on Tuesday (13 December) following heavy downpours in the region. “The closure […]

Green Riders employs young people in Dunoon on e-bikes. By Peter Luhanga Finding no job opportunities in his home town of Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, 22-year-old Yandisa Mbhadeko came to Cape Town to look for work, with the hope of saving enough money to fund his journalism studies. While he was staying in a […]

Amidst ever-worsening load-shedding (planned power cuts) in South Africa which have devastated the economy and dampened the spirit of the nation, Eskom’s CEO André de Ruyter has reportedly resigned. Many suspect he was pushed. Ghaleb Cachalia – DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises – says: “André de Ruyter’s apparent sudden resignation as the CEO of […]

Lionel Messi just won his fourth Man of the Match Award at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for a legendary performance that will be remembered for eons… cementing his reputation as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). Watch videos below. Argentina’s Julian Alvarez – once a young fan of Messi’s – scored twice (including […]

The ANC Parliamentary Caucus has welcomed the outcome of the vote in the National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday regarding the report of the Independent Panel established to conduct a preliminary enquiry which could have lead to the impeachment of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Most of the lawmakers voted to reject the report into alleged misconduct by […]

Matthew ‘Matt’ Sates has become World Champion, after his brilliant performance on Tuesday evening in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley (IM) Final at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia. Matt won in 1:50.15. Watch below. It’s a new African record, and puts Matt only second on the all-time list behind American legend Ryan […]