A horse stranded for five days on a perilous island in the Vaal River, near Barkly West in the Northern Cape, South Africa, has been rescued by some incredible human heroes, just 24 hours before the tiny island may have been washed away. The daring and risky rescue involved transporting the stallion to the river […]

The Stellenbosch Municipality Fire Department rescued a dog from the roof of a building at the Stellenbosch University (SU) yesterday, Monday 3 January. The Municipality said the dog had been trapped on the roof of the Engineering Faculty Building of SU. “It remains unclear exactly how the dog gained access to the roof, or for how […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South African firefighters struggled on Monday to extinguish a new blaze at the complex housing the two chambers of the national parliament in Cape Town, a day after a devastating fire swept through the Parliament buildings. By Wendell Roelf. Police charged a 49-year-old man with arson and other offences including theft […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – The sprinkler system at South Africa’s Parliament appears to have been tampered with, according to authorities investigating the devastating fire that broke out on Sunday morning. The fire which broke out in the early morning caused extensive damage, collapsing the roof and gutting an entire floor in one building, and a […]

The DA has urgently requested an independent investigation into the devastating fire that ravaged large parts of Parliament today. The Democratic Alliance also applauded the speed and efficiency with which its Western Cape Government and the City of Cape Town reacted. In response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s remarks that “we do have one city that […]

Following the speedy response to the devastating fire at South Africa’s Parliament in Cape Town today, the country’s (ANC) President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has heaped praise on the DA-led city and province. Ramaphosa said of the response: “It does show that there are certain things that do work, even as we may think that the wheels […]

Lifesavers in South Africa have been praised for pulling off a large rescue of swimmers off an Amanzimtoti beach in KwaZulu-Natal. The incident took place on New Year’s Day, when families flock to the beach in what has long been an annual tradition to celebrate the new year. KZN resident Jace Govender uploaded a video […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called the fire today (Sunday 2 January) at SA’s Parliament in Cape Town a “terrible and devastating event”; and said a man is being questioned in custody. Speaking from the scene, President Ramaphosa said: “Well, this is devastating news, it’s a terrible and devastating event. […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – A blaze erupted at the South African parliament early on Sunday, with flames bursting from the roof of a building and a plume of smoke that could be seen from miles away, and after several hours firefighters had partially contained the fire. By mid-morning, smoke was still billowing from one of […]

While many parts of the world have had to dampen their New Year celebrations because of Omicron, the sun shone brightly on Durban, South Africa, where friends and family flocked to the beaches today, as has been the tradition for years, to celebrate the new year, 2022. The photos on this page were taken by […]

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – President Cyril Ramaphosa lauded the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu as “our moral compass and national conscience” as South Africa bade farewell at a state funeral on Saturday to a hero of the struggle against apartheid.  By Wendell Roelf. “Our departed father was a crusader in the struggle for freedom, for justice, […]

The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported at least 7,216 new laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases throughout South Africa by 6pm last night. This brings the cumulative number of cases to 3 424 534 since the outbreak. This positivity rate stands at 23.6%, with an increase of 286 hospitalisations due to the virus. The […]

For many South Africans living abroad, returning home for Christmas is a dream come true – the friendly people, the beautiful climate, the stunning landscape… but mostly, the ‘welcome home’ hugs and kisses from loved ones you miss so, so very much. For SA dance celebrity Oti Mabuse, who is a household name in the […]

South Africa’s Department of Health says the implementation of the revised COVID-19 contact tracing, quarantine and isolation protocols released last week have been suspended. In a statement, the department said it has been “inundated with media, stakeholders and public enquiries and comments” since the release of the new protocols – leading to the decision to […]

US President Joe Biden has announced the lifting of travel restrictions imposed on South Africa, and other Southern African countries, following the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant last month. The travel ban is expected to be officially lifted on Friday morning. The new coronavirus variant was announced by South African scientists at the National […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that the late Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu be accorded a Special Official Funeral – Category 1. The Archbishop, who was a globally venerated theologian, anti-apartheid campaigner and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, passed away on Sunday, 26 December 2021. The Special Official Funeral will take place in […]

A South African court has today banned Shell from conducting its controversial seismic survey off the Wild Coast, while the court awaits the outcome of a review process. Following the second case brought by conservation groups, the High Court in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), in the Eastern Cape, ruled that Shell is “interdicted from undertaking seismic […]

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu has died at the age of 90… by P. Pratap Kumar, University of KwaZulu-Natal. Archbishop Tutu earned the respect and love of millions of South Africans and the world. He carved out a permanent place in their hearts and minds, becoming known affectionately as “The Arch”. When South Africans woke up […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed, on behalf of all South Africans, his profound sadness at the passing today, Sunday 26 December 2021, of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu. Archbishop Tutu, the last surviving South African laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, passed away in Cape Town at the age of 90. President Ramaphosa expressed his […]

South Africa’s beloved Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu has passed away at the age of 90, with the country’s president heralding him as a “patriot without equal”. The news was announced on Sunday (26 Dec) by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce that our dearly […]

PARIS (Reuters) – Princess Charlene of Monaco will be visited by her two children and her husband, Prince Albert, during the Christmas holidays, the prince’s palace said in a statement on Thursday, as she remains convalescing in a secret location. Charlene, a former South African Olympian who married Monaco’s ruler in 2011 in a lavish […]

Harry and Meghan have publicly shared the first photo of their daughter Lilibet in a Christmas card. The picture of the young family of four was released today, Thurs 23 December. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who live in California, wrote in a message on the card: “This year 2021, we welcomed our daughter […]

A freak storm pelted Pietermaritzburg in KZN, South Africa, yesterday afternoon at around 15h30, causing localised flooding and damage. The severe thunderstorm – with heavy rains and large golfball-sized hail – lasted half an hour, but left lasting damage. Some trees and power lines fell, parts of roofs were blown off and windows and vehicles […]

South African film Barakat is sadly no longer in line for an Oscar, after not making it through to the next round of voting for the 94th Academy Awards. Films from 92 countries were entered into the International Feature Film category, which has now been shortlisted to 15 films. Barakat was announced as South Africa’s […]

Princess Charlene of Monaco has shared a beautiful but poignant Christmas card and message on her instagram page, with her 389,000 followers. This year, the card features an illustration – rather than a photo – of the family together beside a Christmas Tree. The princess, and former South African Olympic swimmer, is currently away from […]