From an email doing the rounds… Dear Noah, We could have sworn you said the ark wasn’t leaving till 5. Sincerely, Unicorns Dear Twilight fans, Please realize that because vampires are dead and have no blood pumping through them, they can never get an erection. Enjoy fantasizing about that. Sincerely, Logic Dear Icebergs, Sorry to […]

by Janine Erasmus South Africa’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) has thrown its weight behind the study of a small indigenous legume that, reports say, is effective in treating symptoms of HIV/Aids. The humble Sutherlandia frutescens is a small shrubby plant that’s popular in South African gardens because it’s hardy, attractive, and brings sunbirds to pollinate […]

by Bongani Nkosi “It was daunting. The ocean is very deep, very dark and very cold. The shores are rocky and dangerous.” This is how 53-year-old Ram Barkai describes the waters off Cape Horn, where he and four fellow extreme swimmers became the first men in international history to cross a section. “This was completely […]

South African HIV charity leader Dr Mitch Besser is apparently dating UK singer and HIV superwoman Annie Lennox. The two met during her visit to South Africa last year when she visited his HIV charity Mothers2Mothers, in Cape Town. Media reports claim that his wife is “devastated”, but they had allegedly been separated for quite […]

by Fabio Di Caro, matriculated at KES in Houghton in 1980 Just wanting to let you know that things have not turned the positive way for a lot of us in europe, I am one of them, to be precise I did not choose to come to this Italy, which I deeply hate for all the possible reasons,I […]

After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year, British scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 200 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 150 years ago. Not to be outdone by the Brits, in the weeks that followed, an American archaeologist […]

by Ray Maota The safety of women and children is the focus of this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, which runs from 25 November until 10 December 2010. The UN-headed drive begins on the International Day of No Violence Against Women and ends on International Human Rights Day. Internationally, the campaign concentrates on crimes […]

by Janine Erasmus Major Catherine Labuschagne completed her maiden solo flight in October 2010 in the South African Air Force’s (SAAF) Gripen Jas 39C. When Labuschagne touched down at Makhado Air Force Base in  Limpopo province, she had become the first woman fighter pilot ever to fly solo in the supersonic aircraft. Formerly known as […]

by Wilma den Hartigh For those of us who enjoy our daily rooibos cuppa, a good flavour is all-important. However, for the uninitiated it is only possible to distinguish basic flavour characteristics. Now, with the help of a newly developed rooibos flavour wheel, anyone can identify a full spectrum of tastes and aromas of this […]

by Ray Maota The Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) is marking 100 years of art-collecting with an elaborate celebration and launch of a new catalogue detailing the various works in its possession. The event will take place at the gallery in Joubert Park, Johannesburg, on 28 November 2010 at 5pm. The public is welcome to attend […]

by Nicky Rehbock A South African public service organisation has come up with a novel festive season gift concept that will have a lasting effect on the country’s less fortunate children and animals. The idea is being rolled out through the online Gifts4Good campaign, which offers internet shoppers a range of alternative gifts that support […]

Most of us wish certain things would improve in South Africa, but we tend to be passive whingers rather than active citizens. The following 15 philanthropists fall into the latter group. They’re active citizens who are helping make a real difference. These exceptional individuals were honoured for their financial contributions at the annual Inyathelo Philanthropy […]

by Janine Erasmus South Africa’s beloved canine icon Jock of the Bushveld has again been immortalised on film, this time in an animated 3D version which, if director Duncan MacNeillie has his way, is set for international distribution. MacNeillie will travel to Los Angeles at the end of November 2010 to present the film to […]

Lucille Davie World-renowned artist and Johannesburg resident William Kentridge has received the 2010 Kyoto Prize for Arts and Philosophy, for his insights and reflections on human nature through his work. Known as much for his stage designs and hand-drawn animated films as for his artwork, Kentridge is the first African to receive the award, now […]

April McAlister JamiiX, an online counselling service operating on the Cape Flats, was a finalist in the inaugural Bees Awards. The ceremony, which took place in San Francisco on 9 November 2010, recognises the most innovative use of social media in business and communication. In the category of best use of mobile social media, developer […]

Jann Turner South African hit movie White Wedding is now showing in the US to rave reviews. Jann Turner, who directed and jointly wrote and produced the film, writes about the place that inspired it – South Africa. Are there lions in the streets? Do you live in a mud hut? How come you ain’t […]

The first Steve Biko Memorial Lecture to be given outside South Africa will be delivered in London on Thursday 28 October. It will be held at the University of Greenwich, in partnership with the Network for Black Professionals in the UK, as part of Black History Month. The speaker will be Nkosinathi Biko, founder and […]

South Africa’s unique mix of energy, humanity, sheer doggedness and knack for problem-solving are showcased in a six-page supplement in the prestigious Washington Post newspaper, titled South Africa Now and produced on behalf of Brand South Africa. The supplement hit the streets of Washington, DC, in the 6 October 2010 edition of the newspaper. It […]

by Nicky Rehbock South Africans are hauling out their firewood and readying their tongs for the sixth annual National Braai Day, a lip-smacking occasion today (24 September 2010) that coincides with Heritage Day. As we all know, the braai is an institution in South Africa and cuts across all colours, creeds and culture. This makes […]

South African singer/songwriter Zarni has been awarded first place in the international song contest held by Rockin’ Moms! The annual contest seeks songs that reflect a Parenthood theme, and Zarni’s song ‘Making My Way’ won for its portrayal of the everlasting love of a parent, as her child makes the transition to adulthood, making her […]

OK, OK, he’s not exactly South African, but he did spend a good few weeks in South Africa until Portugal were eliminated from the Fifa World Cup (and he had his photo taken with Nelson Mandela). So, on that technicality, here’s one for the girls – a sneak peek at football player Ronaldo’s new Armani […]

Pretoria – Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has released the National Crime Statistics for the past fiscal year announcing a significant decline in the murder rate for that period. Murder decreased by 8.6 percent from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010. “We have seen the third largest decrease since 1995. For the first time in […]

From an international email doing the rounds Understanding Engineers #1 – Woman vs. Bicycle Two engineering students were walking across campus when one said, “Where did you get such a great bike?” The second engineer replied, “Well, I was walking along yesterday minding my own business when a beautiful woman rode up on this bike. […]

Submitted by Tracey C Smith I am a simple South African girl who has dreamed of Hollywood all my life. When I moved to Johannesburg, I joined a casting agency and received many opportunities to audition for mostly television advertisements and then the call came to say that I had been chosen to play the […]

by Nicky Rehbock Prof Alice Walker has arrived in South Africa to deliver the 11th annual lecture honouring the late Stephen Bantu Biko, an anti-apartheid activist and leader who founded the Black Consciousness Movement. Walker, best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Colour Purple, was invited to the country by the Steve Biko Foundation, […]