by Janine Erasmus The choir of Stellenbosch University took part in the World Choir Games in Shaoxing, China, in July, and walked off with a world title in two categories. Thousands of entrants gathered in the town in the eastern coastal province of Zhejiang for the sixth edition of the biennial competition, which ran from […]

Sabina Mugabe, sister of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, has died at the age of 76, after a long illness. She was one of Mugabe’s few confidantes, and as one of the country’s former lawmakers, she was also one of his closest political allies until her retirement in 2008. A party spokesman of ZANU-PF has announced […]

by Janine Erasmus Laser physicist Dr Christine Steenkamp is one of three African women scientists, out of a group of 12, who recently received international recognition for excellence in research. Steenkamp and her colleagues, from the Middle East, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as Africa, were honoured at the fourth General Assembly […]

Archbishop Desmond Tutu is retiring from public life, he announced in Cape Town today…while also praising South Africans for their contribution to the world. “We surprised ourselves in how we accomplished the World Cup with panache,” said Tutu, during a press briefing today at Cape Town’s St George Cathedral where he announced that he intends […]

Four grandchildren of former President Nelson Mandela were attacked by armed men outside their home on the day the world was celebrating the 92-year-old’s birthday. According to police, the children had just returned to the Athol residence with a driver and were getting out of the car when they were approached by two armed men […]

Eish! A breaching whale came crashing down on a yacht sailing just off Cape Town. All those involved (the whale and those on the yacht) survived in tact…and are currently making headlines around the world. The incident happened on Sunday when Ralph Mothes and Paloma Werner, both of Cape Town Sailing Academy were making their way […]

Submitted by Dindala who would like some advice on life… Where does a down-and-out 29-year-old go if he wants info on life coaches or motivators and how to succeed in life…when everything he tried amounts to nothing – instead of going to the tavern, or shebeen, to ask another down-and-out brother for help? If you […]

If you’re missing those vuvuzelas – or all the controversy surrounding them, check out ‘Gandalf Goes to the World Cup – Fellowship of the Vuvuzelas’: httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B2LPxggvqY …or watch Hitler & the Vuvuzela at the 2010 World Cup: httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-Ln_rqPpPk

President Jacob Zuma congratulated South African golfer Louis Oosthuizen yesterday for making the country proud by winning the British Open (on a day when the newly united South Africa and the world celebrated the iconic life of former President Nelson Mandela). “For a 27-year old, this is no small feat,” said President Jacob Zuma. “Oosthuizen […]

by Mary Alexander Leaders across the world extended birthday wishes to former South African president Nelson Mandela on 18 July. US President Barack Obama: US President Barack Obama hailed the “extraordinary vision, leadership, and spirit” of the South African statesman and global icon of freedom. “On behalf of the United States, I wish Nelson Mandela […]

WELL DONE LOUIS OOSTHUIZEN. The 27-year-old South African golfer has just won the British Open…and the hearts of many spectators at St Andrews in Scotland who spent the week trying to learn how to pronounce his surname. The first thing Louis said was “I’d like to take this opportunity to say happy birthday to Mr […]

by Ndaba Dlamini, Lucille Davie and Mary Alexander President, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and statesman, Nelson Mandela, the world’s icon of reconciliation, compassion and goodwill, turned 92 on Sunday  18 July 2010. The day was the first international Nelson Mandela Day, as declared by the United Nations in 2009. On the day, people around the […]

Durban surfer Jordy Smith has become the first South African to win a World ASP Tour Event, after winning the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay this weekend, and is now leading the World Surfing Tour. He shot to the number one spot in the world ASP Rankings over the weekend, knocking veteran Kelly Slater off. The […]

Trenton & Free Radical are currently taking London by storm, and recently supported Johnny Clegg at his London gig. Their music draws on reggae, hip-hop, electro and global influences to create something uniquely melodic and hip-shakingly danceable. Originally from Johannesburg, Trenton is a contemporary nomad soul, a global citizen who spent his early life in […]

FREE “MR MANDELA” DOWNLOAD, FAB VIDEO, AND LIVE TRENTON & FREE RADICAL GIG IN LONDON on 18 JULY You can celebrate Nelson Mandela’s birthday this week by downloading “Mr Mandela” for free (one week only)…and then watch Trenton and Free Radical’s video of the track (see below) which was shot in and around Cape Town. […]

South African Louis Oosthuizen is in lead position at the British Open golf tournament, which has sent sporting  journalists at St Andrews in Scotland scrambling to learn how to pronounce his name! On a day when rain and strong winds hindered most players, Louis – who played earlier in the day – shot a 67 […]

by Mary Alexander Less than a week after the end of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, a survey has found that 99% of South Africans did a good job in hosting the tournament, and 97% are “more proud” to be South African. The survey, conducted telephonically among households in Gauteng by Umhlaba Development Services, aimed […]

by Nosimilo Ramela Families across South Africa are gearing up to embrace the spirit of Mandela Day on 18 July and make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Primary school pupil Thomas Kedge, from Hyde Park in northern Johannesburg, says he’s very excited about it. He has collected a pile of toys […]

by John Battersby, London In the first African World Cup, the real contest was never going to be won or lost on the playing field – as riveting as that spectacle was. The stakes were always much higher for South Africa, and Africa: it was about transforming ingrained stereotypes of Africa and Africans and radically […]

Oh wow! How amazing was the moment when Nelson Mandela appeared at Soccer City this evening! The crowd went crazy as Mandela and his wife Graca Michel entered the stadium in a buggy.  There was a standing ovation. The ROAR of vuvuzelas. Chanting of ‘Madiba’. And there was Nelson’s broad smile. His Twinkling eyes. And […]

Check out Charlize Theron in her latest role – as a fearless ninja-fighting, sword-wielding heroine who saves Brandon Flowers in the video for Crossfire, the first single from his debut solo album Flamingo. Flamingo is due out in September and marks Flowers’ first foray without his band The Killers. Watch out for Charlize this weekend […]

Over 600 football fans missed the World Cup semi-final between Spain and Germany because of chaos at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport. A spokesman for Durban airport, Colin Naidoo, blamed the air-traffic chaos on the large number of private planes jetting in carrying celebrities like Hollywood star Charlize Theron and the King and Queen of […]

South African athlete Caster Semenya has been cleared to return to track racing with immediate effect. The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) issued the following statement today: “The process initiated in 2009 in the case of Caster Semenya (RSA) has now been completed. The IAAF accepts the conclusion of a panel of medical experts […]

Check out this FAB promotion of South Africa. Stunning pictures! From a PDF that’s being sent around by email at the moment… If you’d like to view these pics in larger format – click here for the pdf: south-africa-dangerous

Eish. From an email doing the rounds… South Africa is a great country because: 1. You can eat half dried meat and not be considered disgusting. 2. Nothing is your fault; you can blame it all on apartheid. 3. You get to buy a new car every 3 months and the insurance company even pays […]