FARHAAN BEHARDIEN has been appointed as stand-in captain of the Standard Bank Proteas for the first two matches in the KFC T20 International Series against Sri Lanka. Cricket South Africa (CSA) has named a 13-man squad that includes six new caps in this format – Jon-Jon Smuts, Theunis de Bruyn, Mangaliso Mosehle, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dane Paterson […]

A fire which started at Du Toit’s Kloof Mountain (Paarl) around 11pm last night (09/01/17) has left a trail of destruction in its path. Multiple structures were burned to the ground and many residents had to evacuate. According to reports approximately 60% of the fire has been contained with more than 160 firefighters currently on […]

MIDRAND – This festive season has seen an increase in the number of people who died on South African roads compared to the previous period, says Transport Minister Dipuo Peters. “A total of 1 714 fatalities were recorded in this festive period which is a 5% increase on the previous period,” Minister Peters said on Tuesday. […]

Two guest farms in Paarl, South Africa, have been destroyed by fires currently raging through the Helderberg and Paarl region, fuelled by strong winds and high temperatures in the mid-30s. The main house and restaurant at Augusta Kleinbosch guest farm has reportedly been burnt down and this morning Stellenbosch winemaker Alexandra Mcfarlane reported that Druk My […]

As predicted, American President Elect Donald Trump has woken up this morning and reacted to major media coverage of Hollywood actress Meryl Streep’s Golden Globes speech, with a derogatory tweet labelling her as “over-rated”. During her acceptance speech for the Lifetime Achievement Award in America Sunday night, Streep addressed Trump’s “instinct to humiliate”. Without mentioning his name, […]

While South Africa – particularly Gauteng and Mpumalanga – has been experiencing heavy downpours over the past few days… on the other side of the world Thailand has suffered a week of unseasonable downpours which have led to at least 12 fatalities and many villages totally flooded with water up to their rooves. South African expat […]

The ANC Women’s League has thrown its weight behind Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, endorsing the President’s ex-wife as the next leader of African National Congress party… which could make her the first female President of South Africa when national elections are held in 2019. Nkosazana is the chairwoman of the African Union and ex-wife of the current president, Jacob […]

A ring – most probably a wedding ring – was discovered on a beach in the Western Cape in mid-December 2016. As the owner has still not been traced, the search has now turned to social media in a bid to return the romantic ring. Tracy Curnick de Beer posted this message a few days ago: “My brother Tony Curnick […]

Seventeen-year-old Sasasa Dlamini, from Westville Boys’ High School in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, has been accepted to prestigious Harvard University in the USA… an achievement that is the ultimate dream – often out of reach – for so many students around the world. South African media have been celebrating the outstanding student’s scoop, using the hashtag – #WestvilleToHarvard. His proud school […]

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 8 (Reuters) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress needs to end infighting and focus on winning back public support, President Jacob Zuma said on Sunday as he tries to unite an increasingly divided party. Some senior ANC members called for Zuma to resign in November, pointing to the damage several corruption scandals […]

While the ANC were celebrating their 105th birthday down the road at Orlando Stadium in Soweto this morning, the Mayor of Johannesburg – Herman Mashaba from the DA – spent his Sunday morning addressing concerned residents gathered outside an electricity substation in Roosevelt Park. Power had been off since Saturday midnight, as well as for several […]

Heavy rains fell in Gauteng, North West and Mpumulanga provinces in South Africa yesterday bringing a welcome inflow of enough water to fill approximately 22,000 Olympic-sized pools to the Vaal Dam. Gauteng Weather retweeted a message saying the Vaal Dam has received an “approximate inflow of 640 cumecs over past 24hrs” which “is equivalent to 22,000 Olympic swimming […]

Crowds of ANC supporters reportedly forced their way into hospitality suites at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, South Africa, where the ANC is holding its 105th birthday celebrations. The stadium appears to be genuinely packed (not just visual effects!) and moments before there had been concerns that there wasn’t enough space for everyone. Some ANC supporters – […]

Despite the rain, and contrary to critics’ predictions, and EFF leader Julius Malema’s call to not fill the stadium for the ANC’s 105th birthday celebrations today – the Orlando Stadium in Soweto is pretty full! In fact the atmosphere is electric and the stadium so packed that people are being allowed to occupy the pitch area […]

MPUMALANGA – The Sabie River near Skukuza in the Kruger National Park has been overflowing today after a heavy downpour of much prayed-for rain. ASHLEIGH ROBERTSON filmed the video footage below of the overflowing river, as well as the Skukuza camp site which was flooded. Ashleigh, from Hilton in KZN, filmed the overseas tourists’ tents […]

MPUMALANGA – A brave fire fighter who had already saved one life, died this morning in Kwaggafontein whilst trying to save the life of another, during the floods in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Updated: 20h00, 7 Jan 2017 The fireman’s name has not yet been disclosed. The courageous firefighter – from Thembisile Hani – had already rescued the […]

It looks like the weather may rain on the ANC’s parade again this weekend as the governing party celebrate its 105th birthday. Last year rain poured down during the 104 birthday celebrations, and just last month strong winds forced the ANC’s Reconciliation Day celebrations to be called off, as the North West venue’s tent was raised […]

They say every dog has its day… and in South Africa that certainly seems true! Check out the video below, that’s gone viral, of a very cute Yorkshire terrier at the robots (traffic lights) in the Western Cape. Izette Soine uploaded the video just over a week ago showing Bailey. She had seen him – and his owner, Bloemfontein […]

A South African-built Hilux came second yesterday, just 44 seconds behind the winner, in Stage Five of the Dakar… currently taking place in South America. Spanish rally racer Nani Roma was in the driver’s seat, with Spanish co-driver Haro Bravo Alex, for what is touted as the toughest and greatest rally in the world, pitting about […]

South Africa’s deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed his availability to contest the presidency of the governing ANC at its 54th national conference later this year. He has already secured the endorsement of the South African Congress of Trade Unions (Cosatu). He failed in his bid to lead the party once before. Twenty years ago […]

Michelle Obama’s final speech as the United States’ First Lady has made headlines around the world for its power-packed words of inspiration about what got her and President Barack Obama through their years in the White House, and through their lives: the power of hope. It’s a speech that is as relevant to South Africans as […]

Bezweni Lodge has posted photos today showing the extensive damage the beautiful resort suffered on Tuesday, 3 January 2017, as fires – fuelled by extremely strong winds – raged through Sir Lowry’s Pass, Somerset West, in South Africa. On Tuesday, Lodge manager Peter Weideman had posted a message on Facebook saying simply: “To all our Bezweni Lodge […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) claims that a close analysis of the 2016 matric results reveals a VERY high ‘drop-out rate’, leading to speculation that some students may have been ‘culled’ to inflate the matric pass rate. According to the Department of Basic Education’s figures, 1 100 877 learners enrolled for Grade 10 in 2014, but only 610 178 […]

In a country in which wine making is still predominantly a white, largely male profession, South Africa’s first black woman winemaker, Ntsiki Biyela, is a pioneer: her latest achievement, the creation of her own brand, Aslina. Biyela is no novice to wine making, having brought accolades to red wine producer Stellekaya for the past 13 […]

LONDON (Reuters) – Moody’s is likely to make key rating calls on Britain, China and South Africa among others this year as rising political risk and debt levels push the number of countries on a downgrade warning back to a record high. From Europe’s Brexit strains and looming elections to the battles of China, South […]