JOHANNESBURG – The South African government will finalise a clear economic growth strategy within the next few weeks, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday, as the country aims to boost confidence in an economy facing lower growth and job cuts. Investor confidence in Africa’s most industrialised economy is fragile, with the economic growth outlook clouded […]

In Sunday’s special 90-minute extended broadcast Carte Blanche revisits several stories of corruption and dodgy deals from the last year to find out if revealing their truth has brought any change, and if not, why not? Interspersed between fresh investigations and gritty confrontations, South Africa’s popular current affairs show includes several follow-up inserts this week. […]

Some of Cape Town’s rivers and canals are so polluted they are essentially open streams of sewage, and although the City of Cape Town is aware of this, the water and waste directorate has vastly underspent its budget for the past two financial years. Participants in the annual Peninsula Paddle, an event organised by scientists […]

An economic advisory council of 18 specialists from numerous fields and from around the world has been appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to help facilitate the development and implementation of economic policies that are intended to spur growth. They will start work on 1 October. The Presidential Economic Advisory Council, which Ramaphosa referred to in […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has written to the Ministers of State Security, Ayanda Dlolo, and International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Naledi Pandor, to urgently answer on the whereabouts of Former President Jacob Zuma’s former ally and top spy, Thulani Dlomo. Given the myriad of allegations against him and his purported role in State Capture – […]

We were making progress until 2011. So what happened? Uyinene Mrwetyana’s murder set off a wave of protests across the country. The release of the latest crime statistics confirmed perceptions: South Africa is becoming more violent; the number of murders has increased every year since 2012. When it comes to crime stats, murder is a […]

A rare blue diamond has been discovered in a mine in Botswana, just days after one was found in South Africa, it was announced Thursday. Canadian miner Lucara Diamond Corp said it recovered a 9.74 carat blue gem diamond from its Karowe mine in Botswana (which is a fifth the size of the famous Hope […]

Three people have been shortlisted for the job of CEO at the R450-billion-indebted Eskom, according to Bloomberg. The three are a former Eskom CEO from 2007 to 2009, Jacob Maroga; Andy Calitz, who once worked at Eskom and Royal Dutch Shell and was a former CEO of LNG Canada; as well as a third person […]

It was Heritage Day here in South Africa, during which the many cultures showcase and celebrate their rich and diverse heritage. Or they just have a lekker braai and get super blootered, which I guess is about as South African as it gets. I’m not here to judge. But it’s also a day off work, […]

In what amounted to a relaunch of the Peugeot brand in South Africa, the company introduced the market to two new models, a hatchback and an SUV, with the promise of more launches. At an event last week, reported almost exclusively in the car media, managing director of Peugeot Citroen South Africa, Xavier Gobille, was […]

The South African Treasury has raised $5 billion from the sale of two new bonds in international markets, with strong demand beforehand allowing it to pre-fund $1 billion more than originally planned, it said on Tuesday. “The South African government sees the success of the transaction, believed to be the largest ever out of Sub-Saharan […]

Police Minister Bheki Cele has called for heightened cooperation from international law enforcement agencies when it comes to sharing resources and information in the war against drugs. The Minister made the impassioned plea during his address at the Interpol 2nd Global Drugs and Illicit Substances Conference in Cape Town on Tuesday. Over 400 delegates from […]

Whether or not a deal is made on Brexit by the end of October, trade between South Africa and the United Kingdom will carry on as before and be governed by a new agreement, with preferential access still granted to 114 local products worth R7 billion, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim […]

LUSAKA – Zambia is in talks with South African power utility Eskom to import 300 megawatts (MW) of electricity, the country’s Energy Minister Mathew Nkhuwa said on Tuesday. While South Africa itself has been struggling to generate enough power, with threats of further load shedding (power cuts) – Zambia is desperate with a power deficit […]

Travel trends across the world are seeing travellers shying away from the overcrowded sights, rather looking for unique experiences in their destinations. But avoiding the crush of tourists doesn’t mean you should skip visiting some of South Africa’s most well-loved cities. And to celebrate Heritage Day this month – you could even stand a chance […]

If you’ve ever dreamt of becoming a seafarer and travelling the world aboard a super yacht, or if you already have that dream position, here are some top tips from South African experts on how to get and keep your job, your sanity… and your newfound wealth! Lauren Norton, Director of Trilogy Luxury Training, spent […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s economic growth is unlikely to reach the treasury’s target of 1.5% in 2019 because conditions have changed and the country is facing increasing headwinds, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said on Friday. This week ratings agency Moody’s, the last of the top three credit firms to rate South Africa’s debt at investment […]

An international team of astronomers using South Africa’s MeerKAT telescope has discovered enormous balloon-like structures that tower hundreds of light-years above and below the centre of our galaxy, it was announced today in a media release. With some joking that now we’ve discovered the Milky Way was an Aero all along, the astronomers have explained […]

JOHANNESBURG – South African business confidence fell to its lowest level in 34 years in August, as a sharp drop in export volumes and a weaker currency aggravated already tough economic conditions, a survey showed on Wednesday. The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s monthly business confidence index (BCI) fell to 89.1 in August […]

Mobs have attacked foreign-owned businesses on the streets of at least three South African cities in recent days. This has caused outrage across Africa. There have even been retaliatory attacks. The South African government, under pressure to protect her large international migrant community, quickly defused the attacks. Such attacks are not new. For more than […]

In a new global livability survey by the Economist of 140 cities around the world, three each in South African expat hotspots Australia and Canada make the top 10 most livable cities, while five in Africa – including Harare – make the 10 least livable. The most livable city for the second year in a […]

With several violent and tragic incidents occurring around South Africa recently, it’s a welcome relief to see there’s one corner of the country where the people are uniting to make things better… voluntarily. Where the locals are creating more than just a better, prettier town. They’re building pride and hope. Karoospace.co.za writer and local Karoo […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s Denel named a new chief financial officer (CFO) on Monday – Carmen Le Grange – as the struggling state-owned defence firm seeks to improve corporate governance and return to profitability. A cornerstone of the country’s once-mighty defence industry, Denel recorded a 1.76 billion rand ($119 million) loss – its first in […]

PERTH, Australia – Anyone Googling the word “hazenile” will almost immediately come across an April 1, 2019, story on Smart Energy International about a “miracle new mineral” from South Africa, but with bold red letters across the story stating “This was an April Fool’s joke.” Clearly, South Africa’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy didn’t […]

A book whose author has refused a R600 000 000 bribe is a book that comes highly recommended. But be warned. The book, After Dawn: Hope after State Capture, is devoid of all autobiography, except one page mentioning Mcebisi Jonas’s feeling of loss when being offered that bribe. The book contains no biographical details. They […]