Six people have died and four more are in a critical condition at False Bay Hospital, Fish Hoek, in South Africa after being admitted for methanol poisoning on Monday evening, 1 June. Natalie Watlington, Western Cape Department of Health Principal Communications Officer for Southern Western Sub-structures, confirmed the cases with GroundUp. Watlington said, “Western Cape […]

Confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa have now reached 35 812 — an increase of 1 455 in the last 24 hours. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the Western Cape still has the majority number of cases with 23 583, followed by the Eastern Cape with 4 324, Gauteng with 4 276, and […]

The South African government says it has observed the protests in the USA following the tragic death of George Floyd, and calls on all in America – especially the security forces – to exercise maximum restraint in responding to the anger and frustration felt by many of its citizens, friends and international partners. DIRCO Minister […]

An execution in Cape Town, South Africa, at 10am on Saturday morning has made news headlines internationally after the incident was caught live on CCTV. The 30-second clip – which is being studied by police in South Africa – shows the gunning down of a gang member known as “Aggies”, who police say belonged to […]

Social media users are currently posting blank black images in solidarity with those protesting the death of George Floyd in the U.S. writes Tom Brown. But many of those well-wishers supporting the Blackout Tuesday movement are unintentionally obscuring vital information streams used by protesters… by including the #BlackLivesMatter and #BLM hashtag. The #BlackLivesMatter and #BLM […]

Comair is unlikely to start operating again before November this year, with a downsized fleet, despite the easing of restrictions on air travel as the airline requires a substantial cash injection, the company’s business rescue practitioners said today. Comair, which controls kulula and the local flights of British Airways, said it was in discussions with […]

There were queues all over South Africa today, Monday 1 June, as residents lined up to purchase bottles of wine, beer and spirits after the nine-week ban on alcohol sales (due to Lockdown regulations). Tom Brown captured on film one of the longest queues in the country… at the liquor store at Macro in Cenurion. […]

With British newspapers calling it ‘The Crate Escape’, thieves in South Africa managed to tunnel into a Joburg bottle store and steal about R300,000 worth of alcohol, during the Lockdown. The incredible theft was only discovered a few days ago when the manageress entered the closed premises to start preparing for the liquor store to […]

It has been 9 weeks since the ban on the purchase of alcohol was announced in South Africa as part of Lockdown regulations. Filmmaker and photographer Martin de Kock from MDKafrica was on the scene Monday morning to capture these photos of the long queues of South Africans as bottle stores re-opened for the first […]

A total of 22 new COVID-19 related deaths – all in the Western Cape – have been recorded as the total number of positive cases in South Africa climbs to 34,357 on Monday. The 22 new deaths bring the total to 525 deaths in the Western Cape, increasing the national figure to 705. This means […]

A small Facebook page with a huge heart has made a big difference to thousands of people in Gauteng, South Africa, during Lockdown… delivering over 5,000 parcels, feeding thousands and creating three temporary shelters. The page is One Small Act of Kindness and is run by nursery school owner Kelly-Ann Van Der Meer… whose loved […]

Jackson Babi, a well-known Prophet, along with a police officer attached to the Very Important Persons Protection Directorate, was amongst seven suspects arrested on Monday in Namibia for poaching and trading in wildlife contraband… writes Niël Terblanché from Informante. Lightning quick investigative work by members of the Protected Resources Division of the Namibian Police saw […]

The ANC Caucus says that “unwarranted racist and misogynistic attacks” on COGTA Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma have continued unabated despite several condemnations by the ANC leadership and progressive sectors of society. This comes after a Western Cape social media user posted a morphed photo depicting Dr Dlamini-Zuma as an ape. The ANC says: “We will […]

COGTA Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s Level 3 regulations for South Africa, released today, have been met with frustration and widespread shock and horror. The keyword in response seemed to be “irrational” with the DA adding that the regulations “lack scientific basis” and AfriForum demanding  the Minister recall them. The DA said it will use all […]

A temporary Covid-19 hospital has been built in Cape Town’s Khayelitsha with the generosity of Doctors Without Borders/MSF Southern Africa, to handle the spillover of extra patients from Khayelitsha Hospital that are expected over the coming weeks. In chilling video footage (watch below), filmed by Western Cape amateur film maker Gershwin Christian Williams, the harsh […]

Space-X has announced that it is standing down from today’s launch “due to unfavourable weather in the flight path”. The next launch opportunity is Saturday, May 30 at 3:22 p.m. EDT, or 19:22 UTC, says Space-X. Space-X founder and South African expat Elon Musk’s mission got very close to lift-off, with the crew settled in, […]

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rises to 24 264, South Africa is working around the clock to ramp up its testing capacity. However, South Africa is now faced with the challenge of a shortage of test kits – a problem not unique to the country. “As a country, we are now facing a […]

Low-income families have increased their spending on food by more than 30% since March when the national Covid-19 lockdown began. This is according to a report published by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group (PEJDG) on Tuesday. The Group collected its food price data from five supermarkets and four butcheries that serve poor households […]

The family of a South African Airways (SAA) crew member, who sadly passed away on Sunday, have been left dismayed by rumours circulating in SA that she died from Covid-19. Through the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), the family has issued a statement laying claim to the facts surrounding the tragic death of the 39-year-old […]

Following on from yesterday’s revelation that over 1,000 South Africans are stranded just on the other side of SA’s borders – in neighbouring states from Namibia to Mozambique – the father of one such SA citizen has shared this heartbreaking letter with SAPeople readers. Letter from Raymond Cloete: “My son Richard went to visit his […]

South African fans of award-winning actor Menzi Ngubane have taken to social media to send well wishes and prayers for his speedy recovery after reports that the legendary actor is allegedly “battling for his life” at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital in Johannesburg. Ngubane, who underwent a kidney transplant a decade ago, was apparently admitted with suspected […]

At least 14 people have now died and ten more are reportedly fighting for their lives in hospital after drinking home-brew beer, with lethal sources of alcohol added to it, made to get round South Africa’s lockdown alcohol ban. Police have revealed that three people died in each of three different villages close to each […]

South Africa’s The Kiffness – aka David Scott – has posted another hilarious video to his incredibly popular playlist of Lockdown Parodies. This time it’s called “Nkosazan’ Dlamini Trafficker (SA’s New National Anthem)” and pokes fun at Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and the ban on cigarettes in South Africa. Scott […]

More than 1,000 South African citizens are still stranded in neighbouring countries – from Mozambique to Botswana – and unable to return home to SA. There are at least 60 people stranded in Namibia; 300 in Zimbabwe; 500 in Mozambique; 200 in Eswatini; and 100 in Botswana, according to the DA (Democratic Alliance). “We also […]

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa has reached the 20 000 mark, as the country’s death toll increased by 28 to 397 on Friday. According to the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the total number of confirmed Coronavirus cases in is now 20 125 which increased by 988 new cases in the […]