JOHANNESBURG – Two people have tragically died amid downpours in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa which brought down their house, just a few months after many were killed in another torrential rain. “A man and a woman died when their house collapsed,” Robert Mckenzie, media liaison officer for KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Emergency Medical Services told Reuters by phone. […]

SYDNEY – Firefighters across Australia’s east coast are bracing for “catastrophic” fire conditions as temperatures across the country’s most populous state were set to soar. Many South African expats have reported fires burning near to where they now live, and some in New Zealand posted photos of the smoke from Australia clouding up their skies. […]

The producers of  popular South African TV series ‘7de Laan’ have wished one of their stars – Patrick Shai – a speedy recovery after he was shot with 13 rubber bullets by police on Monday in Dobsonville, Johannesburg. Shai was reportedly trying to mediate and intervene between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and anti-Eskom […]

JOHANNESBURG – Researchers and city officials are racing to understand the extent of a beetle infestation damaging trees across South Africa that, if left unaddressed, could have a ripple effect on the climate, air quality and ecosystems. The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer (PSHB), indigenous to Southeast Asia, is a tiny beetle that drills holes into […]

ArcelorMittal’s South Africa unit said on Monday it would close its steel operations at Saldanha Works in the south of the country because it could no longer compete in export markets. The company, majority-owned by ArcelorMittal, announced in September that it could close some operations as part of a review aimed at strengthening long-term sustainability amid cheap imports, rising costs […]

Zimbabwe is planning an enforced mass migration of wildlife away from a park in the country’s south, where thousands of animals are at risk of death due to drought-induced starvation. At least 200 elephants have already died at two other parks due to lack of food and water, along with scores of buffalo and antelope, Zimbabwe Parks […]

There was heartbreak and disappointment amongst residents in northern Port Elizabeth yesterday as they excitedly waited for the Springbok Victory Bus, cheering and singing in anticipation… but the bus never arrived. Crowds and a waiting flight meant the Boks had to cut short their PE itinerary. At one point, still waiting and hoping, a video […]

South Africa loose-forward Francois Louw – affectionately known as ‘Flo’ – confirmed his retirement from an outstanding career in international rugby on Sunday, the second of the Springboks’ World Cup-winning side to call time on their careers in the green and gold. Louw (34), who came off the replacement bench for captain Siya Kolisi in […]

Australian firefighters have spent Sunday trying to contain bushfires as authorities warn that widespread fire danger on Tuesday will stretch their ability to protect people. Three have already perished since Friday. South Africans in New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland are bracing themselves for worse conditions, as several fires rage across the Aussie states during […]

AUSTRALIA – Three people have died, four are missing and at least 150 homes have been destroyed as bushfires rage across eastern Australia, authorities said on Saturday. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) confirmed two people had been killed by a fire near Glen Innes, more than 550 km (340 miles) north […]

Poachers in South Africa sentenced four majestic lions at Chameleon Village Lion Park in South Africa to a painful death, after feeding them chicken laced with poison as part of a plan to hack off their body parts for ‘muti‘. Male lions Thor and Mumford and white lionesses Isis and Mia died in agony after […]

Heavy rains and floods have killed more than 50 people and forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes across East Africa as researchers warn warming oceans are causing unpredictable weather patterns in the region. South Sudan declared a national emergency last week after 420,000 people fled from the floods, the United Nations said. […]

CAPE TOWN – Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok legend Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira has announced his retirement from international rugby. The 34-year-old veteran of 117 Tests confirmed his decision after a monumental performance in his final match, Saturday’s emphatic, 32-12, victory over England in the Rugby World Cup final in Yokohama, Japan. In a trademark scrumming performance […]

Sasha-Lee Laurel Olivier, voted one of the most beautiful women in the country at the Miss South Africa competition, is going to represent South Africa at the Miss World pageant… and she’ll be there on a mission to use the world famous platform to bring solace to survivors of sexual assault. Sasha-Lee herself was sexually […]

Moody’s left South Africa on the brink of “junk” status on Friday after it revised the outlook on the country’s last investment-grade credit rating to “negative,” piling pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa to quicken the pace of reform. Moody’s said the outlook revision on its ‘Baa3’ rating, the lowest rung of investment grade, was motivated […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has joined the nation in mourning and remembrance of respected broadcaster and public speaker Xolani Gwala. The President learnt of Gwala’s passing while en route to Yokohama, Japan, where he will lead the nation’s support for the national rugby team – the Springboks. In light of the President’s absence, Acting President Angie […]

A record 45 million people across southern Africa face severe food shortages in the next six months, with around a quarter of them currently enduring drought-induced “crisis” food insecurity, three United Nations agencies warned on Thursday. The 16-member Southern African Development Community is in the grips of a severe drought, as climate change wreaks havoc […]

Two people – reportedly from the Netherlands – were murdered on Wednesday afternoon, 30 Oct, in their home at Marloth Park, a holiday town near Komatipoort in Mpumalanga, South Africa. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), two suspects approached a family at their home at Marloth Park on Wednesday at around 15h00. The […]

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck at lunchtime today on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. The earthquake struck at around 13h19 on Thursday 31 October. The epicenter was just north of Port Shepstone, and the affects were felt all over KZN. SAPeople admin volunteer Carol Malley said: “OMW, my office is Durban is on the 14th floor. […]

CAPE TOWN – On Wednesday 30 Oct, Reuters reports that “South African police used brute force to disperse refugees who were peacefully protesting in a sit-in outside the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)… Videos of children being ripped away from the arms of their parents circulated on social media. Fearing for their safety in […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s rand suffered its steepest fall in more than a year on Wednesday after Finance Minister Tito Mboweni forecast wider budget deficits and a sharp increase in debt during his medium-term budget policy statement. The rand was down more than 2.4% at 14.9810 against the U.S. dollar by 1533 GMT, partially recovering […]

A suspected burglar in Gansbaai, South Africa made the wrong choice when he tried to flee from a Neighbourhood Watch member by jumping into a back garden where two loyal guard dogs were on duty. The brave Neighbourhood Watch member was hot on the heels of the man who had fled across the rooftops after […]

Over 3,800 patients in South Africa died last year in Gauteng public hospitals as a result of over 10,000 Serious Adverse Events, which largely arise from avoidable medical negligence. According to a statement by Jack Bloom – DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC – 3832 patients died last year in these hospitals as a result of 10 […]

A PRIDE of lions who ruled one of the world’s largest urban game reserves have been butchered by poachers in South Africa for their body parts to make into ‘muti’ potions for witchdoctors. The two magnificent male lions and two lionesses died in agony from poisoned meat and then had their jaws and paws hacked […]

LOS ANGELES – Wind-whipped flames chased thousands of residents from some of Los Angeles’ wealthiest neighborhoods and threatened the famed Getty Center museum on Monday, the latest outbreak in a wildfire season that has triggered mass evacuations and power outages across California. The fire erupted in the vicinity of the Getty Center at around 1:30 […]