R21 billion: that’s how much South Africa’s beleaguered national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), says it needs to keep running… writes Jannie Rossouw. SAA has reached this point in its financial crisis through persistent mismanagement and cronyism, with the SA government as main shareholder refusing to take tough decisions about the company. But such decisions can’t […]

Former Parktown Boys High School water-polo coach, Collan Rex, has been sentenced to 23 years in prison. The 23-year-old, a former Parktown Boys learner himself, was found guilty in September of 144 charges of sexual offences, as well as a further 12 charges of common assault. According to the SABC’s Sashin Naido Rex the High […]

NAIROBI – When the soldiers started fanning out in the cashew nut growing regions of southern Tanzania – it was a jolting sight for traders and, campaigners say, a watershed moment for a country once held up as a darling of development groups. The government said the troops were there last week to make sure […]

Balule Nature Reserve Executive Committee has issued a statement regarding the “harrowing and traumatising” killing of an elephant on Friday afternoon by hunters, near a lodge where visitors were staying. The visitors, staying at the lodge near Hoedspruit next to the Kruger National Park, apparently watched in horror as two hunters gunned down a young […]

The Pretoria Magistrate Court on Wednesday postponed the Dros Rape Case case to next year, as Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital does not have a bed available to admit the accused, Nicholas Ninow, for psychiatric testing. Ninow (20) is accused of allegedly raping and sexually assaulting a six-year-old child in the toilets at a Dros restaurant in […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s rand will remain volatile in 2019, making monetary policy complicated and focused on long-term inflation factors rather than short-term market shocks, Reserve Bank Deputy Governor Daniel Mminele said on Wednesday. Mminele said the bank expected the rand to average 14.50 against the dollar but trade would be volatile, forcing the monetary […]

The DA youth has pledged its support to the family of a young 13-year-old girl who was allegedly raped and impregnated by one of its members. Luyolo Mphithi, DA Youth Leader, said the party had “learnt with horror” that one of its own members had been accused of the rape and of making his teen […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa‘s struggling state-run power firm Eskom on Wednesday forecast a loss before tax of more than R11.2 billion ($800 million) in the current financial year, despite a turnaround plan designed to shore up its finances. Eskom, Africa‘s largest public utility, reported a R671 million profit in the six months to the end […]

Democratic Alliance Chief Whip John Steenhuisen today responded to claims that he should not be the DA’s Chief Whip in Parliament without a university degree. Steenhuisen delivered another epic speech, although he was interrupted several times (at one point saying “this is harassment, come on”). Watch below. Here’s a full transcript of John Steenhuisen’s speech […]

The two officers who recorded themselves having a blast doing the famous Idibala dance challenge in South Africa – whilst driving! – have been issued with disciplinary action. In the video that went viral earlier this month, the two (very happy) officers are seen dancing and singing in full uniform… and not wearing their safety […]

JOHANNESBURG – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Leader Julius Malema has retaliated to Pravin Gordhan’s defamation complaint – which was filed against Malema and his Deputy Floyd Shivambu yesterday – by filing his own counter criminal complaint against the Public Enterprises Minister. In it, Malema accuses Gordhan of money laundering, corruption, racketeering and fraud. Gordhan denies any […]

Time is running out for Ebenezer Odei to get the funding he needs to be able to attend university in 2019. Odei is a matric learner at Grassy Park High School. His parents are Ghanaian and came to South Africa in 1996. They were granted permanent residence in 1997. Odei was born in South Africa […]

CAPE TOWN – South Africa‘s cash-strapped state airline, South African Airways, will need a total of R7.5 billion  ($540 million) from next month to fund day-to-day operations into 2019, a presentation to a parliamentary committee by the airline showed on Tuesday. SAA, which has not generated a profit since 2011, survives on state guarantees and is […]

A brave – and petrified – woman in South Africa refused to be a victim of an attempted armed robbery in Cape Town yesterday. The unnamed female driver took matters into her own hands, reversing away from the perpetrators and crashing into three other cars as she made her successful escape. According to 1Second Facebook page, […]

NORTH WEST – Eight suspects, including farmers, were arrested on Sunday in South Africa for the alleged illegal possession of game products that ranged from lion bones and meat to tiger’s skin in what has been described as South Africa’s “dirty & shameful predator bone smuggling racket”… which had allegedly been ongoing for years, under […]

A video has been going viral on South African social media, sadly showing a mother using her three children to steal a handbag from a customer at a Steers restaurant in Paarl in the Western Cape. The family hover near a table with the mother either on the phone or pretending to be on the […]

The former partner of  South African hip-hop legend, Jabulani “HHP” Tsambo, has tragically died, just a month and two days after HHP passed away. According to local reports, Lerato Khanye died in a Johannesburg hospital in the early hours of Monday morning. It’s a heartbreaking loss for Lerato and HHP’s 14-year-old son Leano, who has […]

“It is unconscionable, and unacceptable, that the Presidency has agreed to pay for Jacob Zuma’s legal costs for his participation in the Zondo Commission, on top of the costs for his criminal defence that the state already pays,” says DA Leader Mmusi Maimane. In a media statement on Sunday, Maimane asked how much longer government […]

The revelation that Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip John Steenhuisen does not hold a degree or any post-matric qualification has split South Africans, and left many asking just how did a white guy with a mind as brilliant as his not get a degree? The revelation was made in an article in the Sunday Times […]

The Springboks finished their Outgoing Tour to the United Kingdom and France on a disappointing note on Saturday evening when Wales defeated them by 20-11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The South Africans now return home from their month-long tour of the northern hemisphere with two wins and two losses, following wins over France […]

Sadly the Springboks have ended their fairly triumphant end-of-year tour with a 20-11 loss to Wales in Cardiff on Saturday… making it the fourth time in a row that the Welsh team have beaten South Africa, and leaving questions about the World Cup. After kicking off the tour with a very close loss to England, […]

While Black Friday’s shopping bonanza was enjoyed fairly calmly – and in good spirits – by thousands of South Africans across the country… there were a couple of mishaps, like the door that was broken down by eager shoppers at the Game store in Empangeni. Watch below. Crowds gathered at the 90 Game outlets around […]

JOHANNESBURG – KPMG South Africa has reported a former partner to the police over his alleged role in the VBS corruption scandal in which almost R2 billion ($144 million) was stolen from the bank. According to two KPMG employees, familiar with the matter, the accounting firm sent an internal email to staff on Friday that […]

Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader Mmusi Maimane on Friday submitted a request to the Public Protector to investigate the relationship of President Cyril Ramaphosa with African Global Operations (formerly known as Bosasa). Maimane said if the Public Protector finds that the President knowingly and wilfully misled Parliament, he will have to face the consequences. In a […]

CAPE TOWN  – Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi is expected to be sidelined with a knee injury for around 12 weeks, ruling him out of South Africa’s home test series against Pakistan starting next month as he seeks to be regain full fitness for the 2019 World Cup. Ngidi injured his knee while fielding in a […]