Eating insects is as old as mankind. Globally, 2 billion people consume insects, a practise known as entomophagy. It is more common in Africa than anywhere else in the world. The continent is home to the richest diversity of edible insects – more than 500 species ranging from caterpillars (Lepidoptera) to termites (Isoptera), locusts, grasshoppers, […]

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. […]

South Africa is not producing enough school leavers who are competent in maths and science. This is a fact borne out by international assessments such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) and the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report. These show that South Africa is not making much headway when it […]

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 […]

Standing on a rock on the slopes of Sir Lowry’s Pass in the Western Cape of South Africa, overlooking the ocean and Somerset West’s skyline, surrounded by untamed landscape – this is where Dutch entrepreneur Henk Maris stood 12 years ago and had a vision for this place, Bezweni Lodge – “If this is heaven…” Maris is […]

An abandoned newborn baby boy was found in a rubbish bin this morning at commercial buildings in Durban. Netcare911 report that the baby has been successfully stabilised. A Netcare911 spokesperson told SAPeople that the baby was found abandoned in a bin near the women’s toilets. Netcare911 said the “beautiful little boy” will be taken to hospital […]

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 […]

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 – […]

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 […]

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 […]

No self-respecting Twitter follower could have failed to notice the recent upheaval over a Cape Town waiter’s order slip, which contained a description of a pair of customers as “2 blacks”. Before tweeters could chirp themselves into a frenzy, the Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille – an ardent tweeterbox – entered the fray […]

An emotional Kyle Abbott confirmed in a press conference Thursday that he has committed to take up a Kolpak contract in Hampshire at the start of the forthcoming England season. After much media speculation, Abbott confirmed he had signed the deal five months ago and had wanted to make the announcement at the end of this Test […]

A South African anti-poaching manager has posted a heartbreaking, but powerful, post Thursday morning revealing exactly what the brave people who fight in the war against poaching, are actually facing. Update 12 Feb ’17: For professional reasons, the manager has had to remove his post and requested we do the same. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Watch these two videos for a glimpse of the reality for those working to fight the fires in Somerset West in South Africa. And those working to support the firefighters. Western Cape photographer Justin Sullivan – who has been in the thick of it, with the firefighters – compiled this intense footage (plus scroll down for […]

PENNINGTON, KZN – Former South African golf champion Wayne Westner has died in tragic circumstances, after a ‘hostage drama’ at his home in Pennington on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. South African Police Services (SAPS) confirmed that the sportsman died on Wednesday morning by a gunshot wound to the right side of his head. According to local reports, the 55-year-old […]

Areas of Somerset West in South Africa were evacuated last night (03/01/17) as firefighters battled to contain a fire in the Western Cape region that had started earlier in the afternoon. JUSTIN SULLIVAN captured the incredible photos on this page. At least eight fires spread through the Western Cape yesterday, as they were fanned by strong […]

Residents are currently being evacuated from farms and homes in areas of Somerset West in South Africa, and help is urgently needed – especially bakkies and horseboxes. An alarm about the #Helderberg fire being out of control has been posted on social media, with calls for bakkies needed to help with evacuation in Sir Lowry’s […]

Beautiful Bezweni Lodge in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Somerset West, was devastatingly burnt this afternoon… as fires raged across the region in at least eight different locations. Conditions were made worse by particularly strong winds blowing Tuesday in the Western Cape. This evening Bezweni Lodge updated its Facebook status to “feeling sad”. A message from the Lodge said […]

CAPE TOWN – Over 100 firefighters, two spotters, two choppers, two fixed wing air tractor bombers have been assisting at eight fires spread across the Western Cape today, according to Working on Fire (WoF). Huge clouds of smoke were seen over Cape Town as strong winds drove smoke and flames from Elgin Valley over the Sir […]

PRETORIA – The new year has barely begun, and party political squabbles have already started between the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). The latest squabble is over Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga’s recent trip to the City of Taipei, Taiwan. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) says the visit to […]