Private rangers in the Kruger National Park (KNP) have been criticised for allegedly provoking rhinos to charge tourists during a walking safari. YouTube channel ‘Kruger National Park’ – which posts all things related to KNP – have posted the following video, asking: “did the guides provoke this attack? Decide for yourself.” In their description on […]

HOUT BAY – It was a sad and unusual scene today in Cape Town, South Africa, as a juvenile whale carcass was towed to shore in Hout Bay and away for safe removal. National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) had received a call at around 09h25 about the sighting of a whale, suspected to be entangled […]

A paddler in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, was lucky to escape unharmed from a very close encounter with what is believed to have been a 4-metre Great White shark… that took a rather large bite out of his paddle-ski! Ben Swart (55), from Pretoria, was with two friends – Nick Bester and Ronald Pronk – when he […]

A teenager has tragically drowned at Paradise Beach Lagoon in Jeffreys Bay. The local NSRI duty crew were activated at 08h46 following reports of a drowning in progress. The 16-year-old male, from Port Elizabeth, had been playing beach ball with his friends when he slipped into a hole underwater and disappeared. According to Rieghard Janse van […]

South Africa’s Miss World contestant, Ntandoyenkosi Kunene (24), will not be bringing home the Miss World title, but while Ntandoyenkosi may not have made it into the Top 20 tonight at the pageant’s Grand Final… she has made it into South Africans’ hearts. Miss Puerto Rico Stephanie Del Valle was crowned Miss World 2016 on Sunday […]

Little rhino orphans in South Africa have been snuggling up under the cuddly covers of blankets, knitted especially for them by kind donors. It’s a beautiful sweet sight in a tragic situation. There shouldn’t be rhino orphanages… but thanks to not such great humans poaching and killing adult rhinos for their horns, wonderful kind humans have had […]

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa has extended “deepest sympathies” to the family, friends and colleagues of City of Cape Town Transport Official Steven Otter who was murdered in the early hours of Friday morning. Otter (43) passed away from stab wounds after confronting intruders at around 4am in his new Harfield Village home, which […]

ALEPPO, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) – The evacuation of the last opposition-held areas of the Syrian city of Aleppo was suspended on Friday after pro-government militias demanded that wounded people should also be brought out of two Shi’ite villages being besieged by rebel fighters. The second day of the operation to take fighters and civilians out of […]

LONDON – British Airways (BA) has announced that trade union Unite intends to hold industrial action involving one of BA’s five cabin crew fleets on Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26). BA said: “We are appalled that Unite proposes to disrupt customers’ travel plans on such special days when so many families […]

ZEERUST – Friday’s Reconciliation Day celebrations at Gopane in North West, South Africa, were called off after President Jacob Zuma had to be driven away during a freak storm. The violent storm with strong winds ripped through the marquee as the president was discussing compensation efforts for the families of the Markana massacre victims. He said part […]

ZEERUST – Friday’s Reconciliation Day celebrations at Gopane in North West, South Africa, were called off after President Jacob Zuma had to be driven away during a freak storm. The violent storm with strong winds ripped through the marquee as the president was discussing compensation efforts for the families of the Markana massacre victims. He said part […]

ALEPPO, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) – The evacuation of the last opposition-held areas of the Syrian city of Aleppo was suspended on Friday after pro-government militias demanded that wounded people should also be brought out of two Shi’ite villages being besieged by rebel fighters. The second day of the operation to take fighters and civilians out of […]

South Africa’s Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, must be suspended immediately, pending a full investigation into allegations that the invalid contract, awarded to Cash Paymaster Services (CPS) to distribute social grants to 17 million vulnerable South Africans, benefitted her friends, says DA Shadow Minister Bridget Masango. Masango says that today’s AmaBhungane report, published on […]

(Reuters) – Yahoo Inc warned it had uncovered yet another massive cyber attack, saying data from more than 1 billion user accounts was compromised in August 2013, making it the largest breach in history. The number of affected accounts was double the scope of an attack in 2014 that the internet company disclosed in September. […]

The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for severe thunder storms in Gauteng on Tuesday. Hail, heavy rain and localised flooding are possible. The City of Joburg said: “We’ve received a warning about probable hail in the Joburg north area. Please make sure that you and your vehicle are safe on the roads.” They also […]

PRETORIA – Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba on Tuesday announced that South Africa has decided to reciprocate by withdrawing the visa exemption which New Zealand passport holders enjoy. This reciprocation – or retaliation? – is in response to New Zealand’s withdrawal of visa free travel arrangements for South African passport holders. And while New Zealand […]

In breaking news Tuesday morning it has been reported that South Africa’s serious crimes unit, Hawks, has laid charges related to alleged high treason and a plot to remove President Jacob Zuma. Hawks has reportedly confirmed that its boss Mthandazo Ntlemeza submitted a warning statement to police watchdog IPID (Independent Police Investigative Directorate) yesterday, 12 December… and […]

PRETORIA – President Jacob Zuma has extended South Africa’s condolences to Nigeria and Egypt following tragedies that occurred this weekend at churches in these countries; and has extended condolences to the governments and people of Yemen, Turkey and Somalia following the terrorist attacks that occurred in those countries at the weekend. Nigeria… On Saturday, a church […]

An accident in South Africa involving an offshore supply vessel – Go Regulus (in orange) – and what appears to be a fishing trawler (in blue) has been caught on video and shared on social media. Mike Schuler, who uploaded the video, said the accident reportedly occurred at the Sturrock Dry Dock in Cape Town on […]

Controversy erupted at the University of Cape Town in 2016 when some academics suggested that only meat-free meals should be served on parts of the campus. The debates and opposition were couched in arguments around ethics and choice. They did not make connections between multiple forms of oppression, power and privilege. This meant a vital […]

Grandfather Chris Dods-Brooks, now living in New Zealand, had been looking forward to a long-awaited family reunion at Christmas, when he would meet his four grandchildren for the very first time. The tickets were booked. But on 21 November visa laws changed, and his dream Christmas got cancelled… “Why were we given no time to sort this […]

Below is a sad, honest insight into the world of conservation in South Africa. This letter, written by journalist and conservationist JOHANN BOTHA on his Facebook timeline is about the penguins, but those fighting to save the rhino from extinction say it sums up how they are feeling too… WHY THE PENGUINS MUST DIE – by […]

(Reuters) – John Glenn, who became one of the 20th century’s greatest explorers as the first American to orbit Earth and later as the world’s oldest astronaut, and also had a long career as a U.S. senator, died in Ohio on Thursday at age 95. Glenn, the last surviving member of the original seven American […]

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma and most of his Cabinet received an ‘F’ rating for their 2016 performance on their Cabinet Report Card. The report was presented by opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane in Parliament on Wednesday. Maimane said it is “a comprehensive assessment of President Zuma and his Cabinet, which reflects a wholly unaccountable […]

A large pride of lions brought traffic to a halt in the Kruger National Park, South Africa, after they’d hunted and killed a buffalo. The lions then settled in for a long lunch… right in the middle of the road. The incident occurred near Satara Rest Camp in South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park and took place in […]