Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) has reported another fire has broken out in the Western Cape, on Lion’s Head. Last month fires swept the Southern Peninsula resulting in the tragic loss of two lives. Firefighters from Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) are on the site fighting the current fire, and VWS is monitoring. According to freelance videographer Daniel Walsh “Wind is Strong […]

According to the Kenya National Disaster Operation Center at least 147 people were killed in today’s attack on a university in the north east of Kenya. (This version updated at 21:21 SA time, 02 April 2015.) Students at Garissa University College were taken hostage this morning. Many of them were in their dormitory fast asleep at the time that […]

When it comes to languages, South Africa – the land of 11 official languages – truly is in shift. As the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) News channel said it would be axing Afrikaans and several other-language bulletins from its 24-hour news service, the government announced that Mandarin has been approved as an optional subject at […]

The families of three South African yachtsmen who have been missing at sea for over two months are hopeful that their loved ones may be found following a surge in interest in the satellite crowdsourcing platform, Tomnod. The surge was sparked by an object that was tagged by multiple members of the “Lost Catamaran & Crew at Sea” campaign […]

South African cricket captain AB de Villiers has expressed his disappointment at today’s defeat of the Proteas by the New Zealand national team at Eden Park, Auckland…and at letting their fans down. South Africa was beaten by four wickets with a ball to spare after the Duckworth / Lewis system was taken into account (due to rain delays). […]

Former tennis great Bob Hewitt has been found guilty in a Johannesburg court of raping several underage girls he was meant to be coaching in the 1980s and ’90s. Australian-born Hewitt, a former Grand Slam doubles champion, had been accused of rape by two women and of sexual assault by a third. Suellen Sheehan, who […]

It seems pretty clear now: “Chappie” is not doing well. The new film from “District 9” director Neill Blomkamp that especially attracted attention – or rather, curiosity – over its use of Die Antwoord’s duo Ninja and Yolandi Visser has come and (almost) gone. Since its release in the United States on March 6, critics […]

Former Sunday Times editor Ken Owen has passed away this morning. The writer, who grew up in Pretoria West, was suffering from cancer. Less than a month ago Owen gave a moving speech at his 80th birthday party celebrations, on 21 February, in which he said he was ready to “relinquish life”. He also used […]

It had to happen! Someone’s created a South African version of the Laughing Man video (which went viral last week as an Apple interview). Both spoofs are based on a video clip from a Spanish show in which the contestant laughs uncontrollably whilst talking, causing the show’s presenter Jesús Quintero to double over with laughter himself. […]

Helicopter pilot and #CapeFire hero Willem Hendrik ‘Bees’ Marais will be laid to rest today. But he will never be forgotten by his friends, family and the people of Cape Town. A facebook page has been set up in dedication of ‘Oom Bees’, as he was fondly called; and a makeshift memorial of cards, letters […]

The Baboon Technical Team (BTT) has issued a plea to residents in the Western Cape to please NOT feed the baboons. Some well-meaning residents have wanted to help the baboons after fires ravaged the mountains around Cape Town last week, burning many of the pine trees in the Tokai Forest where the baboons lived. However […]

While the flames and the headlines may have died down, the work for the firefighters in the Western Province of South Africa is far from over. Just this evening the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) crew were deployed again to assist with flare-ups along the slopes of Stellenbosch Mountain. “Be safe crew!” wrote the administrator of their Facebook page. Cape […]

Less than a week after fires ravaged mountain slopes in the Western Cape, new life is beginning in the midst of the devastation…as shown by these photos taken a couple of days ago by South African trail runner Ryan Sandes. Sandes took the photos during a “morning adventure” up Black Burn Ravine. He said that after […]

South Africa’s beleaguered power-provider Eskom has suspended four executives including CEO Tsediso Matona while it commissions an independent enquiry into the running of its business. The move was announced today by Eskom Chairman Zola Tsotsi following a board meeting yesterday. Tsotsi said the board has “resolved to commission an independent enquiry on the current state of the […]

When I started my blog – Mes Clics et Mes Claques – soon-to-be-a-year-ago, I deliberately opted to focus on the (many) positive sides of this incredibly beautiful country, South Africa…my new adopted home from France. However, a few times I have received private messages from overseas followers asking about safety, crime etc. It’s always a tricky question indeed. I […]

Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) has requested food for the firefighters and donations of paper plates and other items needed to fight the advancing fire in Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, near Stellenbosch. VWS reported less than an hour ago that the fire is spreading towards the mouth of Jonkershoek Valley. (Please see update for Thurs 12 March below.) On […]

After battling raging fires in Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch since Monday afternoon, firefighters tonight thought they had managed to douse most of the flames and successfully contain the fire…but latest reports reveal that the fire is spreading. Christine De Villiers, who lives in the area, wrote to SAPeople late tonight saying “Sad news. The wind has blown the fire from Jonkershoek […]

A businessman from South Africa who was in Finland for a conference has been reported missing after he did not return on a flight home this weekend. Herc Croeser, 60, of Boksburg is a manager at Metso Minerals. According to reports, Croeser’s belongings, including his passport and a large amount of money, were found in […]

We are heartbroken to report that a Working on Fire helicopter pilot – Hendrik Marais (known to his friends as ‘Bees’) – has lost his life fighting in the Cape Point fire today. Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS) said “we have tragically lost a brother in our firefighting family today. Hendrik Marais will be fondly remembered […]

It’s International Women’s Day – #IWD2015 – and sadly, it’s as important today as it was when it began over 100 years ago in New York in 1909. Women today are still struggling for true equality, and are still subjected to shocking sexual and physical abuse around the world, including in South Africa. Here, a young […]

After yet another tragic and cruel poaching incident near to Graaff Reinet, Wilderness Foundation and private game reserve owners have clubbed together to offer a R150,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest that is associated with any rhino poaching incident on Mount Camdeboo. (Please be warned. The pictures below are graphic…but this is […]

Cinematographer/Photographer Calvin Munhuweyi has compiled a beautiful video tribute to the brave men and women in the fire services who have fought against the raging fires in Cape Town these past few days; while participants and spectators in Sunday’s Cape Town Cycle Tour are being urged to wear Red in solidarity. Calvin shot the footage […]

Many South Africans from around the world have said how difficult it is to be watching the #MuizenbergFire from afar, so we asked three photographers in Cape Town to allow us to share their experiences this week, so that others can feel a little closer. Thank you Tammy Lieberman, Shawn Benjamin and Andy Nix. Tammy Lieberman, Tammy […]

As the City of Cape Town welcomed the drizzling rains that began to fall this morning, a new fire started up at the Cape Point Nature Reserve at Gifkommetjie and – although contained by National Parks – helicopters were grounded because of strong winds and poor visibility. Thirteen properties have now been damaged in the #MuizenbergFire. This is […]

As today is declared the hottest day in Cape Town’s recorded history the fire that began in the early hours of Sunday 1 March 2015 continues to ravage the mountain, with firefighters now battling over 14 separate fires. Temperatures today reached 42 degrees Celsius, according to the Weather Office, making Cape Town the hottest it’s been in at least […]