Controversial South African film, Treurgrond, about the impact of a farm murder on the local community, has won a top award at the Film Fest International in Amsterdam, the Netherlands… whilst also raising awareness about the plight of some farmers in SA. The film, which is in Afrikaans with English subtitles, won Best Foreign Language […]

South African expat and US Talk Show host, Trevor Noah, has posted a warm tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, who passed away yesterday at the age of 76. Franklin, who had pancreatic cancer, was surrounded by her family and friends in Detroit. Noah recalled growing up in South Africa listening to Franklin […]

2018 has been a good year for South African movie-goers’ pride with the release of the highly (and deservedly so) acclaimed Black Panther movie and specifically the decision to use Xhosa as the language of Wakanda. But there are actually plenty more obscure references to South Africa, particularly in some of our favourite shows growing […]

The Queen of Pop celebrated her 60th birthday on Thursday 16 August by proving she’s no longer a ‘Material Girl’. Instead of asking for gifts, Madonna asked friends and fans to rather donate to her Facebook fundraiser which is benefiting her Raising Malawi foundation. The non-profit Foundation aims to benefit vulnerable children in the southern African […]

Centurion in Gauteng, South Africa, is quite literally sinking. In the past year a whopping 30 sinkholes have appeared in the area, situated between Pretoria and Midrand. According to current affairs show Carte Blanche, Centurion has been built on permeable dolomite… and now “urbanisation, bad drainage and infrastructure have led to 30 sinkholes appearing in this […]

Aretha Franklin, the preacher’s daughter whose powerful voice made her the long-reigning “Queen of Soul” with such hit songs as “Respect” and “Chain of Fools,” died on Thursday at the age of 76, officials said. Franklin, who won 18 Grammys and had some 25 gold records, died at her home in Detroit surrounded by family […]

This week’s episode of Carte Blanche investigates the sabotage of Metrorail, the crime wave hitting Stellenbosch and more. The show is available to South Africans abroad from today – Tuesday 14 August 2018 – if you subscribe to Showmax. Metrorail Sabotage With 39 train carriages set alight and destroyed in just the last four months, […]

Every once in a while, there comes a TV show that quickly becomes a phenomenon. That’s exactly what The Queen has become in South Africa. We just cannot get enough of it. Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Showmax. And yes, it starts from the very first episode. The Mzansi Magic telenovela, created by […]

South African hip hop artist Linda ‘Pro’ Mkhize tragically passed away on Wednesday evening at the age of 37. According to a family statement he was visiting friends when he suffered a severe seizure. Tributes have poured in for the star of hits like ‘Woz’uzobabona’, with the hashtags #DankieSan, #RipLindaMkhize and #RipProKid all trending in South […]

Tomorrow, Thursday, 9 August 2018 is Women’s Day in South Africa, when South Africans commemorate the 1956 march of approximately 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to petition against the country’s Apartheid pass laws. Here’s a selection of six South African classics – just released on Showmax – that capture the courage of South […]

Sadly, three guys from my childhood have passed away in the last few months. This prompted a long and warm reflection of my childhood in South Africa. I found a piece I had written about those days and share it here for my SA friends and others who are also feeling nostalgic, specially when mortality […]

The South African medical field continues to perform pioneering surgeries… with this week’s Carte Blanche highlighting a brain surgery technique that’s changing lives. This week’s episode also looks at how South Africans are facing a challenging year! The programme investigated the knock-on effects of the core increases in our tough economy… with buying power slashed […]

This week Carte Blanche investigates what’s really behind the mystery facing officials in Durban with regard to the spate of bomb scares. (This episode is available for South Africans abroad to watch from Tuesday 31 July 2018 if you subscribe to Showmax.) Durban Bombs It’s the biggest mystery currently facing officials in Durban – ten explosive […]

Here’s the first peek at the new Leon Schuster movie – Frank & Fearless – due for release later this year. In true Schuster fashion, the film follows the hilarious and heroic antics of four loveable characters in the African bush… but also introduces a relevant and engrossing story and a depth of emotion which […]

The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has officially announced that radio personality, Robert Marawa will be re-joining the public broadcaster from August 1, 2018. Speculation had been rife over whether Marawa would present the sports show on both Radio 200 and Metro FM. Today, the SABC clarified the matter, saying: “Mr Marawa, who is a […]

One of South Africa’s biggest rock band exports – Just Jinjer – are heading to London, along with Prime Circle and Tailor, for what is sure to be an unforgettable night of entertainment for SA expats in the UK – A Night to Remember. PLEASE NOTE: EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. After successful runs in Johannesburg […]

This week Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa – the man who rose to power in a military coup – is in the hot seat, as Carte Blanche goes one-on-one with the country’s leader. (Available for South Africans abroad to watch from Tuesday 24 July 2018 if you subscribe to Showmax.) One-on-one with President Emmerson Mnangagwa Free and fair elections […]

Here are the latest topics due for broadcast on Carte Blanche this Sunday,and all available for South Africans living abroad from Tuesday 17 July 2018, if you subscribe to Showmax. Home Hijacking In an upwardly mobile residential complex on Gauteng’s East Rand, suburban bliss has turned to living hell as cunning building hijackers have systematically muscled […]

South Africans in the UK are in for a treat with A Night to Remember – an amazing concert featuring Prime Circle, Just Jinjer and Tailor, all on stage TOGETHER – in London on 4 August 2018! Here, SAPeople chats exclusively to Tailor about Johnny Clegg, performing for expats and living in the moment… PLEASE NOTE: […]

The penultimate series of Game of Thrones has topped this year’s list of Emmy nominees which were announced yesterday. The multi-award winning series – which is available to South Africans on Showmax – scooped 22 nominations, including Best Drama Series. Showmax shows featured high in this year’s nominations, with two other popular Drama series – […]

The Daily Show, hosted by South African comedian Trevor Noah, has been nominated for three Emmy Awards – for Outstanding Variety Talk Series, Outstanding Interactive Program and Outstanding Short Form Variety Series. Trevor, who is now based in New York, joked: “Wow, I visited Russia for 3 days and now The Daily Show is nominated for […]

It’s not often you see international TV mogul Simon Cowell clapping along to the acts he judges, but this Los Angeles choir’s mesmerising rendition of Toto’s ‘Africa’ has even Cowell joining in… and giving it a standing ovation! SAPeople followers will remember Angel City Chorale’s original video of ‘Africa’ in 2013 – in which they […]

Beyoncé, JAY-Z, Cassper Nyovest, D’banj, Ed Sheeran, Eddie Vedder, Femi Kuti, Pharrell Williams and Chris Martin, Sho Madjozi, Tiwa Savage, Usher, Wizkid – and more artists – will be holding a Nelson Mandela tribute concert on 2 December in Johannesburg, South Africa… and tickets are FREE! There is a catch though. A good catch! The […]

If you’re looking for something positive to lighten your spirits, this video from Secunda, South Africa, has it all. As many will remember, a couple of months ago Stephanie van der Walt secretly filmed her mom “cleaning new South African style”. Mom (Sandra Nel) was washing the bathroom to the music – and moves – […]

If you’re in the UK on Sunday 1 July – you’re in luck! One of the most beautiful choirs in the world – the award-winning Stellenbosch University Choir – will be performing for one night only in London… on their way to performing at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales (which we hope they win!). […]