LONDON — The countdown to a historic new £1 coin officially began today, with UK Chief Secretary David Gauke revealing it will enter circulation on 28 March 2017. Gauke stressed: “if you have a round one pound coin sitting at home or in your wallet, you need to spend it or return it to your bank before 15 October.” […]

Yes, I am inherently a racist… I’ve been travelling outside of South Africa since 2011 and since then I’ve learnt a lot about the topic, not just from my point of view but from others too, writes REZEEN DANIELS. Let’s start with the term ‘coloured’. I’ve come to hate this term and have openly shared […]

South African comedian and TV presenter Trevor Noah shared a fantastic video late Thursday of an American grandmother, Estelle, who is clearly one of his biggest fans. She says she watches him every night and that he’s just as good as his Daily Show predecessor, Jon Stewart. But it’s her message to Trevor at the […]

A pregnant South African expat unexpectedly and tragically died on Christmas Eve in Bolton in the UK; and her baby – delivered at just 25 weeks – is now fighting for her life. Phumeza Gogela – who had celebrated her 35th birthday just nine days beforehand – suffered a fatal heart attack.  Her baby – baptised and […]

South African expat and YouTube sensation Caspar Lee is used to hanging out with international superstars like Justin Timberlake, but nobody has blown him away more than a young guy – living with HIV – in a township in the Western Cape. Caspar, who is based in London, was recently invited back home to meet […]

Queen Elizabeth focused on what she called the value of doing small things with great love in her annual Christmas message on Sunday, reflecting on inspirational examples of “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”. (Watch below.) Queen Elizabeth, 90, missed a traditional Christmas church service on Sunday for the first time in decades due to a […]

Here’s a behind the scenes peek at what went on in the Palace to capture the adorable Monaco royal family Christmas card. Watch South Africa’s favourite princess and former SA Olympic swimmer, Charlene, her husband Prince Albert II, and their cute two-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella play and pose together earlier this month for […]

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco are sending out a glamorous and beautiful family photo for their annual Christmas Card, featuring their children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella (and a painting of the late Princess Grace). The card says simply: “May the joy and peace of the holiday season be with you in this New Year 2017.” […]

South African musician and film score composer Trevor Rabin (62) is to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with fellow members of British super group ‘Yes’. The SA expat proudly told Rolling Stone magazine that “you’d probably know better than I, but I think I’m the first South African!” On Facebook, Trevor wrote: […]

As South Africa sent condolences today to victims of the probable terrorist attack that struck in Berlin on Monday evening, an SAPeople follower from Germany has described the feelings her country is currently going through. Cornelia H. from Munich, who loves spending her holidays in “beautiful South Africa”, says: “Germany is in a state of shock. Everyone is […]

Prince Harry opened up about grieving and carrying on his mother Princess Diana’s legacy in a documentary – ‘Prince Harry in Africa’ – aired on ITV in the UK on Monday night.  Speaking about his mom’s death 19 years ago, the prince said: “For a huge part of my life I didn’t really want to think […]

The difference between celebrating Christmas the UK or South African way is massive when you’re used to the other. Watch two bloggers from the UK and SA compare the differences they have found… (See the video below.) Even though we share so many traditions from decorating Christmas trees to singing Christmas carols… the experience of a cosy indoor […]

With the help of YouTube, popular South African YouTuber Caspar Lee pranked one of his fellow vloggers, Oli White, at London’s popular tourist spot Madame Tussauds. Caspar, who’s based in London (but is currently enjoying time in Cape Town), has over 6.9 million subscribers on YouTube. His friend Oli has 2.6 million. Together they later […]

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 […]

South African comedian Trevor Noah – who has become an international celebrity as host of The Daily Show in America – has recorded a special thank you message to his fellow South Africans for helping make his book, ‘Born a Crime’, such a success. Trevor uploaded the message below to Facebook and said: “I wanted […]

To get us in the festive mood, here are four South African Christmas songs to sing along to, including one from South African expats living in London and another celebrating all that makes a summer Christmas in SA special… 12 Days of Christmas – a South African style carol South Africans singing ‘Silent Night’ (some in […]

It’s been a busy month so far for Princess Charlene and we’re only halfway through it. Yesterday she and husband Prince Albert II of Monaco, attended the principality’s annual Christmas party, accompanied by Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. It’s a special tradition for the local Monaco children that ends with each one (and there were 600 on Wednesday) receiving […]

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 […]

South African comedian Trevor Noah visited the White House, Washington, to interview the outgoing President of the USA, President Barack Obama. Trevor said: “I look up to you because we share a lot in common – we both have parents who are black and white; both half African; [you’re from] south side of Chicago, [I’m from] […]

Princess Charlene has drawn much praise for her first official visit to India where she met with HIV/Aids patients and spoke to a delegation which included the Dalai Lama. On Saturday Princess Charlene addressed the inaugural “Laureates and Leaders for Children, Summit 2016” in New Delhi in which the rights of children around the world was debated. During […]

American surfers in Milwaukee were “stoked” to have one of the greatest surfers of all time – South African Shaun Tomson – pay a surprise visit and join them for his first ever ride on the great lakes. Last Sunday morning Shaun phoned Jacob Bresette, owner of Wisconsin’s Lake Effect Surf Shop (Milwaukee’s only surf shop), […]

Just like most South Africans living abroad, Princess Charlene is keen for her children to also be in touch with her African roots. And so for their second birthday she threw them a safari-themed party. Although the twins’ birthday is today, 10 December, the party was held on Wednesday 7 December. Crown Prince Jacques and […]

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 […]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, is in South Africa on a two-day visit to showcase the UK’s commitment to forming even stronger global ties with SA… as the UK prepares to leave the EU. The Chancellor said: “As we leave the EU, Britain’s future prosperity depends on maintaining the strongest possible economic links with our European neighbours, […]

Princess Charlene and her adorable twins surprised Prince Albert II – and delighted tourists and locals – by paying an unscheduled visit to the Monaco Christmas Village on Saturday. Moments after Prince Albert officially opened the popular annual event, he was surprised by the appearance of his twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, along with mom Charlene (nee […]