A UK newspaper has rated South Africa’s ‘Moffie’ as one of the best films so far this year. Following the movie’s successful digital launch in South Africa, Moffie was released for streaming on Curzon Home Cinema in the UK at the end of last month… where is was met with an overwhelming positive critical response […]

In celebration of Africa Day, 25 May, Mall of Africa will be having a virtual concert, “Sessions for Africa Day,” that will include Toya Delazy, Zolani Mahola and Lira. Starting from 7 p.m., the listen-from-home concert is free of charge, Mall of Africa said, but viewers can donate towards supporting local artists and the Attacq […]

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting worried… writes Alan Knott-Craig. The Corona-virus lockdown is getting me down. It’s getting me depressed. It’s making me a bit scared. It’s not the curfew, or the lack of exercise, or too much time in a confined space with my family, or the alcohol & cigarette ban, […]

Helium gas, it turns out, isn’t just for blowing up balloons and making friends laugh with a squeaky voice. It’s actually critical in life-saving industries. And just when world supplies of the non-renewable gas were dwindling – and the need for helium increasing – two South Africans made a miraculous discovery in the Free State. […]

In gratitude to the many South African soldiers who are women – and who will be unable to celebrate Mother’s Day with their children today – a women’s veteran’s organisation handed out female hygiene parcels to over 300 female soldiers on Friday. Former Umkhonto weSizwe and SA National Defence Force (SANDF) member, Granny Seape, said […]

Eskom has received offers from a group of engineers, all former employees, who want to contribute their skills free of charge to help rebuild the organisation. Eskom said in a statement yesterday that the offers were unsolicited, and that many of the group – which one news report numbered at 60 – were former employees […]

A wonderful Bananagram challenge to keep busy during Lockdown has turned into a moving video tribute to South Africa. Professor Jean Greyling, from Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, was inspired to start his Bananagram challenge when his daughter, who owns ckreate Illustration and Photography, challenged her friends to do something creative each day, based […]

They’re fascinating and thought-provoking, leave our hearts warmed… or seething with rage. Be informed by proudly South African documentaries now streaming on Showmax.  1. How to Steal a Country How to Steal a Country documents the Gupta family’s rise from flea-market shoe salesmen to owners of a controversial business empire in South Africa in fewer […]

Hair stylist Onele Cembi could be the first South African to write a Covid-19 message in his hair! The stylist from KwaNobhuhle, Uitenhage, says he wants to pass on the message about the virus to children and teach them how to spell by “writing” the words in his dreadlocks. “Children seem to be ignorant about […]

Poorer communities to the southwest of Johannesburg and even farther afield have been benefiting off the incredible feeding schemes being run by the Muslim Association of South Africa. Many of the communities MASA feeds are around Lenasia, such as Vlakfontein, but also the organisation has gone as far as New Scotland in Mpumalanga. Earlier today […]

A number of South African swimmers have got together – separately – to show off their dance moves in a fantastic video compilation that is sure to shake off any lockdown blues. Team South Africa’s website said: “As we continue to do the right thing during lockdown by staying home, TeamSA’s swimmers have proven to […]

So in my little housely enclave, I’ve been thinking about what my thoughts are IRO the lockdown, about the changes around the world, about freedom, and how it’s – if at all – changed much in my life… Here’s what I’ve come up with!… writes well known South African radio and TV personality Melanie Walker. […]

The popular Farmer’s Weekly magazine, in business since 1911, will carry on publishing as normal, even though ten of its sister publications are on the block. Yesterday, Caxton Magazines announced that ten of its publications, including People, Bona, Rooi Rose and Your Family, would close. “Although things will evolve for us over the next few […]

The Roger Federer Foundation is donating $1 million to provide nutritious meals to 64,000 vulnerable young children and their families through its partners in Africa while schools are closed, the foundation announced today. On his Twitter page, the tennis star – whose mother Lynette Federer is a South African Expat – said, “Now more than […]

South Africans stuck in transit at Doha Airport in Qatar have just been given the great news that they will take off at midday today. The passengers – including Springbok and Lion hooker Malcolm Marx, and former SA rugby coach Allister Coetzee – have had a long night after their flight home was postponed because […]

South African expat and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced the birth of his new baby son. Posting photos on Twitter on Tuesday, Musk said that the “baby and Mom” – Canadian singer Grimes – are “all good”. When asked what the baby’s name is, the SpaceX CEO replied cryptically: “X Æ A-12 Musk.” (We’re […]

It is Level 4 lockdown here in South Africa, and if the poor were hungry before covid19, today they are starving. My name is Marilyn Bassin. I have worked with indigent children for nearly 30 years and founded and run an NGO which allows us to help the poorest families who live in shacks, squatter […]

Well-known KwaZulu-Natal snake expert Nick Evans helped the driver of a semi get a 2.5-meter black mamba that was caught in the truck’s engine. “It’s a big black mamba,” Evans said on first identifying the snake. “Not what I was expecting.” When he pulled him out, Evans said the snake was about 2.5 metres long. […]

South Africa has once again come joint first with New Zealand in the 2019 Open Budget Index (OBI), conducted by the International Budget Partnership (IBP) through an Open Budget Survey. SA ranked first out of 117 countries. The global results reflect a modest improvement in budget transparency, reversing the decline seen in 2017 results and […]

For those looking from the global North, African literature is often marketed in a narrow way, comprising worthy stories of resistance, written in an uplifting and sober realist mode. Seen from the continent itself, this view has long been brushed aside by the effervescence and animation of ongoing literary experimentation and creativity. I approached literary […]

A Spar supermarket in Cape Town, South Africa, has made the ultimate sacrifice to support small business owners in its area. The Palm Grove Spar announced on Friday that it would be closing its stationery section the following day (Saturday), and asking customers to instead support “Hein and his team at PenCafe Stationers. The thoughtful […]

Enter the Durban covid-19 lockdown, a cinematic display of city scenes which will forever be etched in our history… writes Kierran Allen. In this outworldly moment in history let’s appreciate the time we have to adapt and develop new ways in which we go about our everyday lives. We can only beat this as a […]

South African comedian Trevor Noah is reportedly personally paying the salaries of 25 of his crew from The Daily Show. Variety magazine has reported that the South African expat told the furloughed staff members in New York that he’ll cover their salaries until normal production resumes. While Trevor is still producing a remote show from […]

This week, Carte Blanche investigates how the Corona Virus turned our world upside down. You can watch the show on Sunday 3 May in South Africa on DStv Now or stream it overseas in most countries from Tues 5 May if you’re abroad. COVID-19 in Wastewater – Early Warning of Infection? With the virus that causes […]

Watching this video about South Africans celebrating New Year’s Eve 2020 in Paris is a stark reminder of how different life is right now, just a few months later… but is also a reminder of how essential it is to cherish every moment. Even the one right now! South African traveller and filmmaker Michael Odendaal […]