The 114 South Africans evacuated by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) from China’s COVID19-hit Wuhan City have touched down in Polokwane, in Limpopo. The group arrived shortly after 10:30am on a South African Airways (SAA) flight. About 20 minutes after landing, the first passenger disembarked the aircraft and was swiftly escorted to one […]

Italians unanimously burst into song in Siena, finding a way to connect with each other… even during isolation and quarantine. But they weren’t the only ones. All over Italy – from the north down to Naples, there were similar scenes filmed this week, of the Europeans joined in unison – singing ballads, singing the national […]

South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has confirmed that the Ranch Resort in Polokwane will host the 122 repatriated South Africans from Wuhan, Hubei Province, in China. On Trip Advisor the resort is rated as ‘Excellent’. “Three sites were identified. Of the three sites that were shortlisted, The Ranch Resort was selected. An agreement has […]

South Africa’s popular Ndlovu Youth Choir – who shot to fame internationally when they made it through to the finals of America’s Got Talent last year – have posted a video with tips on avoiding getting the novel Coronavirus. The choir said on social media: ” There are already many dangerous myths and misunderstandings about the […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa last night hailed the South African team travelling to Wuhan, China, on a repatriation mission, as heroes who carry the pride and hope of the nation. The team comprising members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and a medical team from the Department of Health left for Wuhan, the epicenter […]

This weekend only, DStv customers on any package will be able to livestream all the DStv channels using the DStv Now app.  Don’t make plans for the weekend of 14-15 March. Stay in and watch DStv Premium using the DStv Now app. It doesn’t matter which DStv package you’re on, as long as you’re an […]

Cindy Engelbrecht (30) from Centurion, South Africa has never let her Down syndrome diagnosis hold her back from achieving her dreams. Cindy Engelbrecht has always exceeded expectations Despite the limitations placed on her at birth and doctors saying that she would never be able to do anything by herself, Cindy has in five years become […]

China, home of kung fu, kung pao chicken and the coronavirus… writes South African teacher in China Michael Herbstein. As a Saffer living in China during these exciting times, and having a mother that some would politely describe as neurotic, I’m constantly shared an endless stream of news surrounding COVID-19 from back home. Some of […]

South Africans around the country have been graced with a fantastic view of tonight’s full moon – Monday 9 March 2020 – which happens to be the year’s first supermoon AND is known as the Worm Moon. UPDATE: See April’s Supermoon ‘Pink Moon’ over South Africa. The name was coined in North America by Native […]

Watch the Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day live right now, on a stream from the BBC below. The BBC says: “In the presence of Her Majesty the Queen and other senior members of the royal family, Petroc Trelawny introduces live coverage from Westminster Abbey in London for a Service of Celebration for Commonwealth Day. […]

Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan was the most watched rugby event ever with more than 857 million people around the world watching the action via World Rugby’s network of rights-holding broadcast partners, an increase of 26 per cent from the previous tournament in England. With World Rugby producing the pictures for the first time, […]

In another step up for womens’ rugby in South Africa, the Springbok Women celebrated International Women’s Day on Sunday with the news that they will defend their Rugby Africa Women’s Cup title between May and July, with the tournament featuring a historic first Test match in Madagascar. This year’s Rugby Africa Women’s Cup marks the […]

Since South Africa confirmed its first case of Coronavirus, locals have predictably responded with humour (those that aren’t queuing up to buy hand sanitisers!). The Coronavirus jokes and memes are being shared (faster than the virus thank goodness!) all over social media in South Africa… (All new Corona virus jokes and memes are added near […]

On Friday 28 February 2020, Capetonian marathon swimmer, musician and mother-of-three Carina Bruwer became the first woman to swim across Nelson Mandela Bay in Port Elizabeth, in support of Muzukidz, an organisation that offers underprivileged children the opportunity to learn the violin. Bruwer completed the gruelling crossing from Pollock Beach in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth, to […]

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula announced on Thursday the start of the refurbishment process for Cape Town’s Central Line, which has been closed since October 2019. The Central Line serves over a million people, running from Kapteinsklip station in Mitchells Plain and Chris Hani station in Khayelitsha to Cape Town station. Mbalula’s launch follows President Ramaphosa’s […]

Haha, watch the latest video that regular SAPeople contributor Faried Swartz has created… this time a parody of John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John’s “You’re the One That I Want” from 1978 blockbuster Grease. Faried sings instead: “It’s Your Money They Want”. Watch below… The song about South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, and it having its […]

Aaron Lipschitz (5) from Sea Point, Cape Town, is the first child in South Africa to be diagnosed with Interleukin-12 Receptor Defect, a rare genetic condition that affects the immune system. Of the few known cases worldwide, Aaron is the only child who is unable to tolerate any food without becoming very ill. The only […]

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has congratulated the Proteas on their successful climax to the home international season with the Momentum One-Day International series victory over Australia. The South Africans won in style thanks in large part to Janneman Malan scoring a century and Lungi Ngidi’s brilliant bowling display. The Proteas took a winning 2-0 lead […]

Chantel Dartnall, South Africa’s multi-award winning chef extraordinaire, has been included again as one of the Best Chef Top 100 candidates. The 2020 final will be held in September. Dartnall previously won Best Lady Chef in the World at the international 2017 Best Chef Awards in Warsaw, Poland. On Wednesday an elated Dartnall – who […]

Wolfgat restaurant in Paternoster, on the rugged west coast of South Africa, has been listed as one of the 34 most beautiful restaurants in the world… a fabulous fact to which even the country’s leader can attest. President Cyril Ramaphosa and his family were guests at the restaurant a couple of days before New Year’s […]

Northern Cape photographer Henriette Folscher Brandvlei captured this sequence of photos of the apocalyptic scene as a massive sand storm swept through the drought-stricken area near Kenhardt, South Africa, a couple of weeks ago (mid-February): Henriette, a farmer’s wife, said the drought is very, very severe right now… as can be evidenced by the above […]

Humans and four-legged friends are invited to strut their stuff along the fifth annual Paws on the Promenade – a dog walk fundraiser by the Mdzananda Animal Clinic, Khayelitsha, in partnership with Vondi’s Holistic Pet Nutrition. The dog walk will take place on Sunday the 15th of March at 9am. Starting at the Mouille Point […]

Everything is Awesome on Showmax this March (Yes! The Lego Movie 2 is coming!). There’s something for all tastes and all ages, with new seasons of favourite comedies, riveting dramas, sci-fi, and some fascinating documentaries.  The big one: Somizi & Mohale: The Union This four-part wedding special has had everyone talking – and the biggest […]

A short film by a South African expat about the empowerment, courage and inspiration that can come from immigrating has been nominated for multiple awards at a film festival in the United States. The film – ‘Helen’s Birthday’ – looks at positive immigration, and tells the true story of South African expat Helen April’s journey […]

While the South African economy has over the last couple of years taken a beating with a recession in SA announced today, the country’s people continue to rise above often difficult circumstances, says the SA government news site. Fourth-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures this week showed a decline of 1.4 % in the final […]