Showmax subscribers will be able to live stream the Bokke taking on the All Blacks in Wellington on their screens at 9:35am (South African time) on Saturday, 27 July. Fresh from their victory over the Wallabies at Ellis Park last weekend, the Springboks are facing the All Blacks on Saturday morning in Wellington. The last […]

Universal Man: Jonathan Clegg “Sikeyi” (1953-2019). “Sikeyi” is a Zulu dance praise name: “The peg through a yoke that secures oxen in position, from Afrikaans juskei (juk: yoke], referring to the capacity of a formidable dancer to hold his stand.” In my mind, like a Zulu ngoma (drum) dancer completing his turn, I somersault backwards […]

On Monday members of the Royal Family were treated to a military display in Wales by members of South Africa’s Zulu ‘impi’ regiment, to mark 140 years since the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 when members of the Royal Welsh regiment fought at Rorke’s Drift. (Watch video below.) https://www.facebook.com/TheBritishMonarchy/photos/pcb.2531354623553019/2531351610219987/?type=3&theater The Prince of Wales, Charles, and his […]

“When you spend two decades of your life with somebody, and you lose them, it takes time to realise what impact that person’s life had on your own life and that of the rest of the world. This is the case with me and Nelson Mandela,” says Zelda la Grange, Madiba’s long-term personal assistant. On […]

Two South African u19 boys and girls canoe polo teams are preparing to fly to Northern Ireland where they will compete in the Junior International Canoe Polo Championships next week. It’s an exciting competition for the youngsters – who are all still in school and have an average age of 16. “This tour is a […]

South African firefighters from Working on Fire (WoF) have yet again inspired the locals in Canada with their song and dance routine. Watch below. Alberta Wildfire in Canada posted a video of the South African crew dancing and singing on Mandela Day (18 July), and said: “Today is #MandelaDay2019, when the legacy of Nelson Mandela […]

Prince Albert II of Monaco was in South Africa this weekend to present the Rhino Conservation Awards (RCA) 2019 to all those heroes who dedicate their lives to conserving Africa’s iconic rhino. The Prince – who is married to South Africa’s former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock – said he admires all those honoured as well […]

In a dream come true, top South African epidemiologist Professor Salim S. Abdool Karim has officially become a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Society, the world’s oldest science academy… over three decades after he first made it his goal as a student while studying at the London School of Economics. Professor Karim joins the ranks […]

Travel between Germany and more parts of South Africa will be easier, now that Lufthansa and Mango, the low-cost subsidiary of South African Airways, have started a code-sharing agreement. In 2017 Mango took over certain routes from SAA, such as such as Durban, Port Elizabeth and George. Because it did not have the same interline […]

CAPE TOWN – In a combined operation of metro police and traffic cops, a record number of arrests were made over the past week in Cape Town, South Africa, including hundreds of taxi owners and drivers who hadn’t paid fines, drunk drivers, and people in illegal possession of drugs and unlicensed firearms, according to a […]

On Sunday evening Carte Blanche paid tribute to legendary musician, songwriter and activist Johnny Clegg. Best known for some of his iconic hits such as ‘Impi’ and ‘Asimbonanga’ – a song paying homage to Nelson Mandela and other struggle stalwarts of his time – the man fondly known as the ‘White Zulu’ succumbed to pancreatic […]

South Africa’s Karla Pretorius was named Player of the Tournament on Sunday night at the Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England… for her “outstanding performance” and for being SA’s “impenetrable wall”. With huge cheers from the crowd, it was obvious said the compere, that Karla was a popular winner. The Netball World Cup announced on […]

South Africa’s Akani Simbine streaked to a surprise victory in London in the 100 metres race on Saturday at the IAAF Diamond League championships. Simbine was on fire from start to finish, rocketing over the finishing line in 9.93 seconds, a season’s best. The South African athlete surprised all (and thrilled everyone from Africa) at […]

The question most people ask when we meet them somewhere on our travels through the vast dry Karoo region of South Africa is: “How do you find your stories?”… writes Chris Marais from KarooSpace. Those who read our Karoo books and our regular features in SA Country Life magazine and various other publications want to know what sets us […]

Here’s the line-up of hot topics dominating the headlines in South Africa this week that the Carte Blanche team are tackling this Sunday 21 July. You can watch the current affairs show here if you’re in SA or stream it from Tues 23 July on Showmax International if you’re overseas (available in many countries abroad). […]

A wild fire that burned across parts of iSimangaliso Wetland Park in uMkhuze, KwaZulu-Natal, last night – threatening the world heritage site – is now “back under control” thanks to brave firefighters, officials in South Africa confirmed this morning. Last night iSimangaliso posted frightening photos of the “unplanned bush fire”, asking its followers to “spare […]

On Tuesday night South Africa’s Ndlovu Youth Choir sang their HEARTS out for America – exciting the crowd with an extremely high energy cover of ‘Wake Waka!” on America’s Got Talent (AGT) 2019. Watch below. (They had us with the first word – “AFRICA…”) And in just three days the video has attracted over 1.8 […]

The Drakensberg Boys Choir honoured the passing of South Africa’s legendary maestro, Johnny Clegg, in their concert on Wednesday. Watch below. Drakies posted this video earlier today, saying: “This is the best way in which we could honour the late, great Johnny Clegg #RipJohnnyClegg.” Johnny Clegg passed away on Tuesday 16 July, after a 4-year […]

Late last year SAPeople ran a competition with South African Airways for a return trip for two from Heathrow, London, to South Africa. The lucky winner was Lucy Vaughan (and her boyfriend whom she surprised). SAPeople spoke to Lucy this week on her return from her holiday to SA… What made you enter the competition […]

Today – Nelson Mandela Day (18 July 2019) – President Cyril Ramaphosa shone a light on an incredibly special radio station, a first of its kind in the world. It’s RX Radio at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. RX Radio features eight to 18-year-olds behind the radio microphone, […]

CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said today was the best Mandela Day he had ever had because of what he experienced at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. “I came here to uplift the spirits of the young people,” he said, holding one of the young patients in his arms, “but […]

Loyiso Basso says he left a life of drugs and crime after he realised he was wasting his life and making his mother suffer. The 30-year-old opened a restaurant in Makhaya, Khayelitsha. It has been running for two years. Pamela Mkhabela, a neighbour, says: “People used to be so scared of him [Basso], but now […]

As South Africans and the world celebrate the 10th anniversary of International Nelson Mandela Day today, here’s a collection from South Africans around the world of some of the statues, plaques and rugby shirts (!) that honour SA’s former president. Mandela Day is intended to embody the words of Mandela: “It is in your hands […]

PRETORIA – President Cyril Ramaphosa has entered the battle between his Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan and the Public Protector Busiswe Mkhwebane by filing a supporting affidavit for Gordhan in the North Gauteng High Court, according to a statement released by the presidency today. Gordhan has applied to the same court for the suspension […]

After reporting on Johnny Clegg’s death on Tuesday 16 July, after a 4-year long, brave battle with pancreatic cancer, we couldn’t write or post anything yesterday. We were just too heartbroken. Like many journalists I had met Johnny (66) a few times, spent time at his home in Joburg and met his lovely wife Jenny, […]