In this week’s episode of Carte Blanche, Showmax international subscribers can discover more about the latest hot topics in South Africa, available to stream from Tuesday – 6th March 2018. Estina Dairy Farm 3 For years, the Estina Dairy farm project, which was intended for the benefit of local Free State farmers, has been at […]

South Africa’s newly reappointed Finance Minister, Nhlanhla Nene made his first public appearance on Monday, as a speaker at the Federation of Unions of South Africa (Fedusa) conference in Pretoria. “So I told them that the long and short of it was that I’ve been on sabbatical,” he joked. Nene said: “We are at a point […]

The official trailer for South Africa’s crime thriller, NOMMER 37, was released today… and is set for its official world premier in the USA next week. The film, produced by Gambit Films, is set in a fictional Cape Flats area. “You would think that this is a film about gangsters – it’s not,” says director and […]

It’s official! Rooibos has become part of popular culture. South Africa’s popular tea has made it into one of Marvel’s comic strips in a scene where psychiatrist, Flo Mayer, offers Jennifer Walters (also known as She-Hulk) a cup of Rooibos to calm her down. Most South African expats know how popular Rooibos has become around […]

After another “senseless killing of a farmer” over the weekend, the DA has reiterated is repeated call to establish specialised rural safety units within the South African Police Service (SAPS). DA Free State Leader Patricia Kopane has pledged to write to the Acting Provincial Police Commissioner, Major-General Tholi Afonso, reiterating the call after the murder […]

An American pastor’s post on Friday about South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu has gone viral. Greg Allen Pickett, who is a pastor at a Presbyterian church in Nebraska, recalled a moment that Tutu had described to the BBC as the defining moment of his life. Pastor Pickett said that Tutu had spoken of the day […]

South Africa’s favourite ‘sand angel’ Luvo Manyonga added yet another medal to his growing collection with silver in the long jump at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England on Friday night. Manyonga – crowned outdoor world champion in England (London) last year, where even the BBC tweeted pics of him celebrating sand-angel style […]

A battered and bruised Blitzboks side have managed to win both their Pool B games at the Las Vegas leg of the HSBC Sevens Series in the United States. After overcoming a tough Welsh side 26-21 in their first match of the tournament, they took on Canada in their second and final game of the […]

The first Indian all-women crew, who are circumnavigating the globe, were welcomed to Cape Town’s shores on Friday morning. The sailing crew, aboard the INSV Tarini, were welcomed by Mayor Patricia de Lille as well as the Indian high Commissioner to South Africa and the Indian Consult General for Indian in Cape Town. The Mayor […]

South Africa is a culturally diverse country, one nation made up of many nations, a multiplicity of traditions and beliefs… and once a year in Germany, during the summer, South African expats living in Europe are invited to a South African Weekend Away to connect, network and celebrate that wonderful heritage. This year the event […]

Popular South African actress, model, radio and TV presenter Minnie Dlamini is fresh from tying the knot in 2017 – bringing two very different families together – and she’s brought her trials, tribulations and big day to Showmax, in ‘Becoming Mrs Jones’. The show – which is already live in South Africa, where people are LOVING […]

Former Springbok captain Rassie Erasmus has been appointed as the new coach of the Springboks until the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, SA Rugby confirmed on Thursday. “Rassie Erasmus will spearhead a streamlined but experienced Springbok management team until the end of the 2023 Rugby World Cup,” it said in a statement. The […]

South Africa’s Caster Semenya lost out to tennis icon Serena Williams as the racket sport dominated the main honours list at the 2018 Laureus Awards Ceremony on Tuesday night… but Roger Federer, the son of South African expat Lynette Durand, won big! Rio Olympian 800-metre gold medallist Semenya was one of six women’s finalists. Pictured […]

Sjoe, this remains one of the most popular South African adverts… absolutely unique, and still shared 10 years after it was first broadcast (with some complaining at the time that it should have had a late night slot because of the language). The Halls UFO TV Commercial, created especially for South African audiences, was directed […]

A viral video of a woman, beaten down in the streets of Johannesburg by an ANC supporter on 5 February 2018 sparked outrage on social media… and led to a Bryanston woman setting off on a mission to find her and restore some faith in humanity. Olivia Mokete (55) from Orange Farm, was on her […]

South Africans around the country – and as far away as Canada – have been baking up a storm today on National  Melk Tert Dag (Milk Tart Day)… the day South Africans are united in their love for this scrumptious national treasure. One school in Pretoria – Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool – baked 600 milk tarts! While another […]

Heres a Top 10 “Aussie Facts” list that every South African should know before arriving Down Under… from the personal point of view of South African expat comedian Kevin Fraser who now calls Australia home. WATCH Top 10 Aussie Facts from a South African Expat Kevin Fraser’s Top 10 Facts about Australia you need to […]

In February 2017, the city of Cape Town in South Africa was declared to be in a water crisis, and it was predicted it would become the first major city in the world to run out of water. DAY ZERO was looming, and coming closer if residents used too much water… It had all the […]

Boeing Boeing Gone! The large Boeing 737 has left Jet Park, and is currently en route to its final destination – Fourways Mega Mall in Johannesburg. The plane will form an integral part of KidZania Johannesburg, opening in December 2018. Kidzania is the world’s fastest growing edutainment brand, and Joburg is set to host the […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced  the following changes to the National Executive.It was a “radical” reconfiguration of the cabinet, including 23 changes and many female appointments. Some of the new appointments – including new Deputy President of South Africa, David Mabuza – will first be sworn in as members of the National Assembly tomorrow in Cape […]

The Springboks will kick off their 2018 international season on an historic note when they face Wales in a once-off Test in Washington DC in the USA on Saturday 2 June. This momentous match – the first time the Boks will face Tier One opposition on neutral ground outside the Rugby World Cup – was […]

Watch South African comedian Trevor Noah on loving the Xhosa (and not needing to read the subtitles), and how blockbuster movie ‘Black Panther‘ reminded him of his mom and the hidings he would get as a child! Trevor was speaking to the audience ‘between the takes’ whilst filming The Daily Show in New York, USA. […]

Here are the latest hot topics due for broadcast on Carte Blanche this Sunday, and available for South Africans living abroad from Tuesday – 27th February 2018, if they’re a subscriber of Showmax International. Otto van Tonder What’s worse than a bad credit record when you desperately need to secure finance? Getting ripped off by the […]

A mountain drive through a scenic pass in South Africa is magical, and exploring South Africa’s passes is now on the list of ‘must do’ attractions for both locals and tourists… writes Beverley Ballard-Tremeer. The passes may not be the longest or the highest in the world, but never-the-less many are spectacular. Two are listed in […]

On Tuesday vet Myra Marais was called out to deep rural Limpopo for a very sick calf… In a Facebook post to Mutale Animal Clinic yesterday, Myra described her heart-stopping experience… ‘It has been raining cats and dogs here in Limpopo, so while I was examining the little calf in knee high mud and shoulder […]