South Africa marks Freedom Day today – Thursday – chronicling a journey of 23 years since millions of its people voted for their government of choice on 27 April 1994. While major challenges remain, there is no doubt that South Africa has made significant progress in transforming from an apartheid state into a democratic one. With […]

Now here’s a view of South Africa we don’t often see… sideways! European Space Station (ESA) pilot Thomas Pesquet tweeted this photo Thursday morning, 27 April 2017, to say Happy Freedom Day to South Africa. Along with the SA flag, Thomas said: “Side view! This is us flying around South Africa, on our way from […]

Johnny Clegg is embarking on his final world tour – The Final Journey… after nearly 40 years enjoying one of music’s most remarkable careers. Below one of his biggest fans – whose life has been shaped by his music and anthropological background – pays tribute… In a statement Wednesday, it was revealed Johnny was diagnosed with cancer in 2015 […]

There’s been an “intense storm” over Cape Town today… with lightning, hail and “LOTS” of very welcome rain, according to locals. Radio station KFM captured a brilliant flash of lightning – watch below. Capetonian Johanna Adams said: “Thank you Lord. Our prayers. The hail was as big as marbles, if not bigger. This was on my lawn:” […]

Congratulations to South African expat Gift Ngoepe who has just become the first South African baseball player to be called to the Major League! His friend, University of Ghana baseball player, Daniel Yaw Atiemo posted the exciting news on Facebook Wednesday morning, saying: “CONGRATULATIONS. My friend Gift Ngoepe got called up to the major league […]

South African non-governmental association Arrive Alive has shared this brilliant “Guide to safe driving on safari/driving in the nature reserve”. For more detailed tips on driving on safari, please visit their website here. Watch Guide to Safe Safari Driving And yes – it’s an Asian elephant – at a park in Thailand; but the video […]

NAIROBI (Reuters) – Like many guys using the Tinder dating app, Sudan loves the outdoors and travels widely. The catch: he’s the world’s last male white northern rhino and desperately needs to mate. “I don’t mean to be too forward, but the fate of my species literally depends on me,” reads his profile. “I perform […]

The “Office des Timbres” (Office of Stamps) of Monaco has celebrated the 5th anniversary of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation by releasing two special stamps for sale. The two stamps are copies of photos of former South African Olympic swimmer, H.S.H. Princess Charlene, in action for Her Foundation. The photo on the 0,71€ face value […]

Some residents frantically run out in satin nighties determined to stop the truck so they can empty their bin for the week… Nontsingiselo Mfazwe and Phumeza Matshotyana are among the very few women working on the garbage trucks that service Khayelitsha, Nyanga, Crossroads, Gugulethu and Belhar – a job that requires you to be quick […]

Three years ago, South African teenager Veronica Venter started passing out randomly. She would just faint, fall and be out for a while. These episodes are still ongoing. She can hear everything going on around her when it happens, but she cannot respond. Just like a heart attack. And when she recovers her legs are often […]

PRETORIA – To commemorate  World Penguin Day, here’s a collection on this page of fantastic photos from Southern African John Dickens… who is currently working as a zoological field assistant (with leopard seals and fur seals) on Bird Island, South Georgia. John was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa in 2004 where he studied at […]

These photos show the transformation of a field just outside Bloemfontein over the weekend… a field that was filled with up to or over a million people (according to the organisers), gathered together to pray for their beloved South Africa… On the eve of National Day of Prayer… an empty field awaits… 1,300 hectares had […]

Meet the woman who is uncovering the truth behind the illegal rhino horn trade, like you’ve never seen it before… Bonné de Bod, an award-winning television presenter and filmmaker shares what she has learned on her three-year long investigation unveiling the dark truths behind the rhino horn trade. Bonné shares her incredible story detailing the ups […]

It’s been a fantastic day of running for over 135 South Africans – as well as 40,000 other participants! – in the London Marathon today, Sunday 23 April 2017. Here’s a collection of photos from a beautiful, sunny day in the UK… as well as the unofficial results for South African competitors (scroll down). The 25.2 mile marathon […]

As South Africans from across the nation gathered together in prayer on Saturday afternoon, at a farm just outside Bloemfontein, a spirited gust of wind blew a mini whirlwind across the meeting… evoking a sense of miraculous wonder amongst the crowd. Pastor Angus Buchan’s facebook page uploaded the video below and said: “This was a wind that […]

South Africans from around the country have  trekked  to a farm near Bloemfontein  to pray today for  their beloved South Africa. Here are some of the photos being shared on social media in  the hours before Pastor Angus Buchan will lead  the congregated crowd in prayer… His team said  today on Facebook: “We cannot explain […]

At a time when the world is hearing so much negative news about South Africa’s political crises, BBC’s former Africa Bureau Chief Peter Burdin says we should look to the youth for the real story… Burdin, an international journalism lecturer and BBC editor, was nominated this week – by the South Africa Chamber of Commerce in the […]

A model of the spectacular “Kirstenbosch – South Africa” Exhibit for this year’s famous Chelsea Flower Show was unveiled at a launch at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden yesterday. Designed by the award-winning team David Davidson and Raymond Hudson, the exhibit will provide a glimpse of all nine of South Africa’s biomes to the over 150,000 people […]

Yikes. South Africans Roger Purchase and Les Davis were riding in the Bavaiaanskloof Game Reserve, near Port Elizabeth, when they encountered a somewhat “bad tempered” lone Buffalo Bull… What ensued is captured on film by Les. Fortunately nobody was injured! According to Roger, solitary bulls like this are sometimes called “Dagga Bulls” or “Dagga Boys”. […]

The 2016/2017 Fire Season took its toll on the Western Cape in South Africa – 17,000 fires were reported and damage is estimated to have exceeded R500 million with 142 fatalities. To try and prevent this tragedy recurring next year, a new project is being launched… “I’m excited to announce the launch of the Before the Burn […]

Are you a Benonian living abroad? If so – the Benoni City Times would like to share your story. They say “once a Benonian, always a Benonian”. And that counts for stars like Charlize Theron who was born here, and Charlene Wittstock – now Princess Charlene of Monaco – who grew up here. The City Times will be […]

PRETORIA – Deputy President Cyril Ramphosa says he is supportive of Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and his team who are heading to the United States of America (USA) for the forthcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings. Yesterday in Pretoria, Gigaba briefed Ramaphosa on his scheduled visit which will also include further interactions with […]

Immigration is not for the faint of heart. You have to really want to make it work and be willing to go to extreme lengths to do so, or else you will become one of the statistics of South Africans returning to their home country… writes guest contributor ADELE. According to statistics, almost half a […]

Five dune buggies took a unique offroad trip through some of the most beautiful kilometres of South African soil – Baviaanskloof Nature Reserve, near Port Elizabeth. The adventurers included Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University student Matthew Watson and Anna Lindstrom, Grace Gnahn, Madi Lacy, Matt Watson, Nick van der Merwe. They said “the experience was unlike any other” […]

South African professional surfer Jordy Smith has won his first Bells Beach title, making a dream come true… and chipping his tooth in the process. Jordy beat friend and fellow competitor Brazilian Caio Ibelli in the final in Victoria, Australia, on Wednesday; and was so excited he started pretending to ring the legendary bell whilst still […]