A beautiful letter of gratitude to former President Nelson Mandela, written by a child, was shared today at the NM Foundation’s launch of the Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018 ‘Be the Legacy’ two-year programme. Madiba would have turned 100 years’ old next year, on 18 July 2018. The programme to honour Mandela, was launched at Donaldson Orlando Community Centre […]

Trevor Noah‘s outspoken comments – on Trump, Twitter, similarities between Trump and Hitler’s rhetoric, and his own upbringing in South Africa – during an Al Jazeera interview, have gone viral since airing on Saturday. Noah joined interviewer Dareen Abughaida on Talk To Al Jazeera one day after his autobiography, Born a Crime, won the Debut Author and Outstanding Biography / Autobiography […]

The South African High Commission (SAHC) in New Zealand has announced the launch of two South African Visa Application Centres in New Zealand – in Auckland and Wellington – which will be run by VFS Global. This follows the outrage since the introduction of the visa last month, with New Zealand passport holders having to travel to […]

You’ve probably seen at least five of these videos. As we mark a week since  Springbok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen passed away, these are seven videos worth watching… 1. Joost Tribute – You’ll Never Walk Alone: Amor and the children’s tribute, with photos from the family album 2. Tribute from Amor Vittone, mother of […]

Suzy Jones is not South African… but like many in New Zealand, and around the world, she’s mourning the passing of Joost van der Westhuizen, the former Springbok scrumhalf who passed away on Monday after a long struggle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Suzy says: “I may be a Kiwi but I’m a Springbok supporter, and […]

South Africans sent shivers around the world on Friday, with an outpouring of love, grief and tributes to their beloved rugby legend – Joost van der Westhuizen – and the country he “loved with all his heart”, South Africa. On their own, or in groups, South Africans were united across borders and oceans on Friday […]

This week marks an important moment in the history of South Africa. Twenty-seven years ago, today, the world watched as Nelson Mandela was released from prison on 11 February 1990, twenty seven and a half years after he was arrested on 5 August 1962. The Nelson Mandela Foundation released a media statement on Saturday saying: “A […]

A minute’s silence (and/or applause) is being held in honour of Joost van der Westhuizen, who passed away on Monday, at each of the Six Nations matches this weekend. Six Nations organisers posted a photo Saturday afternoon to Twitter of the minute’s silence before the Ireland vs Italy match in Rome. The message said: “A rugby legend. […]

South African cricketers Quinton de Kock and Hashim Amla continued their love affair with SuperSport Park as they both scored centuries and shared an opening stand of 187 to set the Proteas up for an 88-run victory over Sri Lanka in the final ODI on Friday. It enabled them to clinch the series 5-0 for […]

South African athlete and Rio Olympics 800-metre gold medallist Caster Semeyna is in line to be awarded an additional Olympic gold medal. This could transpire following media reports that Russian runner Maria Savinova has been stripped of her 2012 Olympic gold medal for doping. Associated Press reports that Savinova, who won the 800-m title at the […]

45 white doves were released for every year of Joost van der Westhuizen’s short life. And beautiful tributes were delivered for the rugby hero, who became a legend when he fought a disease so bravely and publicly… and reached out to help others affected by the same Motor Neurone Disease (MND) with his J9 Foundation. Sports Minister […]

South Africans from New Zealand and Australia, to Hong Kong and the Philippines, Gibraltar, the UK, USA and Canada… not to mention South Africa, Kenya and everywhere in between are wearing their Springbok colours today, to pay tribute to Joost van der Westhuizen. From sunny Australia… To a snowy Canada… On public transport… And at […]

A young man in Polokwane is inspiring South Africans as he happily harvests his potato crop for the first time ever. With hard work, and by swallowing his pride, Wiston Malema has gone from destitute to making his dreams come true. His friend, Jara Masubelele, told Wiston’s story on facebook yesterday, and uploaded some photos of […]

The South African Hall of Fame has today launched the Official SA Hall of Fame Legacy Song to the public. The song – sung by Corlea Botha (with an incredibly powerful voice) and written by Johan Vorster – is called ‘100 Years from Now’ (and is similar to Celine Dion’s ‘The Power of Love’). The […]

South African comedian and US ‘Daily Show’ host Trevor Noah cracked a joke about President Jacob Zuma yesterday… but not everyone got it. Trevor said: “People need to stop hating on President Jacob Zuma. Of all our democratically elected presidents he’s easily in the top 3! SONA2017.” Some reports thought he was defending Zuma in the […]

Fire fighting services reacted fast to a wildfire that was rapidly spreading at the base of Table Mountain this afternoon. The fire was allegedly ignited after a car caught alight. JUSTIN SULLIVAN was there and captured the photos on this page (apart from the car pic). According to Philip Prins from SANParks’ Table Mountain National Park (TMNP), the fire […]

The death of Springbok legend Joost van der Westhuizen (45) on Monday, after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), has created headlines around the world and an outpouring of tributes. Below is a collection of just some we have received. If you would like to add your own, please see details below… The learners […]

Faf du Plessis played one of the innings of his life on Tuesday… and then had to watch helplessly as Sri Lanka’s acting captain, Upul Tharanga, almost stole his thunder in a memorable fourth ODI at Newlands, in South Africa. In the end the Proteas achieved what looked like a clear-cut win by 40 runs to […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) has published a series of beautiful photos, taken by tourist Dan Streck in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, capturing a rarely seen event – an elephant giving birth in the water. SANParks said: “Well have you ever???” The Park thanked Dan for sharing his once-in-a-lifetime sighting, and said […]

The Joost van der Westhuizen tribute song – first featured by SAPeople on Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Day in 2014 – will be performed by his niece Sumi Botha on Friday, at the Springbok rugby player’s public memorial in Pretoria. (Update, 10 Feb: Watch Sumari Botha sing Mr Number 9 tribute song at Joost’s Public […]

eNCA are calling it ‘the moment of the day’ – when President Jacob Zuma laughed – and laughed off – their TV journalist’s question about reshuffle rumours. The South African President was briefing the press following a business meeting luncheon in Cape Town today, ahead of the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday. The […]

Some rains have been falling down in Free State, South Africa… to the joy of farmers in the area who have been praying for the heavens to open up and irrigate their fields, nourish their starved animals and drench their desperate souls. And finally it happened! Remi Coetzee captured the following footage of Vals River, Kroonstad, over the weekend… […]

As South Africans in SA, and around the world, grieve the passing of one the country’s legends – Joost van der Westhuizen, who died yesterday after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) – one of the many, many moving messages and tributes that caught our attention was that from a grieving father, who tragically […]

South Africans in SA and around the world, who cannot attend the public memorial of former Springbok captain Joost van der Westhuizen, are called on to wear their Springbok jerseys on Friday. The memorial will be held at Loftus Versveld (Kirkness street, Pretoria) at 12h30pm on Friday 10 Feb 2017. For those who cannot attend, […]

Tributes have poured in for Joost van der Westhuizen from around South Africa, and the world. Nando’s posted a simple but powerful picture of the restaurant chain’s logo with the words “Our number one number 9″… referring to the former scrumhalf’s Springbok jersey number. (Watch a fan’s Number 9 tribute video below, featured on SAPeople in […]