Last month a new musical came to London’s West End – the much anticipated Broadway hit, Motown the Musical. And, in a starring role – as Marvin Gaye – is South Africa’s very own Sifiso Mazibuko. When the box office opened for the London debut of Motown the Musical last May, Shaftesbury Theatre in Covent Garden […]

South Africans have long known how fantastic DJ Black Coffee is…but this weekend the Durbanite got the ultimate ‘cool’ seal of approval – from American star P Diddy, who posted photos and videos of Black Coffee on various social media platforms. The 40-year-old SA house trailblazer – born Nkosinathi Maphumulo – was killing it yesterday from Arcadia Spider […]

As the first annual anti-racism week in South Africa draws to a close today, a local businessman is one of many SA citizens who have shared stories of the true uBuntu that is happening in the country, behind the political headlines. Collin Macheke wrote this morning: “As I drove back on the N4 highway, from […]

There’s a great future in South Africa…but you must have a plan. Here’s mine: 1. There are many places much worse than South Africa….with grinding poverty, authoritarian governments and failed states. People still, somehow, make a life for themselves and their loved ones. Maybe there’s a lesson there for us. 2. Africa’s political leadership is […]

Lionel Richie has been wowing the crowds in South Africa, and judging from his messages on Facebook – he’s loved the shows in Durban, Cape Town and Joburg as much as the fans have loved singing “all night long” and being taken down memory lane by the American superstar. After Tuesday night’s show in Joburg, Richie wrote: “A […]

Comedian and actor Eddie Izzard on Sunday completed his last marathon of 27 across South Africa in 27 days – running two marathons on the last day to achieve his goal, and carrying a South African flag all the way – all for the sake of charity. The Izzard marathon began on February 24 in […]

Chris Morris restored the dignity of the Proteas pace attack with his first ever four-wicket haul in the shortest format to get South Africa’s ICC World Twenty20 campaign off the ground with a 37-run victory over Afghanistan at Mumbai’s Wankede Stadium on Sunday. After the Proteas had become the first team in the history of […]

One of South Africa’s foremost jazz musicians, Carlo Mombelli, has just released his 12th studio album, “I Press My Spine to the Ground”. He is a bassist and composer who also teaches at the music school of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. His album features Kesivan Naidoo (drums), Mbuso Khoza (vocals) and Kyle […]

Wits Education Honours graduate Ntandoyenkosi Kunene was crowned Miss South Africa at the beauty pageant held at Carnival City on Saturday night. The 23-year-old hails from Mpumalanga (and was crowned Miss Mpumalanga in 2013). Ntando has said in interviews that being a beauty queen is about more than looks – it’s about inspiring young women and children. […]

South African singer-songwriter and poet Sydney Stanley Kitchen was unique – he even said so himself, and called his style of music ‘Afro-Saxon’. His attitude to the music industry was uncompromising… and while it didn’t help him further his career, it did establish him as an iconic figure. His lyrics were tinged with socio-political messages… […]

Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela has confirmed that she was on Friday approached by the Dominican Order to conduct a systemic investigation into the involvement of the Gupta family in state affairs, and the award of contracts to companies linked to the family. According to a press statement on the Public Protector’s website the Dominican […]

South African supermodel Candice Swanepoel is reportedly expecting her first child, according to entertainment outlet E! News. Congratulatory messages have been pouring into her Instagram account where she has dropped hints like a photo of herself gazing at her stomach with the caption: “Oh summer. Pls hurry.” Although the hugely successful Victoria’s Secret (VS) model has not […]

The Lighthouse Ladies received a warm welcome home at Grotto Beach on Sunday afternoon after walking close to 100 kilometres over four days to raise funds for a much needed drug rehabilitation programme in the Overstrand area. Members of I Love Hermanus community group, said: “We are so proud of this incredible group of selfless women… They […]

For decades one of Rome’s biggest heartaches has been the Tiber – the gorgeous river snaking through its heart has been totally overlooked. Until now, that is – and renowned South African artist William Kentridge is creating lots of buzz with a mural bigger than the one in the Sistine Chapel. The largest public art work in […]

One of the oldest houses in Johannesburg is in Emmarentia and was built in about 1886 by a city pioneer Louw Geldenhuys, after whose wife the suburb was named. Set in a beautiful garden towered over by massive palms, the first thing that catches your eye is the gorgeous, wide, red polished-floor stoop, with columns the size […]

As South Africa grapples with its worst drought in 100 years, prayers were answered for many in the last 24 hours or so as rain fell around the country…but the drought is far from over. Virginia reported a “lekker” 30mm, Hoopstad 50mm, and someone in Fairland reported their rain gauge was measuring 100ml and had overflowed […]

A Prince Albert resident was ‘blown away’ today by the special sight that greeted her as she headed over the Swartberg Pass. A blanket of beautiful, billowing clouds… “Sometimes we say we feel as though we’re floating above the clouds,” says guesthouse owner and Karoo blogger Yolande Singery. “Well today I truly was… and not […]

Many on social media are commending South Africans for their sense of humour, especially when the proverbial kak is hitting the fan with the allegations by ANC MPs saying they were offered jobs by the Guptas. Out come the jokes – such as “The ANC is a five-letter word (curry)” – but most popular is #StateCaptureMovieTitles, referring to the capture […]

Reactions to the confirmation by Deputy Minister of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, that members of the Gupta family (who are renowned to have close ties with President Zuma) “offered me the position of Minister of Finance to replace then Minister Nene” have been met with outrage and – of course – humour in South Africa! Here are 15 of the top tweets: […]

At a packed launch of the English book version of the compiled letters between literary royalty Andre Brink and Ingrid Jonker, Brink’s widow said Cape Town’s revered bookshop the Book Lounge was the perfect place to introduce the book to South Africa. “We came here a lot,” said Karina Brink. “We called it our lounge.” […]

The largest oval vivid fancy diamond ever to appear is headed for sale in Hong Kong next month, where it is expected to fetch $30 million to $35 million. The internally flawless blue diamond, at 10.10 carats, was mined in South Africa and is one of a collection of 11 cut by jewellers De Beers […]

Paddlers in Hout Bay, South Africa, had a rare treat yesterday when they were joined by hundreds of dolphins. Alexandre Pino from Above Summit Productions, which uploaded the video, said that whilst being amongst hundreds of dolphins is probably a dream for most of us, “these paddlers got more than they bargained for”! Watch Video – […]

A video depicting South African police officers appearing to abuse a motorist – which went viral on Facebook Tuesday – has led to positive action. Within 12 hours of being uploaded by fellow motorist Carmen Bell, the post had been viewed over half a million times. Bell who didn’t know the motorist – Raymond van der […]

In the midst of twitter wars and political sparring – and during Anti-Racism Week – comes an inspiring tale from South Africa of the real SA people who are quietly getting on with building a caring and harmonious society…going beyond the call of their jobs to help others. True Ubuntu! The two heroes are Tumi Selau and Clement Molemela, employees in MiWay’s […]

The seventh annual Cape Town Carnival rocked Greenpoint on the weekend, festooning the fanwalk between the city centre and Cape Town Stadium with singers, dancers, puppets, oiled-up firemen, scenes of District Six and more. Under the theme “Street Life”, there were more than 2,000 costumed musicians and performers from communities and schools across the city, including the […]