As South Africans in SA have marched in cities around the country to protest against xenophobia and the violence in general that troubles their beloved land, those abroad are following suit to lend their support. Yesterday South Africans marched in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and today they gathered in London, and more is planned. For South Africans abroad the […]

South African expat – and accomplished musician – Kieran Ballard-Tremeer has become the first woman to swim around Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the iconic artificial island which can be viewed from space. Kieran (38) completed the 14.5 km swim around the palm-shaped island last Saturday morning in four hours and 25 minutes. The 38-year-old undertook the swim in aid […]

South Africans continue to stand and march together as a movement against violence sweeps the nation. Following last night’s march in Port Elizabeth, a huge peaceful rally – the People’s March Against Xenophobia – took place in downtown Johannesburg today and was said to have drawn more people than any such gathering since 1994. Except […]

I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time, but at every time of sitting down to write, it’s the one subject that slips from my mind. A safari reading list. There are so many wonderful books on Africa and it is always such a wonderful part of safari campfire conversation. Yet we never […]

Remember the 1980s TV series “Ballade vir ’n Enkeling”? Well, it’s back, better than ever. The mystery, once again, is about a journalist’s quest for the truth behind the disappearance of a famous writer, Jacques Rynhard. Slowly she uncovers the secret past of a liberal loner in search of freedom. The film (and a simultaneously […]

Check out the videos below for an awesome look at Cape Town and surrounds…and the incredible abundance of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities on offer. Both videos were filmed in the last month, with Bryn North’s version including footage of the landscape since the recent fires that raged across the Southern Peninsula of the Western […]

A group of dads in Salt Rock, KwaZulu-Natal, have launched perhaps the raddest skate park ever. It’s certainly unique. The Mamba Skate Park, which was officially opened last month, is totally different to most conventional skate parks you’ve seen or used – it’s a rolling track of 450 metres winding (or snaking!) through a jungle of […]

Google has commemorated Earth Day 2015 with another one of its engaging and creative doodles that allows users to engage…and learn a little. This year’s doodle features a spinning globe. When users click through they are given a quick and fun quiz which asks: which animal are you? (Jokingly) Google claims it’s a “totally scientific and 1,000% […]

South Africans have gathered at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg this evening for a candlelit vigil, organised by LeadSA, to say #NoToXenophobia. And those who couldn’t be there are lighting their own candles in solidarity. Natasha Minchenko‎ in Cape Town, sent the following photo collage, saying “I have Elias from Malawi here, Julia & Stones from Zimbabwe, Trezor […]

My name is Lovelyn Chidinma Nwadeyi. I am a Nigerian. Born in Nigeria to two Nigerian parents. Raised in Queenstown, Eastern Cape by those same Nigerian parents right up until I completed my Bachelors at Stellenbosch. Growing up in South Africa, I was always reminded by those around me that I was different to everyone […]

The transcript of an address by Professor Jonathan Jansen touched a chord with South Africans around the country, and world, when it was first published in September 2013. UPDATE: In 2015, Prof Jansen’s My South Africa speech went viral again after xenophobic attacks. And today in September 2019 it is going viral once more… UPDATE: […]

Now this is joy! Archbishop Desmond Tutu was really warmly welcomed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama after touching down at Kangra Airport in India today. The South African is visiting Dharamshala for seven days to collaborate with the Dalai Lama on a book about – you guessed it – joy! In a message on his Facebook […]

Miss South Africa  Liesl Laurie was on hand yesterday to receive another 600 blankets being dropped off at the Cell C Waterfall Campus in time for next week’s Guinness World Record bid. The 67 Blankets for Nelson Mandela Day campaign hopes to break the record on Tuesday 21 April with over 21,000 blankets. The blankets will be […]

As predicted Democratic Alliance (DA) Parliamentary Leader Mmusi Maimane has confirmed that he will run for election as Federal Leader of the party. The 34-year-old politician who holds a BA in Psychology and Masters in both Public Administration and in Theology, said this morning that he has accepted the nomination to stand for election on 9 May […]

A poem by Faieza Mx, now living in Queensland, Australia… I want to wake up to the Majestic Table Mountain Always standing, Always there, Never failing Its beauty astounding As it watches over Cape Town The ocean so blue… Camps Bay, Strand, Boulders Sea Point I want to go home to gaardtjies shouting ‘hullo, hullo, […]

The annual TIME 100 Most Influential People list always raises eyebrows, for the people it includes as much as the ones it doesn’t. This year finds the extremes of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau – ‘The Scourge of Africa,’ the magazine calls him – and, at the other end of the spectrum, ex-South African billionaire […]

Two Durban photographers share their photos and different thoughts on today’s events. “Anti-Xenophobia Peace March – Durban” – by Kierran Allen Today the Anti-Xenophobia Peace March led by eThekwini Mayor James Xumalo and KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu had a phenomenal turnout with thousands of people marching from Curries Fountain to the City Hall in Durban’s […]

On the same night that Nando’s #FiredUpSoweto launch is trending high on Twitter, the famous restaurant chain’s 2012 Diversity advert has gone viral again as its message (that most of us were once foreigners) becomes appropriate to present day South Africa. And the recent xenophobic events in Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Joburg were clearly on most people’s […]

South Africans are uniting in a stand against #xenophobia after recent attacks on foreign nationals in KwaZulu Natal have left five dead and thousands displaced. As headlines have spread around the world, South Africans have reacted with shock, outrage…and action. And it’s not just by sharing positive and unifying messages like “I’m an African before […]

South African flank Schalk Burger has won the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award in Shanghai, China, today. In his moving acceptance speech, the Springbok player said he had not been “ready to say goodbye”. Schalk has received this Award thanks to his spectacular return to the Springboks in 2014 after 18 months out of action. Schalk had […]

Shooting the Queen Mary 2 coming into Durban Harbour is something I have done for many years now. It’s just fun to get out there and capture this phenomenal cruise liner on film. But this may be the last year, as there are rumours the ship’s future route will no longer include South Africa. The […]

South Africa’s favourite DIY (Greek) Goddess has launched her own online shop so that now, seriously, “anyone can”! This does mean that SuzelleDIY’s bitesize web-series is now likely to include product plugs in each episode, but if the first is anything to go by, Suzelle is aware that nobody wants to just watch a cleverly disguised commercial. In her first […]

The first year students at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University have spread a little Ubuntu with a 2-minute video project compiled for their Computing Sciences class. “The aim of our project is to do a community service as part of a team work exercise in our programming module, to teach us some soft skills,” Head of Department […]

Something a little magical happened in Cape Town this weekend. A mist came rolling in…and the cameras came out. Here’s a collection of photos, as well as a video, that captured the beautiful scene… It started on Friday evening. Elza Bester DeJager said: “Something different tonight – Table Mountain floating on the mist coming in from the […]

Twenty-one year old Busi Skinn’e Mjiyakho has caught a lot of people’s attention with her three letters to black people, white people and the South African government (all published below) which she posted on Facebook this weekend. So who is Busi? “I’m the future president of South Africa but for now I’m an (un)registered law student at […]