While some South Africans have taken to tipping a bucket of sand over their heads in the ever-evolving #IceBucketChallenge (known by them as the #DirtBucketChallenge), others have created challenges with a twist that require less cleaning up afterwards! Award-winning South African author, Marie Williams, who lives in Australia stepped into the ocean in Byron Bay […]

American comedian Joan Rivers has sadly passed away at the age of 81. Her daughter Melissa made the heart-breaking decision to have her mother’s life-support system turned off earlier today. It was what Joan would have wanted. She once said she would not want to live “if I could not perform. It’s in my will. […]

Proposed new immigration regulations have not only upset South African expats whose foreign partners and children may be affected by the new laws…but have caused even greater outrage at home, with experts predicting widespread consequences and that the biggest casualties of these new restrictions will be local industries and the very people in South Africa who the […]

The news in South Africa over the last few months has dominated with a few headlines about the Oscar Trial, that weird EFF political party, some crazy ANC lady wanting the South African anthem broadcast twice a day and the new LandAct Law signed by Zuma a few months ago. I am not interested in […]

A Durban film, co-starring Capetonian Stelio Savante and SA child actor Sizo Motsoko, has been chosen as an Official Selection for the 2014 San Diego Film Festival where it will make its world premier. ‘Where the Road Runs Out’ made history when it became the first feature ever filmed in the small African country of Equatorial Guinea […]

Earlier today President Zuma conveyed his condolences on the passing of Australian High Commissioner Graeme Wilson, and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthen South Africa’s relationship with Australia. In a statement released on Wednesday, the South African president “conveyed a message of condolences to the Government and people of Australia, following the passing of the Australian High Commissioner […]

Last summer I had a thought and shared it with my wife Jules. “Jules,” I said. “Imagine a South African sitting up north somewhere like Saskatchewan. He’s working in Canada but he’s missing South Africa like crazy.” “Yes?” “Now imagine that guy’s been to the Karoo but his kids haven’t. And neither have his new […]

Some South African stories fill you with such hope, love and wonder. Nicole Olivier’s story is one. It started out as a tragedy. Two tragedies actually. But she didn’t let loss stop her from loving. And so her story – her family’s story – became an inspiration…and has been turned into a song called ‘Beautiful’. We’ll let […]

When Pretoria boy Ted Botha moved to New York City, he was not so much an immigrant as someone on the make – a travelling South African looking to broaden his horizons. In no time he’d lied his way into a job in the New York magazine industry. Then he stumbled upon a small old […]

When the big swell hit Durban beachfront this morning, local photographer Nic Aberdein was there to capture these stunning photographs. “It’s been a really wild week of crazy swell hitting Durban beachfront but today it was literally breaking above the pier and the shoreline was right up to the shower,” he said. Yesterday in Umdloti, just north of […]

Irish rock band The Script were so blown away by the “amazing” crowd of 20,000 people that turned out for them in Johannesburg during their 2011 trip that they returned to Alexandra township last month to film their latest song ‘Superheroes’. The result is a powerful and moving tribute to both the people of Alexandra […]

South Africa has been carpeted in an endless display of flowers during the month of August (before the snow!)… Rob Tarr “I did a trip last weekend to the legendary Biedouw Valley, near Clanwilliam. Carpets of flowers, but I wanted to share this one because it is unusual – flowers in an orange orchard as you […]

After firsthand experience – through a close friend – of how the victims of violence and sexual abuse are let down by the system, a South African woman says #enoughisenough and has created a petition to President Zuma. In it she appeals to the President to stop talking and start acting. “I say, on behalf of […]

In true Nando’s style, the popular restaurant chain has launched a new advertisement in South Africa which, in their words, “makes us laugh, reflects our reality and creates debate”. The restaurant chain, which began in a small restaurant in Rosettenville back in 1987, asks “ever wondered what would happen if four blue light brigades met at […]

Following Born Free USA’s shocking “Out of Africa” report – released two days ago – about the elephant poaching epidemic (almost a quarter of a million African elephants killed in less than six years!), we asked Born Free co-founder Will Travers to let us know what South Africans can do to help turn things around. […]

The daughter of the skipper who was saved in yesterday morning’s dramatic rescue operation in the Port of St Francis, Eastern Cape, has thanked all those who took part in the rescue of the 13 people aboard the Sikelela. The 13 squid – or chokka as they are known in South Africa – fishermen were saved thanks […]

A photo of a homeless man who wanders the streets of Johannesburg with his mega-decorated shopping trolley has gone viral and been shared by over 3,000 Facebook users from South Africa and the USA to the UK and Australia. Gauteng mom and sales executive, Valerie Kennedy, took the photo last month and posted it on her facebook […]

As the exchange between the ANC and the Public Protector’s office heats up following a letter from Public Protector Thuli Madonsela to President Jacob Zuma being leaked to the press, South Africans around the country have taken to social media to send their own message to the country’s president – “pay back the money” (please). The […]

His jewellery has been worn by actress Charlize Theron, and has been showcased on the international market at $16-million. Jewellery designer Kevin Friedman produces one-of-a-kind pieces that have won him awards. UPDATE June 2021: Queen Elizabeth II wears South African jewellery designer Kevin Friedman’s brooch. Theron modelled his bead and diamond choker at the 2012 […]

How to get through South African Immigration as a child (with updates – pls read update at the very bottom first)!  The only thing I knew for sure when booking my son’s ticket a couple of months ago, just after the new law was announced, was that whether a child under the age of 18 travels with […]

Jack Parow’s latest music video is a wonderful tribute to all the workers in South Africa…and instead of using models or actors he features some of the country’s very real working heroes (see below). This is a song that’s for anyone who works to make ends meet, who may hate their job but needs to pay […]

It has always been Richard John Pelwana Maponya’s dream to see Soweto grow its own flourishing economy. Born in Limpopo Province on 24 December 1926, Maponya is a property developer best known for building a business empire despite the restrictions apartheid imposed on black South Africans. He was fiercely determined to see Soweto develop economically. […]

South African writer, director and producer Grant de Graf has entered a short film competition with ‘Burned’, his exquisitely filmed story about a former South African special forces operative who seeks revenge after his family is targeted by hijackers. (If you’d like to vote for the film – there’s a link at the end of this […]

It’s never great when the lift you’re in suddenly comes to a grinding halt and you’re stuck, trapped with strangers, in a confined space…unless you’re in the Table Mountain Cable Car with a lovely controller who reminds you to enjoy the sweeping views of the mountain, clouds and Cape Town down below… Musician Gino Mb (full name Mahomed […]

In case you’ve missed them, here’s a selection of some of the best Ice Bucket Challenge videos from the last week…from the Springboks to Charlie Sheen…raising millions of dollars and awareness for ALS/MND. (And then there’s the guy who wants to shut it all down!) ALS Ice Bucket Challenge featuring Joost van der Westhuizen One […]