Fans of author, humanitarian, philanthropist – and South African expat – Trevor Romain will be pleased to know that Trevor’s second book in the very popular Random Kak series has gone to print. In a message to SAPeople, Trevor said: “I am happy to announce that my second book in the Random Kak series has gone […]

We laugh when foreigners think wild animals roam our streets, BUT…maybe we need to rethink our stance! After publishing a photo yesterday of a few zebras happily grazing in the middle of Mtunzini, we received a video showing a leopard wandering through a Coke factory in Polokwane! And apparently there are a few other wild animals […]

The South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has announced that it will discontinue the issuance of Temporary Passports as of 01 September 2014. The DHA said this decision has been made because of an improvement in the turn-around time for permanent tourist passports, meaning there is no longer a need for a temporary passport. […]

My husband and I have been living in Dubai for nearly seven years (me, a little bit less) and in this time we have found that there are four types of expats (especially South African expats) living in Dubai: the Expats Running Away, The Expats Using Dubai as a Springboard, the One Foot In and One Foot Out Expats […]

South African actor, director, producer Sharlto Copley has been cast in a leading role in the TV-series adaptation of PlayStation’s “Powers”. It was announced yesterday that he and American actress Michelle Forbes will replace Jason Patric and Carly Foulkes in the roles of Christian Walker and Retro Girl in the live-action adaptation of the comic. This […]

South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu made history today on Avaaz, the campaign network that boasts a  global following of 38-million people. In an email  sent to all its members Ricken Patel, founder of Avaaz, said “this is the first time an opinion piece has gone out to our community, but this one’s historic.” The letter from […]

The Ice Bucket Challenge has finally hit South Africa…and here’s all you need to know (especially the problem with its name!): What’s the Point of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge? It’s to raise awareness and funds for research on ALS and the hashtag to use on social media is #ALSIceBucketChallenge. Since the social media craze […]

As a 13-year-old Sir Stuart Ntlathi looked at his world and decided he needed to know how it worked. Fourteen years later, his after-school science club owns patents to a battery-operated shoe polisher with changeable colour cartridges, a 14-in-1 microwave combo, and an auto-cooling umbrella. As a 13-year-old he recycled old appliances and developed a […]

Working the chalkboard for over 74 years, watching students blossom and receive good grades, Nontsikelelo Qwelane, at 94, is South Africa’s oldest teacher. Qwelane believes she was born to “impart knowledge” and has dedicated herself to this lifetime vocation. Born in 1920 in Engcobo in the Eastern Cape, she trained as a teacher and started […]

Nat Nakasa finally started his journey home today, fifty years after he didn’t want to leave. At a church in the north of Manhattan, not far from where Nakasa jumped out of a seventh-floor window of a building near Central Park in 1965, a service was held to mark the beginning of the repatriation of […]

Every day, I hear the cries of media people – journalists, graphic artists, photographers and copy editors – who have just been kicked out onto the street by their long-time employers. Many of them have given decades of faithful service – with little remuneration – to their newspapers and magazines. Most of us do this […]

The fabulous South African rusk has been a staple of Karoo travel, going back to the 1700s. Here’s the story of SA’s famous Ouma Rusks… If you were an explorer, a hunter, a prospector, a trekboer or simply a wandering remittance man crossing the great Thirstland, you always carried a bag of rusks in your […]

Following Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies’ visit to Hollywood last week, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will be leading a delegation of South African film makers to Los Angeles to engage with the major studios, the minister announced on Tuesday. Briefing reporters in Pretoria, Davies said his visit had sought to strengthen […]

The government will invest billions of rands in South Africa’s transport infrastructure over the next three years in a bid to reduce road deaths and traffic congestion in the country, says Transport Minister Dipuo Peters. Addressing a seminar on road safety at the Southern Sun Hotel in Cape Town on Tuesday, Peters said that commuter […]

The latest column by well known South African author, columnist and documentary filmmaker Max du Preez has resonated with many of his fellow countrymen as South Africa (and the world) seem to be living through tumultuous times. Here, with kind permission (thank you!), we republish his column: Finding Hope beyond the Screaming Headlines by Max du Preez […]

Today I’m celebrating my FIRST YEAR in South Africa. I arrived in Durban, from my homeland France, exactly a year ago. Who would have guessed that I would end up in South Africa, in Africa even? I left my friends, family, work, flat, shops, food… everything, and accepted to change my life completely, but I […]

Joburg Zoo is distraught by the death of Wang, Africa’s last polar bear. In a media statement issued by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, a spokesperson for Johannesburg Zoo said that the Chief Veterinarian, Dr Brett Gardener had to make the “very tough decision” at 11.49 today. “Africa’s last polar bear Wang had to be […]

A new concept in filmmaking funding emerged a few years ago through crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo to independently fund films. South African filmmakers, Susan Scott and Bonné de Bod are using this new development to try fund their documentary film on the rhino poaching. In Afrikaans and for the big screen, ‘STROOP die […]

Grab your oversized non-prescription glasses and find out whether you’re a Mother City trendster… 1. You’ve taken a ‘pelfie’ That’s a selfie at the Cheers of hipster bars, The Power & the Glory. Chances are, your photo is on the infamous (but still cool enough to be on) ‘Wall o’ Trendsters’. 2. You’ve had a stick-and-poke […]

Today is the third annual World Elephant day when people around the globe are encouraged to take part in actions and activities to help save our increasingly threatened elephants, both in Africa and Asia. This special day, dedicated to the Elephant,  was launched on August 12, 2012 by the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and Canadian documentary filmmaker Patricia Sims […]

A South African movie director has created a romantic marriage proposal for his Trekkie boyfriend with the help of legendary British actor Sir Ian McKellen! And the video is now going viral around the universe. Brett Lotriet Best turned to McKellen for help in making his proposal after McKellen’s frequent co-star and best friend Patrick Stewart was unavailable. […]

The challenges of social integration were increasing, and it was essential to update democracy. “We must take on the challenges of the future, not just consolidate our wins.” Chilean President Michelle Bachelet expressed these sentiments in delivering the 12th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture, in the City Hall, Cape Town, on Women’s Day – 9 August. […]

On 4 July Americans celebrate their independence, their freedom from the yoke of British colonialism. Even in Las Vegas – a city without clocks or calendars – the residents party in celebration of their freedom from oppression. On that day in 1983 South African David Ross Patient found himself in the desert outside the city. […]

South African singer songwriter Duncan Faure was inducted into the RockGodz Hall of Fame in a star-studded performance and awards ceremony in Las Vegas, USA, on July 30, 2014. Duncan, former singer with one of the most famous bands to ever come out of South Africa – Rabbitt – said he was “very honoured to […]

On World Lion Day we couldn’t think of anyone better to lead the celebration of this majestic creature…than South Africa’s own ‘Lion Whisperer’ Kevin Richardson. Here – republished with kind permission – is Kevin’s list of 10 Signs Your Best Friend is a Lion: 1. You’re constantly taking selfies together 2. They give the best welcome hugs 3. They’re […]