Three South African women have set the standard in Africa by becoming the first black female marine pilots on the continent to gain open licences, enabling them to navigate ships of all sizes and types into local waters. Precious Dube, Bongiwe Mbambo and Pinky Zungu, who are three of only five female marine pilots in […]

A bit of enthusiasm, mixed with passion and a dash of perseverance – these are the attributes that have earned David Kramer, the CEO of Johannesburg’s Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, his knighthood from the French government. Kramer became a Knight of the French National Order of Merit at a ceremony held at the French Embassy in Pretoria […]

Pretty Yende, a graduate of the South African College of Music, has brought the country’s opera singers into the spotlight by winning the prestigious Operalia Competition. The event took place in Moscow, Russia, from 18 to 24 July 2011, at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre. Operalia took place in three stages with 40 contestants selected to compete […]

Pupils and teachers from Manor Gardens Primary School in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, are celebrating after the school’s team won the 2011 International Kids Literary Quiz in New Zealand on 19 July. Grade seven pupils Alexandra Breckenridge, Matthew Robbins, Emily Spencer and Sarah Herrington represented South Africa in the event, taking on teams from the UK, US, Canada and New Zealand. […]

Nomthandazo Radebe from Escourt in KwaZulu-Natal is helping young people gain much-needed work experience by giving them positions in her small sewing business and arranging internships at various companies.   Many young South Africans fresh out of school, college or university struggle to find jobs nowadays, as most employers require candidates to have some form of […]

by Emily van Rijswijck “Captain” Kgaugelo Mabjwe is one of eight students of the Umuzi Photo Club, based in the Johannesburg suburb of Braamfontein, who are currently exhibiting their work at the prestigious Gallery@Oxo on London’s South Bank. The Wembley to Soweto exhibition is a visual depiction of how photography helped the eight teenagers to unleash their talent […]

Check out these great photos by Peter Morey, posted on TwitPic, of our South African icon, Nelson Mandela, celebrating his 93rd birthday with his family around him. Nelson Mandela watches with other family, as great-granddaughter Zamakhosi Obiri and grandson Mbuso Mandela gaze at his cake: The former South African President with members of his family, […]

President Jacob Zuma will visit Former President Nelson Mandela at his home in Qunu this afternoon, to wish him well on his 93rd birthday. President Zuma will give Madiba an architect’s impression of the Nelson Mandela Legacy Bridge that will be constructed across the Mbashe River between Ndondolo Village in the Mbashe Local Municipality and […]

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has joined millions of well wishers in wishing Tata Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela a wonderful, happy birthday.   A national singalong involving people across South Africa took place just after 8am, where schoolchildren and adults alike sang for the former president, known affectionately as Madiba. “As the commission, there are no […]

The International Marketing Council of South Africa (IMC) has added its voice to the Mandela Day drive with the launch of Play Your Part, a campaign designed to get all South Africans doing something, whether big or small, to contribute to a better future for all. The initiative was launched at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg […]

It’s 11 o’clock in the morning and the elders at the Mohlakeng Community Centre, on Johannesburg’s West Rand, are winding down their morning fitness class. Former teacher Tumisho Mohlabane started the class to help elderly residents take better care of their health and wellness. The majority of attendees are pensioners between the ages of 50 and […]

President Zuma will be receiving UK Prime Minister David Cameron today in Pretoria during the PM’s shortened three-day working visit to Africa. The African trip had to be cut back from 5 days amidst the phone-hacking scandal currently besieging the British press, police and politicians – all of which require’s Cameron’s attention. The enquiry into […]

In his birthday message to former President Nelson Mandela, President Zuma said each one of us “must spread love, ubuntu, humility and selflessness”: From the moment Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela strode out of prison on the 11th of February 1990, we knew that South Africa would be a different place. People across the globe were mesmerized […]

South African fund manager Kokkie Kooyman has been named the international Fund Manager of the Year for the second year running by the UK-based jourmal Investment Week. He fought off three rivals, including two funds from London-based Polar Capital and one from Jupiter International, to take top honours in the category Specialist Financial Funds. Kooyman, who […]

South African President Jacob Zuma proved he’s not just a political leader, but also a proud father, by using his official Twitter page to tweet a message about his daughters’ new television show. Earlier today Zuma tweeted: “I encourage you all to tune into channel 107 Tonight on dstv at 7pm for a new sitcom […]

President Jacob Zuma received the Freedom of Makana Municipality from the Makana municipality in Grahamstown, the municipality’s highest honour. The municipality said the President is being recognised for his role in ensuring South Africa’s successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup, and for his outstanding performance in the political sphere of the country, […]

South African hospitality group Singita Game Reserves is now firmly at the top of the industry after walking off with the honours in the 2011 US Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards readers’ survey.   Singita’s safari hotels and lodges were rated against top competition from around the world. Its Grumeti Reserves, situated close to the Serengeti […]

The South African Gospel Singers will be performing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London on Monday 18th July…making it the perfect evening out to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 93rd birthday (if you happen to be in the UK). The choir, directed by Pinise Saul, is one of the greatest gospel choirs in the world. It […]

No excuses! Wherever you are in the world – learn the words to ‘Happy Birthday Tata Madiba’ and sing along with millions of South Africans at 08h05 am (SA time) on Monday 18th July, former President Nelson Mandela’s birthday. Here are the words, followed by a video… Happy Birthday to you Happy Birthday to you […]

A simple idea that was born one afternoon in a textiles office led to a project that would see hundreds of disadvantaged children getting custom-designed t-shirts from ordinary South Africans. The T-shirts for Charity project is the brainchild of textile designer and tie-dye expert Melanie Brummer of SlipStream Dye and Prints, who started her career selling […]

The students at Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa are going to be benefit from some private lessons from the media mogul herself! After receiving her Honorary Doctorate in Education at the University of the Free State, Oprah Winfrey is heading back to South Africa as a teacher! In an email newsletter […]

Rumours on the internet are that Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone may be close to signing a deal that would bring back a South African Grand Prix. A South African website has quoted 80-year-old Bernie as saying the race could be back in South Africa within two years, and that a contract is only “weeks […]

President Jacob Zuma today met with His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco, on the sidelines of the 123rd session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Durban. Prince Albert, the Head of State of the principality of Monaco, was accompanied by HRH Princess Charlène, and President Zuma by Mrs Thobeka Zuma.     […]

Female scientists from Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town (UCT) have been honoured with 2011 L’Oréal-Unesco Regional Fellowships for Women in Science in sub-Saharan Africa. The five are Dalene de Swardt, Jeanne de Waal and Kim Trollope from Stellenbosch; and Olutayo Boyinbode and Rachel Muigai from UCT. The award ceremony took place in Melrose Arch […]

Honeymoon couple Princess Charlene (nee Wittstock) and Prince Albert II of Monaco arrived in Durban yesterday for their honeymoon, and are lunching with South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma today at the King’s House Presidential Residence in Morningside, Durban. After their lavish wedding at the weekend, the couple are reported to be staying at Umhlanga’s beachfront […]