When holidays roll around, many parents begin to appreciate just how tenacious teachers have to be to keep children engaged for weeks at a time. Some, faced with children they describe as “too playful”, “restless” or even “destructive”, may turn to home tutors, holiday lessons at schools or unregulated television viewing. But holidays should be […]

After a bold revamp of her training regime Christie Mackenzie will start the 2023 Dusi Canoe Marathon on Thursday 16 February as the strong favourite to become only the third woman to wrap up a hat-trick of K1 Dusi Victories. Mackenzie won the last two women’s K1 titles in 2019 and 2021 and now stands […]

South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) has announced that the price of both grades of petrol will decrease by R2.06 per litre, while diesel is to drop by between R2.68 (500ppm) and R2.80 (50ppm). The new prices, effective from today (Wednesday 4 Jan), mean that a litre of 95 unleaded petrol will […]

It wasn’t quite Christmas Eve, and perhaps they weren’t exactly three wise men, but the story of the rescue of three motorcyclists off a notorious mountain pass in South Africa has brought Christmas cheer to many in the country and around the world. Trygve Roberts, editor of MountainPassesSouthAfrica.co.za tells the story… “This is Sarel Vorster […]

South African Springbok captain Siya Kolisi (31) today confirmed that he will be leaving South Africa and joining Racing 92 in Paris, after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France later this year. In an emotional statement posted on Twitter, Siya said: “Are words ever enough to express the immense appreciation for the support that […]

Here is a full transcript of SA President Cyril Ramaphosa’s message for South Africans as the new year, 2023, begins… It is a time for fresh starts in a number of aspects that affect our lives and for making resolutions to do things better. It is also a time of hope – hope for a […]

Join us this Sunday as we look back on some of the most memorable Carte Blanche moments of 2022 in South Africa on DStv Now OR stream it overseas in most countries on Showmax from Tuesday 03 January if you’re abroad. Frontline Emergency Room Heroes In a story that offered a rare glimpse of medical […]

British TV bosses are splashing out over one million pounds to hire a fabulous Franschhoek villa exclusively for five months, for the filming of the new Winter Love Island in South Africa. The much-anticipated details of the new Winter Love Island in South Africa has now been revealed with the Ludus Magnus villa being named […]

Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa has lauded a group of young black South Africans for qualifying to compete in the Cape2Rio yacht race, which is set to start on 02 January 2023. UPDATE: South Africans make history at Cape 2 Rio yacht race. The group will be the first complete crew from townships across Cape Town […]

What do Lee Child, Jeff Kinney and Michelle Obama have in common? They’re all authors of the most borrowed books at various Cape Town public libraries this past year. As the year winds down, libraries across the city will still remain a hive of activity to keep children of all ages entertained during the holidays […]

Here’s what’s coming up on Carte Blanche this week. You can watch the show today, Sunday 25 December in South Africa on DStv Now OR stream it overseas in most countries on Showmax from Tuesday 27 December if you’re abroad. Solo’s Strength Solomzi “Solo” Nqweni was a man with big dreams: he’d moved to Scotland […]

Eskom has announced a loadshedding-free Christmas Day for South Africans. The power utility said on Saturday afternoon: « Loadshedding will be suspended at 05:00 on 25 December until 05:00 on 26 December. Thereafter, Stage 2 loadshedding will be implemented until 16:00 on 27 December, whereafter Stage 3 loadshedding will be implemented.« Eskom said the suspension […]

Photographer Masixole Feni captured children at play in Sea Point, Green Point, Mfuleni, Khayelitsha Site C, Happy Valley in Blackheath, and New Beginnings in Blue Downs. After taking these photographs, he reflected on the assignment. Children everywhere Everywhere you go, children gather in groups and play. Everywhere, running, playing. Even in town, kids don’t remain […]

South African sprinter Neo Mosebi preps himself for another typical day at SPIRE Academy – first, a morning training session, followed by a day’s worth of schoolwork and classes, a second-afternoon training session, and then returning back to his dorm for a few minutes of relaxing before returning to his schoolwork in preparation for the […]

A Cape Fur Seal has been rescued near a busy shopping mall, after it appeared to be on a mission to join the last-minute Christmas shoppers in Athlone, Cape Town. WATCH videos below. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA Wildlife Department, which carried out the rescue, joked: “It seems not even Cape Town’s wildlife is […]

The GroundUp RoundUp: A Year in Photos: 1. Zubaida Adams and her family have been trading at the Salt River Market for more than 50 years. Traders at the historic Salt River Market are concerned about their livelihoods after being excluded from new City of Cape Town development plans. 2. Plant poaching has become big […]

Brisbane’s famous cricket pitch – the Gabba – has received a ‘below average’ rating from the ICC, and has received one demerit point. The dismal rating follows the first Test between South Africa and Australia, which was held at the Queensland venue, and which received much criticism from both sides. Australia won the match by […]

Interview with Geoff Arbourne, the South African-based English Producer of ‘Men In the Sun’, a Red Sea Souk Project at the 2nd edition of the Red Sea Film Festival. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. So you’re living in Cape Town. Geoff: I am. How long have you been living there for? […]

There’s an amazing post going viral on social media… written by M&C Saatchi Abel Group founder Mike Abel who has a knack of inspiring South Africans and lifting the nation’s spirits. His latest offering, published here with Mike’s kind permission, is pure magic: We Still On We have Stage 6 load-shedding but our mountains and […]

A wild elephant in the Greater Kruger, South Africa, joined a couple of Mbizi Lodge guests from Belgium at the lodge’s swimming pool last week! “It was a magical experience,” Wilfried Schildermans told SAPeople. He, and his wife, Linda Gevaerts stayed cool, calm and collected while the elephant enjoyed a pleasurable drink from the pool. […]

A scientist with terminal cancer, who lives in Oxford in the UK, has posted a tweet that has stopped social media users mid-scroll, and elicited an outpouring of love, well wishes and compassion. On Sunday morning, Professor Mark Stokes – who describes himself as a scientist, dad and not a robot – published the following […]

LUSAIL, Qatar (Reuters) – Argentina won their third World Cup in extraordinary style on Sunday, beating France 4-2 in a penalty shootout after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 3-3 draw that featured a hat-trick for Kylian Mbappe as the holders recovered from 2-0 down after 80 minutes. By Mitch Phillips It was an incredible […]

South African swimmer Chad le Clos has achieved what had appeared impossible… winning the 100m Butterfly today to become double World Champion at FINA (World Aquatics) in Melbourne, Australia. Just days ago Chad won the 200m Gold… after four years of a dry spell. Chad won back the 100m Gold in a time of 48.59, […]

Christmas arrived early at an orphanage in Johannesburg today, as the UK’s former Strictly Come Dancing star Oti Mabuse, and her sister Phemelom, popped in to have a dance lesson with the girls! Ilamula House was opened by The Winnie Mabaso Foundation in 2014, for vulnerable, abused and orphaned girls in Mid Ennerdale. Global star […]

As movie fans across the world stream into cinemas to watch blockbuster sci-fi movie, Avatar: The Way of Water, which was released this week, visitors to the Tokyo Disney Resort are being treated to a taste of Pandora… and that taste includes South African favourite – Rooibos! Chefs at the resort have created exotic tastes […]