CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – In South Africa’s Franschhoek mountains a helicopter drops off abseilers to cut down invasive pine trees that are choking off water supplies to millions of Cape Town residents already facing climate change-induced shortages. By Wendell Roelf. The crews are there to help to remove 54,000 hectares of alien trees by 2025, […]

Hippos and crocodile are being covered in human faeces and toilet paper in the Lake Mzingazi region, near Richard’s Bay in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, according to the Democratic Alliance (DA). South Africa’s biggest opposition party said it conducted an oversight inspection of the area which revealed the “utter degradation” of the lake and associated […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been one of the first to congratulate SA’s new Miss South Africa Lalela Mswane, who was crowned at a glittering event in Cape Town on Saturday night. The President tweeted: “Congratulations to our new #MissSA2021, Lalela Mswane, who took the hotly contested title last night against a group of highly inspirational […]

On Sunday morning, the office of Chief Whip Hon. Pemmy Majodina issued a statement – in light of South Africa’s local government elections, coming up on 1 November – admitting to challenges in the ANC’s service delivery, but insisting that improvements are being made. But for many citizens it’s too little, too late. Across the […]

She’s 90 years old and thrashing runners half her age! Undefeated by lockdown or the pandemic, South Africa’s astonishing Deirdre Larkin kicked off her ninth decade with a gentle 10km run. This Sunday Carte Blanche meets the humble, humorous South African running legend, a national treasure who turned 90 on SA’s Heritage Day (24 September).  […]

A 36-year-old man in Bloemfontein in the Free State, South Africa, has been arrested for being in possession of valuable goods including Kruger Rands and antique watches. The suspect was arrested by the Parkweg Tracing Intervention Unit. The South African Police Service (SAPS) said their team received intelligence-driven information about the suspect being in possession […]

Dear Family and Friends, When it started raining at dusk and went on all night I knew I had a problem… writes Cathy Buckle in her latest Letter from Zimbabwe. With a friend on the banks of a river in a mountainous area where the roads are all steep hills, sharp corners and red soil […]

Learners from five primary schools in the township of Langa, Cape Town, will now benefit from a bus transformed into a fully equipped mobile classroom. The 42-seater Atlas Digibus is kitted out with laptops, two teaching stations, and Wi-Fi for learners to participate in online teaching programmes like coding. After successfully launching its tuk-tuk mobile […]

The Department of Health on Friday announced that children aged 12 to 17 years old in South Africa are next in line to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from next week. “We are now ready to start vaccinations for this group of young people from the age of 12 to 17 years,” said Health Minister, Dr […]

Nederburg has been showered in medals awarded by the 2021 International Wine & Spirit (IWSC) Competition based in London, winning three gold and three silver medals across its multi-tiered range, with Cabernet Sauvignon taking centre stage. All IWSC entries are tasted blind. Niël Groenewald, Nederburg’s managing director, says: “We’re delighted with our IWSC medals and immensely […]

Nelson Mandela’s family will be auctioning over 70 of his treasures in New York City on early December, in order to help finance the building of the Mandela Memorial Garden, which is being created in Qunu where the late great statesman is buried. The auction, by prestigious auction house Guernsey’s, will take place on 11 […]

A special police task force in South Africa has reportedly stormed a hotel in Pretoria, using teargas, to rescue Defence Minister Thandi Modise and two other ministers who were allegedly held hostage by disgruntled military veterans. Modise had been at St George’s Hotel with Deputy Defence Minister Thabang Makwetla, and Minister in the Presidency Mondli […]

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Union and South Africa are in “intense talks” on how to increase the availability of vaccines to developing countries, potentially breaking a year-long global deadlock on the topic, an EU official said on Thursday. The two have been on either side of the debate at the World Trade Organization – […]

Former South African President Jacob Zuma today reiterated that there had been attempts to remove him from power within the ANC party since the mid-1990s. He claims that his imprisonment was the final move by those who fear him. Zuma was speaking remotely to supporters gathered at the ‘National Welcome Prayer’ event at Moses Mabhida […]

A weighty 75,504 global citizens (including at least 9,011 voices from South Africa) are calling on Minister Barbara Creecy and her Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to implement the New Deal for People and Wildlife, as outlined in the draft Policy Position on the conservation and ecologically sustainable use of elephant, lion, […]

Road rage incident sparks violent clashes between taxi operators and shop owners… By Joseph Chirume, GroundUp. Several minibus taxis and a car were torched in Korsten, Gqeberha on Wednesday. This followed after an accident between a taxi driver and a motorist turned into an altercation. Other taxi operators got involved and are alleged to have […]

A total of 34.7% of the adults in South Africa have received at least one dose of the Pfizer or the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine. According to the Department of Health, 19 668 177 doses have been administered to 13 799 325 eligible vaccinees since the start of the country’s inoculation rollout programme. […]

South Africa’s Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has gazetted an extension of the National State of Disaster on COVID-19 until 15 November 2021. The Ministry said the decision was taken following consultations with relevant stakeholders and Cabinet approval. “The extension takes into account the need to continue observing all […]

Eskom suspended loadshedding on Thursday morning, following six days of rolling blackouts throughout South Africa. The State-owned power utility said it has used the past six days to repair generating units and conduct its maintenance programme. “While Eskom teams have returned some generation units to service… we have unfortunately suffered further breakdowns during the period. […]

South Africa’s Department of Health has started issuing the country’s COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate to fully vaccinated adults. Below are the answers to many of the questions being asked, supplied by the Health Department. The system, which allows users to create a QR code as proof of vaccination, is in line with international best practice and […]

An online South African insurance company has stepped up to pay for hero dog Kei’s medical bills. Kei, who was adopted last year from the Boksburg SPCA, has become a household name in South Africa since he helped save his human family from tragedy when their Benoni home was traumatically broken into by two armed […]

South Africa’s very own Rambo is back! if you remember, Leo Prinsloo became a global internet sensation after leaked footage went viral of his reaction to an attempted high-value goods-in-transit heist. Stunned by Leo’s cool attitude and focused action in a crisis situation, South Africans (and the world!) had an example of what can happen […]

While much of South Africa, including Cape Town, is suffering from loadshedding, it appears that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Signal Hill residence is immune to the electricity blackouts that have plagued the country for the past 14 years. Geordin Hill-Lewis – DA City of Cape Mayoral Candidate – says that load-shedding has trapped thousands of Capetonians […]

WINDHOEK (Reuters) – A Namibian court ruled on Wednesday that the son of a gay couple, born via surrogacy in South Africa in 2019, is a Namibian citizen by descent, in a decision hailed as a “big win” for same-sex couples. In a test case for Namibia, High Court Judge Thomas Masuku ruled that a […]

South Africans have responded so well to the call to support their local restaurants during Restaurant Week… that it’s actually been extended now until 14 November! Restaurant Week provides patrons with special foodie deals and experiences at some of South Africa’s firm favourites. SA’s hospitality association, FEDHASA, said it thanks South Africans for their “incredible […]