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 […]

Kei, the hero dog from Benoni, South Africa, that bravely fought off an armed intruder and helped save her human family ten days ago, has finally been released from hospital after suffering grave injuries when the intruder shot her through the face. The Lamont family say she is so happy to be home… but is […]

South African athlete Ernst van Dyk raced to a fantastic third spot in the Boston Marathon Men’s Wheelchair Race on Monday in the USA. This is the 21st time that Ernst has competed in the Boston Marathon… and the 18th time that he has won a podium position! Ernst has famously won the race a […]

KZN Filmmaker Anthony George Kirkwood has created a hard-hitting short film about the recent unrest in South Africa. The film has been submitted to the My RØDE Reel 2021 Short Film Competition, the world’s largest short film contest. Anthony’s filming of the ‘apocalyptic’ events in July began on the first day when he assisted the […]

Curfew could be reinstated if hospital beds start running out… By GroundUp Editors   There is no scientific basis for the continued 12am to 4am curfew. It should be ended. The third wave is over and this restriction does not mitigate the Covid pandemic. If Covid hospitalisations start ticking up again, a temporary curfew may […]

In the face of South Africa’s stark inequalities it was clear that many people were likely to fall into even more desperate circumstances once the reality of COVID-19 restrictions set in. Many immediately lost jobs or saw their businesses collapse, and a host of other restrictions led to unprecedented changes in how we lived. By […]

It’s been barely three weeks since South African Airways (SAA) took to the air again (after being grounded for 16 months), and there already seems to be some trouble in paradise. The South African Cabin Crew Association (SACCA) has been picketing at the airline’s Kempton Park offices. SACCA members are reportedly protesting against alleged unfair […]

Bonang Matheba, arguably South Africa’s most famous  celebrity, has announced on Twitter – where she has over 4.9-million followers – that she has ended her contract with her management company, citing possible criminal conduct. In a series of tweets in the past few days, Bonang said she’d been quiet for too long and there were […]

Ten people have tragically lost their lives in a fatal bus crash on the N3 near Ladysmith in South Africa today, Tuesday 12 October. The bus was apparently on its way to Johannesburg. According to local reports, the bus plunged into the Tugela River near the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) town, and at least 50 passengers sustained […]

Over 10 million adults in South Africa have been fully vaccinated, as of Monday. This comes after 139 899 either received the one dose of the Johnson & Johnson or two-dose Pfizer vaccine. This means there are now 10 059 118 eligible citizens who are fully jabbed, which translates to 25.28% of the country’s adult […]

Takesure Ranjisi worked as a waiter in Gqeberha for three years before he was retrenched in the 2020 lockdown, without any notice and with no payout, he says. He gave up trying to get Unemployment Insurance Fund money as his former employer did not cooperate. Ranjisi decided to set up his own pizza takeaway – […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared November 1 as a public holiday to give all those going to cast their ballots an opportunity to do so. The date is the day of Local Government Elections, where eligible voters will cast their vote for councillors who will represent them at local level. “The President calls on all […]