South Africa’s state-backed vaccine manufacturer Biovac is to start making the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the second half of next year. This will be a first for Africa. The company plans to be producing at least 100 million doses annually from 2023. Pfizer made the announcement on their website today (Wed 21 July). The collaboration between […]

Ahead of the 2010 World Cup there were billboards all over South Africa which shouted, “the waiting is over”. After what had seemed an eternity, the first match exploded into life. The sideshows and build-up were quickly consigned to history… writes GARY LEMKE in Tokyo. On Thursday, South Africa’s men’s under-23s go into battle against hosts […]

This week has seen some of the worst rioting across South Africa since democracy was achieved in 1994. It’s been one of the most stressful weeks for me personally, as an emigrant with close family in some of the most affected hotspots in KZN – Pietermaritzburg and Waterfall… writes migration and travel blogger Reeva Cutting, […]

Brand new African crime-drama thriller Reyka, which was shot on location in KwaZulu Natal and Johannesburg, has received rave reviews internationally. It stars a host of brilliant South African actors, as well as acclaimed British actor Iain Glen from Game of Thrones. The captivating eight-episode TV series – which starts on Sunday 25 July – […]

SAA, you’ve finally done it… writes (former) South African Airways pilot Phil Parsons. Sixteen months after last paying us and 26 years since hiring me, you’ve pulled the plug and retrenched us all. A sad day indeed. My sadness transcends the beautiful machines I’ve had the privilege of flying or the wide world SAA allowed […]

Reigning Miss South Africa 2020 Shudufhadzo Musida proudly graduated today from the University of the Witwatersrand with a BA Honours in International Relations. She is one of 6,712 students who will graduate from Wits during the July graduation season. Musida, who turned 25 just two days ago, tweeted: “The best day! I’m a Witsie.” Wits […]

Charges against a man accused of starting the Cape Town fire in April were withdrawn by the State in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday… writes Marecia Damons. Frederick Mhangazo, 35, was arrested in the vicinity of Devil’s Peak on Sunday 18 April, hours after a devastating blaze had spread across Table Mountain. He first appeared in […]

Purge South Africa is an incredibly hard video to watch. Disturbing. Upsetting. But it’s important, and going viral. It’s what happened in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It’s the harsh reality of what paramedics, police, shop owners, community members and ordinary South Africans faced. Filmmaker Anthony George Kirkwood has bravely and brilliantly filmed the July 2021 events […]

A South African teacher in Vietnam, Dale Benson (39), was earlier this month given the devastating news that he has Stage 4 colon cancer and that, without chemo in Vietnam, he would probably only live a month. His heartbroken mother, Inge, contacted SAPeople. Her friend set up a fundraiser on BackABuddy. And today, we are […]

With the recent chaos specifically in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, and the media focus on these areas pertaining to the violent riots and looting, it is easy to get wrapped up in some tunnel vision, focusing exclusively on these events… writes Free State University’s Prof Petrus. The danger of this, of course, is that […]

The Pietermartizburg High Court has today – Tuesday 20 July – granted former President Jacob Zuma’s request for his corruption trial to be delayed. Appearing ‘virtually’ via a video link from Estcourt correctional facility, where he is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court (after failing to appear before the Zondo Commission of Enquiry […]

Tanya Seymour’s Olympic competition is over before it has begun after her horse, Ramoneur, suffered a debilitating case of laminitis, which results in a painful swelling and inflammation of the hoof (foot)… writes GARY LEMKE in Tokyo, Japan. The 37-year-old Seymour, who made equestrian history at Rio 2016 when she became the first dressage rider […]

Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says six individuals, who have been identified as alleged instigators of the violent riots that flared up in parts of the country, have been arrested and some have already appeared in court. Briefing journalists in Pretoria on Monday, Ntshavheni said efforts to restore economic activity have commenced and […]

In the first-ever virtual event of its kind on the continent, a youth driven marine group called Youth4MPAs in partnership with WILDOCEANS, and supported by World Surf League PURE, The Pew Charitable Trusts and Oceans5 has launched an African Youth Summit focusing on unifying youth across Africa, engaging with global marine experts and amplifying their […]

It’s the end of an era as RX Venue Management announced today “with a heavy heart” that after 20 years of being the management company of South Africa’s largest multipurpose indoor arena, The Ticketpro Dome has now been sold by the owners, Sasol Pension Fund, to a third party which does not operate in the […]

South Africans abroad gathered for a peaceful protest in London on Sunday, Mandela Day 2021, showing their solidarity with their loved ones back home. Together they sung the national anthem opposite the UK Prime Minister’s residence at 10 Downing Street (watch below), and belted out Shosholoza. The gathering also included a picnic in Hyde Park […]

Bafana Bafana broke their five-year drought when they emerged victorious yesterday, crowned Kings of the 20th edition of the Cosafa Cup at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Bafana beat Senegal 5-4 on penalties (0-0 after extra time). Mandela Day came sprinkled with Madiba Magic, said SAFA in a press statement. “A day to […]

“You’ve seen the worst, now see the best. We are a united nation,” is the message of a video that’s going viral in South Africa. It shows a worship group, and shopping centre staff and customers uniting to sing church songs, and SA’s national anthem. The joyous incident took place at the Glen Shopping Mall […]

After the devastation wrought upon South Africa this past week, the Drakensberg Boys Choir has today uploaded this moving traditional Xhosa prayer… singing of hope, unity and “in salutation of all those South Africans who these past few days have worked to bring order and restoration to our Rainbow Nation”. The school’s English teacher, Pamela […]

Durban photographer Kierran Allen, who captured the devastation of burning buildings and looted shopping centres last week, has today taken the time to film a far more positive time… as everyone came together to clean up. Watch below as Kierran visits Cornubia Industrial Park, along with comedian Carvin H Goldstone who has a special message […]

The Netcare Teams involved in giving vaccines to mentally challenged people at Woodside Sanctuary in Johannesburg have been praised for their incredible kindness and TLC (tender loving care) in administering the vaccine doses. Woodside Sanctuary, which is situated behind the SABC in Auckland Park, is a non-profit home for about 90 people with “profound intellectual […]

Learners at 16,000 schools in South Africa do not have access to computer labs… but many are now able to learn vital coding concepts thanks to a coding app called TANKS (developed by Byron Batteson), a dedicated Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Associate Professor Jean Greyling, a passionate army of students devoting their time and expertise… […]

It all started with Byron Batteson’s TANKS coding app in 2017, aimed at introducing learners to coding concepts without computers… writes Prof Jean Greyling, Associate Professor at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. Now it’s an UNPLUGGED CODING movement inspiring teachers and learners across the country … from city to remotest village (including the late Nelson […]

Tonight’s episode of Carte Blanche is packed with must-watch items – from the violent protests of the past week to the impact of the Delta variant, an uplifting story of hope with another South African medical breakthrough… and the plight of KZN’s vervet monkeys. You can watch the show on Sunday 18 July in South […]

South Africa has reported three positive cases of Covid-19 amongst its team at the Olympic Village in Tokyo. Team Manager Mxolisi Sibam said in a SAFA (South African Football Association) press release on Sunday that “we have three positive cases of COVID-19 in the camp here, two players and an official”. The two football players […]