Eskom has ‘urged’ the South African public to reduce their usage of electricity as the system is severely constrained, with a “high probability of loadshedding”. ​The power utility said in a statement on Thursday evening: While no loadshedding is anticipated, Eskom would like to warn the public there is a high probability of loadshedding should […]

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant deliver riveting performances in The Undoing (screening on Showmax now), but you may not have realised that’s Nicole singing Dream A Little Dream Of Me – in the opening sequence of each episode. Watch below. When Nicole was first asked by the director to sing it, the actress said no. […]

On Tuesday Forbes announced that South African expat Elon Musk has become the second richest person in the world, after his fortune surpassed that of LVMH luxury brand chairman Bernard Arnault (by less than half a billion). The only person with greater wealth is reportedly Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos. UPDATE 7 Jan 2021: Elon Musk […]

Durban-based Creative Director Anthony George Kirkwood was on his way back from a project on Tuesday when he noticed smoke in the distance and could tell there was a “big problem”. What he was seeing was the massive explosion at Zeta Chemicals in Otto Volek Road in Pinetown, South Africa, that has sadly left 13 […]

South Africa’s brand new airline, LIFT, has officially lifted off… and landed to a plane hero’s welcome with a water salute landing at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The airline will be flying in and out of Cape Town seven days a week. Wesgro – Cape Town & the Western Cape – tweeted “The […]

Miss South Africa organisers announced on Thursday which beauty queens will be representing South Africa on the international stage in the three major pageants – Miss World, Miss Universe and Miss Supranational. Shudufhadzo Musida will represent SA at Miss World Reigning Miss South Africa, Shudufhadzo Musida (24) from Limpopo, who was crowned in October, will […]

Despite a recent slight decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic, greenhouse gas emissions continue to accumulate in the atmosphere. They are projected to rise again once the economy recovers. The current pledges by governments across the world to reduce emissions are insufficient to keep global warming within safe levels (that is, below 2°C). Although with […]

The directors of a mystery non-profit company which has received more than R7-million in Lottery funding have refused to say what the company does. Venalor is a non-profit company which has received more than R7 million from the Lottery. But neither the company nor the National Lotteries Commission will say what the company does or […]

South Africa has officially hit the second wave, with 6 709 COVID-19 new cases reported in the last 24 hours pushing the total number of cases to 828 598. In a special briefing on Wednesday night, Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, said the country now meets the resurgence criteria formulated by scientists and modelling teams. […]

A video of a shark caught today by fishermen at Fish Hoek Beach in the Western Cape, South Africa, is going viral. It shows the tender moment a fisherman strokes the shark as he joins fellow ‘trekkies’ to return the shark to the ocean. Maria Wagener, admin of the Fish Hoek Beach Facebook page captured […]

As the Western Cape saw another 91 patients enter hospital in the past 24 hours, the local government is pleading with citizens to refrain from attending large private functions and parties which can so easily become superspreader events. On Wednesday evening, Premier Alan Winde reminded residents that their action can help protect the health system […]

While steady progress has been made in curbing COVID-19 related plunder, non-compliance continued to plague the disbursement of relief funds and procurement of goods and services, an Auditor-General (AG) report has revealed. According to SA News the “sordid tale” is contained in newly appointed Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke’s office’s second COVID-19 relief funds audit. The first […]

Despite rumours, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala says no formal decision has been taken around the possible closure of the South African province’s fabulous and famous beaches over the festive season. “At this stage there is no decision the provincial government has taken or contemplating to take with regards to the closure of beaches. This may […]

Blood samples are to be taken from up to 19,000 people across all provinces, in the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) two-phase nationwide Covid-19 seroprevalence survey. The HSRC has released details of the seroprevalence survey, which joins several other efforts underway or soon to begin. These surveys will bridge a gap in our understanding of […]

PARKTOWN – Police in Gauteng, South Africa, have launched a search for an unknown number of suspects following the fatal shooting of three security guards in Kempton Park. The suspects were allegedly driving in three vehicles on Tuesday, 08 December 2020 – two VW Polos and a Mercedes Benz with unknown registration numbers. Police cannot […]

Residents of parts of the Karoo in South Africa, who have been experiencing a devastating drought, were celebrating yesterday as they received their first early downpour in over six years. Baraka Gifts and Decor in Steytlerville, in the Eastern Cape, described the sense of elation beautifully: I was so very fortunate yesterday afternoon to experience […]

Sediment from coffer dams built by diamond mining companies on the West Coast is smothering the seabed and damaging the inshore reef systems, perhaps permanently, diamond divers have warned. Diamond divers have warned of damage to the seabed and inshore reef systems from “coffer dams” on the West Coast. Coffer dams are temporary sea walls […]

The number of new Coronavirus cases in South Africa has risen by 4011, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases to 821 889 since the outbreak. Meanwhile, 183 people died on Tuesday, which brings the death toll to 22 432 since the outbreak. Of the latest fatalities, 82 were recorded in the Eastern Cape, 50 […]

Two members of the ‘Crusaders’ right-wing organisation – brothers Eric Donald Abrahams (55) and Erroll Abrahams (50) – were today found guilty, convicted and sentenced in the Middelburg Regional Court for contravention of Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorism and Related Matters Act (POCDATARA). The men were found guilty of preparing and planning to “carry […]

For the first time in almost 800 years, the planets of Jupiter and Saturn will be so closely aligned on 21 December (Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere) that they’ll create what looks like that radiant star you sometimes see twinkling on Christmas cards… the Star of Bethlehem, which followers of the Christian faith believe […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that former Free State premier Ace Magashule, who is out on bail on charges of fraud, will be presenting himself to the ANC party’s Integrity Commission on December 12. According to DA leader John Steenhuisen, this announcement about one of the ANC’s “most corrupt cadres” – following a […]

Durban, South Africa, has been rocked by yet another explosion this morning, leaving 13 injured. The New Germany sky was stained with billowing black smoke on Tuesday morning as flames ravaged Zeta Chemicals in Otto Volek road. Less than a week ago, fire broke out at an Engen’s Durban refinery following an explosion at the […]

Tributes have poured in from around South Africa, and the world, following the sad passing of theatre legend Dawn Lindberg. The theatre doyenne died yesterday, 7 December, at the age of 75 from Covid-19 related complications. Ismail Mahomed, former chief executive officer at the Market Theatre Foundation, led the tributes with the following tribute. He […]

New water tests conducted by activists at the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) show that the Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works in Milnerton is discharging effluent with high levels of E. coli. This is in direct contradiction to tests done by the City of Cape Town. Tests by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) show the […]

The South African economy finally began its journey to recovery during the third quarter of 2020, after being sent into a tailspin by the national lockdown when it recorded a severe decline of 51%. During the third quarter, South Africa’s economy rose by an annualised rate of 66.1%, Statistics South Africa (StatsSA) revealed on Tuesday. Addressing […]