South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has concluded a successful visit to Paris, France, where he attended the Summit on the Financing of African Economies, organised by and hosted by France’s President Emmanuel Macron. Possible French partnership with SA for vaccine production Separate to the Summit, President Ramaphosa met with the French President at Élysée Palace […]

Following Covid-19 cluster outbreaks in public schools, the Council of Education Ministers (CEM) has pulled the plug on all contact sports, with immediate effect. The decision was taken this morning after a virtual meeting, according to the Department of Basic Education (DBE). Non-contact sports training is permitted to continue… provided all safety protocols are observed […]

South African born and bred Jenni Rivett is one of the most highly respected and sought-after trainers and nutritionists in the world… writes Kim Carillo. Known for her ability to transform women’s bodies with her “Train Like A Woman” programme, she’s trained the likes of British actress Elizabeth Hurley, Pussy Cat Doll Ashley Roberts, and […]

Over 100 people picketed outside the Pretoria High Court on Monday to show solidarity with the “Deadly Air” case, which had its first day of court proceedings. The case deals with air pollution in the Mpumalanga Highveld. It was brought by two environmental activist organisations – groundWork and Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action (VEJMA). […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) has today, 18 May 2021 welcomed the culmination of two long-running rhino poaching trials by the Skukuza Regional Court. One rhino poacher was sentenced on 14 May whilst three – including a former SANParks employee – were sentenced on 17 May. The Managing Executive of the Kruger National Park, Gareth […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived yesterday, 17 May 2021, in Paris, France, to participate in the Summit on the Financing of African Economies. At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, South Africa’s Ramaphosa will be joining several African Heads of State and Government as well as leaders of global financing institutions at the Grand Palais […]

Living legend Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu received his Covid-19 vaccination today, with the Western Cape Government hoping the staunch vaccine supporter’s participation in their vaccination drive will encourage others to follow suit. The Western Cape Government confirmed on social media: “Earlier today, Archbishop Emeritus, Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah Tutu, were vaccinated as part […]

Kuils River Magistrate Court’s has issued a summons to the EFF to pay over R80,000 in damages they caused during their protests in Brackenfell in the Western Cape last year. The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it welcomes the summons.  In November 2020, EFF protesters descended on Brackenfell High School, in protest against alleged racism at […]

Rugby, travel, cycling and a pair of mad-cap adventurers. What could possibly go wrong? A whole lot, although in the case of the intrepid James Owens from the UK and Ron Rutland from South Africa, their extraordinary journey to the 2019 Rugby World Cup held the ‘key’ to an amazing adventure that was remarkable for […]

Xoliswa Ndoyiya was Nelson Mandela’s private chef for 22 years, from the time he was released from prison until his death in 2013.  Madiba always treated Xoli more like family than an employee – even paying for her children to go to school and asking her to look after his grandchildren. Xoli often travelled with […]

The DA is calling on Eskom to provide an urgent state-of-the-system update and explain how its loadshedding schedule will be managed to ensure that it does not affect the vaccine rollout process. The latest announcement of loadshedding from Eskom, announced yesterday evening and just minutes before it began at 5pm, was yet another reminder that […]

The Kruger National Park (KNP) today, 17 May 2021 announced their management plans in anticipation of the coming winter fire season which usually takes place between June and October. Fires are a common and natural occurrence in KNP which is found within the Savanna biome (also knows as the Tropical Grasslands), and like the Fynbos […]

It has been just over a month since gentle KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) farmer, Neil McKay, was tied up in his wheelchair and strangled to death. There have still been no arrests, according to the McKay family’s spokesperson. It is not surprising to discover that farming communities in the South African province – which have suffered at […]

During Lockdown last year, Afrikaans musician Du Preez Stoltz created his own version of Meatloaf’s ‘I Will Do Anything’. Instead of for love, he says he will do anything for a braai; and instead of “but I won’t do that”, he sings “but I won’t do bats”! Listen below… Du Preez jokes: “When you miss […]

SA Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza has called an attack on farmers in South Africa an attack on the country’s food security. A Rural National Safety Plan has long been mooted, but, Carte Blanche asks this weekend, where are the results? With 15 recorded murders on KwaZulu-Natal farms in the last year, farmers are coming together […]

Well-respected human rights lawyer Richard Spoor says he believes the arms deal case against former South African president, Jacob Zuma, is “unfair” and that many people don’t understand it. “I think people do not have a fair understanding of what this case is about. It’s been going on for 15 years and it’s tainted his […]

The South African government has welcomed the R3-billion commitment, to transfer the latest technology for producing vaccines and biological therapies to South Africa, announced by SA expat Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong on Wednesday. Dr Soon-Shiong, who is a South African born biotechnology entrepreneur, now based in the United States, made the exciting announcement during a meeting […]

SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni, who currently faces charges of sexual assault laid against him earlier this month at Skukuza Police Station in the Kruger National Park, has allegedly had a similar allegation made against him before. The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has “reliably learned” that Mketeni was previously  allegedly accused of sexual assault by […]

Cabinet has approved the extension of the National State of Disaster on COVID-19 until 15 June 2021. “The extension considers the need to continue augmenting the existing legislation and contingency arrangements undertaken by organs of state to mitigate against the impact of the disaster on lives and livelihoods,” a statement released after this week’s Cabinet […]

The Information Regulator of South Africa has after correspondence, written to WhatsApp LLC requesting the company to revise its privacy policy in South Africa to the standard used in the European Union (EU). On 15 May 2021, WhatsApp will require users to accept new terms and conditions for using the app. In a statement released […]

South Africa’s legendary Leo Prinsloo, who has been likened to Rambo and Chuck Norris after his cool manoeuvres when his vehicle came under attack, says he is no hero… and hopes only that the video that has gone viral helps highlight the severity of the situation in South Africa, a situation which he describes as […]

A search is on for the family of a South African World War II war hero, Flying Officer Denis Charles James McKendry, who will be honoured at a War Memorial unveiling ceremony in the UK later this year. Please see UPDATE at bottom of article.  According to Helen Theron, who is researching the crew of […]

When people think of trading, the first associations are currencies and stocks. Both are accessible in South Africa, even from a smartphone. At the moment, FXTM stock trading is increasingly popular. But is it the best path for everyone? Two Popular Markets The foreign exchange is the largest financial market with a stunning daily volume […]

While the number of COVID-19 cases has been steadily increasing, South Africa has not hit the third wave yet. According to the Department of Health, the number of new infections peaked from 8 593 cases between 26 April to 2 May. Between 3 May and 9 May, cases rose to 12 531, constituting a 46% […]

The Electoral Commission (IEC) has announced voter registration for the October Local Government Elections will be held on the weekend of 17-18 July 2021. In a statement, the Commission said on this weekend all 23 146 voting stations around the country will open from 8am to 5pm to assist new voters to register and existing […]