Two senior Hawks officers and a former colleague are expected to appear in court soon after they were this morning arrested for alleged fraud and corruption relating to promotional appointments in the agency. Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale in a statement said: “The Hawks’ Serious Corruption Investigation members in their quest to rid the organisation of […]

German biotech company BioNTech and US pharmaceutical Pfizer announced on Monday promising early results from their phase 3 clinical trial for a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. (See main points at bottom of article.) These early results are what is known as an “interim analysis”. It’s an early look at the data […]

Judge Tintswalo Annah Nana Makhubele was suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa following the recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission on 14 October, until a Judicial Conduct Tribunal completes impeachment proceedings against her (for having served as chairman of PRASA while a judge). Her suspension was to take effect after she finalised “part-heard and reserved judgments,” […]

By-elections will be held in 95 wards across 55 municipalities throughout South Africa tomorrow, 11 November, 7am-9pm. Some 600,000 registered voters can vote, and 20 of the municipalities are in the Northern Cape. A total of 444 candidates from 40 parties will contest the by-elections, 305 (69 percent) male and 139 female. (See here for […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it condemns the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) “blatant attempt” to further fan racial conflict related to Brackenfell High School in the Western Cape. Brackenfell has been at the centre of a furore over a private matric party allegedly attended by white students only. The private party was organised […]

An arrest warrant has been issued for the ANC secretary general Ace Magashule in connection with the allegedly corrupt R255 million asbestos deal that took place in Free State while he was premier, according to a report today in Daily Maverick. The arrest warrant was confirmed to various news outlets, including News24 and Newzroom Africa, […]

One of the many comedy videos going viral at the moment is a skit of Donald Trump being evicted and referencing South African farmers. The actor playing Trump can be heard saying: “You can’t replace me, and definitely not with a woman. Me too. What about me??? I’m being evicted like a South African farmer…” […]

Eddie Hills, the son of murdered Free State farmer Pieter Hills, has sadly been declared brain dead and his family and loved ones are waiting for his “big farm boy heart” to stop beating. Eddie and his father were attacked on their farm in Hennenman, in the early hours of Friday morning 6 November 2020. […]

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa has congratulated Master KG on winning the Best African Act Award at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs). “We are exceptionally proud of Master KG, who took home top honours to win the coveted Best African Act Award at the MTV EMAs,” the Minister said. […]

There has been a flood of photos, videos, memes and quotes by Kamala Harris (56) going viral on social media since the announcement that, according to projections, Joe Biden will be the next President of the USA and Kamala his vice-president. But there is one in particular that is being shared worldwide… a reminder that […]

The South African mining magnate and billionaire owner of the Mamelodi Sundowns soccer team, Patrice Motsepe, who is also President Cyril Ramaphosa’s brother-in-law, is standing as a candidate for the position of president of the Confederation of African Football, a position that has been in the news lately because of questions hanging over the incumbent […]

The first of four suspects arrested for the murder of Free State farmer Pieter Hills last week appeared in Hennenman Magistrates Court today, and the police said more arrests were imminent. One of the suspects died by suicide in jail over the weekend, they said. Tshidiso Patrick Bochedi (36) appeared in court briefly today on […]

Telkom and the SA Broadcast Corporation today launched a new video streaming channel called TelkomONE that will attempt to capture some of Netflix and Showmax’s market, although it will be showing mostly South African and SABC products – some of it for free. A five-year deal was signed between the two, and creates a platform […]

In case you missed it, here is former President Barack Obama’s message of congratulations to his former Vice-President Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, for their projected win in the US Elections against Donald Trump. Barack Obama wrote on Facebook: I could not be prouder to congratulate our next President, Joe Biden, and our next First […]

After months of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country is now transitioning from relief to recovery. Writing in this week’s edition of his newsletter, the President said when the National State of Disaster was declared in March, the immediate priority was to contain the spread of the virus and provide emergency […]

Two horses have been rescued in the Free State by the Bloemfontein SPCA, after a concerned community member – who had witnessed the horses being abused – contacted the organisation. A third horse was also rescued after the SPCA saw it being uncared for. The SPCA said the first two horses had apparently been ridden […]

While some South Africans have taken offence to a video clip that’s been going viral for months, showing an impassioned young Joe Biden in 1986 pleading for support for South Africans suffering under apartheid, most have welcomed the video as a sign of Biden’s pro-equality stance and his genuine care for the wellbeing of not […]

The American public has had its say and for the first time in a generation denied a sitting president a second term. President Donald Trump’s tenure lasted just four years, but in that time he dragged policy on an array of key issues in a dramatic new direction. Joe Biden’s victory, confirmed by the Associated […]

South Africans have been excited to discover that through Melissa Cohen Biden they may have a close link to the White House if Joe Biden wins the US Election (as has been projected). It turns out Melissa Cohen is Joe’s daughter-in-law, wife of his son Hunter, and a South African expat from Johannesburg. The 33-year-old, […]

Yet another Free State farmer has died this week in South Africa, after being shot in August.  He joins a painfully long list of farm attack victims in South Africa, particularly in the Free State where unconfirmed figures show there have been at least 10 farm attacks in the province in less than six weeks. […]

Messages of congratulations have been sent from leaders around the world to Joe Biden, following the announcement by most reputable media houses that the counted votes so far project that Biden has won the US election. Although Donald Trump says the election is far from over and has declared that he is the winner, it […]

In response to projections that Joe Biden has won the US Presidential election, President Donald Trump has issued the following statement, with allegations of fraudulent votes being counted although he has as of yet provided no evidence: “We all know why Joe Biden is rushing to falsely pose as the winner, and why his media […]

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has won enough votes in Pennyslvania for a recount in the state to not be required and therefore – according to projections by several reputable news sources (including Reuters, BBC, ABC, NBC and AP) – the 77-year-old has beaten current President Donald Trump (74) to win the US election. “Biden […]

The now famous chacma baboon Kataza, who made headlines after he was controversially removed from his troupe in Kommetjie, Cape Town, is to be returned home after the city was taken to court by a concerned citizen, Ryno Engelbrecht. The relocation of the male baboon in late August caused a huge outcry and locals started […]

As the countdown continues for the Metrorail divisions in the Western Cape and Gauteng to roll out the new commuter trains, the blue EMUs, the latest few sets have passed through Kimberley and Matjiesfontein – an unusual sight, because only long-distance trains usually pass here – on its way from the factory in Gauteng to […]