Tourism Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has suspended the Tourism Equity Fund’s (TEF) activities until discussions have taken place with AfriForum and Solidarity. This decision comes after the two institutions sent an urgent letter to the Minister about the fund, which intends to only offer financing to black-owned tourism businesses. In the Minister’s reply, she announced that […]

The Western Cape province will officially begin its COVID-19 vaccine rollout programme by no later than Monday 15 February, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde announced in a statement. “We anticipate delivery of the Western Cape’s share of South Africa’s first batch of vaccines at our Cape Medical Depot within the next 5 to 10 days […]

The impact of heavy rains, caused by tropical storm Eloise, has resulted in Stage 2 load shedding in South Africa that will continue through the weekend. Eskom says the loadshedding, which has been implemented from noon today, has been exacerbated by the forced shutdown of five generating units at the Medupi Power Station. The power cuts […]

Professor Thuli Madonsela, South Africa’s popular former Public Protector, has been appointed as Knight of the Legion of Honour by France’s President Emmanual Macron. The prestigious honour will be bestowed upon her once the Covid-19 situation allows. UPDATE April 2021: Prof Thuli Madonsela has now had the French Knighthood bestowed upon her at a ceremony […]

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has launched an investigation into allegations of price gouging in South Africa, relating to garlic and ginger. What is price gouging? “The law defines price gouging as an unfair or unreasonable price increase that does not correspond to or is not equivalent to the increase in the cost of providing […]

Whisky Magazine announced today (4 February) that Andy Watts, Distell Master Distiller of a range of proudly South African whiskies, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky and Three Ships Whisky, will be bestowed the great honour of being inducted into Whisky Magazine’s Whisky Hall of Fame! The induction will take place on 25 March during an online […]

If people who work for the government tell us our safety depends on us not knowing what they do, we might suspect that they wanted to cover up wrong-doing. Unless, it seems, they work for state security agencies. South Africa’s media are awash with shock at “bombshell” revelations about the country’s security services at the […]

The novel Coronavirus has claimed more than 45 000 lives since the first case was reported in March last year. This is after 398 more COVID-19 related deaths were reported on Wednesday, pushing the death toll to 45 344. Of the latest fatalities, 138 are from KwaZulu-Natal, 97 in Gauteng, 67 in the Western Cape, 46 in […]

South African National Parks (SANParks) today, 04 February 2021, says it welcomes the decision by the Constitutional Court – dated 1 February 2021 – to dismiss the application for leave to appeal a High Court decision allowing for the Skukuza Regional Court to continue operating inside the Kruger National Park (KNP). The application for leave […]

Greyhound and Citiliner have announced they will be closing operations on 14 February 2021, after 37 years in South Africa… another casualty to Lockdown and the Coronavirus Pandemic. The company thanked its customers and said: “It has been our pleasure connecting you across Southern Africa for the past 37 years.” Chris Hunsinger – DA Shadow […]

The first episode of The Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD) launched exclusively on Showmax on Friday, 29 January and within hours was trending on Twitter and on screens. Statistics reveal is has broken all previous Showmax first-day viewing records, claiming top spot on the streaming service. The episode landed on Showmax at 00:00, with die-hard fans […]

Ford Motor Company this morning announced an investment of $1.05 billion (R15.8 billion) in its South African manufacturing operations. This marks the biggest investment in Ford’s 97-year history in South Africa, the company said. The South African government welcomed the announcement, which is one of the largest-ever investments in the South African automotive industry. It […]

South Africa has become the second largest exporter of fresh citrus in the world, after record-breaking exports that delivered 146 million cartons of citrus in 2020. Citrus is one of South Africa’s most important subsectors in the agricultural sector that provides a significant contribution to job creation and economic activity in South Africa’s rural communities. […]

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister, Nathi Mthethwa, has expressed sadness at the passing of sport broadcaster, Sandile kaNqose. The popular broadcaster, who always had a ready smile, reportedly passed away on Monday at the age of 42. A die-hard sport fan, who had an insatiable passion for broadcasting, Nqose resumed his career at eNCA in […]

Traders who missed the peak tourist season say that despite the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night that beaches are now open once again, the damage has been done. Thembisile Ngidi, who has plied her wares on Durban beachfront for 15 years, says the busiest days of the year are in December, and this season they […]

Queen Elizabeth II led tributes on Tuesday evening for Captain Sir Tom Moore, the 100-year-old war hero with youthful zest and determination who captured the heart of the nation, and the world, with his daily walks (with his zimmer frame) around his garden during the UK’s first Lockdown, which raised almost £33-million for the NHS […]

Vendors, car guards and shop owners at Muizenberg beach in Cape Town, South Africa, were happy to be back in business on Tuesday following the easing of lockdown restrictions by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night. Ramaphosa announced that beaches, dams, rivers, parks and public swimming pools would be open again after being closed for […]

The head of the Passenger Rail Agency of SA’s legal division, Martha Ngoye, who probably saved PRASA billions, has been fired, according to a statement by the chairman of the board of control, Leonard Ramatlakane. Two other executives have also been dismissed, on what look like spurious grounds. On Saturday 30 January, Ramatlakane announced that […]

South African consumers will have to dig deeper into their pockets as the price of petrol is set to increase by 81 cents a litre this week. In a statement on Monday, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) said the price of 93 (ULP and LRP) and 95 (ULP and LRP) will increase […]

Cricket Australia (CA) has today announced that its Test tour of South Africa, which was scheduled to take place later this month, has been postponed due to health concerns. Australia had named its squad on Wednesday, but today CA said in a tweet: “Today we informed Cricket South Africa that we believe we have no […]

Ezemvelo staff have allegedly received death threats from local community members, and the breakdown in relations has “directly” lead to the recent culling of at least three elephants, according to alarming information given to the Democratic Alliance (DA). The death threats apparently took place when staff were trying to repair the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (HIP) fence. […]

AfriForum obtained a court order today, with the consent of the South African Health Products Regulations Authority (SAHPRA), which will enable doctors to start ivermectin treatment concurrently with the submission of an article 21 application, in cases where the doctor deems urgent access to ivermectin as crucial for a patient. According to the Medicines and […]

Lawyers acting on behalf of the Democratic Alliance (DA) have this weekend submitted to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture an extensive list of questions to be posed to South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. DA Leader John Steenhuisen said in a statement on Tuesday: “As ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa needs to […]

kulula.com has launched a domestic sale in the romantic month of February to promote the love for local travel this year. Making sure ‘love is in the air’, the ‘sale at first sight’ promotion offers special fares until Thursday (4 Feb) – from as low as R354. The airline says: “With 347 800 seats on […]

The Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa, FEDHASA, has welcomed tonight’s Presidential address that confirmed shorter curfew hours and the lifting of the outright ban on alcohol sales, bringing great relief to a hospitality sector which has borne the brunt of heightened restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID. “We are thrilled with tonight’s […]