Travel experts have welcomed the announcement by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa that tourists from all countries will be welcomed to SA’s sunny shores with an amendment to the Alert Level 1 lockdown rule that had certain high risk countries placed on a banned ‘red list’. Addressing the nation on Wednesday evening, the President said: […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa proudly announced on Wednesday evening that a local South African company has entered into a preliminary agreement with multinational firm Johnson & Johnson, as one of the companies to manufacture and package its candidate COVID-19 vaccine. “In recognition of the country’s manufacturing capability, one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world, […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa tonight extended the National State of Disaster to 15 December 2020, and announced a Resurgence Plan with interventions to curb the further spread of Covid-19 infections, expressing concern at the lax behaviour of some South Africans as the pandemic continues to grip the country and world. His announcement unleashed an […]

Mongameli Bobani, the controversial former mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, has died after being admitted to hospital with COVID three weeks ago. Bantu Holomisa, the leader of the United Democratic Movement, released a statement this evening confirming Bobani’s passing. Bobani was ousted in a no-confidence debate last December, and the city has sat without a […]

Kimi Makwetu, the well known and much admired auditor general who was serving out his term at the end of November, has died after a battle with cancer. Makwetu, 54, was an incredible voice of stability and reason during turbulent times in South Africa, giving the country consistent and starkly reliable news about all the […]

The SA Broadcasting Corporation, which has long been suffering from financial mismanagement – helped substantially by the high-flying days of former COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng – and trying to figure out new ways to add revenue in a tough broadcasting world, today announced that it would be cutting 400 jobs. “While this decision was not an […]

One of new blue commuter trains that are being rolled out – very slowly – in a few parts of the country was spotted today on the iconic False Bay line running from Muizenberg to Simonstown. The False Bay line is one of the most gorgeous routes in the world, running on the coast, but […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa is to address the nation tonight at 8pm about the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch here: Even though South Africa is now at Level 1, with minimal restrictions and compulsory social distancing and mask wearing, there has been talk of it being moved back to Level 2 to avoid a […]

More than 50 local people were forced onto a football field in a village in dream-holiday destination Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique this weekend, and executed, according to international reports. The bodies of Muatide villagers who had tried to escape were decapitated and “chopped up” between Friday night and Sunday on the sports field, said […]

Hennenman farm attack victim, Eddie Hills has sadly passed away, the family revealed on Wednesday morning. He had been declared brain dead on Monday. His sister, Ruschelle Oosthuizen, said: “Thank you for everyone’s prayers Daddy and Baby Brother are now standing with Army Angels and they protect us from above. Love you ‘Wille honde‘ so […]

The first report by the provisional liquidators of STA Travel paints a grim picture of the defunct travel agency. STA Travel has gone into liquidation, a casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic. With assets of R3.7 million and liabilities of R213.5 million, few people will see their money back. About 200 employees and 27,000 customers are […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated his commitment to strengthening South Africa’s ties with the United State. Speaking during a virtual business and investment roundtable on Tuesday, President Ramaphosa began by congratulating the Americans for their successful elections held last week, which saw Joe Biden projected to win. (Read President Ramaphosa’s congratulatory message to Joe Biden […]

Researchers from the HIV Prevention Trials Network have announced a “breakthrough” in the prevention of HIV in women. Wits researchers have announced a “breakthrough” in HIV prevention in women An injection every eight weeks was found to be much more effective than a daily pill The trials were conducted in seven African countries and included […]

This has to be one of the week’s most powerful videos, the moment a former Prima ballerina – suffering from Alzheimers – hears the music to Tschaikovsky’s Swan Lake and begins to dance in her wheelchair, automatically connected to the music and to her graceful movements from decades ago. “Grab a tissue, brace yourself for […]

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) said it is saddened by the recent untimely death of Prince Lethukuthula Zulu, the eldest child of Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and Queen Sibongile MaDlamini. “The DA extends its sincere condolences to His Majesty and to the entire Zulu Royal household at this extremely difficult time, […]

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 […]