An abundance of snow fell again last night in southern Africa, turning mountain slopes in Lesotho into a winter wonderland. Check out the gorgeous photos and videos below by Martin Schultz at Afriski Mountain Resort. Afriski Director, Peter Peyper, said “we have received more snow during April this year than we did in the past […]

The legal global wildlife trade is worth roughly $300 billion. Of more than 31,500 listed terrestrial birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, approximately 5,500 are traded. Research predicts that a further 3,196 species may be traded in the future, placing a possible 8,775 species at risk of extinction. Serious attempts to regulate the trade in wildlife […]

Wildlife campaigners from 339 organisations from around the world, including the Lion Coalition, Humane Society International, Blood Lions and Born Free Foundation, are calling on the World Health Organisation to release a formal position statement in support of a global ban on wildlife markets selling wild animals or products, in light of the risk to […]

Evidence is building around the world that elderly people are the most vulnerable group in the COVID-19 pandemic. They are more likely to develop severe symptoms and to die from this viral disease, especially if they have other medical conditions like heart disease or high blood pressure. Globally, the death rate from COVID-19 increases most […]

If you’re a South African living abroad, and can spare just £20… that could help feed 200 kids back home with sandwiches and fruit for a week! Gordon’s Bay resident Inge Andrea Meischke Elliott, who herself was a former expat living in the USA, is calling on expats worldwide to please help (if you can) […]

Twelve rangers, their driver, and four civilians were killed near the famous Virunga National Park headquarters on Friday (24 April) in what Game Rangers Association of Africa described as a “horrific roadside ambush”. Four other rangers were severely wounded, of which one remains in a critical condition, according to Virunga National Park. Two other civilians […]

In celebration of Freedom Day 2020, which was yesterday 27 April, a Nelson Mandela quote was emblazoned proudly across a building in New York city. The SA Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) posted a photo, saying “this amazing wrap is displayed in all its glory in Time Square, New York.” The quote used […]

Severe restrictions on travel and economic activity have been imposed in many parts of the world. For the poor, recessions have always meant starvation, lack of medical support for diseases including HIV treatment programmes, and in particular the deaths of infants and children vulnerable to malnutrition and childhood disease. What do the restrictions mean for […]

About 1.5 million more South Africans will from 1 May return to work as government begins to lift a fraction of COVID-19 lockdown regulations. This comes as government gradually eases the economy back into activity as announced this week by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The regulations were introduced last month as government sought to counter the […]

South Africans “celebrate” Freedom Day through gritted teeth, with a wry smile and an acute sense of irony, this year. Many, if not most, will be lamenting the loss of freedom due to the COVID-19 lockdown. For most professionals, there will be no public holiday, since days slide seamlessly into one another, punctuated only by […]

The South African flag has today been projected onto the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai – in honour of Freedom Day, 27 April 2020. This comes just days after the SA flag was projected onto the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. On Monday, the Burj Khalifa page said: “Burj Khalifa […]

No one knows what is going on. So many versions of Level Four have circulated that we all have whiplash, and if you didn’t have an anxiety disorder before, you sure as shit have it now… writes Kim Nicola Stephens. Runners got their shoes all ready and prepped and then someone said NO JOGGING and […]

As South Africa went into Covid-19 lockdown in late March, over 50 performers encouraged the nation to do something powerful –  “to reflect on the lyrics of our anthem, as a source of inspiration and optimism, and to bravely sing it out loud.” Yesterday the man behind the concept – James Bassingthwaighte – announced: “1000+ […]

Here follows the message by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the occasion of Freedom Day in South Africa, during Lockdown, 27 April 2020… in full: Fellow South Africans, Sanibonani. Dumelang. Inhlekani. Molweni. Lotjhani. Ndi masiari. Goeie dag. Good afternoon. On this day twenty-six years ago, a new nation was born in Africa. On the 27th of […]

2020 was going to be a great year for everyone… writes Ari Seirlis, an advisor to the President on disability matters and strategy. I remember reading many friends’ Facebook comments about how this new decade was going to be groundbreaking – vast opportunities, wealth, health and relationships were all going to flourish. A Black Swan […]

South Africans who are stuck in Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand – and who would like to be repatriated home – are urged to submit an online form to book a seat on a private Australian charter plane this coming Friday 1 May 2020. According to Julia Kerr Henkel, who has been stuck in Indonesia for […]

A delegation of 217 Cuban Medical specialists arrived in South Africa in the early hours of Monday, just after midnight. The Cuban Medical brigade includes infectious diseases specialists, and has come to South Africa to support the country in its efforts to deal with #Covid_19, said the National Department of Health South Africa. The group […]

Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s Freedom Day celebrations in South Africa will be marked using online platforms, says the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture. “Freedom Day, as South Africans know it, is very different this year… The COVID-19… pandemic has changed things… [from] the norm,” said the department ahead of Freedom Day […]

South Africa’s Police Minister Bheki Cele has issued an apology to the Muslim community for blasphemous remarks during the arrest of worshippers at a Mosque on Saturday. The video of the arrest, where a police officer can be heard making the remarks during the arrest in Masibekela, Mpumalanga, has been doing the rounds on social […]

South Africa has confirmed a total of 4 546 COVID-19 cases, with 87 deaths. “We regrettably report another COVID-19 related death in the Western Cape, which increases the total number of deaths to 87. “We convey condolences to the family and appreciate our frontline workers who treated this patient,” the Minister of Health, Dr Zwelini […]

A surprise drive-by baby shower in South Africa has moved social media users to tears on social media. The video was posted on Facebook by Dinika Rooy from Buffalo Flats, East London. She said: “We are truly blessed. ?Drive by – Drop off Baby Shower… ??” One of her friends replied: “Your heart is made of […]

A piece written by an unknown author is going viral around the world, with an important message for all parents right now. Shared most recently by a hair stylist in the US, her post here has been shared over 443,000 times. This is the anonymous message: Child – “How old are you, Grandpa?” Grandpa – […]

There’s a funny, wonderful – and prophetic – video going viral this weekend in South Africa, of a much younger Cyril Ramaphosa being interviewed by legendary SA character Evita Bezuidenhout (played by Pieter-Dirk Uys). In the clip, Ramaphosa and Bezuidenhout are seen trout-fishing, and you can hear Ramaphosa reassuring Bezuidenhout to hold on to him […]

A survey by the Democratic Alliance has revealed that 21% of farmers in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) have experienced an increase in crime during the lockdown period, with 39% claiming that they feel that their personal safety and security has been compromised during the current lockdown period. The random survey, conducted amongst 45 commercial and small-scale farmers […]

A generous-hearted group of South Africans in Cape Town have been cooking, collecting and dishing out food to hundreds of people in township communities who may otherwise be starving. It started small just a week ago but is now reaching thousands, after Western Cape resident Helen During rallied her friends to help donate food because […]