It’s been a sad week for South Africans as children headed back to school, with tragic incidents marring what should have been an exciting time in their lives. The shocking death of a Parktown Boys High, Grade 8 pupil, Enoch (Enock) Mpianzi – who drowned while on a school camp – governed the news. But […]

As more than 500 people have been infected by a viral pneumonia caused by a new coronavirus (named by WHO as 2019-nCoV), and at least 17 people have died, WHO has issued travel advice and prevention advice for the public. The good news is that the World Health Organisation (WHO) convened an Emergency Committee which […]

Snakes – the Chinese krait and the Chinese cobra – may be the original source of the newly discovered coronavirus that has triggered an outbreak of a deadly infectious respiratory illness in China this winter. This news comes as WHO releases advice to the public on preventing the spread of coronavirus. The illness was first […]

A South African restaurant at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town has been announced as the Guinness World Records official titleholder for ‘Most Varieties of Milkshakes Commercially Available’. With 207 “decadently divine” shakes on offer, Gibson’s Gourmet Burgers & Ribs has a shake to satisfy everyone’s taste buds… from the most popular (Chocolate of course) […]

‘Bombshell‘ – starring South Africa’s Charlize Theron (who has scooped an Oscar nomination for her performance) – is released in South Africa on Friday 24 January 2020. The film chronicles the real-life chain of events at Fox News… which saw several women accuse former Fox News CEO and chairman Roger Ailes (played by John Lithgow) […]

A journalist, PR coach, mentor and father of a Parktown Boys High School learner has penned an open letter to the headmaster of Parktown Boys, following the tragic drowning of a Parktown pupil during an orientation camp at Nyati Bush. Rams Mabote reminds the school that Enock Mpianzi deserves that the truth be told. Here […]

A call has been made for Minister of Trade and Industry, Ebrahim Patel, to place the National Lotteries Commission under administration, fire its board and suspend its Chief Operating Officer, in the light of ongoing revelations of fraud, corruption and nepotism involving multi-million rand Lottery grants. The request by Dean Macpherson, the Democratic Alliance’s Shadow […]

Today marks the beginning of what promises to be a wonderful new life for 12 tigers and five lions at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) in South Africa. The big cats have been relocated after being rescued from a life of circus suffering in Guatemala by Animal Defenders International (ADI). The animals’ journey to freedom […]

The case in South Africa against a 25-year-old suspect in the murder of young Limpopo medical intern, Shongile Pretty Nkhwashu, has been postponed to 31 January 2020. The suspect, Ntiyiso Shilumane, hid his face as he appeared in the packed Mankweng Magistrate Court today, charged with the murder of 24-year-old Shongile. He was apparently her […]

POLOKWANE – The South African Police Service in Makhado have requested the public’s urgent help in finding a 37-year-old woman, Camille Brink… and her two daughters Kaylee Brink (9) and Emily Brink (2). The three allegedly went missing on Sunday, 19 January 2020 at about 21:30. SAPS said: “It is alleged that the mother of […]

It was a bizarre and disturbing sight. About 100 sharks – finned and gutted – dumped on Strandfontein beach along the False Bay coast. Why were they there? What was their intended destination before being illegally abandoned? Who was responsible? The pile of bodies were mostly soupfin sharks. Word has it they were from either […]

It might have been closer than expected, but South Africa’s Kevin Anderson won through to the second round of the Australian Open in Melbourne in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Earlier, the other South African in the singles draw, Lloyd Harris, went down in straight sets to the 14th seed, Diego Schwartzman, of Argentina. […]

They say there’s nothing like South African hospitality, and  almost a hundred stranded Australians – desperate to escape the raging bushfires earlier this month – found out first hand when they were rescued by Captain Raymond Joseph Ludik, a South African expat living in Australia. The former Durbanite is Captain of the MV Sycamore, the […]

The government has approved in principle the huge Boulders wind farm project on the West Coast peninsula near Paternoster, St Helena Bay and Vredenburg… writes John Yeld. The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) issued an environmental authorisation for the project on 14 January. However, its approval comes with conditions that include changes to […]

After heavy rains falling in the Southern Cape and Little Karoo over the past week, dried-up rivers have come back to life and started flowing again… answering prayers and bringing welcome relief to farmers and residents in the region. At Herbertsdalenear Mossel Bay, relieved residents are able to use water from their taps again, after […]

A video has gone viral showing a taxi driver had crammed 58 school children into his Quantum taxi, a vehicle that has a holding capacity of 14 (according to the officer at the end of the video). There has been widespread condemnation for the incident, and Joel Seabi, Limpopo Transport and Safety Spokesperson, said Law […]

A Hout Bay resident in the Western Cape of South Africa had a frightening experience this morning whilst walking her dogs, when she suddenly sank into the sand on the beach, right up to her chin! Joanne Frost said on social media: “I sank up to my shoulders!! Thank God no horses fell in. Best […]

South African tennis player Lloyd Harris’ run of good recent form may have come to an abrupt halt – when he was beaten in the first round of the men’s singles at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Tuesday – but he leaves the tournament on a world ranking high of 72. To be honest, […]

Vernon Kruger today broke his own World Record in Dullstroom, South Africa… for staying in a 500 litre wine vat, on top of a 25 metre pole, for 67 days! To understand just how high that is – it’s the equivalent of an 8-storey building! And not only has Vernon broken his world record… but […]

The tragic death of a young eight-year-old girl – Modisa Mbhele – in QwaQwa has led to violent protests in the eastern Free State town, and the arrest of over 30 people. Modisa’s death is being blamed on the water crisis in the area. She tragically drowned while collecting water from the river in Mandela […]

Today is the deadline for South Africans to make submissions on Eskom’s proposed tariff hikes for the period of 2019-2022; and South Africans are being urged to exercise their right to make their voices heard before it’s too late… by submitting their objections to the tariff hike to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa […]

One of the things that brings South Africans together is our ability to laugh at ourselves and at all the cultural differences that make our rainbow nation so fab. Nobody seems to capture this better than South African advertisers – like Nando’s and King Price. This month it’s the unapologetically South African insurance company that […]

In a video that will remind music fans of Sinead O’Connor’s legendary “Nothing Compares 2 U”, James Blunt – who is renowned for sharing his raw emotions – has exposed his heartbreak like never before, in a song where he sits side by side with his beloved dying father. The tearful British singer and songwriter […]

The National Lotteries Commission has given more than R11 million to non-profit organisation (NPO) called I Am Made for God’s Glory, which has in turn paid R2 million to a private company of which the sole director is the cousin of the chief operating officer of the National Lotteries Commission. According to leaked bank statements, […]

The Cape Doctor – aka howling gale force winds in Cape Town! – was in town this weekend, creating massive waves at Kalk Bay Harbour in the Western Cape, South Africa. Adele Esterhuizen captured the following two photos this morning, and Nigel Riley captured the rest of the photographs on this page. Yesterday Nigel headed […]