by Janine Erasmus South Africa’s environmental affairs department is to launch a new crack squad, known as the National Wildlife Reaction Unit, to tackle ongoing rhino poaching, and other matters relating to care of the environment. The formation of the elite unit was announced in April 2010 by Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica […]

Here’s President Zuma’s keynote address which he made today, 21 April 2010, at Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberley to mark 50 Days to the 2010 FIFA World Cup Countdown. We’ve bolded the best bits for you: It feels almost like a dream to say that today marks exactly 50 days to go before the kick-off of […]

Time for Africa, a collaboration by Colombian pop star Shakira and South African band Freshlyground, has been named as the official World Cup anthem. Shakira and Freshlyground will perform the song at the World Cup kickoff concert at Soweto Stadium on June 10, as well as before the start of the World Cup final in […]

President Jacob Zuma turned 68 with style this week, partying with Stevie Wonder and The Temptations at a gala dinner in Washington DC. Although Stevie was not an invited guest, he happened to be at the same venue – the Mandarin Hotel – and so he dropped by to sing “Happy Birthday” as a surprise […]

by Bongani Nkosi Ernest Maduna, in his early 20s, spent the night outside Maponya Mall in Soweto, just to be part of history – to be in the stadium at 2010 Fifa World Cup matches in his home country. From Carltonville, about 75km west of Johannesburg’s city centre, Maduna knew scores of football fans from […]

A brand new hominid species, which may just be the missing link, has been discovered in South Africa. The discovery of a young male fossil was quite aptly made by a young male – the 9-year-old son of a Wits palaeoanthropologist Professor Lee Berger. The discovery of the new species was made in August 2008 […]

We thought a little bit of light and fluffy news may just cheer us all up. So here goes. Zimbabwean Chelsy Davy – girlfriend of Prince Harry – has lost weight after giving up burgers! Yes, that’s it. As exciting as the good news gets! According to the Daily Mail in the UK, where Chelsy […]

by Janine Erasmus Namibia-based conservationist Laurie Marker, co-founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, is one of two recipients of the 2010 Tyler Prize for environmental achievement. She shares the accolade with academic Stuart Pimm, the Doris Duke Professor of Conservation Ecology at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Pimm is also a regular National Geographic […]

Former Oasis band member (and song writer) Noel Gallagher and his long-term partner Sara MacDonald apparently had such a great holiday in South Africa, they’re now expecting their second child. British tabloid The Sun reported that a three-month-scan has confirmed the pregnancy, which means the baby was conceived during their South African vacation. Noel (42) […]

Some great news from South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma. He appears to have helped make headway in talks between Zimbabwe’s power-sharing government. The coalition between longtime ruler President Robert Mugabe and former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, now Prime Minister, had almost faced collapse in November 2009. Zuma has released the following statement, during his first […]

by Janine Erasmus A copy of South Africa’s Freedom Charter will be auctioned in London later in March, and is expected to fetch anything up to £30 000 (R333 613). The Freedom Charter is an important part of South Africa’s past and was the forerunner of the country’s Constitution, universally hailed as one of the […]

We’re pleased to report that President Jacob Zuma’s visit to No 10 Downing Street, home to Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah, went without a hitch. In fact the President even got to kick a little ball in the PM’s backyard, and met with England footballer Steven Gerrard and South Africa’s captain […]

by Fiona McIntosh When his wetsuit and custom-built surfboard didn’t arrive at the invitational Mavericks Big Wave Surf Contest in California’s Half Moon Bay, things looked bad for South African surfer Chris Bertish. He’d flown for 36 hours to be there, was jet-lagged and had slept for only three hours. But he borrowed a board […]

By Bongani Nkosi This year’s Oscar nominees will be sweetened up with more than just the promise of a golden statue: each star will also receive a delectable South African chocolate bar as a congratulatory gesture by the Los Angeles Times. Chocoholic Impact, a small company based in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, is exporting the […]

South Africans celebrated 20 years since Nelson Mandela finally left prison and walked out a free man. And what an incredible walk to freedom it has been. Mandela was already an international icon at the time – February 11, 1990 – but he has been one of those rare individuals whose life, spirit and insight […]

by Janine Erasmus “I wish to put it plainly that the government has taken a firm decision to release Mr Mandela unconditionally. I am serious about bringing this matter to finality without delay.” With those words, said on 2 February 1990, then-state president FW de Klerk set a remarkable chain of events in motion. An […]

From an email doing the rounds… WOW!!!! The astonishing scene of a leopard savaging a crocodile has been  caught for the first time on camera. A series of amazing pictures were taken at the Kruger National Park in 2008. It’s thought to be the first known time that a leopard has tackled and overcome a […]

We’ve received a mountain of amazing, inspiring emails during the course of the Luxury Woolies Hampers give-away competition. Here’s a sample of some that touched our hearts. We asked visitors to the site to tell us who they thought deserved to win a free luxury Woolies Hamper. Here’s what they said: Nominee: Ethel Cronje Nominated […]

The third ticketing sales phase for South Africa’s 2010 Fifa World Cup has seen the number of tickets applied for hit the 500 000 mark in the first 10 days. South Africans made 77% of the requests, or 386 300 ticket applications, and the rest of the world 114 237 applications. The US was the […]

NOW YOU CAN HAVE THE PERFECT GIFTS DELIVERED ANYWHERE IN SOUTH AFRICA Always looking for ways to make your life easier, Woolworths has just introduced an online gift hamper solution just in time for Christmas. Now no matter where in the world you live, you can have the perfect gift for any occasion delivered anywhere […]

In the build up to next year’s football tournament to be held in South Africa, Engen has launched a TV, radio, print and Internet campaign to show the world our African face. The campaign, known as African Welcome encourages each and every South African to express their support for the upcoming tournament under the banner […]

Caster Semenya – the South African athlete who has been dogged by controversy over her gender – is apparently going to be allowed to keep the gold medal that she won in the 800 metre race at the World Championships in Berlin in August. According to South Africa’s sports ministry the International Association of Athletics […]

Just seven months after being elected President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma has received the prestigious African President of the Year Award for 2009! The award, an initiative of the African Consciousness Media and the Kenneth Kaunda Foundation, is bestowed upon an African leader to recognise and honour their achievements. During his speech – at […]

by Bongani Nkosi It also recognises Mandela’s “leading role in and support for Africa’s struggle for liberation and unity, and his outstanding contribution to the creation of a non-racial, non-sexist democratic South Africa”. The UN invited all member states, its organisations and other international organisations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organisations and individuals, […]

Raise more than a smile this Christmas! Make sure your Christmas cards get delivered on time by sending a digital greeting card that supports the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (UK) to your friends, family and cilents. Every card sent raises at least £1 for the NMCF UK’s work in South Africa. For more information visit […]