South Africa’s Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced that as of today, “the total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases is 1 100 748; the total number of deaths is 29 577 and the total number of recoveries is 903 679.” Today’s stats show a 32% positivity rate. There were a further 402 deaths overnight, with […]

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize on Sunday 3 January 2021 presented South Africa’s COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy. This follows several calls for an urgent rollout of vaccines, including a petition from health workers that has been signed by over 6,000 supporters. Dr Mkhize explained: We have always said that the second wave is going to come and […]

Millions of South Africans are mourning the deaths of two prominent sports people – Athletic South Africa former President, Leonard Chuene and former Kaizer Chiefs captain, Ryder Mofokeng. Chuene died on Friday, 1 January 2021 while Mofokeng passed away on Saturday, 2 January 2021. “What a sombre way to welcome 2021; two respected sports people […]

Eskom and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation are working to extend the life of the ageing Koeberg nuclear plant for another 20 years. How safe will this be for Cape Town? In tonight’s episode of currents affairs show Carte Blanche, presenter Claire Mawisa seeks answers. Africa’s only nuclear power station, situated just outside Cape […]

Police in Limpopo, Polokwane, are hunting suspects who attacked South African Police Service (SAPS) members yesterday, Saturday 2 January. The suspects threw stones injuring SAPS members and damaging their vehicles, and helped arrested suspects escape. Limpopo’s Acting Provincial Commissioner of Police, Major General Jan Scheepers, has strongly condemned the incident and ordered that the suspects […]

“We call on the Department of Health to act urgently, transparently and decisively now to obtain vaccines and to implement vaccination, so as to reduce death and illness, and bring the pandemic under control.” So reads a letter started by Professor Heather Zar, a leading public sector paediatrician at Cape Town’s Red Cross Childrens Hospital […]

The South African variant of Covid-19, which has already been identified in Australia and the UK, has now been found in isolated patients in France, South Korea, Switzerland and Japan. The new mutation – known as 501.V2 variant – which genomics scientists first identified in Nelson Mandela Bay, was announced by SA Health Minister Dr […]

The missing woman in Parys, Rita Hawkins, was found this morning by a passer-by. The South African Police Service (SAPS) had yesterday issued a call for assistance in locating the 53-year-old who had last been seen running barefoot towards the Vaal River. SAPS said she was found this morning near the Vaalriver in Parys at […]

Hundreds of birds died on New Year’s Eve in Rome, Italy, allegedly killed by the shock of celebratory fireworks and firecrackers, although this has not been confirmed. The birds, mostly starlings that fill the southern European skies at this time of year, are believed to have been startled when people set off fire crackers near […]

In South Africa’s latest Covid-19 update on Friday night, Health Minister Dr Zwelini Mkhize revealed that with 16,726 new cases reported on New Year’s Day, this represents a positivity rate of 33.4 %, SA’s highest daily positivity rate. Dr Mkhize said in a statement on 1 January 2021: “As of today, the total number of […]

History was made today in South Africa with drastically reduced trauma cases being seen in hospitals on the first day of the year. South Africa’s stricter lockdown 3 regulations – including an alcohol ban and curfew of 9pm – are what probably led to a significant reduction in trauma cases this New Year’s Eve. An […]

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Parys is seeking assistance in finding a missing woman who was last seen running barefoot towards the Vaal River. Police said the missing person, Rita Hawkins (53), is from Bellville and was visiting her aunt in Parys. “She was last seen on Wednesday, 30 December 2020 at about […]

This week Carte Blanche investigates a shipping provider who went into liquidation in 2020 and COVID-19 got the blame… while many emigrating South Africans suffered. Shipping Swindle It’s estimated that more than 20,000 South Africans emigrate every year. Finding a reliable service to courier a life’s worth of possessions and valuables is one of the […]

Gauteng’s provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has met with representatives of the cash-in-transit (CIT) industry following a spike in the number of CIT incidents in the province. Mawela, together with his Deputy responsible for Policing, Major General Tommy Mthombeni and the Provincial Head of the Directorate for […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa has delivered the following New Year Message to all South Africans: As we reflect on the year that now draws to a close, we see a world that is fundamentally different to anything we have known before. There is no corner of the earth, nor any part of our country, that has […]

South Africa has as of Wednesday recorded a staggering 17 710 new cases – bringing the country’s cumulative total of COVID-19 cases to 1 039 161, indicating a positivity rate of 33%. Several experts appeared on SABC this morning to discuss the status quo and the vaccine rollout. (Watch below.) “The positivity rate, being an […]

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s representative of the hospitality industry, FEDHASA, has called on the government to fast track its vaccine deployment to make SA a more attractive destination to international travellers. South Africa’s competitiveness as a global tourism destination depends on perceptions of safety for travellers New AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine provides another viable alternative The […]

LIMPOPO – Police in Lephalale have launched a manhunt for an unknown number of suspects in a rhino poaching incident that took place on Monday evening at a nature reserve in South Africa. The South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a media statement that the poaching of the protected and endangered species was discovered […]

A video of a horse “dashing through the snow” in New York State, USA, has brought joy to millions around the world. Watch below to see the pure unadulterated delight of the animal as it plays and frolics in the deep snow. The video was uploaded to Facebook by Rachelle Huston on 17 December and […]

Eskom will again implement stage 2 load shedding tonight, beginning at 22h00 (10pm). Wednesday’s load shedding marks day two of load shedding after the power utility announced that it would cut power on Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Load shedding is expected to conclude at 5 am tomorrow. In a statement on Tuesday, the power utility […]

The South African Government has outlined plans for operations at the ports of entry from 2 January until 14 January that have been approved by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints). During this period, traveller volumes are expected to be above normal because of people returning to South Africa. “The Department of Home […]

Rachel Kolisi, wife of Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, says Covid is not like flu… it’s far worse. Sharing her experience of testing positive for Covid-19, Rachel says that at first she thought she just had a sinus infection. She had no fever, sore throat or coughing; and actually spent the day in the swimming pool. […]

A new cohort of health workers is set to assist South Africa’s already constrained health system that is in the throes of a second COVID-19 wave, at the start of the New Year. Expressing concern by the rising numbers of healthcare professionals becoming infected with COVID-19, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced that the Department of […]

A simple bath in South Africa – with a stupendous view – is becoming a bit of an international star. Appearing today in The Daily Mail, one of the world’s most popular online media outlets, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve is featured as one of the amazing hotels on the planet where “the bath is the […]

Eskom has announced it will implement loadshedding Stage 2 at 22:00 in South Africa this evening, until 05:00 on Wednesday morning. The power cuts will be repeated on Wednesday night through to Thursday morning 31 December 2020. “This loadshedding is necessary to preserve emergency generation reserves in preparation for higher demand expected during January as […]