South Africa’s Gordhan Wins Urgent Interdict Against Embattled Mkhwebane

By Ted Botha 29-07-19 12:42

PRETORIA – In another blow to the public protector, a judge of the North Gauteng High Court today interdicted Busiswe Mkhwebane or her office from enforcing remedial action she had recommended the president take against Pravin Gordhan, pending a judicial review of Mkhwebane’s report against Gordhan. The decision was handed down by Judge Sulet Potterill, […]

South African Land Reform Panel Recommends Seizures Without Pay in CERTAIN Circumstances

By Jenni Baxter 28-07-19 22:24

JOHANNESBURG – The Presidential Advisory Panel on Land Reform and Agriculture has proposed amending the South African Constitution to allow the government to seize land without compensation… but only in limited circumstances. The recommendations in the final report were released Sunday by Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza, and members of the […]

WATCH Trevor Noah ‘Impersonate’ Whitney Houston. Best Mash Ever!

By Jenni Baxter 28-07-19 21:31

The internet’s falling in love with a video mash of Trevor Noah and Whitney Houston. In the video – created by social media user Myster Giraffe – it appears that Trevor is impersonating Whitney singing her 1987 hit “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”. And he’s ‘singing’ it well! The face swap video has already been […]

Helen Zille Joins Institute of Race Relations

By Jenni Baxter 28-07-19 16:47

JOHANNESBURG  – Helen Zille (68) is to join think tank The Institute of Race Relations (IRR), the former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader announced on Sunday. The ex-Premier of the Western Cape – who stepped down in June, after two terms – tweeted today: “I am very pleased to be part of the IRR South Africa […]

Singapore Seizes Ivory from Almost 300 Elephants in Record Haul

By Reuters 28-07-19 00:32

SINGAPORE – Singapore said this week it had seized 8.8 tonnes of elephant ivory, a record haul by authorities in the city-state, which conservation groups say is a transit point for the illegal wildlife trade. The elephant ivory, estimated to be worth $12.9 million, came from nearly 300 African elephants, and was heading to Vietnam […]

RUGBY: South Africa Draws with All Blacks in New Zealand (Thanks Jantjies!)

By Reuters 27-07-19 13:16

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – The Springboks’ replacement scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies scored a try in the final minute of play to help South Africa snatch a 16-16 draw with New Zealand in a tense Rugby Championship clash in Wellington on Saturday. Jantjies pounced on an error by Aaron Smith to silence most of the sold-out crowd, […]

Court Approves R5-Billion Settlement for Sick Gold Miners in South Africa

By Jenni Baxter 27-07-19 22:02

JOHANNESBURG – It’s been a long battle for tens of thousands of gold miners in South Africa who say they have suffered dreadful illnesses because of decades of negligence in health and safety. Finally yesterday, a class action settlement of R5-billion ($353-million) was approved by the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg. A victory at last… […]

Johnny Clegg Memorial: Laying Down Our Troubles

By Marguerite Coetzee 26-07-19 23:41

“Did you know I was a falconer?” Johnny had said to me some time ago. “I used to have falcons, you know, as pets.” I remember how he smiled with his eyes. His voice sang with laughter and amusement as he told the story of how he would need to feed the falcons mice, and […]

Fitch Downgrades Outlook on South Africa’s Credit Rating

By Reuters 26-07-19 21:01

JOHANNESBURG – Ratings agency Fitch downgraded the outlook for South Africa’s sub-investment credit rating on Friday, citing fiscal pressures including increased support for struggling state firms such as the power utility Eskom. South Africa’s public finances are under huge strain as economic growth has proved weaker than expected while a handful of state companies have […]

WATCH Johnny Clegg’s Memorial Service Live in South Africa

By Jenni Baxter 27-07-19 08:27

Watch the Johnny Clegg memorial service – being held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg – live below. (Update: the service is now over but you can still watch it below. It’s very moving…) Dr John Kani opened the proceedings. He said: “Today we pay tribute to an incredible human being, a cultural reservoir, […]

Ramaphosa Signs New Health Care System for South Africans

By Jenni Baxter 26-07-19 09:43

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Presidential Health Compact on Thursday, which will make the way for a new health care system in South Africa that doesn’t discriminate against whether a person is rich or poor. “It has as its stated goal: one country, one health system. This means quality of care must be the same […]

All-Women Anti-Poaching Team near South Africa’s Kruger Park Notch up More Awards

By Ted Botha 25-07-19 19:37

The crack all-women anti-poaching team the Black Mambas, who have helped reduce poaching in their territory near Kruger National Park by 75 percent, and their founder have won two of four prestigious awards at a world tourism conference in Johannesburg, once again highlighting their environmental successes. At the African Resilience Summit, which was held yesterday […]

Moody’s says New Eskom Support Credit Negative for South Africa

By Reuters 25-07-19 19:31

Rating agency Moody’s said the South African government’s proposal to provide additional financial support to struggling state-run power firm Eskom was “credit negative” for the sovereign as it was a further drain on fiscal resources. Eskom, which supplies more than 90% of South Africa‘s power but had to implement power cuts earlier this year, is grappling with high debt […]

16 Black Rhino Leave South Africa for ‘Safer’ Home in eSwatini

By Jenni Baxter 25-07-19 18:14

South Africa has lost yet another 16 endangered black rhino… but this time they fortunately weren’t poached. They were dehorned, and moved for their own protection across SA’s borders to eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) – to a habitat that is “ideal” – and safer, according to the eSwatini national wildlife authority. As South Africa has tragically […]

Theewaterskloof Dam. Photo by Donna Hadfield Herbert

Dam Levels Around Cape Town Over 70 Percent After Heavy Rains

By Ted Botha 25-07-19 20:50

The capacity of dams serving Cape Town have risen above 70 percent, an astounding gain of almost 10 percent over the past two weeks and almost three times as much as during Day Zero in 2017, according to the City of Cape Town. Heavy rains over the Western Cape during the last few days have […]

South Africa’s Penny Sparrow Dies from Cancer

By Jenni Baxter 25-07-19 13:23

The KwaZulu-Natal former realtor Penny Sparrow – who made world headlines and set South Africans’ rainbow nation dreams back a step when she posted a racist remark on Facebook in January 2016 – has died. Her family said in a statement on Thursday morning: “The family of Penny Sparrow wishes to inform the media that […]

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