NAIROBI – Dual South African and British citizen, Luke Potter, was among the 14 people killed by Somali militants in a raid on a posh hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday. He died, along with an American who had survived the 9/11 attacks and two best friends from Kenya who worked to help Somalia. Since […]

It’s all happening in Hermanus. Last week there were flames reaching the skies as wildfires burned out of control, and tonight the sky was alight with a blaze as an apparent meteor exploded above the seaside town in the Western Cape of South Africa. One local resident wrote on a Whatsapp message that’s gone viral: […]

During my visit to South Africa a few months ago, a friend and her friend (a really nice guy) picked me up from Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. We were introduced. Let’s say his name was Grant. He then drove us to his house… steadily going faster and FASTER until we were hurtling along […]

JOHANNESBURG – Popular South African blogger, Meruschka Govender – who was known as Mzansi Girl – sadly passed away yesterday. The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) expressed its “profound and deepest condolences” at the news that the proudly South African travel blogger, influencer and Joburg enthusiast has died. No cause of death was disclosed. Through her […]

Fire has been much in the news lately. Runaway fires in the Western Cape, fanned by gale force winds, have become an annual summer phenomenon, amidst much speculation as to the causes… writes marine conservation photographer Jean Tresfon. Some are clearly cases of arson, others just sheer stupidity or negligence. Over the last few weeks there […]

The Gauteng Department of Education has challenged communities to join South African law enforcement agencies in hunting the criminals who robbed a new state-of-the-art school in Tsakane, in Ekurhuleni on Tuesday… less than a week after it was officially opened. The school – which cost R105 508 403 to build – was opened by Gauteng […]

South Africa’s popular peri-peri chicken restaurant Nando’s may create fantastic adverts, but according to a global study by World Animal Protection (WAP), they are performing “very poorly” when it comes to taking care of their chickens. In fact, out of nine companies that were assessed, Nando’s came third to last, behind other iconic brands such […]

The latest South African Police Service (SAPS) recruitment drive closes on Friday. The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Francois Beukman, has urged matriculants who are keen on careers in law enforcement, to apply at their nearest police station before the 18 January deadline this week. “Matriculants who wants to make a contribution to […]

The teacher who was suspended last week – after a photo she took of a Grade R class (with white and black learners sitting at different tables) went viral – spoke to the press today, reading out a prepared statement. Watch video below. Choking back tears, she said: I am Elana Barkhuizen, I am a […]

NAIROBI – Gunmen blasted their way into a hotel and office complex in the Kenyan capital on Tuesday, killing at least seven people and sending workers diving under desks from an attack claimed by Somali Islamists al Shabaab. Police warned the “terror attack”, which echoed a 2013 assault on a Nairobi shopping centre, may be […]

HARARE – Soldiers patrolled Zimbabwe city streets on Tuesday and confrontations with angry civilians threatened to boil over, as the government offered public workers more money a day after protests over a disintegrating economy turned deadly. Monday’s unrest, in which several people died, followed sharp hikes in fuel prices decreed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The […]

A High School learner in South Africa is being hailed a hero for braving the smoke and flames that ripped through Hermanus… to save 33 tortoises. Instead of fleeing for his life, Corne Uys not only thought of them… but says he wishes he could have done more. In a message that’s gone viral, Butterfly […]

A new South African drama TV series has been picked up to be distributed internationally. The whodunnit series – The Girl from St Agnes – revolves around a prestigious all-girls boarding school in the KZN Midlands… where the only saint is in the name. Watch trailer below. The eight-part series premieres on Showmax on 31 […]

Brand South Africa says it has noted the areas of concern expressed in the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report, which indicates that South Africa’s real GDP growth will expand by 1.3% in 2019. “While the South African GDP outlook has seen a downward revision, this happens in a global context where the World Bank […]

The Mdzananda Animal Clinic is hosting its second Downward-Facing-Adopt-A-Dog yoga event this coming Saturday the 19th of January. Yoga lovers and dog lovers alike are invited to join this one of a kind yoga class with homeless dogs. The class will be held in the beautiful outdoor setting of De Waal Park under the shady trees. […]

South Africa has been recognised as a leading player in the space science sector. The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) has been selected by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to become the designated regional provider of space weather information to the entire aviation sector using African airspace! This means that every aircraft flying […]

Betty’s Bay bears the brunt of blaze, which is now under control. Hundreds of people were evacuated in the Overberg region on Friday after a fire made its way closer to residential areas. The areas affected included Hermanus, Franskraal, Betty’s Bay and Karwyderskraal. By early Saturday morning, with the help of rain, firefighters and aerial […]

The owners of a new restaurant development in Melville’s 7th Street, South Africa are being applauded for their initiative in recognising great attitude and hard work, and improving the lives of people who may not have otherwise had the opportunity… and who had been exploited before. Gauteng publicist Georg Knoke wrote on social media: “Dreams […]

Popular and world famous South African football player Phil Masinga has sadly passed away this morning at a hospital in Johannesburg, at the age of 49. South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan said: “Sad day for South African football. A loyal servant of the game, on and off the field of play.” […]

DURBAN, South Africa – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to create more jobs, boost economic growth and address racial inequalities at a rally on Saturday to launch the ruling party’s parliamentary election campaign. The vote, expected in May, will be a test of whether Ramaphosa has been able to reverse a decline in support […]

HARARE – Zimbabwe will introduce a new currency in the next 12 months, the country’s Finance Minister said, as a shortage of U.S. dollars plunges the financial system into disarray, forcing businesses to close and threatening unrest.  The southern African nation abandoned its own hyperinflation-wrecked currency in 2009 at the height of an economic recession, […]

Award-winning South African photographer Justin Sullivan has captured on film some of the frightening scenes from yesterday’s Day from Hell in the Overberg, South Africa, where three large runaway fires were fuelled by strong winds pounding the coastline at gusts of close to 100km/h… creating an inferno. Justin was on the scene in Betty’s Bay on Friday […]

For many residents in Franskraal and Hermanus, in the Western Cape, today was a day from hell… as three fires burned out of control in the Overstrand, and strong winds of 60 to 80 km/h forced aerial support to be grounded and and fuelled the inferno. Residents were evacuated. Buildings, including houses, were destroyed. And […]

ATHENS – The ancient monuments in Athens got a rare dusting of snow on Tuesday as temperatures across Greece hit record lows, bringing transport to a standstill in some areas. While early morning tourists at the Acropolis were treated to a snow-globe scene, locals had to contend with roads made impassable by ice and many […]

Coming Up on Carte Blanche this week on Sunday 13 Jan in South Africa, and available to stream from Tues 15 Jan for South Africans abroad. (14-day Free Trial). Eskom Lights Out Amid debts of R480-billion, coal supply constraints, hundreds of corruption charges and management instability, Eskom is now chopping jobs to save money. The power utility limps […]