The 2016/2017 Fire Season took its toll on the Western Cape in South Africa – 17,000 fires were reported and damage is estimated to have exceeded R500 million with 142 fatalities. To try and prevent this tragedy recurring next year, a new project is being launched… “I’m excited to announce the launch of the Before the Burn […]

PRETORIA – Deputy President Cyril Ramphosa says he is supportive of Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba and his team who are heading to the United States of America (USA) for the forthcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings. Yesterday in Pretoria, Gigaba briefed Ramaphosa on his scheduled visit which will also include further interactions with […]

South African professional surfer Jordy Smith has won his first Bells Beach title, making a dream come true… and chipping his tooth in the process. Jordy beat friend and fellow competitor Brazilian Caio Ibelli in the final in Victoria, Australia, on Wednesday; and was so excited he started pretending to ring the legendary bell whilst still […]

To mark the 120th anniversary since Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika was composed (in 1897) and the 112th anniversary since the death of its composer Enoch Sontonga, here are some of our favourite videos of the African melody being performed… Sontonga, who died on 18 April 1905 at just 32, wrote the first two stanzas of Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika. It’s a […]

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EDF) has announced that it will join the UDM application at the Constitutional Court for parliament to provide a secrete ballot on the vote of the motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma. National spokesperson, Mbuyiseni Quinton Ndlozi, said: “This is following Zuma’s own opposing papers in which he essentially, […]

The search for a missing South African professional hunter (PH) in Zimbabwe has been called off, following the discovery of what could be human remains in a crocodile. Limpopo Hunters Liaison Forum (LHLF) Chairman Phillip Bronkhorst, said on Friday 14 April 2017: “Today exactly a week ago fellow PH, friend and family man Scott van […]

The Australian government, led by Malcolm Turnball, has announced that the skilled 457 visa is to be scrapped, and replaced with a new temporary work visa. The 457 visa has been a popular visa amongst South Africans emigrating to Australia. Today’s announcement is part of the Australian government’s efforts to prioritise Australian workers for local jobs which […]

Just over a month after a fire devastated Imizamo Yethu, another fire broke out in the township last night, killing one person, destroying about 100 homes and leaving about 400 people homeless, according to the City of Cape Town. The cause of the fire is not yet known. The name of the person who died has […]

The Springbok Sevens team on Sunday missed out the Singapore Sevens title, but did enough to extend their overall World Rugby Sevens Series lead over nearest rivals, Fiji and England. The Blitzboks finished 6th overall, but a number of surprising results saw them extend their lead overall with only tournaments in Paris and London left […]

The Springbok Sevens team crashed out of the HSBC Singapore Cup quarters with a late try by Australia condemning the Blitzboks to a 19-17 defeat. This is the first time the team exits at the quarterfinal stage of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series since May last year, when they lost to Samoa at the […]

Lungile Gongqa became the first Capetonian to win the annual Two Oceans Ultra Marathon in 44 years, racing to victory in the Mother City on Saturday in a time of 03:09:43. It was an exciting close call between the South African and Warinyane Lebopo, from Lesotho, in the last few kilometres of the 56 km race. In third […]

George Airport in the Western Cape is doing it again. Last year it made headlines globally when it launched a 750Kw plant to become the first airport in South Africa that will get a lot of its power from solar energy… and this year it has received exemption from the South Africa Civil Aviation Authority […]

One of the world’s most famous baobab trees has toppled over, ending an era in which legendary memories were made during visits to the gentle giant at Sunland Farm in Modjadjiskloof (formerly Duiwelskloof), Limpopo. The Sunland Baobab facebook page made the announcement on Thursday, and said that fortunately nobody was injured. Sunland said: “We are sad to announce […]

While United Airlines plunged into a PR disaster with their manhandling of a passenger on an overbooked flight, a South African in-flight crew – believed to be from SaFair – showed how to peacefully handle a sensitive situation, so that a passenger leaves the aircraft on their own accord… A video of a man, Dr David Dao […]

City’s water use still not down to target levels… The City of Cape Town may ban the topping up of swimming pools. Although hoses have been outlawed for watering gardens and washing cars, residents are still allowed to use hoses to fill up their swimming pools, provided they have pool covers. But with the dams […]

Those South Africans who could, have flown to their holiday destinations this Easter, to avoid the chaos on the roads as over 1.2 million vehicles take to the roads this holiday weekend. Twitter is already being populated by photos of car crashes on the roads. A total of 18,819 traffic officers are being deployed on South Africa’s […]

We may look back on the days in April 2017 when tens of thousands of South Africans marched demanding that President Jacob Zuma should fall as the beginning of something bigger. There’s been a wistful glint in the eyes of ageing activists as they gear up for action again, predicting a return to the 1980s. […]

On Wednesday evening, a small but passionate group of South Africans in London congregated in solidarity with those who marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. And on Saturday, a separate group will protest outside UK PR firm Bell Pottinger’s London office. The Democratic Alliance (DA) Abroad group in London, who arranged the candlelit […]

KABUL (Reuters) – As many as 36 suspected Islamic State militants were killed in Afghanistan when the United States dropped “the mother of all bombs,” its largest non-nuclear device ever unleashed in combat, the Afghan Defence Ministry said on Friday. The claims have not been independently verified, but ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said no civilians […]

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma revealed during his birthday speech on Wednesday that he would resign “tomorrow” if the ANC members asked him to, and called on his supporters to not be confused by the opposition. The President’s 75th birthday celebrations in Kliptown, Soweto, were bittersweet… marred by marches by tens of thousands of South Africans calling […]

Tens of thousands of marchers – some estimate over 100,000 – made their way peacefully to the Union Buildings in Pretoria today. CAROL ALLAIS was there to capture most of the photos on this page, from a remarkable day that will go down in history… In a show of unity – seldom seen anywhere in […]

The Speaker of the National Assembly, Baleke Mbete, has decided to postpone the debate and vote on the motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma. Earlier today she had – in the words of the DA – ‘sidestepped’ their request for the postponement by saying that the rules did not allow her to withdraw […]

Bell Pottinger, one of the UK’s biggest global PR companies, has reportedly dropped Oakbay Investments, the company owned by the Gupta Family, as a client. This comes following several articles claiming the public relations company was allegedly being behind the creation of the catchphrase “White Monopoly Capital” …which was seen as a ploy by the Gupta’s to […]

President Jacob Zuma’s birthday celebrations are underway in South Africa… and although thousands marched to the Union Building in Pretoria today to call for the 75-year-old to step down as leader of the country, there’s apparently still a lot of love for the man his staunch supporters call by his clan name, Msholozi… as can be […]

LONDON (Reuters) – Cricket umpires have been given the power to eject disobedient players while tethered bails will be permitted to protect wicketkeepers from eye injuries as part of a series of law changes coming into effect from Oct. 1. The new ‘Players conduct’ rule will allow on-field officials to remove a misbehaving competitor temporarily […]