PRETORIA – Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi says black pupils at Pretoria High School for Girls were victims of racism and the school’s hair policy was enforced without sensitivity. The DA has welcomed Lesufi’s “even-handed” handling of the incident, and the school’s response to abide by the recommendations. After investigation into issues, MEC Lesufi said the […]

During Oprah Winfrey’s whirlwind trip to South Africa, she received a standing ovation after inspiring a gathering of young South African women at an event hosted by the US Embassy on Friday.  The US Embassy described it as a “day to remember” for the youngsters who were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the global media leader […]

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has been praised Saturday evening for making a major breakthrough in the Thabazimbi farm murder which took place yesterday on Spitskop Small Holding in Limpopo. The police launched a “massive manhunt” following the murder of 54-year-old Bertie Cilliers, and called on the public for any information. Late Saturday afternoon SAPS reported in […]

The Springbok Sevens team on Saturday scored a well-deserving 26-14 win over Olympic Games Rugby Sevens champions, Fiji, to win the Emirates Dubai Sevens tournament, the first of ten in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Spearheaded by 11 tries from World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Year, Seabelo Senatla, the Blitzboks showed great attacking […]

The Springbok Sevens team on Saturday advanced to the Cup semifinals of the Emirates Dubai Sevens tournament with a six try romp over New Zealand, beating the Kiwis 40-0 in their quarterfinals clash. It was a fine defensive effort by the Blitzboks that laid the foundation for this win. The South Africans kept New Zealand […]

The late Nelson Mandela’s presence was very much felt on Friday as his widow, Graca Machel, helped officially open the children’s hospital he dreamed of… The building of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NMCH) in Johannesburg has been a team effort of love, hard work, dedication and donations. The MRI machine is quieter than most to […]

South Africa braced itself for the worst, with the Rand weakening against the dollar this morning in anticipation of Standard and Poor’s (S&P’s) rating… BUT junk status has been averted! The global ratings service has instead maintained an investment grade sovereign credit rating, with a negative outlook, for South Africa. The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomed the […]

Formula One (F1) World Champion Nico Rosberg announced today that he will stop racing in Formula One with immediate effect. Nico wrote a detailed explanation and farewell to all his fans on Facebook (see below). He reached his ultimate dream in Abu Dhabi last Sunday when he became the first German to win an F1 championship […]

Standard and Poor’s (S&P) is expected to announce its rating decision with regards to South Africa’s economy today. In the meantime, the Rand has weakened at the prospect of the country being downgraded to ‘junk’ status for the first time since 2000. S&P currently rates South Africa one notch above junk status. The rating agency’s […]

A joint operation by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Pretoria based members of the US Homeland Security led to the arrest of three suspects in KwaZulu-Natal, on 29 November 2016, for allegedly being involved in child pornography. The suspects appeared in the Durban Regional Court yesterday, 01 December. The trio, aged between […]

Unaccompanied minors travelling from France will be obliged to travel with written authorisation from 15 January 2017, in a move similar to that introduced by South Africa last year. The decree stipulates that all unaccompanied minors (under 18) travelling from France must have written permission to leave the country signed by one of their parents, or by […]

Andrew Sachs of Fawlty Towers fame passed away last week at the age of 86, in a care home, after suffering from a secret four-year battle with dementia, it has been announced. His wife Melody, whom he married 56 years ago, made the announcement Thursday saying: “My heart has been broken every day for a long […]

World Aids Day has been commemorated around the world, with Prince Harry and pop star Rihanna taking HIV tests in Barbados (see below); Bill Gates commending South Africa on its leadership in HIV prevention; and SA’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for an urgent focus on slashing the HIV infection rate. American philanthropist Gates tweeted […]

Tomi Lahren has risen to fame and notoriety in America and around the world for her outspoken comments on everything from liberalism and feminism to the Black Lives Matter movement. The Daily Beast calls her a “right wing ranter” and yesterday the BBC profiled the 24-year-old under the heading “The young Republican who’s bigger than Trump […]

The Springboks returned to South Africa this week after an overseas tour in which they drew against the Barbarians and then lost to England, Italy and Wales. Both coach Allister Coetzee and skipper Adriaan Strauss expressed their deep disappointment at the outcome of the tour – but it is the words of Bok wing Bryan Habana […]

Nine copper thieves were arrested in one week as part of Eskom’s fight against electricity theft. In a statement on Wednesday, the power utility said the fight against electricity theft, particularly cable or copper theft, continues to show progress. The arrests took place in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and in Mpumalanga. The equipment that was […]

South Africans have taken to Twitter today to tease (and taunt) President Jacob Zuma, who – after a year in which he’s ducked and dived controversy and allegations of corruption (from his Nkandla house to his ties with the Gupta’s) – still “whinges” that it’s all a plot from outsiders to oust him. The hashtag […]

South Africans have always loved their Rooibos tea, and now there’s even more reason to do so. According to research, Rooibos – which is unique to SA – offers untold health benefits including the potential to delay and prevent the onset and progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The T2D findings were announced during November’s World […]

Opposition parties – the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) and Democratic Alliance (DA) – are laughing after yesterday’s decision by the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to continue to support Jacob Zuma and his leadership of the country, thereby potentially weakening the ANC’s chance of re-election in 2019. The DA said the unconventional attempt to table a “motion […]

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has travelled to Havana, Cuba to attend the funeral of the late former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro Ruz, who passed away on Friday at age 90. Zuma joins several leaders from around the world… although neither America’s President Obama nor Russian President Vladimir Putin will be present. President Zuma ordered that the National […]

PRETORIA – President Jacob Zuma has conveyed a message of condolence to the government and people of Brazil after a chartered plane crashed over a mountainous region in Colombia on Tuesday morning. In a statement, President Zuma sent his condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of all the victims of the crash. The chartered plane, […]

As expected, the ANC (African National Congress) NEC has announced that President Jacob Zuma remains. They decided, they said, to rather focus their energy on “unity of the movement” than on the motion on whether the South African President should step down. However, at the end of the press Q&A, Secretary General Gwede Mantashe did reveal the […]

The African National Congress (ANC) has announced that it will present a Post NEC (National Executive Committee) media briefing Tuesday afternoon at its headquarters in Johannesburg. South Africans have been waiting all day with bated breath to find out whether a motion for President Jacob Zuma to step down would be passed. The motion of […]

Public Protector (PP) Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane has “noted with sadness” a report carried in the Sunday Times newspaper yesterday, 27 November 2016, alleging that she has pressed charges against her predecessor, Adv Thuli Madonsela. The PP says “it is not true” and that it is not clear how the newspaper interpreted the information that was shared […]

South Africa’s legendary mainly-female anti-poaching team – the Black Mambas – are set to be immortalised on screen in a new Hollywood movie produced by actress Jessica Chastain. The IndieWire has reported that two-time Oscar nominee Jessica, more famous for her acting than producing, has teamed up with ‘The Walking Dead’ star Danai Gurira who will […]