Adriaan Strauss will retire from Test rugby at the end of the 2016 season. Strauss, who became the 57th Springbok captain against Ireland in June, said he had been contemplating retirement at the end of the season since late in 2015, and that he had informed Springbok coach Allister Coetzee of his thinking on his […]

There has unfortunately been an explosion on the launch pad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where the aerospace company SpaceX – founded by South African entrepreneur Elon Musk – was preparing an unmanned rocket for launch. UPDATE: SpaceX issued a statement Thursday saying: “SpaceX can confirm that in preparation for today’s standard pre-launch static fire […]

If you missed the spectacular partial solar eclipse today, here’s a video of the event as seen from South Africa. The footage was uploaded to YouTube by Jan Kotze. It was recorded by his son, using a smartphone and an amateur telescope, with a sun filter. Watch Video: Solar Eclipse, 1 September 2016, from South Africa […]

South African businesses continue to buy up overseas companies, with the latest being an announcement today that SA’s fast food group Famous Brands has signed a “mouth-watering” agreement to buy Gourmet Burger Kitchen (GBK), a well-known gourmet bourger restaurant chain in the United Kingdom (UK). Famous Brands – which bought Wimpy SA in 2003 – already owns […]

South African cricketer Dale Steyn has stormed back to the number one spot in the ICC (International Cricket Council) Player Rankings for Test Bowlers. In the words of Cricket South Africa (CSA): “HOWZAAAAAT?!” His move to the top spot came after producing a match-winning performance in the Centurion Test that helped South Africa complete a 204-run victory over […]

PRETORIA – In a move that echoes that of Tanzania’s cost-cutting President Magufuli, the new Mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga, has today announced two immediate measures to cut costs for the new administration. In a statement released Wednesday by the Democratic Alliance (DA), it said the Mayor has put a stop to all inaugural parties, and catered […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s Steinhoff <SNHG.DE> warned on Wednesday the slump in the pound after Britain’s vote to leave the European Union would hurt its UK business as the furniture conglomerate fell a touch short of estimates with a one-third rise in annual sales. Steinhoff, which is in the middle of buying British discount […]

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has shown Facebook’s commitment  to Africa by making a surprise visit to Nigeria to listen and learn, and take ideas back to California on how Facebook can better support tech development and entrepreneurship across Africa. According to a press release, issued by APO on behalf of Facebook, this is Zuckerberg’s first visit […]

Jamie Joseph, founder of Saving the Wild, has issued an urgent video message to everyone around the world who cares about South Africa’s rhino to please “MAKE A NOISE | SAVE #RHINOS” as the trial of an alleged rhino kingpin is due to begin on Monday. “Dumisani Gwala is out on bail right now,” says Jamie. “And […]

PRETORIA – The #ProteaFire was blazing today in Centurion as South Africa’s national cricket team won the second Test match against New Zealand by 204 runs… and in the process clinched the two-match series by a 1-0 margin. Well known South African columnist and author Max du Preez welcomed the win as the “first good news this […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s Treasury and state-owned Eskom clashed on Monday over a probe into coal contracts between the power utility and a company linked to the wealthy Gupta family that is accused of holding undue political sway over President Jacob Zuma. The row further scarred relations in a government rocked by a police […]

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT – Well-loved Hollywood actor Gene Wilder passed away on Sunday night at his home in Stamford at the age of 83, his family has announced. He had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Wilder starred in comedy masterpieces ‘The Producers’, ‘Blazing Saddles’ and ‘Young Frankenstein’, teamed up with comic legend Richard Pryor in four films, and […]

Although all South Africans in SA, regardless of age, can now finally order their fantastic new Smart ID cards; this does not yet apply to South Africans abroad, or those born abroad. The Department of Home Affairs told SAPeople that they are still clearing the backlog in SA, and until further notice South Africans overseas cannot […]

PRETORIA – Panyaza Lesufi, MEC for Education in the Gauteng Province, responded Sunday night to a #StopRacismAtPretoriaGirlsHigh petition, and is expected to visit the school at 10am Monday morning to investigate the claims of racism which include allegations that black schoolgirls have been forced to straighten or relax their hair to comply with exam regulations. The […]

JOHANNESBURG – In what is becoming a conversation through the media, the Gupta Family has responded to statements made on Sunday by Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister, David Maynier… warning that this media narrative being metered out by Maynier “without any basis of wrong-doing” could put others off investing in South Africa. Following the Gupta Family […]

South African opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have both welcomed the news that the Gupta family will exit their shareholding in all their businesses in SA by the end of 2016. The EFF said it welcomed the news “with caution”, whilst the DA said the family’s claim that […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan could be charged with graft as soon as this week, the City Press newspaper reported on Sunday, citing senior sources in the police, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the tax service.   The AFP news agency quoted an NPA spokesperson as saying “there is no […]

Several media outlets, including Yahoo, have rallied to show support for South African actress Charlize Theron after she was criticised for being a “bad parent” by social media users. Her “sin” was having allowed her son Jackson to wear slip slops, a dress and a Princess Elsa hat (from hit movie ‘Frozen’)… which had a braid attached. […]

JOHANNESBURG – The Guptas – who are believed to have a close relationship with President Jacob Zuma – have announced their intention to sell shareholding in all South African businesses by the end of 2016. Following their earlier statement today about newspaper reports of alleged comments made by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, accusing the Gupta […]

JOHANNESBURG – In response to an article in News24 yesterday – headlined “Guptas are attacking me, Gordhan tells Treasury staff” – the Gupta Family has issued a statement expressing “deep disappointment”; and claiming they firmly believe in the rule of law and are happy to answer to any and all allegations made against them. The News24 article claimed that […]

A South African newlywed couple – Riaan and Vasti Manser – are making news in the USA where they have broken a record by rowing a kayak from California to Hawaii in 39 days… even though Riaan was injured during the first week when their boat – aptly named ‘OnHoneymoon’ – capsized. The 2,400 mile […]

The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has announced it will unveil new visa regulations before the end of 2016. The legislative reform will aim to provide a balance between the competing interests of the tourism sector and the need to protect the country’s borders and prevent child trafficking. Stringent visa regulations were introduced to South Africa in 2014… resulting in an […]

Zimbabwe has reportedly suffered its worst protests in over two decades as a peaceful “mega demonstration” in the capital, Harare, against President Robert Mugabe’s long rule of 36 years turned violent. The protests came after new that the 92-year-old president plans to stand for re-election again. Mugabe warned there will be no ‘Arab Spring’. Opposition leader […]

Hot on the heels of the Olympic Games in Rio, South Africa’s silver-medallists Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh have both raced to Gold in their respective races today at the 2016 FINA World Cup series in Paris-Chartres! Chad le Clos won the Men’s 200m butterfly for the 19th time! Only two male swimmers […]

JOHANNESBURG – Judge Thokozile Masipa has refused the State the right to appeal the Oscar Pistorius sentence… which she herself handed down in July, giving the former Olympian a six-year sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. The State had applied for leave to appeal the sentence – which they felt […]