A barefoot 20-year-old street musician with a haunting voice – who hails from Kommetjie in the Western Cape – is drawing crowds in Berlin…and now, thanks to her breathtaking performance at a TEDx Berlin Talk, she is starting to gather fans on YouTube and across the globe. (See videos below.) Alice Phoebe Lou always knew that when […]

JOHANNESBURG (UPDATED Wednesday, 5 November 2014) The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) yesterday filed its appeal against the conviction and sentencing of Oscar Pistorius on a charge of culpable homicide. The NPA described Judge Thokozila Masipa’s sentence of five years in jail for the death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in February 2013, as “shockingly light’ […]

For the next three months an African country will be run by a white man, the first since Paul Berenger became prime minister of Mauritius in 2003. The death of President Michael Sata in a London hospital on 28 October has elevated his deputy, 70-year-old Dr Guy Scott, to the most powerful office in Zambia. […]

Former Springbok centre Tinus Linee passed away at his home this morning. He was only 45-years-old. The Western Province rugby player was suffering from Motor Neurone Disease (MND), which he was diagnosed with only last year in April. Well-known Springbok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen was diagnosed with the same debilitating condition in 2011. This morning Joost posted […]

The International Kite Festival kicked off today in Muizenberg with brilliant blue-sky conditions providing the perfect backdrop to showcase those kites. Zaahid Appoles and Robyn Gwilt were there to capture the photographs on this page – from Cape Town-loving kites to international flags, Pegasus, a shark, a dragon (of course!)…and many more. “I woke to a really calm, windless morning….but […]

South Africa’s legendary Lion Whisperer Kevin Richardson has received two rescued lion cubs from Spain…and it’s clear from the video on this page that the cubs couldn’t be in better hands. A few hours ago Richardson posted the following excited message on his facebook page: “THE CUBS ARE HERE, THE CUBS ARE HERE!! Meet George and […]

South Africa’s dance community has come together to support prize-winning Cape Town choreographer and dancer Christopher Kindo who is battling cancer. Kindo has moved back onto the Simonstown property from which he was evicted as a child. Born in 1955, he grew up in Simonstown but his family was moved to Ocean View under the […]

South Africans have gathered today in Johannesburg to pay their respect to slain Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates captain Senzo Meyiwa, long distance runner Mbulaheni Mulaudzi and professional female boxer Phidnile Mvelase. Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa was fatally shot in Vosloorus, south of Johannesburg, during an attempted robbery on Sunday at 8 pm while visiting […]

A young South African – who celebrated her 20th birthday yesterday – has started a serious conversation in the country, with a kind invitation to join her at her 21st party next year. Although she’s not sure if she’ll be there. Jenna Lowe cannot breathe on her own, and will need a new pair of lungs […]

While announcing that many Post Offices around South Africa are operational again, or at least being repaired after damage caused by vandalism, the South African Post Office has confirmed that unfortunately (our word, not their’s) the “Johannesburg International Mail Centre is not working at optimal capacity”. [Please view UPDATE 30 Oct 2014 at bottom of this page.] And judging […]

Most of us, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, have complained at some point about the ‘thieving’ monkeys in South Africa who brazenly enter our homes and steal our bananas. But deep down we’re secretly a little fond of them. We admire their agility, apparent humour and ability to outwit us! And we quite enjoy the fact that […]

Buyisiwe Sondezi started her academic life at a simple rural school near Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal. She had nine siblings and a burning desire to cure Aids. Today she is Dr Buyisiwe Sondezi, mother of two children and the first woman in Africa to be awarded a doctoral degree in experimental physics of highly correlated matter. […]

Congratulations to South African golfer Lee-Anne Pace who won the  Blue Bay LPGA Championship in Hainan Island, China, this morning! It’s her second worldwide win in less than ten days! The tournament at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course was besieged by four days of torrential rain (forcing the organisers to reduce the competition to 54 holes), […]

South Africans have reacted with sadness, shock and outrage at the killing of Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa last night during a robbery gone wrong, with many citizens taking to social media platforms this morning to declare #EnoughIsEnough. Update 26 Oct 2020: 5 Suspects Arrested in Murder of Bafana Bafana Captain Senzo Meyiwa. It is […]

President Jacob Zuma has reacted to rumours that he cancelled his trip to the UK because he was refused an audience with British Prime Minister David Cameron. In a media statement released today the Presidency said it has noted these reports, and that they are “incorrect and mischievous”. President Zuma was scheduled to open the […]

A wonderful production of Thumbelina opened at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town last night, presented by Cape Town City Ballet as part of its 80th Birthday Celebration. Local photographer Robyn Gwilt had the “privilege of shooting rehearsals” earlier in the week. Her photographs are on this page. “Do yourself and your kids a favour and go […]

The US Department of Justice revealed yesterday that two South African brothers who own Out of Africa Adventurous Safaris have been charged with conspiracy to sell illegal rhinoceros hunts in South Africa in order to defraud American hunters, and engage in money laundering and the secret trafficking of rhino horns. UPDATE JULY 2021: Dawie Groenewald and AB […]

Students in South Africa surprised a homeless man in Cape Town with an act of kindness, after being inspired by a popular video on YouTube of three German students playing music for a homeless man. But there was one big difference between their videos…(watch both videos below). The German video was actually a short film to […]

One of the most popular videos on social media this week is one filmed in Cape Town by a tourist…who may have inadvertently broken the law. The video shows the stunning beauty of Cape Town and its surroundings including Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Cape Point, Seal Island, Hout Bay and Simon’s Town…and also stars a shark […]

Four friends from the UK won the trip of a lifetime to South Africa earlier this year. The two couples flew out to South Africa in April for a fortnight of exploring the country – from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal, and then to the Western Cape. Married couple Lucy and Andrew (both Project Managers and both […]

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma has wished a Happy Diwali to all. In a message published on The Presidency website this morning, Zuma says: “We would like to extend good wishes to the Hindu, Tamil, Gujerati and other communities who celebrate Diwali or Deepavali, as it is also known. “Diwali honours the triumph of light over […]

As problems with the South African postal system drag on, some expats are getting frantic about how to send gifts and cards to family and friends in South Africa for Christmas. And vice versa. Lindsey Groom, in the Eastern Cape, said she’s “desperate” to get some gifts to Dubai. “I also have two paid-up overseas […]

There remain no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola virus disease in South Africa or any of its neighbouring countries, and the country is fully prepared for any outbreak, should it occur. The disease remains largely confined to the small West African countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, with Liberia the hardest hit. Globally, […]

South Africa’s beachside resort Durban experienced rough sea conditions over the last couple of days which truly rocked the ‘boat’ and left much of the beachfront in chaos. Naina Rajput captured these photographs (and the video below) this morning in Durban as the high tide came in. The beachfront was left devastated with lots of “mopping […]

A UK couple who fell in love with South Africa during a holiday here last year, have captured the scene of an eagle with its prey in the Kruger National Park…and would appreciate it if a wildlife expert could identify the prey for them. “We saw this large eagle drop from the sky ahead of us,” […]