The impassioned speech by Mosiuoa ‘Terror’ Lekota in Parliament on Tuesday, calling on the Members of Parliament – regardless of race or party membership – to speak up against those who say words which “make South Africans kill each other”, has gone viral. Lekota is being heralded as the ‘voice of reason’ and – thanks to […]

As news came this morning that South Africa has started the process to revoke its intention to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), it has been reported that local authorities have been summoned by the ICC to appear at the Hague on 7 April 2017. The call to appear in the Hague-based court follows South Africa’s […]

The Pretoria High Court today granted a request from AfriForum (a largely Afrikaans civil rights group) to bar Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) leader Julius Malema from encouraging and inciting land grabs in South Africa. Just days ago, he discussed his position on Land, Parliament and EFF policies in an exclusive interview with South Africa’s national […]

Staff at South Africa’s Social Security Agency (SASSA) continue to behave in a manner many are calling “arrogant” as they attempt to deflect attention from the Social Grants scandal… and blame it on the media. This morning SASSA spokesperon Lumka Oliphant refused to speak English during a radio interview with Xolani Gwala on 702… even though […]

South Africans in Gauteng and the Free State prayed for rain… and it bucketed down. Next, they are being called on to pray for the nation… for peace and an end to crime. The National Day of Prayer is being organised by ‘Oom‘ (Uncle) Angus Buchan, who is wildly popular amongst the Christian community in […]

South Africa is fast approaching a crossroads at which it will have to choose between structural reform and a lurch to populist nationalism. So, too, is its governing African National Congress (ANC), which later this year must elect a successor to its president, Jacob Zuma. With a range of conflicting ideas on how to address […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa will amend its laws to allow expropriation of land without compensation for owners as it tries to speed up the redistribution of land to its black majority, President Jacob Zuma said on Friday. Expropriation without compensation would mark a radical policy departure for Zuma’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), shifting […]

PRETORIA (Reuters) – South African police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse rival marches by hundreds of protesters in Pretoria on Friday, after mobs looted stores this week believed to belong to immigrants. (See photos at bottom of story.) Anti-immigrant violence has flared sporadically in South Africa against a background of […]

PRETORIA – President Jacob Zuma has once again called for restraint and calm as what was initially meant to be a protest against crime was marred by violence, looting and destruction of property. A group calling themselves the Mamelodi Concerned Residents had obtained permission from the City of Tshwane to march. The march commenced in […]

As xenophobic violence rears its head again in South Africa, a widely quoted figure of how many Nigerians live in South Africa is completely unsupported. Researched by Vinayak Bhardwaj Xenophobic unrest has flared up in parts of South Africa once again, with incidents of looting and violence reported in Johannesburg and Pretoria. The Nigerian government is […]

PRETORIA (Reuters) – South African police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse rival marches by hundreds of citizens and non-nationals in the capital on Friday, following looting this week of stores believed to belong to immigrants. Anti-immigrant violence has flared sporadically in South Africa against a background of near-record unemployment, with […]

Eskom has been in South Africa’s news today as it scoops a prestigious international award… and as its former (and disgraced) CEO Brian Molefe – of Saxonwold Shebeen fame – is sworn in as an MP, with possible sights on a senior cabinet position. And – perhaps putting its famous load shedding days (and nights) firmly in […]

As tensions mount between South African citizens and foreign nationals in Rosettenville and Pretoria West, and a protest march is planned in Tshwane tomorrow, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has issued a media statement addressing the apparent resurgence of xenophobia. He said South Africa is not unique and that “as in other parts of the world, immigration […]

South Africa could be witnessing a step towards a safer country for all, as the Democratic Alliance (DA) heightens its campaign calling on the South African government to reintroduce Rural Safety Units. Crime statistics, released yesterday, show murders are on the increase and – according to the DA – it’s time for the police chief to […]

CAPE TOWN – Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan has proposed a new personal income tax bracket for those earning salaries of above R1.5 million. In tabling his Budget Speech 2017, in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Gordhan basically said “those who earn more must pay more”. The Minister has also proposed an increase in the dividend withholding […]

In a heartbreaking update on the farm attack which rocked the community of Dullstroom this weekend, it has sadly been announced that Sue Howarth tragically passed away this afternoon. Sue was well known in Border Collie circles, and had 3 rescue Border Collies herself. A fellow animal lover Patti Baron-Lowe said she has “passed away […]

South Africa’s youngest ever Member of Parliament, Hlomela Bucwa, gave her first parliamentary speech Tuesday… and brought hope to many in the nation. Social media users said it was “amazing”, “filled me with hope”, “if this is the voice of the next generation, we have a good future ahead” and “so proud, there is hope […]

Many see the decision by South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) to send the disgraced former CEO of the power utility Eskom to parliament as the precursor to another attack on the National Treasury and to remove finance minister Pravin Gordhan. The decision to give Brian Molefe a seat in the country’s parliament has […]

A plea to South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma to “go now”… or history will judge him “to be the chief architect of the destruction of the ANC”, has gone viral. The author of the hard-hitting words is former ANC (African National Congress) treasurer, Mathews Phosa, writing in an opinion piece in the Sunday Independent. Phosa predicts that, with the current state […]

As predicted, former Eskom chief Brian Molefe is to be sworn in as a Minister of Parliament (MP). In a press statement issued on Friday, the Parliamentary Communication Services confirmed: “Parliament wishes to acknowledge the nomination of Mr Brian Molefe, to fill a vacancy on the North West list of ANC Members of Parliament, which […]

CAPE TOWN – President Jacob Zuma says government will not be apologetic in pursuing socio-economic radical transformation “vigorously” to improve the lives of the majority of South Africans, and that the government “will do all in its power to ensure that land is returned to the people”. He also said BEE policies should not be misinterpreted as […]

Democratic Alliance (DA) Chief Whip John Steenhuisen, had strong criticism for President Jacob Zuma, the Speaker and several members of the ANC, at today’s 2017 SONA (State of the Nation) Debate. He said that Zuma, in his monotonous voice with a speech written by Luthuli House, had put his own benches to sleep and made […]

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane delivered the following speech to the National Assembly at the State of the Nation Address (SONA) Debate in South Africa on Tuesday… and it’s been causing a buzz on Twitter ever since. Users described Maimane’s speech as ‘profound’ and ‘to the point’. Maimane said the ANC has “turned from liberator […]

President Jacob Zuma and President Donald Trump of the United States of America held a telephone conversation this afternoon, 13 February 2017 at the request of President Trump. It went a lot better than Trump’s call earlier this month to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia! According to the Presidency, President Zuma congratulated President Trump […]

A beautiful letter of gratitude to former President Nelson Mandela, written by a child, was shared today at the NM Foundation’s launch of the Nelson Mandela Centenary 2018 ‘Be the Legacy’ two-year programme. Madiba would have turned 100 years’ old next year, on 18 July 2018. The programme to honour Mandela, was launched at Donaldson Orlando Community Centre […]