News
Weekend news roundups, travel awards and links to other sites.
The News We Deserve
By Sean Ross The News We Deserve For weeks on end the marketing department of E-News, South Africa’s first 24-hour television news channel, were promising viewers that as of launch date on June 1,…
South Africa Scoops Top Awards at World Travel Awards Ceremony
World Travel Awards Africa Unsurprisingly South Africa shone at the recent World Travel Awards Ceremony held at the ICC in Durban on 12 May.
Swaziland
An African Oddity Swaziland certainly is an oddity. It is a tiny landlocked country that is viable as an independent nation only in the loosest sense of the word.
Zapiro gets to the point...again!
Zimbabwe: The End of the Beginning
I have noticed quite a few comments finding their way back to the site regarding Zimbabwe , Mugabe , and the general state of things between the Limpopo and the Zambezi .
Zimbabwe: The Prodigal Son?
Today the entire southern African region is on the precipice. Part of what makes southern Africa such a dynamic travel destination is that it can be here today and gone tomorrow.
South African webcams: Spy before you fly!
Webcams are a nice way to take a live peek at South Africa before or during your visit.
R.I.P Lucky Dube: Boks to play tribute.
The news of the murder of one of our national treasures, Lucky Dube has cast a long shadow over tomorrows Rugby festivities.
Iceberg sighted of Cape St Francis: What the heck next?
Well there is no sight of the mysterious iceberg that was sighted last week at 6pm on Monday, 35 nautical miles south east of St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape by the crew of the fishing vessel…
Sihle Khumalo: Dark continent, My black arse :)
This new release and first book by South African author Sihle Khumalo , details his travels from Cape to Cairo by public transport.
Volunteer work in South Africa: A helping holiday
Volunteering holidays are a highly enriching and immersive way to experience a foreign culture at the most grass roots level.
Two tourists arrested for photographing Zulu Royal Reed Dance.
Umkhosi woMhlanga is the Zulu name for the Royal Reed dance which happens every September at KwaNyokeni Palace , Nongoma, which is the Zulu nation's royal residence.
Helen Zille, Mayor of Cape Town: Arrested!
My heroine , Mayor Helen (of Troy) God- Zille , has been arrested this morning during a march against gangsterism and drugs.
2007 Rugby World Cup: South Africa VS Samoa, Amabokoboko!
South Africa kicked off the Rugby world cup yesterday with a splendiferous kicking of Samoa's derrierre.
ANC Youth League chooses Jacob Zuma: He sings Awuleth' Umshini Wami
Jacob Zuma is rallying the youth as he continues to make his bid towards presidency.
Sangomas: The South African Shamen
In the ancestor worshipping traditions held by the majority (80%) of South Africans (Zulu, Xhosa, Ndabele and Swazi) the Sangoma is the primary and sometimes exclusive healer and counsellor.
What is going to happen with Zimbabwe?
Most of the international news about Africa is centred around Zimbabwe, Mugabe and the terrible state that the country is in.
Mandela statue unveiled in Parliament Square, London.
A towering R6m ($800K) statue of South Africa's much adored ex-president was revealed yesterday in Parliament Square in London.
7000 carats: Largest Diamond in the world found in South Africa?
BIG news is shaking the diamond industry, with claim of the largest ever diamond being discovered by a small unnamed mining company.
Petrol strike causes chaos as many pumps run dry.
It is quite frightening to see how very dependant we are on the steady supply of petrol from our refineries.
Fires and floods threaten many in South Africa
We have had a harsh week of weather, with icy temperatures and driving rain, causing a significant amount of flooding.
Happy 89'th Birthday Mandela!
Today marks Madiba's 89th birthday and starts a week of festivities, including the soccer match dubbed "90 minutes for Mandela" featuring greats Pele and Samuel Eto'o and the launch of a humanitarian…
Ice Skating at Grand West Casino, Cape Town
It was Sarah's Birthday this weekend so we decided to try and go to Ratanga Junction for some gut churning and bad pizza, but unfortunately it was closed due to the weather..(it was bright sunshine)…
The Lion King comes home.
Finally after 10 years The Lion King is making its first appearance in Africa at the newly built "Teatro" at the Montecasino in Johannesburg I am not a huge fan of Broadway musicale's mainly because…
Surf Breaks: Winter's here bring your surfboard!
It looks like we are in for a frosty winter . With snow in Soweto?!? and on the peaks in the Drakensberg and Ceres .
The worlds deepest hole is filling up!
The Kimberly hole is oft quoted as the deepest man-made hole in the world. The Kimberly hole mine is not in use any more, but was dug to mine diamonds and at present forms a 215m deep circular pit ,…
Cable theft in South Africa
Elsewhere in the world, the term "Cable Theft" refers to illegally having acess or watching TV channels that you have not paid for.
The Sardine Run '07: The Greastest shoal on Earth is nearly here.
It is nearly time again for the world famous sardine run , where gigantic shoals of sardine (which can be seen from space), swarm up the East coas t of South Africa.
Tourism booming in South Africa.
South African tourism is growing at 3 times (14%) the global average (4.5%).and at 8.3%, tourism has now overtaken gold as the the countries largest GDP contributor.
2010 South Africa World Cup Roundup.
With only 1084 Days to go we can almost smell the.....boots? Stadiums are going up and down faster than stalagmites and will definitely* be ready for the first matches.
Super 14 Rugby final: Shark VS The Bulls
Durban is currently gripped by rugby madness as history is about to be made in the Super 14, which is a tri-nation rugby competition between club sides from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand .
World heritage sites in South Africa: Vredefort dome
The Vredefort dome is the worlds largest meteor crater and is situated 120km SW of Johannesburg.
South African National Anthem: Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrica
This video has handy subtitles and translations for you to learn. as you may be asked to sing this upon entering at customs.
Western Cape restaurants among the best in the world!
Since my last post was a bit of a damning treatise, here is a great bit of news for visiting gastronomes. The S.
Decorex and design for living Exhibitions: Part deus, the revenge.
So as mentioned in my earlier post, we decided to do BOTH shows in one day, luckily Decorex closed at 5 or we would of had to toss the spare wheel to transport all the pamphlets.
Tony Leon makes a list and checks it twice.
I haven't thought much of Tony Leon in the past. He is the head of the Democratic Alliance party and although that is who I vote for, he has not really impressed me personally until now.
Freedom Day 27th April: looong weekend of rain apparently.
This time of year FULL of public holidays in South Africa, nearly every week it seems.
Positively South African and disinformation overload.
South Africans are fast developing a reputation of being fear mongers, nay sayers and downright miserable toads .
Shark Alert in False Bay! Sharkspotters to the rescue.
We have been getting increasing reports of shark sightings around Noordhoek beach and Kommetjie .
Eskom's "Scheduled" Power cuts last night, more to come.
According to capetalk radio last nights power cut (right in the middle of my evenings writing!), was scheduled and we were all told about it....... Not me!
Brian Habana (SA Rugby star) races a cheetah for charity.
Brian Habana, South Africa's fast running (11sec for 100m) sweetheart of Rugby, recently raced a cheetah for charity, you can see the video on CNN.
Great Trek memorial stone desecrated
Mayor Queen Radebe-Khumalo recently ordered the destruction of the Great trek Memorial stone in Standerton. Quoting ""That piece of thing means nothing to us. It's just a piece of cement with tracks.
World cup roundup: This weeks 2010 news highlights
Well, Greenpoint stadium is truly under way. I saw it with my own eyes today, being torn down piece by piece, to be replaced with a spanking new one.
100 swimmers compete in Robben Island swim
More than 100 swimmers are expected to compete for R10000 ($1400) in a swim from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand (where I live).
Rogue baboon alert: King Kong of Claremont.
Yesterday saw a rogue baboon wandering the streets of Claremont and darted for everyone protection, including it's own.
More Stadium woes: World Cup 2010
As if bureaucrats could not slow down the building process enough, now it seems there are fears that the stadiums (Stadia?) might not be ready on time, due to skills and material shortages.
First Flash mob hits Cape Town
A horde of 150 shoppers turned into a mob of pillow fighters at exactly 12:07 on Saturday at the V&A Waterfront.
New Dutch settler in the Cape Flats: Maduma
I read a lovely article today about Arnoldus de Veth , A 74 year old Dutch pensioner who has taken up residence with his new wife in the township of Gugulethu.
Bok Van Blerk: Cult of the Delarey Song.
Wow!, what a stir Bok Van Blerk's song has caused among Afrikaners in South Africa!
First seizure of white owned farms in South Africa.
The controversial land seizure program , which sees land being forcibly bought from white farmers and sold to black South Africans through government loans, has begun.
Thabo Mbeki: Opening of Parliament and State of the Nation Address.
Friday saw the opening of parliament and the President; Thabo Mbeki's State of the Nation speech.
Global Breakthrough South Africa: Sir Norman Jay!!
I would hate to compare Cape Town with Ibiza, mainly because I have never been there, but also I think I have a pretty good idea what it's like. Red sweaty yobs on ecstasy at 200bpm.
Hello Peter...Please connect my phone, I am wearing an incendiary device.
I was recently told by a friend to check out www.hellopeter.com It is sort of like a BBB (Better Business Bureau) site for South Africa.
The J&B Met: The Ascot of Cape Town
The famous and prestigious J&B Met was held this past Saturday and saw nearly 60000 socialites getting dolled up, drunk and muddy.
Are you bankrolling Zimbabwe?
Your bank deposits and insurance premiums may be indirectly responsible for the misery and starvation of our subjugated neighbours in Zimbabwe.
Container ship bound for SA, wrecked and scavenged: Flotsem and Getsome
The British container ship “Napoli” bound for South Africa was intentionally grounded to prevent breaking up in deep water after it was damaged during last week’s storms.
KuduClub.com: Bad South African TV from anywhere in the world!
Call me tasteful, but South African soap operas like “Egoli”, “Binnelanders” or all time favorite “Orkney Snork nie” have never held a place in my heart.
13th MCQP: Mother City Queer Project - Comic/Strip.
The "Mother City Queer Project" has been running for 13 years now and this year’s theme is Comic/Strip.
Slippery inmate, Ananias Mathe recaptured…for how long?
Ananias Mathe was recaptured this morning after stealing a car fitted with a tracking system. This is the same fellow that recently escaped from Pretoria’s C-Max high security prison.
World AIDS day 1st Decemeber, 2 lovely adverts
December 1 st was World AIDS Day and no country needs to be more aware of this than South Africa. To put you in the picture.
Responsible expenditure of public revenue: By Leonard Ramtlakane, Western Cape.
Leonard Ramatlakane , the Community Safety MEC, Western Cape has saved his job, by promising to pay back the R250 000 he overspent on “beefing up security” at his home.
First in Africa: Gay marriage legalized.
As of yesterday Thursday 30 th November , South Africa became the first country in Africa to offer the legal right of marriage to same sex couples .
Homeless World Cup: Three Weeks (and a bit) to Go!
Random update on the Homeless World Cup : just about three weeks to go until Cape Town plays host to hundreds of people from all over the world, who sell streetpapers like The Big Issue for a living.
Immigration Officers Strike to Strike a Blow for Long Queues
In a development that has had supporters of long queues everywhere cheering South Africa on, about 90% of our immigration officers - those who man the passport control stations at airports and ports…
Vlok Flocks to Chicken's, I Mean Chikane's, Feet
This is a Bizarre SA story that a person of my disposition can't help but breathe a few moments of extra life into.
Toronto AIDS Conference Gives Activists Boost - Help Them Out
The recent International AIDS Conference in Toronto has given a boost to South Africans in the fight against the disease - a fight in which their own government, as the conference made clear, numbers…
BA Gears up for Busy Summer
Alert! British Airways is set to double its number of flights between London and Cape Town for the upcoming antipodean summer season, always a busy time of year for travel to South Africa.
Avoid Fee Pitfalls at Vic Falls
Alert! There's a cautionary tale in The Star on the pitfalls of inter-African travel to Vic Falls.
Tupac to Put in Posthumous Appearance
Alert! SA Logue has reliably learnt that Tupac Shakur will make an appearance in South Africa - posthumously - when his mother Afeni Shakur travels here this September.
Check Out this Rainbow Nation
South Africa's official tourism site, SouthAfrica.info , has just published a mosaic of SA faces, and, in a highly original twist, called it "The Rainbow Nation".
Get the Latest Kruger News with the Kruger Park Times
From blind elephants to busy ant lions , one newsblog has South Africa's top wildlife reserve covered: the Kruger Park Times , run by the enterprising Africa travel and safari folk over at Siyabona…
Big Blubber BBQ Going Well
Alert! The Kommetjie beached-whale braai that had been planned for last week began today, now that both weather and tides are cooperating.
From Opposite Sides of the Globe, Two Vulgar Views of Kruger
Sometimes travel writing can get a bit depressing, as when someone who wants to see some African wildlife does a bit of online research and comes away "convinced that arranging a safari is best left…
Liberia, the Sesquicentenarian, Turns 159
Your Correspondent has been looking for an excuse to use the word "sesquicentenarian" since assuming responsibility at SA Logue - and now I have Liberia to thank for providing me with one.
Joburg's Gritty Beauty, as Uncovered by the New York Times
SA Logue is firmly of the opinion that Johannesburg is worth a stop on any tourist's South African itinerary.
Happy Birthday, Madiba!
South Africa's iconic hero of freedom and democracy, Nelson Mandela, turns 88 today. Happy birthday, Madiba!
Tea with Mandela - Going, Going, Gone!
Alert! You can have tea with Nelson Mandela. Seriously. All you need to do is bid for the pleasure on Ebay - and the auction only starts this November, so there are still a few months left to save…
SA Logue: Now on Technorati (We Hope!)
The purpose of this post is to get a Technorati web crawler to "see" the following link: Technorati Profile But since I have to publish the linke as proper a post, let me take this opportunity to…
Singita, Londolozi Make Forbes "Most Expensive" List
For South Africans, overhearing the word "Singita" can cause the complexion to flash momentarily green.
Coldplay to Spelunk in Cango Caves?
For his fans, Chris Martin's voice is haunting enough as it is. Imagine it bouncing spookily around the surreal walls of the Cango Caves - which is what MTV is proposing, according to local reports.
Clinton, Gates Come to Cape Town (and Stay at Cape Grace?)
The Africa leg of the Government Leaders Forum , currently on at the Cape Town International Convention Centre ( CTICC ), has featured quite an impressive star "billing" - both the Chairman of the…
Link Love: Africa-Interactive's Blog Roll
Alert! The Africa information clearing house that is Africa-Interactive.net - the website formerly known as Africa-News.net - has an ever-expanding Africa blogroll , which links to some pretty…
Happy (Clappy) UFO Day!
Today, in all seriousness, is World Unidentified Flying Object Day , and South Africa's UFO fundis aren't letting the opportunity to make us aware of our rights and responsibilities, vis-a-vis the…
Just Two Days Left to Celebrate Antarctica Month
Whoops - this one came to SA Logue's attention rather late in the day... June is Antarctica Month in South Africa! Happy Antarctica Month!
Ritual Circumcision Claims More Lives in Eastern Cape
According to a news report on national broadcaster SAfm yesterday, eight young men in South Africa's Eastern Cape province have died from botched circumcisions in the past two weeks.
That's a (Shrink) Wrap at SAA
Alert! From this Saturday, South African Airways will begin shrink-wrapping the baggage of its passengers who travel through Johannesburg International Airport .
Amsterdam Guest House Remains in the Pink of Health
A B&B that caters to the gay travel market in Cape Town's leafy suburb of Oranjezicht has been allowed to keep its "men only" status.
Keep Out of Trouble's Way in Zonnebloem
An alert reader has sent in the following link, concerning a young male baboon whom locals have christened "Troubles", and who's on the loose in the city bowl suburb of Zonnebloem/Walmer Estate.
This is Cool: South Africa Fire Map
If you've been to Joburg, you'll know this to be true: South Africa burns . Many small, random fires dot the landscape, particularly on the highveld (which is, roughly, Gauteng Province and its…
CNN a Chief SA Cheerleader
As many who have paid SA a visit will agree (see, for instance, Shelly NU's last piece ), South Africa can offer a life-changing experience to an unsuspecting traveller.
Stories from the 10-11 June 06 Weekend: What You Missed
SA Logue brings you South Africa news from the weekend which you may not have seen. (Note: over time, some links may expire, as stories are archived.) Africa fails to notch first World Cup win.
Stories from the 03-04 June 06 Weekend: What You Missed
SA Blog brings you South Africa news from the weekend which you may not have seen. (Note: over time, some links may expire, as stories are archived.) SA Logue Returns from Kruger!
Stories from the 20-21 May '06 Weekend: What You Missed
SA Blog brings you South Africa news from the weekend which you may not have seen. (Note: over time, some links may expire, as stories are archived.) Weather, weather, more weather, etc.
Cape Town City Center Battered and Bruised During Security Guard Strike
Alert! My Lovely Assistant reports that a march to Parliament by several thousand striking security guards took an ugly turn this afternoon, and has left parts of Cape Town's city center badly…
Stories from the 13-14 May '06 Weekend: What You Missed
SA Blog brings you South Africa news from the weekend which you may not have seen. (Note: over time, some links may expire, as stories are archived.) Pretoria stays Pretoria - for the moment.
Bollywood Spells Dhoom for South Africa
Alert! Parts of Dhoom 2 , the sequel to the popular Bolllywood flick Dhoom , are to be shot in South Africa later this month.
Tourism Radio Podcast
Alert! SA Blog has received a podcast from the folks over at Tourism Radio , who provide a GPS info and entertainment service that Cape Town visitors can tune into as they drive around in their…
Intelligent Radio Helps Tourists Be Their Own Guides
SA Blog has seen the future - or rather, has been driven around while listening to it.
Stories from the 06-07 May 06 Weekend: What You Missed
SA Blog brings you South Africa news from the weekend which you may not have seen. (Note: over time, some links may expire, as stories are archived.) Hunters kill famed Kruger lion.
Tourism Indaba this Weekend
South Africa's tourism industry holds its annual Indaba this weekend at the Durban International Convention Centre.