cape town

Paramedic Papinki Lebelo waits for a police escort before responding to an emergency call-out in the Red Zone neighborhood of Philippi East in Cape Town, South Africa. Due to a rise in attacks on paramedics, large parts of the city are only accessible to ambulance crews when they have a police escort. This severely delays response times.

Health & Safety

'There is no respect anymore' as ambulances come under attack in South Africa

8:10am May 19, 2024

by Tommy Trenchard

That's what one paramedic says of the targeting of ambulance crews. Criminals are after phones and wallets along with medical equipment and drugs. We ride along with a Cape Town crew in a Red Zone.

A pharmacist on the Phelophepa health-care train takes payment for a patient's prescription.

PHOTOS: South Africa's 'train of hope' is a godsend for millions. But new threats loom

8:04am July 09, 2022

by Tommy Trenchard

Dubbed the "train of hope," the Phelophepa has brought health care to millions of South Africans. But it's facing an unprecedented spree of theft and vandalism on the country's railways.

Terence Crowster, a development worker who has been an avid reader since he was young, solicited donations to start the Hot-Spot Library in Scottsville, Cape Town, so kids would have a safe place to connect with books.

PHOTOS: Improvised Library Brings Joy Of Books To Kids Living In Gang Territory

4:15pm June 27, 2021

by Tommy Trenchard

It started with a guy who had a dream – bringing books to kids in a slum – and two used shipping containers. It's the Hot-Spot Library of Cape Town, South Africa.

Firefighters douse the destroyed Jagger Library at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. A wildfire raging on the slopes of Cape Town's Table Mountain spread to the university, forcing the evacuation of students.

World News

Fast-Moving Fire On Table Mountain Destroys South African Landmarks, History

8:52am April 19, 2021

by Jaclyn Diaz

A fire spread from Table Mountain National Park to the University of Cape Town, where collections were destroyed at the Jagger Library.

Alfred Sonandi plays around with a makeshift barbell — concrete poured into two tins on either end of a stick. People in the settlement of Covid don't usually wear masks: Living in such close quarters, they may (incorrectly) feel there's no point. They

Health & Safety

PHOTOS: Why South Africans Built An Illegal Settlement Called Covid

10:25am November 15, 2020

by Samantha Reinders

The pandemic pushed many South Africans out of work. Some grabbed land and put up shacks. There's a community called "Covid" — and even "Sanitizer." The Anti-Land Invasion Unit aims to tear them down.

Phelelani Ndakrokra completes an aerial act at a Zip Zap circus show in Cape Town, South Africa.

PHOTOS: South Africa's Zip Zap Circus Brings A Big Heart To The Big Top

8:43am August 08, 2020

The circus was founded to lift kids out of poverty and change racial attitudes. It's become a world-famous institution — performing for Barack Obama, for example — while holding true to its dream.

George Baraina Dos Santos, photographed at a camp for the homeless in Standfontein, Cape Town, South Africa. The city's homeless population were broght here by the government as part of the city's corona virus response, but many say they felt safer on the

Health & Safety

PHOTOS: Lockdown In The World's Most Unequal Country

5:23pm April 21, 2020

by Tommy Trenchard

Since South Africa went into lockdown in late March, the country's social divisions have been brought into sharper focus than ever.

A special airlift brought these flamingo chicks from a dried out dam near Kimberley to a center in Pretoria, Thursday.

Thirsty Baby Flamingos Airlifted To Safety In South Africa

1:10pm February 02, 2019

by Daniella Cheslow

A drought left a flamingo breeding ground dry near Kimberley, South Africa. When the adult birds left, animal lovers flew thousands of baby birds to safety.

Susan van Rooyen and Moe Kekana of King James Group were behind the 2-Minute Shower Song project.

Singing In The Shower To Help Save Cape Town's Water

9:32pm September 07, 2018

In late 2017, the South African city — hit by a historic drought — faced the possibility it would have to shut off its water supply within six months. A musical challenge helped avert that disaster.

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British Prime Minister Theresa May meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town, South Africa, during a three-nation visit to Africa. May has promised to boost Britain's investment in the continent.

World News

Prime Minister Theresa May Pledges $5.1 Billion In Investment In Africa

7:24pm August 28, 2018

by Shannon Van Sant

The move, aimed at strengthening global partnerships post-Brexit, will mark a fundamental shift in focus from short-term poverty reduction to long-term economic growth.