South Africa

World News

South Africans Vote As Mandela's Ruling Party Strives To Retain Power

9:35pm May 08, 2019

by Sasha Ingber

The ruling African National Congress saw its reputation tarnished in the wake of scandals and high unemployment. The election is largely seen as a referendum on the political party.

Officials at Kruger National Park in South Africa said a suspected rhino poacher was killed by an elephant and his remains eaten by lions. Pictured here, an elephant in the park in 2016.

World News

Suspected Rhino Poacher Killed By Elephant, Eaten By Pride Of Lions In South Africa

5:42pm April 07, 2019

by Francesca Paris

Park officials said all that was left at the scene were "a human skull and a pair of pants." Many on social media have called the incident karma.

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.

A pastor leads people in prayer Friday at the site of a walkway collapse at the Driehoek high school in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa.

At Least 3 Students Killed After School Walkway Collapses In South Africa

2:14pm February 01, 2019

by Daniella Cheslow

"It is painful to see those tiny bodies in that state," says Panyaza Lesufi, an education official in Gauteng province, where the high school is located.

Grace Mugabe, then Zimbabwe's first lady, greets supporters at a rally last year in the city of Lupane. South African police now want to see her arrested for allegedly assaulting her son's girlfriend.

World News

The Saga's Not Over: South Africa Issues Arrest Warrant For Grace Mugabe

3:51pm December 19, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

Zimbabwe's former first lady allegedly beat a model with an extension cord, though for nearly a year she had diplomatic immunity. That shield was dropped, and authorities say they're back on the case.

An artist's reconstruction of Ledumahadi mafube, which means "a giant thunderclap at dawn," foraging during the early Jurassic in South Africa.

Bones Reveal The Brontosaurus Had An Older, Massive Cousin In South Africa

9:32pm September 27, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

The scientists think when this new dinosaur was alive, it was the largest creature ever to have walked the Earth. And unlike the lumbering creatures that came later, it could pop up on its hind legs.

Queue Listen Now

James and Rosina Komape. In 2014, their 5-year-old son, Michael, fell in a pit latrine at school and drowned.

Health & Safety

The Unending Tragedy Of A 5-Year-Old Who Drowned In A Pit Latrine

9:40am September 24, 2018

by Krista Mahr

It was a school toilet in South Africa. The boy's death in 2014 sparked a national outrage. The debate about potentially dangerous toilets is still simmering today.

Blombos Cave drawing with ocher pencil on silcrete stone.

Science

Researchers Discover Ancient "Hashtag"

8:34pm September 12, 2018

by Christopher Joyce

The world's oldest drawing was made 73,000 years ago in a South African Cave on a rock with an ocher "crayon."

President Trump addresses the Medal of Honor ceremony for Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Chapman in the White House on Wednesday. Hours later, he tweeted about white farmers in South Africa — much to the bemusement and indignation of South African leaders.

Here's The Story Behind That Trump Tweet On South Africa — And Why It Sparked Outrage

10:23pm August 23, 2018

by Colin Dwyer

Outrage quickly followed the president's tweet about "the large scale killing of farmers" in South Africa. But why? The thorny history involves apartheid, white supremacists and plenty of acrimony.

High-speed tracking dogs have been a game-changer in the fight against rhino poaching in South Africa. Their success depends on their ability to work as a team, which means they sleep and eat in the pack-sized enclosures shown above.

To Combat Rhino Poaching, Dogs Are Giving South African Park Rangers A Crucial Assist

10:59am August 01, 2018

by David Fuchs

Anti-poaching rangers have sophisticated resources at their command. But one of the most effective is strikingly low-tech. "Since we use dogs, the guys can't hide from us anymore," says a trainer.