South Africa

News, public affairs, business, culture and people from South Africa, gathered in one country desk.

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in a dark suit before the South African flag

South Africa · Health · Health alert · Mpox

South Africa reports 18 confirmed mpox cases; Cape Town accounts for most

Health authorities count one additional probable case and say 13 of the 19 reports arrived since 13 August. Limited vaccine and treatment supplies have been secured, but no general rollout has been announced.

20 Sept 2026, 00:05 WAT

Archival portrait of President Cyril Ramaphosa at the September 2024 G20 ministerial meeting in New York

South Africa · Latest · Public safety

Memorial runs demand safer streets as Ekurhuleni’s nine-death inquiry continues

Runners honoured Elizabeth ‘Tsontso’ Moselakgomo in Johannesburg on 19 September as solidarity walks spread to Mossel Bay. The public demands for protection come while police still investigate whether the deaths are linked.

Updated 19 Sept 2026, 18:05 WAT

South Africa · Politics · Breaking · Police accountability

Ramaphosa gives Madlanga inquiry final extension to 25 January 2027

South Africa’s president moved the final-report deadline from 16 November so the commission can process additional evidence and expert testimony. The extension does not turn allegations into findings or convictions.

Updated 19 Sept 2026, 15:00 WAT

AI-created conceptual image of overflowing bins and roadside waste near a generic Johannesburg municipal waste site as a collection truck approaches

South Africa · Environment · Environment analysis

Johannesburg nears a landfill cliff as illegal dumping spreads

Only two municipal landfills are fully operational for general waste, while a closed site at Kya Sands has become a dumping and fire hazard. The city’s immediate clean-ups now collide with a continent-wide need to reduce, separate and reuse waste.

18 Sept 2026, 05:10 WAT

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AI-created conceptual image of separate United States and South African desk flags with an unmarked booklet on a diplomatic conference table

South Africa · Politics · Breaking diplomacy

U.S. announces targeted visa restrictions on South Africans; Pretoria rejects rationale

Washington says the policy covers people linked to specified land, discrimination or violence-related measures. No targets were named, and South Africa says its redress laws are being mischaracterised.

16 Sept 2026, 15:03 WAT

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AI-created conceptual view of an emergency road closure on a highway through South Africa's Karoo

South Africa · Latest · Road safety

N1 collision in Western Cape kills 21 as investigators examine three-vehicle crash

Two minibus taxis and an SUV were involved on the highway between Prince Albert and Leeu-Gamka. Police have opened a culpable-homicide docket, but the cause has not been established and the docket is not a finding of guilt.

14 Sept 2026, 18:05 WAT

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AI-created conceptual view of rain bands over a wet road in a semi-arid Karoo landscape

South Africa · Latest · Weather alert

Level 4 rain warning covers parts of Western and Northern Cape through Monday night

SAWS forecasts 25–50 mm across Eastern Namakwa and the Central Karoo, with 60–80 mm possible in some districts. The alert warns of flooding and disruption; it does not confirm that those impacts have occurred.

14 Sept 2026, 06:02 WAT

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AI-created conceptual image of a scuffed green-and-gold rugby ball on wet grass beneath stadium lights

South Africa / New Zealand / United States · Sports

Springboks seal 3–1 series with six-try win over All Blacks in Baltimore

South Africa won the fourth Test 43–28 after a decisive burst early in the second half. The result completes three consecutive victories, but it remains one chapter in the long build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

13 Sept 2026, 18:00 WAT

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The pink exterior and gardens of Mount Nelson hotel in Cape Town

South Africa · Hospitality

At Mount Nelson, the building matters almost as much as the Cape Town address

The celebrated pink hotel spreads its accommodation across distinct buildings and room types. A thoughtful stay begins by matching the booked space to the guest’s mobility, privacy and city plans.

13 Sept 2026, 12:00 WAT

AI-created conceptual image of data-centre buildings, power lines and a water pipeline near Cape Town

South Africa · Technology

Cape Town data-centre approval faces appeal over water and power disclosures

Campaigners are challenging July's conditional land-use decision for two proposed hyperscale facilities near Cape Town International Airport. The appeal does not halt an operating centre—and Equinix has not submitted a site development plan.

13 Sept 2026, 06:00 WAT

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AI-created symbolic image of a transparent ballot box and football in an empty conference hall

South Africa · Sports

Danny Jordaan wins fourth SAFA term while fraud case remains unresolved

Jordaan defeated Sandile Zungu 157–82 at the football association's elective congress. The vote extends his presidency, but it does not settle the fraud and theft charges he and his co-accused deny.

12 Sept 2026, 21:00 WAT

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Symbolic Nigerian and South African desk flags placed apart across an empty conference table

Nigeria / South Africa · Politics

Nigeria demands probes into two South Africa deaths as parliamentary boycott continues

Abuja has identified Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo as the latest victims. Police involvement is alleged in one death; the motive in the other remains unknown.

Updated 12 Sept 2026, 12:01 WAT

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A face-down smartphone, closed unmarked folder and reading glasses on a desk overlooking a symbolic airport setting

South Africa / Nigeria / United States · Latest

South Africa plans U.S. handover of six suspects in R100m romance-fraud case

The Hawks say six Nigerian nationals arrested in 2021 are due to be handed to U.S. officers in Cape Town on 11 September. The alleged losses and criminal-network links remain accusations; completion of the transfer has not been confirmed.

11 Sept 2026, 12:05 WAT

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Conceptual scene of three distinct utility technicians inspecting pumps and electrical controls inside a water station

South Africa · Latest

South Africa forms joint team after power trips disrupt Rand Water supply

Electricity failures have unsettled water systems across Johannesburg, the West Rand and parts of North West. Officials say conditions are improving, but have not declared the network sustainably stable.

10 Sept 2026, 15:05 WAT

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Editorial illustration of pale experimental bricks and glassware on a materials laboratory bench

South Africa / Southern Africa · Technology

A brick grown with urine: the Cape Town experiment that made waste look different

University of Cape Town researchers used a biological process to cement sand at room temperature. The surprising ingredient opens a serious discussion about sanitation, materials and the distance from laboratory to building site.

10 Sept 2026, 00:25 WAT

Conceptual view of a flood-damaged water pipeline and municipal tanker in a Karoo town

South Africa · Environment

Beaufort West keeps emergency water flowing as schools prepare to reopen

Tankers remain in service and R1 million has been released for repairs after floods damaged the town’s main pipeline. Schools are due back on 10 September, but normal water service has not yet been declared restored.

9 Sept 2026, 23:55 WAT

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Conceptual editorial scene of a nurse preparing an upper-arm injection for an adult woman in a public clinic

South Africa · Health

South Africa says 55,123 people have started twice-yearly HIV prevention injections

The lenacapavir rollout has reached 360 public clinics across 24 districts in six provinces. The figure records PrEP initiations—not HIV treatment, vaccination or permanent protection—and follow-up will determine its lasting impact.

9 Sept 2026, 15:05 WAT

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Conceptual editorial image of luggage on a trolley in a quiet airport terminal

Ghana / South Africa · Diaspora

Ghana says 1,964 citizens returned from South Africa as evacuation closes

Accra's final account puts the operation at GH¢49.72 million and links four deaths to the wider crisis. The circumstances differ, investigations remain open and Pretoria disputes Ghana's framing of the violence.

9 Sept 2026, 03:05 WAT

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Conceptual editorial view of courthouse steps, a closed case file and scales of justice

South Africa / United Kingdom · Diaspora

Tshuma pleads guilty in South Africa as separate UK extradition case advances

The Johannesburg plea covers firearm, ammunition and immigration offences only. Three British murder allegations remain untried, while the extradition hearing is scheduled to continue on 10 September.

8 Sept 2026, 21:02 WAT

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Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe

South Africa · Politics

South Africa approves 2026–2030 border plan as migration enforcement expands

Cabinet has approved an infrastructure programme for all seven border provinces, while the government reports 86,596 people processed for deportation or repatriation. The funding model is still being finalised, and arrest figures are not convictions.

8 Sept 2026, 15:08 WAT

Conceptual view of South African factories, freight rail, mining infrastructure and the Johannesburg skyline

South Africa · Business

South Africa’s economy contracts 0.2% as trade, factories and mining retreat

The second-quarter decline ended six consecutive quarters of growth and was slightly worse than economists expected. Household spending rose, but weak production and a surge in imports outweighed the gains.

8 Sept 2026, 12:03 WAT

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Cameroon / South Africa · Diaspora

Abdon Atangana’s career shows why African scientific migration is also continental

The Cameroonian mathematician’s work in South Africa highlights research networks, supervision and the institutions that allow expertise to travel within Africa.

8 Sept 2026, 04:05 WAT

AI-created editorial reconstruction of security officers approaching a damaged remote camp through Niassa woodland

Mozambique / South Africa · Conflict desk

Niassa raid: four South African colleagues safe as one remains abducted

Two colleagues have returned to South Africa and two remain safe in Mozambique. One South African is still among the missing, while conflicting estimates of the overall number abducted remain unresolved.

Updated 8 Sept 2026, 00:00 WAT

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