South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has responded directly to recent criticism from Elon Musk, saying Starlink still has a viable pathway to operate in the country through alternative compliance mechanisms under South Africa’s empowerment laws. The comments come after Musk claimed on X that South Africa would not license Starlink “simply because I am not…
South Africa’s electric vehicle market has entered a new phase of price competition after Chinese automaker Geely Auto launched its latest all-electric hatchback, the E2, with a starting price of R339,900. The launch positions the vehicle as one of the most affordable mainstream EVs currently available in the country and places direct pressure on competitors…
South Africa is set to impose stricter rules on foreign nationals seeking to retire in the country, as the government moves ahead with one of its most significant immigration reforms in decades. Cabinet has officially approved the Revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, paving the way for legislative amendments that will reshape…
South African consumers may soon face renewed pressure at the supermarket as rising global energy and agricultural input costs threaten to push food prices higher. According to the latest Absa AgriTrends report, ongoing instability in the Middle East is increasing fuel, fertiliser and logistics costs across the agricultural supply chain, raising the likelihood of food…
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed veteran political negotiator Roelf Meyer as the country’s new ambassador to the United States, in a strategic move aimed at rebuilding strained diplomatic ties with Washington. The appointment comes after a prolonged period of tension between Pretoria and Washington, following diplomatic fallout that escalated during the return of…
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has emerged victorious in a major legal and policy battle over the cost of identity verification, with the controversial R10 fee now set to remain in place. The development follows the withdrawal of a High Court challenge by the Association of Communications and Technology (ACT), a lobby group representing…
South African banking giant Standard Bank has issued a fresh warning to customers after its ongoing investigation into a March 2026 data breach revealed that some credit card information may have been compromised. The latest update comes weeks after the bank first disclosed an incident involving unauthorised access to selected internal data systems on 23…
A coordinated anti-poaching operation in Tsitsikamma has led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of more than 144kg of illegal abalone, highlighting South Africa’s ongoing struggle against marine wildlife crime. According to South African National Parks (SANParks), rangers uncovered several bags of freshly harvested abalone hidden beneath trees during a patrol in…
South Africa is moving to tighten oversight on imported consumer goods from China as authorities respond to growing concerns over unsafe and substandard products entering the domestic market. In a new directive issued under the Standards Act of 2008, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition has formally introduced a mandatory Pre-Export Verification of Conformity…
The long-running dispute over Starlink’s entry into South Africa intensified over the weekend after Elon Musk alleged that his company had been offered a way to “bribe” its way into the market. According to Musk, Starlink was allegedly encouraged to present a Black front figure as the head of its South African entity in order…
