South Africa wasted R12.1 billion on failed government IT systems, audit reveals

South Africa’s digital transformation efforts have suffered a major setback after the Auditor-General revealed that billions of rand have been spent on government IT systems that either failed outright or delivered little practical value. According to the Auditor-General of South Africa’s 2024/25 consolidated report on national and provincial audit outcomes, 41 ICT projects across government…

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Rosebank emerges as a new hijacking hotspot amid Johannesburg property boom

Rosebank, one of Johannesburg’s most sought-after residential and commercial precincts, is increasingly being flagged as a new hijacking hotspot in South Africa, according to the latest crime data. Figures released by the South African Police Service for the third quarter of 2025, covering October to December, recorded 4,778 carjacking cases nationwide — equivalent to around…

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Zimbabwe begins rollout of upgraded ZiG notes in major currency reform step

Zimbabwe is set to begin circulating upgraded Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) banknotes this Tuesday in what authorities describe as a major milestone in the country’s currency reform programme. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) confirmed that the rollout will take place in phases, starting with lower denominations including ZiG10, ZiG20 and ZiG50 notes, while ZiG100 and…

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Tourists warned as dangerous behaviour in Kruger National Park raises safety fears

Authorities have issued a fresh warning to visitors at Kruger National Park following a series of incidents involving reckless behaviour near wild animals. The warning comes after videos circulating on social media showed tourists leaving their vehicles to approach dangerous wildlife, sparking concern among officials and conservation experts. In one widely shared clip, a visitor…

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South Africa strengthens NASA moon mission with critical Artemis II support

South Africa has emerged as a significant international partner in the United States’ renewed lunar exploration programme, with the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) providing vital tracking and telemetry services for NASA’s Artemis II mission. The historic mission, which carried four astronauts on a 10-day lunar flyby, is currently on its return journey to…

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South Africa moves closer to 8-year driving licence validity reform

South African motorists may soon see the end of the country’s long-standing five-year driving licence renewal cycle, as Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has confirmed that the proposed extension to eight years remains on track. The development follows renewed pressure from civil rights organisation AfriForum, which wrote to the minister in February urging the Department of…

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SAPS body camera rollout still delayed seven years after first proposal

Seven years after body-worn cameras were first proposed for South African police officers, the technology is still not operational, with authorities confirming that the project remains in the procurement phase. Acting police chief minister Firoz Cachalia said the first phase of the long-delayed nationwide rollout officially began in April 2026. Project still in contracting stage…

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Eskom tariff hikes accelerate South Africa’s shift to solar power

South Africans are increasingly turning to solar power as rising Eskom electricity tariffs continue to place pressure on household and business budgets. The latest electricity increase, which took effect on 1 April 2026, saw Eskom Direct customers face an average tariff hike of 8.76%, while municipalities purchasing bulk power are expected to implement increases of…

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Chinese, Russian diplomats hold consultations on UN affairs

Senior Chinese and Russian diplomats held consultations on UN affairs, including the Security Council, in Beijing on Wednesday. They pledged to jointly uphold multilateralism and support a greater role for the UN in addressing global challenges. Cai Wei, China’s assistant minister of foreign affairs, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov exchanged views on the…

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