South Africa could experience another period of extreme weather over the coming months after international climate forecasters warned that one of the strongest El NiƱo events in more than seven decades is becoming increasingly likely. Scientists expect the climate pattern to intensify during the second half of 2026 and continue into early 2027, raising the…
Amazon is strengthening its long-term commitment to South Africa after senior executives held separate meetings with President Cyril Ramaphosa and Communications Minister Solly Malatsi, as the technology giant prepares to introduce its Leo satellite internet service to the local market. The discussions, led by Amazon’s Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer David Zapolsky, focused on…
South Africa’s iconic rooibos plant is preparing for a landmark journey beyond Earth, with its seeds scheduled to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) later this year as part of a scientific programme examining how plants respond to space conditions. The mission will mark the first time an indigenous South African plant species, and…
Persistent abuse of medical certificates is costing South African businesses billions of rand each year, with labour experts warning that fraudulent sick notes continue to undermine workplace productivity and place additional pressure on employers. Fresh debate over the issue has emerged after several high-profile figures were accused of claiming illness to avoid appearing before the…
Parents in South Africa are not legally required to vaccinate their children, but legal experts say that refusing vaccination could, in certain circumstances, expose them to civil lawsuits if their decision results in legally recognised harm to others. The warning comes from Dr Liesl Hager of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Private Law, whose…
South Africa’s expanded Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system is facing renewed criticism, with civil society groups warning that motorists could receive fines and demerit points for traffic offences they never committed. The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) has cautioned that common issues such as cloned number plates and outdated vehicle registration records…
South African banks are urging customers to carefully verify every payment request they receive through mobile banking apps as fraudsters increasingly rely on manipulating users rather than hacking bank systems. Discovery Bank has issued a fresh fraud alert warning that criminals are now targeting customers directly by convincing them to authorise transactions themselves. According to…
South Africa has taken another step in reforming its immigration system with the launch of Phase II of the Trusted Employer Scheme (TES), a programme aimed at helping qualifying businesses recruit international talent more efficiently while supporting economic growth and investment. Announced by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), the expanded scheme introduces a fully…
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has intensified its campaign against corruption, dismissing seven officials during 2026 while investigations continue into hundreds of alleged misconduct cases involving departmental employees. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the department’s strengthened anti-corruption strategy is producing tangible results through dismissals, arrests and criminal prosecutions aimed at restoring public…
Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has sought to reassure South Africans following four radioactive contamination incidents at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, saying the events were contained, posed no danger to surrounding communities and did not compromise the country’s only nuclear power facility. The incidents occurred over several weeks during scheduled maintenance work at…
