South Africa’s central bank has launched a formal consultation on plans to discontinue the long-standing prime lending rate and instead anchor loan pricing directly to its benchmark policy rate. In a statement released on Monday, the South African Reserve Bank said linking financial contracts to the repo rate would strengthen the transmission of monetary policy…
Water supply disruptions in Johannesburg are intensifying, prompting warnings from experts that South Africa’s largest economic hub could face a national disaster if urgent action is not taken. Concerns about the country’s water infrastructure are not new. In 2008, water specialist Anthony Turton cautioned that South Africa faced a deepening governance and capacity gap in…
A partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of South Africa on Tuesday, offering skywatchers a brief opportunity to observe the celestial event during the afternoon. According to the South African National Space Agency (Sansa), the eclipse will begin at 14:01 South African Standard Time, reach its maximum phase at 14:23, and conclude at…
Cape Town’s annual Pride season officially begins this week, running from 5 February to 1 March 2026. The three-week festival will feature numerous events across the city. One of the highlights on the calendar is the LEGACY Love Pride Ball, scheduled for Saturday, 7 February. The event celebrates Ballroom culture, an LGBTQIA+ subculture that originated…
cape town prepares for annual a cappella music festival Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre Centre will host the annual A Cappella Music Festival this Saturday, 21 February 2026. The event, organised by the Rainbow Arts Organisation, runs from 13:00 to 18:00 with intervals throughout the afternoon. Tickets range from R150 to R350 and are available through…
The South African rand is holding its position as one of the continent’s stronger currencies, ranking eighth in Africa as of January 2026. Data shows the rand trading at 16.50 against the US dollar, its strongest level since 2022. It remains the most actively traded currency in Africa. The Tunisian dinar is the strongest on…
Africa Bitcoin Corporation (ABC), the continent’s first listed bitcoin treasury firm, has increased its cryptocurrency reserves with the purchase of 1.35 bitcoin, lifting its total holdings to 4.55 BTC, valued at approximately R4.7 million at current prices. The latest acquisition was completed at an average cost of R1.14 million per coin, slightly above the prevailing…
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged intensified mediation efforts in South Sudan ahead of national elections scheduled for December, describing 2026 as a decisive year for the country’s future. Speaking at the African Union Ad-hoc Committee Summit on South Sudan, held in partnership with the United Nations, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and…
South Africa’s newly appointed Environmental Minister, Willie Aucamp, has published draft export quotas for hunting trophies of elephants, black rhinos and leopards — marking the first such proposal since 2021. The draft measures, now open for a 30-day public comment period, aim to reintroduce regulated export limits for three of the country’s most commercially valuable…
On Thursday 12 February 2026, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa used his 2026 State of the Nation Address to outline an ambitious programme aimed at accelerating economic growth, strengthening governance and addressing persistent social challenges. Opening his speech with references to the 1956 Women’s March and the 1976 Soweto uprising, Ramaphosa linked South Africa’s democratic…
