South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, has moved to calm public concerns over potential fuel shortages, stating that cargo destined for the country continues to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without disruption. His remarks come amid heightened global anxiety following escalating conflict in the Middle East, which has raised fears…
Thousands of foreign nationals in South Africa are facing growing uncertainty as a key visa concession is set to expire at the end of March 2026, potentially forcing many to leave the country despite having pending applications. The concession, introduced in 2022, was designed to protect visa applicants awaiting outcomes on waivers and appeals from…
A police operation in Johannesburg has left four suspects dead and one injured following a shoot-out in the suburb of Yeoville on Wednesday morning, in what authorities describe as part of a broader crackdown on airport-linked crime. According to police, the suspects had been under surveillance for their alleged involvement in a criminal group that…
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA) is under growing political pressure following allegations that senior public representatives receive additional monthly payments from party funds, raising questions about transparency and compliance with constitutional rules. The controversy stems from a leaked internal report, reportedly compiled by former party member Dion George, which claims that the DA spends over…
China’s top legislator Zhao Leji on Wednesday met separately with Azerbaijan’s Speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova and Kazakhstan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, who are in south China’s Hainan Province for the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026. Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, also met…
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Monday met with UN officials, including Director-General of the UN Office at Nairobi (UNON) Zainab Hawa Bangura, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach and Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region Xia Huang, in Nairobi, Kenya. Han stressed that China places importance on the role of…
A South African commission of inquiry has heard explosive testimony suggesting that senior police officials and government figures may have misused cybercrime legislation to pursue the arrest of a social media personality. The case centres on the 2025 arrest of gossip blogger Musa Khawula, an operation that reportedly involved multiple elite law enforcement units and…
South Africa’s government is reaffirming its commitment to sweeping healthcare reform, with President Cyril Ramaphosa insisting that the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme remains central to addressing long-standing inequalities in access to medical services. The renewed push comes despite ongoing legal challenges that have temporarily delayed the implementation of key aspects of the legislation. Push…
South Africa’s monetary policy outlook has undergone a dramatic shift, with markets now bracing for potential interest rate hikes instead of the previously expected easing cycle. In recent months, expectations had leaned toward multiple rate cuts by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), supported by relatively stable inflation. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle…
Global financial markets have entered a period of heightened uncertainty, with South Africa’s currency coming under sustained pressure as geopolitical tensions disrupt energy supply expectations. The rand has weakened notably over recent weeks, reflecting a broader shift toward safer assets. By Monday, 23 March, the currency had fallen to around R17.25 against the US dollar,…
