News South Africa

Bangladeshis lined up outside polling booths on Thursday as voting began in a pivotal election for the South Asian nation after the 2024 ouster of long‑time premier Sheikh Hasina in a Gen Z‑driven uprising.

He had spent two years on special leave during an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against him but returned to work recently.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday outline his government’s bouquet of commitments to citizens. Africa Check assesses what he promised vs what was delivered and which commitments are still in progress.

Protests have erupted across Johannesburg as water outages hit many parts of the city, leaving residents’ taps dry for weeks.

Madlanga Commission continues today, hearing witness testimony on criminality and corruption.

Residents in Joburg’s southern suburbs have taken to the streets to protest over water outages.

Worst affected regions are 1, 2, and 3, with the Soshanguve L and Mabopane reservoirs still empty

The Trump administration on Wednesday expressed concern that China was costing Peru its sovereignty after a Peruvian court ruling restricted a local regulator’s oversight of a Chinese-built mega port.

Zhang Youxia, widely seen as Xi’s closest military ally, was in January removed from his post.

It’s the first election since the 2024 Gen Z uprising that toppled Bangladesh’s long-serving prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Madagascar’s disaster management says roads are inaccessible with trees uprooted, power poles down and ninety percent of roofs ripped off.

The political rift that could spiral into conflict again after the vice-president was accused of treason.

The iconic attire has been trending online for days following the banter between Ghanaians and Zambians.

Yameogo Aminata says her four sons were slaughtered and her daughter is missing.

President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the 2026 State of the Nation Address later today, 12 February, with business leaders looking for plans to address the nation’s largest challenges.

Manufacturing was the main driver of growth during the final three months of the year, official figures show.

Flawed electricity pricing policy and tariff regulation are deepening South Africa’s municipal electricity crisis, with experts arguing that the current tariff methodology is fundamentally broken.

Here are five important things happening in South Africa on Thursday, 12 February 2026.

Emmanuel Mbense was allegedly tortured and killed by police in Brakpan in 2022.

Steenhuisen, once an ANC critic, now serves as Agriculture Minister in President Ramaphosa’s cabinet

Ramaphosa will deliver this year’s State of the Nation Address in Cape Town on Thursday evening

The JSC is set to convene a sitting for consideration of the Tribunal’s report, on 5 March 2026.

The Nations League does not carry the prestige of other competitions, but Thursday’s draw still carries huge importance to Scotland and the Tartan Army.

WSL presenter Alex Scott and pundits and fellow Lionesses legends Fara Williams, Ellen White and Steph Houghton make confessions about each other, and reveal who they would sign, bench and sell in a five-a-side team.

The agent of a struggling Orlando Pirates fan-favourite has confirmed his client is in the market for a new team.

The Super 8 is on the horizon.

Policy announced in autumn budget freezes threshold at which students start repaying university loans

Protesters dressed as sharks and in Rachel Reeves face masks gathered outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday to express their anger over changes to their student loans and their ballooning debt.

The demonstration by members of the National Union of Students (NUS) characterised the...

Miss SA 2024 Mia le Roux shared a sneak peek of her custom, second engagement ring, which she co-designed with fiancé Luke Tenoever.

Fans of Afrikaans singer Bobby van Jaarsveld were left speculating over this particular social media post about Valentine’s Day…

Forest’s 0-0 draw with bottom club Wolves left them in severe relegation danger.

Coalition partners insist the president must outline firm timelines and measurable targets.

The imminent end of local production at its Rosslyn plant outside Pretoria after six decades, won’t result in Nissan pulling out of South Africa entirely.

Chinese AI firms are readying a wave of new models one year after DeepSeek shook the global tech industry.

Sanral wants electric vehicle charging stations next to its highways and regional routes to hand over up to 3% of their energy revenues and 7% of other product revenues — much higher than the 0.5% it takes from fuel sales and 2.5% for other goods from fuel station forecourts.

South Africa’s municipal electricity tariff methodology is fundamentally broken.

Yolanden Moodley has been appointed MD of Altron Document Solutions and Warren Mande as COO of Netstar.

2025 marked the year an American carmaker was surpassed by its Chinese rival.

A fine may be the least of your concerns if you are caught exceeding the speed limit in South Africa.

Chinese brands have a long way to go in one of South Africa’s top segments.

A new treatment being trialled at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital allows more patients to be treated and quicker recovery.