The conflict in the Middle East has caused major shipping and port delays, which is bad news for two of South Africa’s towns whose ports are vital hubs in the country’s logistics network and economy.

Woolworths Group CEO Roy Bagattini will retire this year, with Woolworths Food CEO Sam Ngumeni taking over.

The department store and Waitrose supermarket owner will give workers a bonus equivalent to an extra week’s pay.

Professor Vukosi Marivate, Director of the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI) based at the University of Pretoria (UP) and ABSA-UP Chair of Data Science at the University, has been appointed as a member of the United Nations Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.

Professor Vukosi Marivate recently joined the United Nations’ Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and is a leading South African figure in AI research.

Standard Bank still expects 50 basis points worth of interest rate cuts in 2026 despite the conflict in the Middle East.

People across the South East say the cost of heating their home soared after war broke out in Iran.

South of England households report cancelled orders, price hikes and heating oil supply issues.

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

A county council says it has earmarked £2.7m to fund the scheme until September.

Anyone wanting to book flights face big increases in ticket prices in South Africa.

The move comes after the US Supreme Court struck down a key part of Donald Trump’s tariffs policies last month.

It is ‘impossible for us to compete’, says the boss of a New York grocery store.

Militaries are often cagey about their cyber activities. But the US has hinted at the role it has played.

A group representing tech giants called government action against Anthropic a “temper tantrum”.

The prime minister is in Northern Ireland and is expected to hold talks with party leaders and visit a community centre.