Top Stories

Top Stories
Teacher ‘rapes pupil after confiscating her phone in class’
A 56-year-old Limpopo teacher allegedly raped a pupil on school premises after confiscating her cellphone and telling her she must pay to get it back.

Top Stories
GWM explores manufacturing plant options in South Africa
Chinese carmaker Great Wall Motor (GWM) is weighing whether to share a manufacturing facility with another carmaker in South Africa or acquire an existing plant if available, and has held talks with Mercedes-Benz as it considers its options.

Top Stories
Death knell for Showmax in South Africa
Showmax has informed customers that 31 March is the last day they will be able to renew their subscriptions or redeem vouchers, as the streaming platform prepares to shut down for good at the end of April.

South Africa
LIVE: UNISA briefs media on state of the university
UNISA holds a media briefing to share information on the state of the university.
South Africa
Home Affairs reform sees recognition of Muslim marriage officers
Home Affairs reform sees recognition of Muslim marriage officers
The Department of Home Affairs has delivered another important reform to advance equality and fairness for the Muslim faith community by ensuring that Muslim marriage officers are recognised on the same basis as other religious marriage officers under the Marriage Act 25 of 1961.Following the introduction in 2024 of...

South Africa
LIVE: Senzo Meyiwa Murder Trial | 19 March 2026
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial continues at the High Court in Pretoria.
South Africa
Mahlobo calls for science-driven action to tackle water crisis
Mahlobo calls for science-driven action to tackle water crisis
Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister David Mahlobo has underscored the critical role of academic institutions in shaping solutions to South Africa’s water challenges.
Delivering the keynote address at a recent Water Imbizo hosted by the University of South Africa (UNISA), Mahlobo described the country’s water...

World
Three Palestinian women killed as missile debris hits West Bank beauty salon
Several other people were injured when shrapnel struck the beauty salon in Beit Awwa, in the southern West Bank.

World
Why Trump’s attacks and threats to Iran’s Kharg Island are a big deal
If the U.S. follows through on its threats to bomb the oil assets on Kharg Island, the war would likely escalate and oil prices would increase exponentially.

World
Japan’s PM to visit Trump as president continues pleas for help with Strait of Hormuz
As Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi prepares for her first White House visit, President Donald Trump calls for Japan and other allies to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz.

World
NPR’s Leila Fadel talks about her experience in Iraq amid the Iran war
NPR’s Leila Fadel discusses what she was hoping to learn and what she found during her recent trip to Iraq amid the war with Iran that has engulfed the region.

Africa
DR Congo and Rwanda agree to ease tensions after talks in US
The conflict has persisted despite a peace deal signed by DR Congo and Rwanda in December.

Africa
Forty years after the last one was poached rhinos are back in the wild in Uganda
Hunting for the horns and meat, Ugandan poachers once wiped out the southern white rhinos from the country.

Africa
Celebrations in Morocco but devastation in Senegal after Afcon decision
Moroccans feel justice has been done but the Senegalese are angry after being stripped of the title.

Africa
Chinese national charged for trying to smuggle 2,000 ants from Kenya
Zhang Kequn was found with the large consignment of ants in his luggage at a Nairobi airport.

Business
Business Talk – Engela van Loggerenberg on the power of the Cash Converters franchising model
Engela van Loggerenberg is the Director of Finance at Cash Converters Southern Africa and is personally a co-owner of three Cash Converters stores.
Business

Business
Final date for Showmax subscribers in South Africa
Following the announcement that local streamer Showmax is shutting down, the group has announced the final closing date for the service.

Business
Big NHI mystery for South Africa
While President Cyril Ramaphosa says the pause in promulgating the NHI Act will not affect the scheme’s implementation, there is no official timeline for the rollout.

Politics
IFP claims victory in three KZN by-elections
The IFP has claimed victory in all three by-elections that were held in KwaZulu-Natal Wednesday

Politics
LIVE: Madlanga Commission of Inquiry | 19 March 2026
The Madlanga Commission continues with the cross-examination of Sgt Nkosi.

Politics
PAC condemns vandalism at Robert Sobukwe’s gravesite
PAC opened a criminal case against the desecration of founding president Robert Sobukwe’s gravesite

Politics
More grilling for Sgt Nkosi as he returns to Madlanga Commission
The Commission heard that Nkosi shared a list of bidders for a Tshwane Police Department tender

Sport
I went back to Chiefs after I was told my contract won’t be renewed – Ex-Amakhosi star
Edmilson Dove reveals how he discovered his Kaizer Chiefs contract would not be renewed, and the emotional goodbye that followed.

Sport
Tuchel’s dilemmas as he picks last squad before World Cup selection
The England squad Thomas Tuchel names on Friday will give a big hint about who will be on the plane to the World Cup – so what are the issues he still needs to resolve?

Sport
Injury update: Springbok makes long-awaited return
One of the most highly regarded up-and-coming Springbok talents will make his return from a ‘devastating’ injury this weekend.

Sport
Saints and Bath lead race for top four as Prem returns
BBC Sport takes a look at how things stand in Prem rugby as the league returns after an eight-week break with Northampton top of the table and six teams in play-off contention.
Education
The Struggle to Find Good, Affordable Schools
New York parents can’t always afford to live in neighborhoods with good public schools, and other options are more expensive than ever.
Education
South Africa: Use the Field, Parents Tell Their Children – the Pit Toilets At This School Are Dangerous
[GroundUp] Elunyaweni Primary in Ugie in the Eastern Cape has five full pit latrines for 160 learners; nearby ET Thabane Primary has broken classrooms
Education
Comoros: Comorian Women Face Barriers to Equality in Education, Employment, and Politics
[Afrobarometer] Most citizens say police and courts need to do more to protect women and girls against discrimination and harassment.
Education
N.Y.C. Teacher Is Accused of Having Child Sex Abuse Images and Meth Pipe
The teacher, Joseph Taylor McKeel, was arrested Wednesday morning as he was on his way to work.

Lifestyle
It’s official: Showmax’s end date + what happens next
Showmax has revealed when it will cease operation on its platforms, and what happens to current subscriptions thereafter…

Lifestyle
Lira’s birthday soirée: A fashionable tribute to her late mother
Music icon Lira proved that there are other ways to grieve a loved one, as she wore her late mother’s dress to her birthday celebration.
Lifestyle

Lifestyle
Spot the signs: The five car parts that are most likely to fail
Of all the parts in your car, there are five that are most at risk of failing. Here are the warning signs you should look out for.

Entertainment
When will you get your social grant in April? Sassa reassures beneficiaries
The agency said the delay is due to administrative processes that must be completed.

Entertainment
SA tributes flood in for peace advocate Nicholas ‘Fink’ Haysom
He represented the UN in different roles after serving as chief legal and constitutional adviser to then president Nelson Mandela from 1994 to 1999.

Entertainment
A six week old baby and four others declared dead after fatal taxi crash
’11 other patients were transported as well by private ambulance services. They were in serious but stable conditions,’ said Ntladi
Entertainment

Science/Tech
Get Ready for a Year of Chaotic Weather in the US
A massive Western heat wave and a potential El Niño event raise concerns about a long stretch of unpredictable and extreme weather.
Science/Tech
A.I. Agents: They’re Fun. They’re Useful. But Don’t Give Them the Credit Card.
New A.I. bots can do more than just chat. They can edit files, send emails, book trips and cause trouble.

Science/Tech
How a WhatsApp bundle exposed a fault line in SA mobile
Could MTN’s sharpest Ebitda decline in a decade be blamed in part on a prepaid feature Telkom offered all along?

Science/Tech
Showmax Originals find a new home on DStv Stream
Showmax Originals will migrate to a dedicated section on DStv Stream, but key international content is missing.

Motoring
New Haval H6 plug-in hybrid launched in South Africa – Pricing and features
Haval has officially launched a plug-in hybrid version of the popular H6 SUV in South Africa.

Motoring
No petrol price relief for South African motorists
South Africa’s National Treasury signalled it has little room to mitigate against the impact of a looming fuel-price shock stemming from the war in the Middle East.

Motoring
South Africa’s R1 million bakkies
The most sought-after bakkies in South Africa all come with hefty price tags.

Motoring
Great news for petrol and diesel in South Africa
Motorists don’t need to worry about South Africa’s petrol and diesel supply for the time being.
Health
Ozempic Is About to Go Generic in India, China and Canada
In India, China and several other nations, Novo Nordisk is on the verge of losing patent protection for its blockbuster weight loss drug, opening the door for cheaper competing versions.

Health
Why this ‘unprecedented’ outbreak isn’t another Covid
Meningitis infections result from close and prolonged physical contact and spreads more slowly than Covid.
Health
F.D.A. Investigates 7 E. Coli Illnesses as Raw Dairy Farm Denies Any Link
The outbreak has sickened people in California, Texas and Florida. The agency said Cheddar cheese products from Raw Farm are “the likely source,” but the company denies it and has not recalled them.
Health
Women Who Undergo Menopause Before 40 Face Higher Heart Attack Risk
A new study found that women who went through so-called premature menopause had 40 percent more fatal and nonfatal heart attacks over the course of their lives.