Top Stories

Top Stories
South Africa needs more BEE
President Cyril Ramaphosa said now is not the time to abandon black economic empowerment, and that the country needs to see these policies as an investment in South Africa’s economic growth.

Top Stories
WEATHER: Severe storms with heavy rain and hail expected TODAY
Curious about what the skies hold? Discover the latest outlook for all nine provinces across South Africa this Friday, 20 February 2026.
Top Stories
News24 | ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ actor Eric Dane dies at 53
Actor Eric Dane, who played the handsome Dr Mark Sloan on the hit television series Grey’s Anatomy, died on Thursday aged 53, his family said.

South Africa
Phala Phala trial set to resume at Modimolle Regional Court
David and his two co-accused are on trial for allegedly stealing the money that was hidden in a sofa

South Africa
Gen Nelwamondo reflects on crucial unification of SA’s Armed Forces
SANDF is the third largest army in Africa after the Egyptian and Algerian armies

South Africa
Police search for gun at residence of Mugabe’s son
A gardener was shot earlier in Hyde Park, north of Johannesburg and is in critical condition

South Africa
Limpopo bus crash death toll standing at five
Preliminary investigations indicate that the bus lost control along a curvy mountain pass.
World
News24 | Iran warns Trump all US bases, assets would be legitimate targets if attacked
Iran on Thursday warned that US bases, facilities and assets would be “legitimate targets” if the United States follows through on its military threats and attacks.

World
Venezuela approves amnesty that may release of hundreds detained for political reasons
Venezuela’s acting president has signed into law an amnesty bill that could lead to the release of politicians, activists, lawyers and many others. The approval marks a stark turn for the nation.

World
Mystery donor gives Japanese city $3.6m in gold bars to fix water system
Osaka’s mayor says he is ‘lost for words’ and that he has ‘nothing but appreciation’ for the gesture.

World
More than 90 deaths this season: Are we seeing more avalanches?
Recent deadly incidents in California and Europe are putting avalanches – and how to avoid them – in the spotlight.

Africa
Lobito Corridor: A new line for trade and investment
The corridor is strategically significant given that Zambia, Angola and the DRC are home to some of the world’s most significant deposits of critical minerals

Africa
Islamist militants accused of killing 34 in raids on Nigerian villages
The gunmen launched simultaneous assaults on multiple communities in a remote border district, officials say.

Africa
Son of Robert Mugabe arrested in South Africa after reported shooting
Bellarmine Mugabe is in custody after he allegedly shot a security guard at a property in Johannesburg.

Africa
Islamic police in Nigeria arrest nine Muslims for not fasting during Ramadan
Officers in Kano search cafes and restaurants every year during Ramadan looking for Muslims breaking the fast.

Business
VAT increases are coming to South Africa
South Africans should not expect an increase in VAT to be announced in the Budget speech next week, but a hike is still likely in the works.

Business
US and Indonesia sign deal to cut tariffs to 19%
Washington will set a 19% tariff on most Indonesian goods in exchange for lower trade barriers for US goods

Business
Nasa boss says Boeing Starliner failure one of worst in its history
The agency released a critical report that puts the Starliner incident at same mistake level assigned to the fatal Columbia and Challenger shuttle disasters.

Business
Live Nation sees strong ticket sales as monopoly lawsuit looms
The entertainment giant’s revenue surged last year as 159 million fans attended its concerts.

Politics
Steenhuisen faces palace revolt
Senior Democratic Alliance officials are backing Western Cape agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer to replace the party leader as agriculture minister after its April federal congress

Politics
Ramaphosa cautions against using GNU for party-political gain
Ramaphosa insists that success within the GNU must be owned collectively rather than politicised.

Politics
GNU achievements the result of ANC foundation, Ramaphosa says
The president has pushed back against MPs claims’ that the successes outlined in his State of the Nation address should be credited to coalition partners
Politics
News24 | ‘What type of father sells his own kids?’ ANC one-ups Zuma, MKP as war repatriation begins
The ANC is riding the wave of what it sees as a political victory for President Cyril Ramaphosa – the successful repatriation of members of the Zuma family and the MK Party (MKP) who were trapped on the frontlines of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Sport
Raza hails Zimbabwe’s fearless run after latest victory
Sikandar Raza says Zimbabwe have earned global respect after topping their T20 World Cup group, as the unbeaten underdogs march on.

Sport
Schmeichel in spotlight after night of gloom for Celtic
BBC Scotland looks at the fallout from Kasper Schmeichel’s performance in Celtic’ Stuttgart defeat.

Sport
Ukraine Paralympians to boycott opening ceremony
Ukraine’s Winter Paralympics team will boycott the event’s opening ceremony next month after Russian and Belarusian athletes were invited to compete under their national flags.

Sport
US win women’s ice hockey gold with comeback win over Canada
USA come from behind to beat Canada 2-1 in overtime of the women’s ice hockey final at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.

Education
‘They’re not listening!’: the government’s gamble on special education reform – podcast
Political correspondent Alexandra Topping and special educational needs student Jake with his mum, Laura, explore the government’s controversial plans for reform
Next week, the government is expected to announce its education white paper. It is a moment, as political correspondent Alexandra Topping explains, of high political peril.
Part of the proposals will be reforms to special educational...
Education
Bard College Opens Review of Its President’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
The move comes after a trove of documents released by the Justice Department showed Leon Botstein had a relationship that was closer than previously known with the convicted sex offender.

Education
Schools in England to get budget for children with special needs as part of Send overhaul
Children to get individual support directly from school instead of via council in attempt to curb spiralling costs
Children in England with special needs will receive individual support and therapy directly from their schools as part of the government’s overhaul of England’s special education provision.
Under the plans, mainstream schools will be given commissioning budgets to spend on...
Education
Nigeria: FG Injects N10.1bn to Education in Q4 2025
[Daily Trust] The federal government injected N10.1 billion into the education sector during the last quarter of 2025.

Lifestyle
Eric Dane, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Euphoria’ star dies aged 53 following ALS battle
Actor Eric Dane, best known for his role as a plastic surgeon in the medical series “Grey’s Anatomy” has died at age 53.

Lifestyle
BAD outlook for fuel levy increases in the 2026 Budget Speech
Economists predict fuel levy increases in the 2026 Budget Speech, ironically, due to the relief motorists have experienced recently …

Lifestyle
Cape Town mayor backs N2 wall plans after Khayelitsha attack
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has backed plans to build an N2 wall after another highway incident, this time outside Khayelitsha…

Lifestyle
TikToker – who Gayton threatened to sue – says Joslin is in ‘underground tunnels’
Notorious TikToker Maryke Erasmus – who Gayton McKenzie once threatened to sue for defamation – share her latest theory on Joslin Smith.

Entertainment
White collar crimes, not B-BBEE, sank Tongaat Hulett
Investigation reveals long-serving executives overstated earnings, secured bonuses, and triggered the slow implosion of SA’s sugar giant.

Entertainment
‘We want to close down and leave for good’: Joburg businesses without water for nine months
The lack of running water has affected productivity and increased operating costs of businesses in Selby

Entertainment
Gen Z isn’t fragile but they’re growing up in crisis
Are Gen Zs fragile snowflakes or simply at the receiving end of a poison chalice, a chaotic world in crisis created by generations past?
Entertainment

Science/Tech
OneAssets Capital: ONA 5.0 Officially Open for Testing, Marking a New Chapter for the OAC Community
New York, USA – The OAC Community officially announces the launch of the ONA 5.0 version for testing today. This significant milestone marks the beginning of a new development phase for the community. ONA 5.0 not only features comprehensive system upgrades but also introduces a series of innovative technologies and tools to further enhance the […]
Science/Tech
Newborn Chicks Connect Sounds With Shapes Just Like Humans, Study Finds
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Scientific American: Why does “bouba” sound round and “kiki” sound spiky? This intuition that ties certain sounds to shapes is oddly reliable all over the world, and for at least a century, scientists have considered it a clue to the origin of language, theorizing that maybe our ancestors built their first words upon these instinctive associations...

Science/Tech
Jeffrey Epstein’s Ties to CBP Agents Sparked a DOJ Probe
Documents say customs officers in the US Virgin Islands had friendly relationships with Epstein years after his 2008 conviction, showing how the infamous sex offender tried to cultivate allies.
Science/Tech
US Plans Online Portal To Bypass Content Bans In Europe and Elsewhere
The U.S. State Department is reportedly developing a site called freedom.gov that would let users in Europe and elsewhere access content restricted under local laws, “including alleged hate speech and terrorist propaganda,” reports Reuters. Washington views the move as a way to counter censorship. Reuters reports: One source said officials had discussed including a virtual private network...
Motoring

Motoring
R81 petrol price relief for South Africa
Motorists in South Africa are spending considerably less on petrol than they were a few months ago.
Motoring

Motoring
Toll price hikes for all major roads in South Africa
SANRAL will raise fees across all its toll plazas in South Africa next month.

Health
Cats may hold clues for human cancer treatment
The household cat could hold the key to understanding certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer.
Health
Investigators Blame NASA and Boeing for Starliner Failures
Technical and oversight problems left two astronauts aboard the International Space Station for months longer than had been expected.
Health
N.I.H. Director Will Temporarily Run C.D.C. in Leadership Shake-Up
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya will serve as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention until President Trump appoints a permanent director.
Health
How Microbes Got Their Crawl
In the oceans and on land, scientists are discovering rare, transitional organisms that bridge the gap between Earth’s simplest cells and today’s complex ones.