Top Stories

Top Stories
One mistake can cost South African investors dearly
Investors have been urged to think twice before betting against the South African economy and the market in 2026.

Top Stories
The ANC made South Africa the handmaid of the enemies of the United States
United States analyst Joshua Meservey warned that the ANC’s foreign policy choices are pushing South Africa towards sanctions from America.
Top Stories
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE: Inferno Madness: The severe impact of the Cape’s adverse weather on wildfires
Dry, hot weather, strong wind that often changed direction and flammable alien vegetation complicated fighting the multiple wildfires that marked a devastating start to the new year in the Western Cape. Some of these blazes came threateningly close to towns such as Stanford and Hermanus.

South Africa
SANDF helicopters to help search for missing Ekurhuleni MMC in Moz
Mngwevu and three other people went missing in Chokwe, Mozambique.

South Africa
Operation Shanela nets over 200 suspects in the Northern Cape
The operation resulted in the confiscation of dangerous weapons, drugs and alcohol.

South Africa
Limpopo floods death toll rises to 17
Many victims have were swept away by flood waters while other drowned in excavated pit.

South Africa
Limpopo, Mpumalanga floods declared national disaster
Repair costs for damages caused in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo floods stand in the billions

World
Pakistan shopping mall fire kills six people
Parts of the huge plaza in Karachi have collapsed as firefighters battle to extinguish the blaze.

World
Syrian army seizes country’s largest oil field from Kurdish forces
The Kurdish-led SDF militia withdrew from the Omar oil field amid an eastward push by government forces.

World
India’s voter verification drive is drawing criticism — from its own election workers
Ahead of India’s state elections in March, officials responsible for voter verification report long hours and tight deadlines.

World
U.S. Senators wrap up Denmark trip as Trump steps up his Greenland pressure campaign
U.S. senators are in Denmark this weekend to meet with officials, as President Trump announces tariffs against NATO members to pressure them over his designs on Greenland.

Africa
What a seventh term for 81-year-old leader means for Uganda
Yoweri Museveni has won a record seventh term in elections after promising that the fledgling oil sector will boost the economy.

Africa
Ugandan leader to extend 40-year rule after being declared winner of contested poll
President Yoweri Museveni wins a seventh term, as his main rival Bobi Wine decries “fake results”.

Africa
Museveni in commanding lead ahead of election announcement
President Yoweri Museveni is in a commanding lead ahead of his main challenger, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine.

Africa
Nigerian imam honoured for saving Christian lives dies aged 90
Abubakar Abdullahi sheltered 262 people after they came under attack from Fulani herders in 2018.

Business
Bad news for South African passport holders
South African passport holders are facing a tougher global travel environment in 2026, with reduced visa-free access and growing barriers when applying for visas to some of the world’s most popular destinations.

Business
Another warning for WhatsApp users in South Africa
With WhatsApp extensively used across South Africa, users are urged to exercise caution when dealing with sensitive information.

Business
What tariffs has Trump announced and why?
Trump’s volatile trade policy has thrown the world economy into chaos, and put some US prices up.
Business

Politics
DA accused of double standards as it battles infighting
George, who was also the DA’s federal finance chair, publicly revealed Steenhuisen’s money issues.

Politics
‘Malema has slim chance of avoiding jail after firearm conviction’
Malema is set to learn his fate on Friday in the East London Magistrate’s Court as sentencing looms.

Politics
ActionSA will not suspend Khumalo over assault allegations: Beaumont
ActionSA claims that the same suspect laid a false charge of assault against Khumalo

Politics
Mbeki calls on MKLWV to assist ANC in national security management.
Mbeki reminds veterans of their role in liberating South Africa .

Sport
Alcaraz begins Grand Slam bid with win against Walton
Carlos Alcaraz beats Australia’s Adam Walton 6-3 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 in his Australian Open first-round match as he begins his quest for a career Grand Slam.

Sport
Raducanu dominant in Australian Open first-round win
Emma Raducanu finishes her Australian Open first-round match with a dominant 6-4 6-1 performance against Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

Sport
Kaizer Chiefs legend tells Sirini to fix his attitude
Former Kaizer Chiefs striker Pollen Ndlanya says Gaston Sirino is a good player but needs to work on his attitude to extend his stay.

Sport
Update on struggling Orlando Pirates striker
Despite a continued struggle for minutes, Orlando Pirates striker Boitumelo Radiopane is expected to remain in Soweto.
Education
One Year Later, What Kind of Country Have We Become?
The United States is broken, but not in every way.
Education
Virginia’s New Governor Moves Swiftly to Overhaul State University Boards
Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, appointed new board members at three state schools, hours after she was sworn in as Virginia’s first female governor.
Education
A.I. Is Coming to Class. These Professors Want to Ease Your Worries.
Even as some instructors remain fervently opposed to chatbots, other writing and English professors are trying to improve them.
Education
Deported Student Hopes to Return After U.S. Acknowledges Error
A federal prosecutor apologized this week, saying an ICE officer made a “mistake” in deporting Any Lucia López Belloza, a college freshman in Massachusetts, to Honduras.

Lifestyle
Did Cassper Nyovest unfollow his wife after baby mama truce?
Cassper Nyovest has seemingly unfollowed his wife Pulane Phoolo, who has now struck up a friendship with his ex, Thobeka Majozi…

Lifestyle
COSATU supports call to ban drinking and driving in SA
COSATU has voiced strong support for Transport Minister Barbara Creecy’s call to amend legislation governing drunken driving.

Lifestyle
Dam GOOD news: No need for water restrictions in Cape Town
There is ‘no immediate concern’ and no need for water restrictions in Cape Town this summer, confirms city official …

Lifestyle
Reeva’s mom makes progress amid devastating diagnosis
The mother of Reeva Steenkamp – who was murdered by Oscar Pistorius – has shown positive progress after a devastating diagnosis last year.

Entertainment
Daily Lotto and Daily Lotto Plus results: Sunday, 18 January 2026
Tonight’s jackpot is an estimated R400 000! Here are the winning Daily Lotto and Daily Lotto Plus results for Sunday, 18 January, brought to you by The Citizen.

Entertainment
48 hours in pictures, 18 January 2026
Through the lens: The Citizen’s Picture Editors select the best news photographs from South Africa and around the world.

Entertainment
Liezel van der Westhuizen on why most New Year’s resolutions fail even before February
Research shows that 80% to 90% of people abandon their goals by February.

Entertainment
No Venus fairytale as Alcaraz, Sabalenka win Melbourne openers
“It was such a great game, such a great moment. The energy from the crowd was amazing. That lifted me up so much”.
Science/Tech
China Builds ‘Hypergravity’ Machine 2,000X Stronger Than Earth
Long-time Slashdot reader schwit1 shared this report from Futurism:China has unveiled an extremely powerful “hypergravity machine” that can generate forces almost two thousand times stronger than Earth’s regular gravity. The futuristic-looking machine, called CHIEF1900, was constructed at China’s Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) at Zheijang University...

Science/Tech
Vodacom, Maziv deal rewrites South Africa’s open-access rulebook
South Africa’s fibre market is entering an “Open Access 2.0” era shaped by scale, behaviour and enforcement.

Science/Tech
South African Air Force helicopter unused for two years saves 18 in flood disaster
Many areas in eastern Limpopo have recorded rainfall of more than 400mm in a week, causing widespread flooding and some rivers rising to their highest levels in 46 years.
Science/Tech
Could We Provide Better Cellphone Service With Fewer, Bigger Satellites?
European satellite operator Eutelsat “plans to launch 440 Airbus-built LEO satellites in the coming years to replenish and expand its constellation,” Reuters reported Friday. And last week America’s Federal Communications Commission approved SpaceX’s request to deploy another 7,500 Starlink satellites, while Starlink “projects it will eventually have a constellation of 34,000 satellites,”...

Motoring
Fewer deaths on South Africa’s roads
The recently concluded festive season was South Africa’s least deadly in years.

Motoring
Vacuum cleaner company unveils new supercar
A Chinese vacuum cleaner company unveiled its very own supercar at CES 2026.

Motoring
Warning for parents on South Africa’s roads
With back-to-school in full swing, parents have been told to ensure safe commutes.

Motoring
New Chinese car brand launching in South Africa very soon
Chery is gearing up to launch a new car brand in South Africa.
Health
3 Policy Moves Likely to Change Health Care for Older People
Two regulatory rollbacks, along with a new A.I. experiment in Medicare, raise some worrisome questions.
Health
No Link Between Acetaminophen in Pregnancy and Autism, a New Study Finds
The review looked at more than three dozen studies and found no evidence that acetaminophen increased the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

Health
Lacking willpower this January? Here’s how to reframe your mind
Complex podcast host and chartered psychologist Kimberley Wilson joins What’s Up Docs? to talk about how we think about willpower.
Health
For Men, How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?
Federal officials working on the new dietary guidelines had considered limiting men to one drink daily. The final advice was only that everyone should drink less.