Top Stories

Top Stories
Labour criticises Tory shadow minister for representing Abramovich
Labour says it is “indefensible” for Lord Wolfson to keep his role while acting as a lawyer for the Russian billionaire.
Top Stories
RETRENCHMENTS: Transalloys to cut 600 jobs despite SA manganese market dominance
Transalloys has circulated section 189 letters to staff stating that 600 jobs are at risk if the smelter cannot get better deals on electricity supply.
Top Stories
NO WATER, NO FIREWORKS: Jeffreys Bay residents urged to conserve water as Kouga reservoirs at 20%
Communities in the Kouga Municipality are again battling with water shortages as the reservoirs supplied by Churchill Dam slowly dry up. The municipality has urged residents to save water and emphasised the prohibition of fireworks ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

South Africa
Motshekga visits Komatipoort site where two SANDF soldiers drowned
The two soldiers were on patrol when the incident occurred on Christmas Day

South Africa
Viral phone snatcher arrested in Hillbrow
The phone snatcher who was captured on camera snatching the phone has been arrested.

South Africa
Saulsville shooting suspect to reappear in court in February 2026
Twelve people were killed and 13 others were wounded in the shooting incident in Saulsville.

South Africa
Court postpones case of five Bekkersdal shooting suspects to Monday
Nine people were killed in the incident, which happened at the KwaNoxolo tavern earlier this month

World
Saudi Arabia backs call for UAE to leave Yemen after strike on separatist-held port
The UAE denies Saudi claims it sent a shipment of weapons to separatists and pushed them to launch offensives against the Yemeni government.

World
Trump, Netanyahu meet over ceasefire. And, Russia accuses Ukraine of attempted strike
Conditions are dire for people in Gaza as President Trump and Israel’s prime minister discuss the next phase of the ceasefire deal. And, Russia accuses Ukraine of an attempted drone strike.

World
China flexes blockade capabilities near Taiwan on second day of military drills
China’s People’s Liberation Army is staging a second day of large-scale military drills around Taiwan. It’s unleashing live-fire exercises as part of what it calls “Justice Mission 2025.”

World
Trump and Netanyahu meet to discuss next phase of Gaza ceasefire plan
Israel’s prime minister met President Trump at the White House Monday to discuss next steps in the peace plan with Gaza and across the region.

Africa
Guinea restricts social media sites as junta chief takes election lead
TikTok, YouTube and Facebook are down, as the nation awaits the final result from the presidential poll.

Africa
‘I can kill you right now’ – Sudan’s footballers on civil war
Forward John Mano, who lost his best friend to the civil war in Sudan, says the squad will “fight” for their country on the pitch at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Africa
Godfather of Ethiopian jazz on his farewell tour
Mulatu Astatke has been blending jazz influences from home and abroad for the past six decades.

Africa
The best players who never won Afcon?
As two-time runner-up Mohamed Salah begins another tilt at the Africa Cup of Nations, BBC Sport Africa profiles top stars who never lifted the trophy.

Business
Public holiday blow for South Africans in 2026 – but there’s a catch
South African workers effectively lose two days off in 2026 despite the country officially having 12 public holidays, but there is a silver lining.

Business
What is happening to gas and electricity prices?
Typical household bills will rise slightly under the new energy cap which takes effect on 1 January.

Business
Three small towns rich South Africans are flocking to buy homes in
Wealthy South Africans are increasingly turning their backs on big city living and moving to smaller coastal towns along the Garden Route.

Business
Octopus Energy to spin off $8.65bn tech arm Kraken
The energy firm sells a $1bn stake in its technology arm Kraken, paving the way for its demerger.

Politics
Madlanga Commission Recap | The unraveling of KZN’s PKTT
Political Killings Task Team was disbanded by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu

Politics
Tributes pour in for late ANC MP Dikeledi Magadzi
Tributes continue to pour in following the death of former ANC NEC member and MP Dikeledi Magadzi.

Politics
ANC mourns passing of former NEC member Dikeledi Magadzi
Magadzi was 75 and served as deputy minister in two portfolios: transport and water and sanitation.

Politics
ANC announces passing of former NEC member Dikeledi Magadzi
The African National Congress’ Cde Dikeledi Magadzi has passed on

Sport
Best Kaizer Chiefs matches so far this season (1 of 3)
Kaizer Chiefs began the season without their coach, under pressure, and second best, yet still beat Stellenbosch FC 2-0 in Athlone.

Sport
‘Absolutely pivotal’ – Championship transfer window preview
With the winter window opening on 1 January, BBC Sport correspondents assess the transfer needs of the 24 Championship clubs.
Sport
New update on Du Preez’ future at Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs FC’s top bosses have a major decision to make over the future of struggling attacker Ashley Du Preez.

Sport
L’Ormarins King’s Plate draws competitive 14-horse field
The 2026 South African racing calendar will burst into life in spectacular fashion at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 10 January.
Education
Sudan: Unicef Supports Education Sector in Gezira State
[SNA] – Al-Gezira State Wali Al-Tahir Ibrahim Al-Khair on Sunday inaugurated the distribution of educational supplies in Wad Madani, supported by the UNICEF in partnership with the Salih Al-Khair Organization.
Education
Nigeria: SACF – Beneficiaries Narrate Growth, Applaud Organisers Over Consistency
[This Day] Some of the beneficiaries of the Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation have narrated their progress after being spotted by the organisers of the project.
Education
Tanzania: Mwinyi Unveils Plan to Fix Classroom Crisis
[Daily News] Zanzibar — President Hussein Ali Mwinyi has vowed that his government will focus on the construction of multi-storey schools as a long-term solution to classroom shortages and the double-shift system that has for years characterised education in many parts of Zanzibar.

Education
Online school and junior tennis: freedom, focus – and a quiet cost
Elite junior tennis players are flocking to online schools. The model offers flexibility and focus – but raises deeper questions about growth, pressure and childhood
In a major study released recently in Epidemiology, conclusions were drawn – yet again – regarding how shutdowns and online learning were ultimately very damaging to kids’ emotional and mental health (obviously some cohorts...

Lifestyle
New Year’s Eve in Cape Town – what’s on and which roads to avoid
Ring in 2026 in Cape Town with parades, concerts and sport while staying ahead of key road closures with these New Year’s Eve travel tips…

Lifestyle
‘Wicked’ star Cynthia Erivo appointed MBE
British actress and singer Cynthia Erivo has been recognised for her contribution to music and drama.
Lifestyle

Lifestyle
The small coastal towns where South Africans are buying big
New property data has revealed that several small coastal towns in the Garden Route are proving to be much more than just a holiday escape.

Entertainment
Weather alert: Severe storms, flooding and extreme heat threaten New Year’s Eve
Find out what the latest weather forecast from the SA Weather Service means for your region for 31 December 2025.

Entertainment
Was 2025 a better year for economy and will 2026 bring new successes or challenges?
Gold shot the lights out this year, while the rand became stronger towards the end of the year, trading at R16.63 this afternoon compared to R18.88/$ on 1 January.

Entertainment
‘If you choose to drink and drive, you will be arrested,’ JMPD warns
As the 2025 festive season enters its most critical period, JMPD officers have intensified law enforcement operations.

Entertainment
Viral Brooklyn phone snatching video leads to arrests [VIDEO]
JMPD arrested a suspect caught on camera stealing a woman’s phone outside a popular Brooklyn restaurant.
Science/Tech
Some Audiobooks Are Outselling Hardcovers
In a year when print book sales have slipped 1% to 679 million copies through early December, according to Circana BookScan, audiobooks continue to carve out territory that once belonged exclusively to hardcovers, and in several notable cases this year, the audio versions have outright outsold their physical counterparts. S.A. Cosby’s southern crime novel “King of Ashes” moved more copies as an...

Science/Tech
AI Agents Arrived In 2025 – Here’s What Happened And The Challenges Ahead In 2026
In artificial intelligence, 2025 marked a decisive shift. Systems once confined to research labs and prototypes began to appear as everyday tools. At the center of this transition was the rise of AI agents – AI systems that can use other software tools and act on their own. While researchers have studied AI for more […]
Science/Tech
Life in a Shrinking Japan
Japan’s demographic transformation is no longer a distant forecast but an accelerating reality, and the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research now estimates the country’s population will fall to roughly 100 million by 2050 — more than 20 million fewer people than today. The share of residents aged 65 and over stood at 29.4% as of September and is expected to reach 37.1%...
Science/Tech
‘One of America’s Most Successful Experiments Is Coming to a Shuddering Halt’
The six-decade flow of highly skilled Indian immigrants to the United States — a migration pattern that produced some of the country’s highest-earning households, several Nobel laureates, and the CEOs of Google, Microsoft, and Pepsi — appears to be grinding to a halt amid rising anti-Indian rhetoric from Republican officials and chaos in the visa system, according to New York Times. Indian...

Motoring
South Africa is giving this market away to the Chinese
Chinese brands are competing amongst themselves to dominate South Africa’s fastest-growing car segment.

Motoring
The most expensive VW you can buy in South Africa
VW’s most expensive SUV has all the luxuries you’d expect with performance to rival a hot hatchback.

Motoring
Porsche considers selling stake in Bugatti – Report
The deal could be valued at about R20 billion and would involve HOF Capital and BlueFive Capital.
Motoring

Health
What is the ultimate hangover cure?
The Food Chain’s Ruth Alexander on what helps – and what doesn’t – if you’ve overindulged.

Health
How do cold weather health alerts work?
The weather alert service warns the public when high or low temperatures could damage their health.
Health
So You Have Bacterial Vaginosis. What Do You Do Now?
Now that the condition is known to spread sexually, there are steps you and your partner can take to prevent it.
Health
Bacterial Vaginosis Is No Longer Thought to Affect Only Women
Gynecologists long viewed bacterial vaginosis as solely a women’s issue — until a study that treated their male partners, too, proved otherwise.