FRIDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2026, 17:59
“South Africa is not short on ambition when it comes to artificial intelligence. What we are short on is execution,” announces Joshua Harvey, Head of Growth at Specno, South Africa’s leading digital innovation agency, the company responsible for launching South Africa’s very own Innovators Den. While global benchmarks show South Africa is around 35–40% behind […]
Applied Machine Learning Days (AMLD) Africa (https://MLAfrica.org) returns with its most ambitious edition yet at Witwatersrand University (Wits) in Johannesburg. The continent’s AI community will gather in Johannesburg for four days, bringing together top minds in AI from across the continent and the globe. From global researchers and emerging youth talent to industry pioneers, AMLD […]
Exactly a year ago, on 20 January, Donald Trump was inaugurated as US president – and overnight, US policies on HIV funding for countries like South Africa changed. So, where are we a year later? How are countries funding their HIV work now, and how has international aid changed?
Seven people, including a police officer, have died in shootings in Cape Town in 24 hours.
Seasoned broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer brings you The Lead, News24’s definitive podcast for in-depth reporting.
In April 2025, 18-year-old James Prins found himself in ICU for a burst appendix, not knowing whether he would make it out. Fast-forward to January and James was named SACS’s dux scholar with eight distinctions and an aggregate of 95.7% – and he also aced three A-level exams written at the same time.
MTN South Africa, through the MTN SA Foundation, has renewed its support for education by donating digital learning devices to selected schools nationwide as part of the Department of Basic Education’s Back-to-School Campaign. The initiative, launched at the start of the 2026 academic year, is aimed at improving access to digital learning tools, particularly for […]
OpenAI will begin testing limited advertising in ChatGPT for users in the United States, expanding its revenue strategy while keeping access free for some customers. In a blog post published Friday, OpenAI said ads will roll out to its free tier and its Go tier. Go accounts, priced at $8 a month, were introduced globally […]
Elon Musk is seeking between $79 billion and $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging the artificial intelligence company defrauded him by abandoning its nonprofit mission, Bloomberg reported. The damages estimate comes from expert witness C. Paul Wazzan, a financial economist who specializes in valuation and damages calculations in commercial litigation. Wazzan determined […]
The African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies said the adoption of robotics in agriculture could strengthen modern farming practices and improve food security across the continent. The panel said robotics-based mechanization holds strong potential for Africa’s farming sector, particularly in harvesting, which it described as a critical part of the economy and the region’s […]
As artificial intelligence increasingly influences decision-making in health care, its impact depends on how well it supports clinicians on the front lines. Sylvester Tafirenyika, an AI and machine-learning engineer, is focused on building tools designed to improve health care outcomes and reduce avoidable hospital readmissions. He has authored more than 28 peer-reviewed research papers, many […]
North-West University has become the first South African university to adopt an official artificial intelligence policy, positioning the institution as a leader in AI governance in the higher education sector. The university said its council approved the policy at its most recent meeting. Prof. Anné Verhoef, director of the NWU AI Hub, called the move […]
Artificial intelligence in Egypt has shifted from a long-term ambition to a central part of the country’s technology infrastructure, shaping how capital is allocated, policies are developed and questions of digital sovereignty are managed. The shift comes as Cairo is being positioned as a hub for AI collaboration, investment and innovation across Africa and the […]
Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Development has adopted its 2026-30 Information System Master Plan, a strategic framework aimed at modernizing digital tools, strengthening data security and improving the management of public services. The document was formally presented during an official ceremony in Abidjan. “The Master Plan is now a strategic tool to strengthen […]
Police have launched an investigation in the Free State after a decomposing arm was found in an open field near a bus stop.
A pastor, a soldier and a cop were part of the 41 motorists arrested for drunk driving in an operation in Durban on Friday night.
Civil society organisations have urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to act against what they call an “unconstitutional ministerial overreach” in the Venice Biennale dispute.
We talked to experts in obesity, tobacco, artificial intelligence, HIV, TB and the NHI to find out what we can expect – and what we can’t – this year.
Three suspected robbers have been killed in a shootout with the police in Gauteng.
Parts of Limpopo are grappling with severe weather conditions as relentless rainfall has caused widespread flooding, leading to the closure of schools and roads and the suspension of flights.
Seasoned broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer brings you The Lead, News24’s definitive podcast for in-depth reporting. This is The Lead, and this is the South African story.