TUESDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2026, 17:19
Public comment sought on special COVID-19 SRD amendments
Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe has invited the public and interested parties to comment on the amendments to the regulations relating to the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.In a statement on Tuesday, the department said the current iteration of the COVID-19 SRD grant comes to an end on 31 March 2026....
Call for stricter livestock permit controls
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has called for tighter regulation of livestock movement permits and the temporary suspension of physical auctions as the province intensifies efforts to curb the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).
The appeal comes as 450 heads of cattle were vaccinated against FMD in Fisantekraal, Cape Town, on Sunday...
Operation Shanela II nets over 16 000 suspects
Over 16000 suspects have been arrested in recent Shanela II operations across the country, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.Conducted between 9 and 15 February across the provinces, a total 16 565 suspects were arrested.The police operations were conducted together with other law enforcement agencies.According to the...
Alleged fraudster appears in court
A 42-year-old woman arrested in connection with an alleged R10.5 million payroll fraud at Isuzu Motors South Africa in Struandale, Gqeberha, has been granted bail.The Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team of the Hawks in Gqeberha arrested Natasja Slabbert in connection with the alleged payroll fraud. She made her first court appearance on...
SONA Debate to get underway
Parliament will this afternoon reconvene for a joint sitting of the National Assembly and the National Council of Province to debate last week’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). The two-day debate, beginning on Tuesday, will get underway at 2pm and will debate President Cyril Ramaphosa’s SONA, which he delivered on Thursday, 12 February.“The...
North West adopts action plan to fix municipalities
The North West Provincial Government has adopted a binding service delivery action plan to address systemic challenges in municipalities and restore public confidence in local government.
Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) MEC Gaoage Oageng Molapisi announced the decisive measures following...
In his SONA speech, President Cyril Ramaphosa committed to scaling up survivor-centres.
The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial continues at the High Court in Pretoria.
Nine in court over corruption charges
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the arrest of nine individuals and entities linked to the alleged irregular R75 million Alfred Nzo District Municipality (ANDM) water and sanitation fleet tender.The nine appeared before the EmaXesibeni (Mount Ayliff) Magistrates’ Court in the Eastern Cape on Monday on charges of fraud,...
Residents of the Gugulethu informal settlement are continuing their search for gold at a kraal
Minerals department warns against illegal Springs gold rush
The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources (DMPR) has condemned the recent illegal mining activities taking place around the Gugulethu informal settlement in Springs.
This, after the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality reported that it had become aware of illegal excavation at a site believed to contain gold...
According to preliminary reports, the incident reportedly occurred during the second break.
All over the world, technology that once felt like science fiction is becoming a part of daily life. Just recently, AI helped researchers decode the genetic roots of diseases like sickle cell with incredible precision. Here in Africa, our teams are applying that same spirit of innovation to everyday challenges, from providing more accurate weather predictions to supporting organizations...
A brief wave of online speculation suggesting artificial intelligence agents were organizing independently has been traced to human activity and security weaknesses, not autonomous machine behavior, researchers said. The speculation followed the launch of Moltbook, a Reddit-style platform where AI agents built with the open-source framework OpenClaw appeared to communicate with one another....
Threat actors increasingly integrated artificial intelligence into cyber operations in the final quarter of 2025, accelerating reconnaissance, social engineering and malware development, according to a new report from Google Threat Intelligence Group. The report, which updates findings published in November 2025, said AI tools delivered significant productivity gains for malicious actors and...
Youth urged to pursue agricultural employment opportunities
Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth has urged young people in Sundays River Valley to actively pursue employment opportunities in the agricultural sector, describing it as a key driver of economic growth and job creation in the region.Meth delivered this message during a community outreach campaign in Addo,...
The Mozambique government hosted its first National Conference on Digital Transformation on Feb. 11-12, 2026, setting out a roadmap toward a modern, digital and citizen-centered state. Organized by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Transformation, the conference was held at the Montebelo Indy Maputo Congress Hotel and brought together public officials, private-sector representatives,...
Africa-focused defense technology company Terra Industries has raised an additional $22 million in funding to scale its autonomous security systems, extending a previously announced $11.8 million round and bringing total funding in the round to $34 million. The extension was led by Lux Capital and included participation from existing investors 8VC, Nova Global, Silent Ventures, […]
Residents of South Africa are increasingly using artificial intelligence as a practical tool for learning, work and major life decisions, according to a new report by Google and Ipsos. The study, titled “Our Life with AI: Helpfulness in the Hands of More People,” shows that South Africans are moving beyond experimentation with AI and adopting […]
Defence commends healthcare professionals involved in Project OWETHU
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has hailed its military healthcare professionals for their professionalism, dedication, and compassion in delivering life-changing medical services to patients in remote parts of Limpopo through Project OWETHU.
In a statement, the Department of Defence said Project...
Employers urged to attend UIF ssession in Gqeberha
Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth is calling on employers in Gqeberha and surrounding areas to actively participate in the upcoming Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Commissioner’s Breakfast Session. The breakfast session is scheduled for Wednesday, 18 February, at the Southern Sun – The Marine – in Gqeberha in...