Top Stories

Top Stories
South African learners taught in mud brick classrooms built by parents in 1958
More than 2,000 learners at Lwamondo Secondary School in Thohoyandou are being taught in classrooms originally built by parents in 1958 with mud bricks.

Top Stories
IN PICS| Defence frustrated as Vusi Matlala held outside Gauteng, pre-trial hearing postponed
Controversial businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala’s pre-trial hearing was postponed in the Johannesburg high court on Friday after his defence raised concerns about his continued detention outside the province where his trial will be heard.

Top Stories
MPs are shocked and angry at Mandelson – but they’re furious with Starmer
Many Labour insiders say Sir Keir may not be the man to take them to the next election, writes Laura Kuenssberg.

South Africa
Nelson Mandela Bay warns residents of heavy rain, thundershowers
The severe weather conditions are expected from Sunday.

South Africa
Former soldier to appear in court for girlfriend’s murder in Seshego
The suspect, a repeat offender of gender-based violence, was released on parole in 2022

South Africa
56% of treated water is lost due to leaks: Majodina
Midrand residents protested on Tuesday after a six-day water outage.

South Africa
Safety of Madlanga Inquiry witnesses remains a priority: Mosikili
A new task team has been established to probe SAPS members implicated at the Madlanga Commission.

World
State Department will delete X posts from before Trump returned to office
The policy change orders the removal of any post made by official State Department accounts on X before President Trump returned to office in 2025.

World
At the scene of deadly Pakistan mosque explosion
At least 31 people have been killed after a suicide bomber detonated a device at a Shia mosque, according to police.

World
Colorado funeral home director sentenced to 40 years for corpse abuse
Nearly 200 decaying bodies were discovered at the Return to Nature home after officials investigated a foul smell.

World
Can the US help Iran? What Iranians say – inside and outside the country
Some desperate Iranians want US intervention, but others worry that it would not achieve the peace protesters ultimately want.

Africa
Zambian leader backs traditional Ghanaian outfit after online trolling
Some Zambians outraged Ghanaians by describing the outfit worn by their president as a “blouse”.

Africa
As US cash dries up South Africa’s fight to stop Aids gets harder
Health experts fear that as testing and monitoring drops the risk of the further spread of HIV rises.

Africa
‘They sent a letter asking to preach. Then they massacred us’ – Nigerians on jihadist attack
Armed jihadists devastate a community that refused to convert to their hard-line interpretation of Islam.

Africa
Nigerian court orders UK to pay £420m over 1949 killing of miners
The colonial police, made up of Nigerians and Europeans, shot dead workers striking for better conditions.

Business
The most fattening fast food meals in South Africa
Despite being packed with fat, carbs and high levels of salt, South Africans can’t get enough of fast food, with the segment growing significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns.

Business
Levy warning for owners in complexes and estates in South Africa
Owners in community schemes must be cautious when it comes to their levy payments.

Business
What you should earn to live a ‘decent’ life in South Africa
New data shows what a person needs to earn per month to live a ‘decent’ life in South Africa in 2026.

Business
Google staff call for firm to cut ties with ICE
More than 900 Google employees signed a letter opposing company links to federal immigration actions.

Politics
Allegations of extrajudicial killings under Booysen’s watch made at Nkabinde Inquiry
Advocate Noko also revealed that the operation produced no arrests as the suspects were killed.

Politics
Committee satisfied with work done on proposed SABC funding: Diko
The committee chair also requested time frames for the finalisation of the funding model.

Politics
Mothibi says not distracted by reports challenging his appointment
A number of civic organisations and political parties have raised concerns about his appointment.
Politics
Task team given three months to investigate officers implicated at Madlanga Commission: Masemola
Masemola says the team will start its work next week.

Sport
Loss to France ‘has to stand to’ Ireland – Farrell
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says his side’s humbling defeat by France on Thursday will be “for nothing” if they do not get a response against Italy next weekend.

Sport
GB on brink of mixed doubles semis after another win
Team GB’s mixed doubles curlers move to the brink of the Winter Olympics semi-finals with three matches still to play.

Sport
Former coach describes Kaizer Chiefs problem
Kaizer Chiefs have collected a long string of 1-0 results without looking like the Soweto giants we all know, Sergio Dos Santos have offered his take.

Sport
Ingebrigtsen has Achilles surgery after ‘flare up’
Two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen has surgery on his Achilles following a “flare up”.
Education
Smaller N.Y.C. Classes Will Cost Millions. Can Mamdani Pull It Off?
Mayor Zohran Mamdani wants to make classes smaller across the largest U.S. school system. Like other parts of his agenda, it’s a costly task.

Education
Pentagon to cut ties with Harvard over ‘wokesters’, ending training, programs and fellowships
Move by Pete Hegseth marks latest escalation by Trump administration against the Ivy League school
The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has said the Pentagon is ending all military training, fellowships and certificate programs with Harvard University, marking the Trump administration’s latest escalation against the Ivy League school.
“The @DeptWar is formally ending ALL Professional...
Education
Bard College President Leon Botstein Was Close With Jeffrey Epstein
Bard College’s president, Leon Botstein, said his school needed cash. But a rare watch and a Caribbean visit show how his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein sometimes veered into the personal.
Education
Harvard Proposes Capping As at 20 Percent to Curb Grade Inflation
A recent report found that a majority of grades given out at Harvard were A’s. Professors will vote on a proposal to limit the number to around 20 percent.

Lifestyle
Rapper Lil Jon’s son, Nathan Smith, found dead
Nathan Smith was the 27 years old son of rapper Lil Jon.

Lifestyle
Puppy love: How to sponsor homeless pets for Valentine’s Day
Want to show some love and TLC for stray animals in Khayelitsha this Valentine’s Day? Here’s how you can…

Lifestyle
‘It hurt me’: Siya Kolisi opens up about Afrikaans struggle
Siya Kolisi opened up about his struggles with Afrikaans as he spoke about his son’s Afrikaans mark which he would have ‘done so much for.’

Lifestyle
UPDATED outlook for SASSA Child Support Grants in March 2026
SASSA Child Support Grants in March 2026 will go ahead as scheduled, but there’s uncertainty on the way regarding future increases …

Entertainment
‘Shocking’ 15-year drug trafficking sentence slashed for Northern Cape man
The Northern Cape High Court criticised the sentence as ‘disturbingly inappropriate’.

Entertainment
Smashed to all parts in T20 cricket: ‘All you can do is cry in your room,’ jokes Rabada
Bowlers are on a hiding to nothing bowling on flat pitches in India.

Entertainment
‘Summons is a last resort’: Didiza denies protecting Brown Mogotsi, Paul O’Sullivan
The speaker explained why she did not approve the subpoenas against Mogotsi and O’Sullivan.

Entertainment
Don delivers as Blitzboks edge Argentina
There was little between the sides in the opening exchanges.

Science/Tech
Insta360 Ace Pro 2 Xplorer Grip Pro Kit Review: An Even Better Action Camera
Want to turn your action camera into a point-and-shoot? Insta360’s new accessory makes the Ace Pro 2 into a great pocket camera alternative.
Science/Tech
These Mathematicians Are Trying to Educate A.I.
Large language models struggle to solve research-level math questions. It takes a human to measure just how poorly they perform.
Science/Tech
Elon Musk Is Betting Another Tech Conglomerate (His) Can Win Over Wall St.
The billionaire’s decision to merge his A.I. start-up with his rocket company will test investors’ interest in giant combinations of unalike businesses.
Science/Tech
New Bill in New York Would Require Disclaimers on AI-Generated News Content
An anonymous reader shares a report: A new bill in the New York state legislature would require news organizations to label AI-generated material and mandate that humans review any such content before publication. On Monday, Senator Patricia Fahy (D-Albany) and Assemblymember Nily Rozic (D-NYC) introduced the bill, called The New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act...

Motoring
Luxury carmaker loses R6.2 billion
Jaguar Land Rover is reeling from massive losses following a cyberattack that shut down its factories.

Motoring
What it costs to own a car in South Africa
The cost of owning a car in South Africa goes beyond monthly premiums and fuel spend.
Motoring
Motoring

Health
‘I was full of shame after being sacked for having endometriosis’
Sanju Pal wins an employment appeal tribunal that could affect how employers can treat staff with endometriosis.
Health
TrumpRx: What to Know About Insurance Benefits, Pricing and Savings
People may be able to pay less for prescriptions with their insurance rather than via the new government website. The Trump drugstore is meant to help people buy medications using their own money.

Health
Intrusive thoughts? John has a room for that
John tells Elis and Dave about his mind’s “resentment room”.
Health
The Questionable Science Behind the Odd-Looking Football Helmets
The N.F.L. claims Guardian Caps reduce the risk of concussions. The company that makes them says, “It has nothing to do with concussions.”