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MORE THAN MEETS THE ICE: Antarctica land grab theory goes global — ex-Australian PM Tony Abbott must ‘distance’ himself
The call for Trump to seize Earth’s largest unclaimed landmass did not start in The Wall Street Journal. It began with a more sweeping claim from an Irish tech executive whose firm has a reported history of US defence contracts. This investigation tracks what changed, and what still doesn’t add up.
ANTI-MIGRANT VIOLENCE: Hate on parade: Xenophobic marches gather pace as UN warns South Africa
Across major cities, political entrepreneurs like Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and Zandile Dabula are staging increasingly bold anti-migrant marches, with little pushback from authorities. As António Guterres condemns the surge in threats and violence, South Africa faces mounting pressure to act before rhetoric turns fully combustible.

Sundowns regain Premiership lead, Chiefs’ seven-game unbeaten run ended
Brazilians spurn chances and Lebo Mothiba spurns penalty in otherwise solid showing, Siwelele crash Amakhosi’s party
DUBIOUS HONOUR: Water down the drain — announcing the winners of SA’s ‘Leakiest Cities’ awards
eThekwini (Durban) and Mangaung (Bloemfontein) have the dubious honour of being the two leakiest cities in South Africa, with more than 40% of their purified tap water supplies going to waste.
ANALYSIS: Tolerating Tolashe spells doom for the ANC
For voters whose faith in the ANC is wavering, there can perhaps be no greater symbol of all that is rotten in the party than the behaviour of Sisisi Tolashe and Maropene Ramokgopa. So far, there has been no proper explanation. And certainly no repentance.
ATHLETICS: SA team vow to perform at Africa’s first World Relays event in Botswana
Despite some injury setbacks, South Africa are in high spirits ahead of the 2026 World Athletics Relays, which will take place in Botswana on 2 and 3 May. The South Africans are the defending champions in the 100m and 400m men’s team events.
News24 | US Supreme Court voids Louisiana voting map amid national redistricting fight
The United States Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana’s electoral map was unconstitutionally drawn to create two black-majority districts.
FUEL FOR THOUGHT: Riding the oil roller-coaster — how high will petrol prices soar this time?
With crude oil prices potentially reaching historical highs due to unprecedented market shocks, analysts forecast demand destruction as a response to soaring costs and dwindling supplies.
SA’s withdrawn AI policy had a State Capture design flaw. The flaws remain
South Africa’s draft AI policy, withdrawn amid scandals, reflects enduring vulnerabilities that could facilitate State Capture, emphasising the need for robust governance before the integration of AI systems.
MORAL STANCE: Complicity and collective guilt — JM Coetzee shuns Jerusalem literary festival
In late April, when South African literary giant JM Coetzee declined an invitation to a writers’ festival in Jerusalem, it meant a lot more than another throwaway tweet from a Hollywood celebrity. What it meant, whether people admitted it or not, was that one of the world’s greatest living authors was standing by the themes of his most important masterworks.

News24 | Man jailed for life for raping 13-year-old stepdaughter
The Ekangala Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a 37-year-old man to life imprisonment for the rape of his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
Bara guards face dismissal after querying pensions and salary hikes
Security firm owned by controversial Durban businessman Calvin Mathibeli

Lesotho starts amnesty process for nationals banned in SA
The amnesty is aimed only at individuals who overstayed, not criminals
THE INTERVIEW : Green metals lack the market incentives that make ethical consumption mainstream — Sibanye CEO
Incentives or credits based on the downstream environmental benefits from products such as green metals remain scant.

Will the Bank of England hold rates again on Thursday?
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee meets on Thursday. For South African expats with UK mortgages, the answer matters more than ever.
SMART SPEND : AI becomes SA’s newest budget tool as consumers rethink spending decisions weekly
A growing share of South Africans are using AI to guide purchases, compare prices and avoid unnecessary spending altogether. New data shows digital tools are reshaping consumer behaviour, turning shoppers into more deliberate, value-driven decision-makers in a still-constrained economy.
As the Strait of Hormuz blockade continues, a food crisis looms
The long-term effects on energy and commodity markets of the strait being closed for the past two months will be profound, but the most alarming dimension of this crisis is not energy, but food.