Top Stories
SONA 2026: State of the Nation in the shadow of the water tanker
A year after bold promises, Cyril Ramaphosa’s weak spots are clear: taps and safety. The rest of the Cabinet tells a better story.

Joburg water crisis: ‘Sometimes I go to a hotel to bathe’ – Lesufi
“I also experience water shortages and in certain instances I had to go to a certain hotel so that I could bathe and go to my commitments.”

WATCH | Joburg water crisis: ‘Sometimes I go to a hotel to bathe’ – Lesufi
“I also experience water shortages and in certain instances I had to go to a certain hotel so that I could bathe and go to my commitments.”

Vonn ‘making progress’ after third leg operation
Lindsey Vonn says she is “making progress” after having a successful third surgery on the broken leg she sustained in a crash at the Winter Olympics on Sunday.
SUPPLY STRAIN: KZN South Coast residents slam delays as water cuts drag on amid heatwave
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast residents are calling for a permanent resolution to the ‘Vula/Vala’ tap water crisis plaguing nearly 200,000 people between Port Edward and Southbroom. (In isiZulu, vula is open and vala is closed).
THE READINESS REPORT: Redi Tlhabi talks AGOA with Wandile Sihlobo
After months of warnings that South Africa would be punished by the United States over its foreign policy, Washington has taken a different course. President Donald Trump has signed a short extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through 31 December 2026, applied retroactively. In this episode, Redi Tlhabi and chief economist, author and a member of President Cyril...
STRIKE COMES TO AN END: Gauteng scholar transport services to resume, but budget constraints cast a long shadow
After two weeks of disruption that left thousands of learners stranded or walking dangerous routes, the Gauteng Department of Education and bus operators have reached an agreement. Services will resume in phases starting on 12 February following the settlement of overdue invoices, though officials warn that budget constraints remain a challenge.
SPOTLIGHT: Spotlight’s top nine health stories to watch in 2026
From the limited roll-out of a new HIV prevention jab, to new weight-loss medicines, to high-stakes court cases relating to National Health Insurance (NHI), 2026 is set to be another tumultuous year in healthcare. Here are nine stories that Spotlight will keep a close eye on.

England suffer disappointing defeat to West Indies
England’s batters put in a disappointing display, as they lose by 30 runs to the West Indies in their second match of the T20 World Cup.

Al Fayed victims say cases should be investigated as human trafficking
Police are investigating more than five people who may have facilitated Al Fayed in his alleged abuse.

ICE will be ‘key part of security’ at World Cup in US
The acting head of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has told a congressional committee that the agency is “a key part of the overall security apparatus for the World Cup” when asked if he would pause operations for this summer’s tournament.
ERRANT EMPLOYERS: Employers who pocket your pension deductions now face inspectors, fines and jail
Errant employers who fail to pay over retirement fund contributions to retirement funds will now face the full brunt of the law, thanks to the January withdrawal of an exemption that previously shielded them.
MINING INDABA 2026: Loaded for Bear: Coal waste is the new frontier in the critical minerals scramble
It makes sense to extract more value from coal and minerals that are actually green. This in turn can attract additional investment to South Africa’s mining sector and provide the country with new minerals for export or domestic use.
MINING INDABA 2026: AI, automation and robots will have a seismic impact on the mining industry
Robots will be an extension of mechanisation trends which have already delivered huge advances in mine health, safety and productivity. Machines have already replaced human rock-drill operators in many shafts, removing humans from a potentially lethal danger zone.

Lyse Doucet: In Tehran, rallies for Iran’s revolution overshadowed by discontent and defiance
The BBC visits the Iranian capital for the first time since authorities used unprecedented force to put down protests last month.

England spun out by West Indies at T20 World Cup
England fall to a 30-run defeat by West Indies in their T20 World Cup Group C match in Mumbai.
News24 | Iran vows defiance against US military threats on revolution anniversary
Iran’s president vowed on Wednesday that the Islamic republic would not bow to outside aggression, as it marked the anniversary of the 1979 revolution with events overshadowed by the looming threat of US military action.

Level 2 restrictions loom as Joburg’s water woes persist
Deputy Minister of Water, David Mahlobo, announced measures to address Johannesburg’s severe water crisis, including soft restrictions and potential tariffs for excessive use. The crisis, exacerbated by infrastructure issues like aging asbestos pipes and a recent explosion at a water station, has left parts of the city without water for over 20 days. Residents are forced to buy water, leading...