Top Stories

ANC and SACP – Political Merry-Go-Round
The Communists don’t feature as a force of any kind in opinion polls and when it has tried its luck in local by-elections it has been routed, at times struggling to get even a handful of votes. All indications are that it will have zero impact in the local elections

The friction of dual membership will be tested at the polls
Dual membership was sustainable only while the ANC and SACP shared a single electoral vehicle. Once the SACP declared intent to contest elections independently, dual membership mutated from alliance glue into a conflict of interest

Has South Africa focused too heavily on restitution at the expense of broader land redistribution?
The success of land reform will not be measured by the amount of land transferred, but by how that land improves livelihoods, creates jobs and supports inclusive economic growth
News24 | WATCH | Families devastated after court protects faces of Newark massacre-accused
The KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court ordered that the faces of three men accused of the brutal kidnapping and murder of seven family members in Newark remain blurred for their own safety, despite an emotional outcry from the victims’ relatives.
News24 | Mexico captures top criminals, including El Mencho’s ‘right-hand man’
Mexican authorities announced the capture of two top criminals, one of them a close ally of the slain founder of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) and his potential successor.

EMPD deputy chief Mkhwanazi released on R30 000 bail
Mkhwanazi appeared alongside Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla, who allegedly paid R400 000 for him to arrange for a civilian, Thabang Tsotetsi, to impersonate him in court in an excessive speeding case
News24 | Sunday Times editor’s firm received diverted lottery funds, says SIU
Sunday Times editor and SANEF chairperson Makhudu Sefara has been drawn into an SIU lottery probe after investigators said R550 000 in misappropriated grant money flowed to his company, Unscripted Communication.

JP Smith, the DA and Cape Town’s criminal underworld: The Black Books, the R8 billion tender shadow and why the Madlanga commission must come to Cape Town
South Africa cannot allow Cape Town’s postcard image to hide its political underbelly

How digital advertising is shaping political messaging in Africa
Across Africa, political communication is rapidly moving online. Advocacy groups and public institutions now rely heavily on digital platforms to reach voters. Social media advertising, sponsored search results, and targeted display campaigns allow political messages to spread quickly across borders and demographics. Recent elections across the continent have highlighted how digital platforms...

Why a courtroom in South Africa should make us pay attention to West Africa
When Benin national Kémi Séba appeared in a South African court earlier this week, it may have seemed like an isolated legal moment, another controversial activist facing scrutiny far from home. But that reading misses the bigger picture. His presence here is not accidental; it is a reflection of a deeper, more consequential struggle unfolding […]

Africa’s expanding digital economy raises questions about online access
Across Africa, the rapid growth of digital connectivity is reshaping economies, industries, and everyday life. From mobile banking in Kenya to tech startups in Nigeria and South Africa’s expanding digital media sector, internet access has become central to the continent’s economic development. As governments and businesses invest in digital infrastructure, millions more Africans are joining […]

Digital access expands as African startups lead remote work revolution
Across Africa, the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure is transforming how businesses operate. From Lagos to Nairobi and Cape Town, companies are embracing remote work and cloud-based collaboration at unprecedented levels. The shift is being driven by expanding internet connectivity, the rise of tech startups, and increasing demand for flexible work environments across the continent. […]

More HIV funding cuts are coming for SA. This time it’s a slow fade, but with clear risks
The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria will start to cut its grant support to South Africa in just two years, with its final grant ending in eight years. Some experts are worried the government isn’t doing enough to plan for it
News24 | Stunning loss to OPEC as UAE quits group
The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it quit OPEC and OPEC+, dealing a heavy blow to the oil exporting groups and their de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, at a time when the Iran war has caused a historic energy shock and unsettled the global economy.
News24 | Israel’s Mossad acquired ‘strategic and tactical intelligence’ from Iran, Hezbollah
The head of Israel’s Mossad has praised the spy agency’s “groundbreaking” operations in the war against Iran and Hezbollah, saying it acquired intelligence “from the heart of the enemy’s secrets”.

‘Dry’ Cape Town suburb battles major retailer over liquor licence
Residents of a 100-year-old ‘dry’ Cape Town suburb are mobilising to protect their alcohol-free legacy after a major retailer applied for a liquor licence.

AI is becoming more common across South Africa’s digital services
Artificial intelligence is showing up more often across South Africa’s digital services. Not always in obvious ways. In many cases, it is added quietly, as platforms try to keep up with higher usage and less predictable demand. One place this is becoming noticeable is online gaming. In some systems, AI roulette is used in the background to […]