Seasoned broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer brings you The Lead, News24’s definitive podcast for in-depth reporting. This is The Lead, and this is the South African story.

The South African Weather Service has warned of cloudy and warm conditions with thunderstorms, damaging winds, and hail in parts of Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, the North West, Free State and Eastern Cape.

Protests have erupted across Somalia following Israel’s formal world-first recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, with demonstrators taking to the streets in multiple cities, including the capital, Mogadishu.

Transalloys has circulated section 189 letters to staff stating that 600 jobs are at risk if the smelter cannot get better deals on electricity supply.

Communities in the Kouga Municipality are again battling with water shortages as the reservoirs supplied by Churchill Dam slowly dry up. The municipality has urged residents to save water and emphasised the prohibition of fireworks ahead of the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

South African households face a predictable post-festive squeeze as debt, school fees and transport costs converge in early January, amplified by high household debt and structural timing gaps between income and essential expenses.

The United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF) has warned of an “unprecedented level” of child malnutrition in the war-torn region of North Darfur and called for immediate access to children and families trapped by the conflict.

Daily Maverick readers nominated their favourite small towns across South Africa — and the results are in.

Gonubie Beach, the Buffalo City Metro’s Blue Flag pilot site, has reopened to bathers following a sewage spill.

Allegations of civilian assaults, extortion rackets and abuse of power had communities crying foul about Panyaza Lesufi’s crime wardens.

Gold’s rally and a buildup in foreign-exchange reserves have helped Zimbabwe’s bullion-backed currency pare most of its decline against the dollar this year.