Top Stories – News South Africa

News24 | Zelensky dares Putin to meet in Kyiv as Trump secures Ukraine energy ceasefire

30 January at 17:36 PM, via News24

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Kyiv for talks, “if he dares”.

News24 | Saturday’s weather: Severe thunderstorms expected in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, KZN

30 January at 17:30 PM, via News24

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a yellow level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms across large parts of the country.

News24 | LETTER FROM JOS | Armed raiders ruined our Christmas – and now we can never go back

30 January at 17:17 PM, via News24

Whether one accepts the framing of a “Christian genocide” or not, it reflects something real: a feeling of existential dread, and a belief that some lives are disposable, writes Salihu Idoko.

News24 | Rand retreats; SA extradites first-ever Chinese fugitive: Today’s top 7 stories in 7 minutes

30 January at 17:05 PM, via News24

News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature.

Afrikaner group declares independence from South Africa

30 January at 16:10 PM, via Newsday

A separatist organisation identifying itself as the “Boervolk of the Orange Freestate” has placed a formal notice in the South African Government Gazette declaring the secession of the “Republic of the Orange Freestate.”

The South African brothers who founded a clothing empire from their love of adventure

30 January at 16:00 PM, via Newsday

What has become a beloved national franchise with over 100 stores, Senqu began as the passion project of two adventurous brothers

Tanzania’s media barred from covering post-election violence victims’ testimonies

30 January at 15:43 PM, via Mail & Guardian

The Presidential Commission conducting the inquiry said this was intended to protect the privacy of those giving testimony

‘Gupta lieutenants are in court, Batohi says on her last day in office

30 January at 15:39 PM, via Mail & Guardian

The outgoing national director of public prosecutions said her successor should fight for more institutional independence and for competitive salaries to attract high profile advocates

South Africa expels Israel’s chargé d’affaires Ariel Seidman

30 January at 15:35 PM, via Mail & Guardian

The department of international relations and cooperation said the move was a response to conduct inconsistent with diplomatic norms and protocol

You have 72 hours to leave South Africa, DIRCO tells top Israeli diplomat

30 January at 15:04 PM, via SA People

After expelling Ariel Seidman, Israel’s chargé d’affaires, will South Africa finally close Tel Aviv’s embassy?

Chaos in the council of a key South African municipality

30 January at 14:28 PM, via Newsday

Following the recent removal of Matlosana’s CFO, another report has been resubmitted to the council, which seeks to remove the municipality’s mayor.

News24 | Rand retreats to R16 against resurging dollar

30 January at 14:08 PM, via News24

The rand lost its footing on Friday, trading weaker than R16 to the dollar for the first time since Monday.

South African government kicks out top Israeli diplomat

30 January at 13:55 PM, via Newsday

Charge d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy in South Africa, Ariel Seidman, has been given 72 hours to leave the country.

News24 | Iran rejects US ‘belligerent and threatening actions’, Turkey leads diplomatic efforts

30 January at 13:50 PM, via News24

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said that the success of diplomacy with the United States hinged on ending threatening conduct after Washington’s heavy military deployments in the Gulf.

News24 | UPDATE | Zuma, Mbeki bids for Khampepe’s recusal from TRC inquiry dismissed

30 January at 13:43 PM, via News24

Attempts by former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki to secure the recusal of Justice Sisi Khampepe – the chairperson of the judicial commission of inquiry into allegations of interference in the prosecution of Truth and Reconciliation Commission cases – have been dismissed.