Top Stories
Top Stories
IN PICTURES: Carnival goers celebrate Rose Monday in Germany, and more from around the world
Moving, tragic, surprising, inspiring, terrifying, shocking… This is a selection of images from our planet, over the past seven days.

Top Stories
Five highlights from Sibiya’s testimony at Madlanga commission
Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, the embattled police deputy commissioner, is under scrutiny at the Madlanga commission of inquiry for alleged misconduct and criminal connections, specifically ties with the Big Five cartel.
Top Stories

South Africa
Four of 19 men stranded in Russia arrive in SA
They left the country last year under the pretext that they are going for bodyguard training.

South Africa
Cholota’s lawyers surprised by court’s dismissal of plea
Defence Attorney Piet Tibane says the defence will study the judgment to determine a way forward.

South Africa
Chiloane vows probe into death of Tembisa Grade 5 learner
Grade 5 learner, Neo Mokgoatsane died after a goalpost fell on him in Tembisa.

South Africa
Booysen’s lawyer says inconsistencies in state witness Mr X’s testimony
Booysen and 11 others face 2017 Wainstein murder, plus organised crime related charges.

World
Spain luxury hotel scammer booked rooms for one cent, say police
Police arrest a 20-year-old suspected of defrauding a luxury Madrid hotel of more than €20,000 by manipulating an online payment system.

World
Russia’s hybrid warfare rattles Poland and NATO
Russia is stepping up covert attacks across Europe — rail sabotage, drones, cyber strikes — testing NATO. Polish officials warn “disposable agents” are sowing fear and weaken support for Ukraine.

World
‘Let them shower in hotels’: Johannesburg Premier faces backlash amid water crisis
In South Africa, as taps run dry in Johannesburg, Africa’s richest city, a tone deaf remark by a senior politician there unleashes fury.
World
News24 | Race to rescue 16 skiers after avalanche hits California
As many as 10 skiers were missing and at least six others were stranded and awaiting rescue in heavy snow after an avalanche struck a backcountry slope in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, authorities said.

Africa
Turkey’s president rejects Israel’s recognition of Somaliland
He made the comment on an official visit to Ethiopia, saying it could prove dangerous for a volatile region.

Africa
Social media suspended in Gabon ‘until further notice’
The media regulator cites the spread of false information and cyber-bullying as among the reasons.

Africa
Gold fever hits South Africa after lucky find in cattle pen
“This is the only hustle we know,” miners tell the BBC as they try their luck at the site in Springs.

Africa
Family of Zambia’s ex-President Lungu dismiss poisoning allegation – lawyers
It is the latest twist over the fate of Lungu’s body, which remains in a South African morgue since his death.

Business
Zuckerberg to testify in social media addiction trial
The billionaire Meta chief executive was questioned by lawyers over whether use of Instagram harms children.

Business
Hijacked buildings with a growing squatter camp in South Africa’s capital
The Melgisedek Buildings in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, have become known for hijacked buildings and a growing squatter camp.
Business
Business

Politics
Forcing Emfuleni mayor to resign will deepen tensions: PAC
PAC says removing Radebe will further destabilise the embattled municipality.

Politics
GNU proving parties can work together to stabilise SA: Gwarube
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says the DA continues to prioritise people.

Politics
Masemola approved disbanding of KZN PKTT: Sibiya
Sibiya claims he disbanded PKTT on Masemola’s orders, despite accusations of ulterior motives.

Politics
Analyst criticises Ekurhuleni Mayoral Committee reshuffle
The newly appointed Ekurhuleni mayoral committee.

Sport
Japan’s Fukada wins slopestyle gold in first Olympics
Japan’s Mari Fukada takes gold in her debut Olympics in the women’s snowboarding slopestyle final at Milan-Cortina.

Sport
Leicester set to appoint Rowett as manager
Relegation-threatened Championship strugglers Leicester City are poised to name Gary Rowett as their new head coach, BBC Radio Leicester report.

Sport
Leicester set to appoint Gary Rowett as manager
Relegation-threatened Championship strugglers Leicester City are poised to name Gary Rowett as their new head coach, BBC Radio Leicester report.

Sport
15 remaining fixtures: Can Kaizer Chiefs win the league?
Kaizer Chiefs only have the Betway Premiership to compete fight after crashing out of Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup and CAF Confederation Cup.

Education
Britons living in Europe face repayment hikes amid Reeves student loans row
Exclusive: UK graduates working in Germany and Belgium – and possibly other countries – informed of rises as salary threshold is cut
Britons living in some European countries face a huge rise in their student loan repayments later this year, the Guardian can reveal, in a move that threatens to trigger a fresh backlash for Rachel Reeves.
UK graduates working in Germany and Belgium – and...
Education
Africa: 20 Ugandan Students Secure Shs 3.85bn Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship to Advance Stem Dreams
[Independent (Kampala)] Kampala — A new group of 20 Ugandan students has been selected to benefit from the Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship, a Shs 3.85 billion initiative aimed at supporting talented learners from disadvantaged backgrounds who are pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The programme, run by the Airtel Africa Foundation, will fully cover...
Education
What Does ‘God-Centered’ Education Have to Do with Public School?
Linda McMahon is shocked — shocked! — that there’s been a backlash to the Department of Education’s ‘History Rocks!’ tour.
Education
Nigeria: Tonto Dikeh Celebrates Discipleship Graduation
[Leadership] Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has marked a personal milestone after graduating from a discipleship class at Streams of Joy International, the ministry led by Pastor Jerry Eze.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Lifestyle

Entertainment
24 hours in pictures, 18 February 2026
Through the lens: The Citizen’s Picture Editors select the best news photographs from South Africa and around the world.

Entertainment
High Court convicts three farmers over farm dweller’s murder
Three farmers found guilty of murdering Dumisani Phakathi on a North West farm, with evidence proving assault and attempted concealment.

Entertainment
South Africa the next stopping point for Mitsubishi Destinator
Seven-seat Destinator will be positioned between the Outlander Sport and normal full-size Outlander.

Entertainment
Family seeks answers after Thembisa school tragedy, GDE launches independent probe
Education department orders an independent investigation following a fatal playground incident at a Thembisa school.
Science/Tech
Leaked Email Suggests Ring Plans To Expand ‘Search Party’ Surveillance Beyond Dogs
Ring’s AI-powered “Search Party” feature, which links neighborhood cameras into a networked surveillance system to find lost dogs, was never intended to stop at pets, according to an internal email from founder Jamie Siminoff obtained by 404 Media. Siminoff told employees in early October, shortly after the feature launched, that Search Party was introduced “first for finding dogs” and that the...

Science/Tech
Spartans Outperforms BetRivers & BetParx With 33% Rakeback plus 3% Instant Cashback & No Wagering Rules
Recent updates to online casino bonuses frequently prioritize temporary perks, as seen with the latest deals from BetRivers Casino and BetParx for American players. Currently, BetRivers Casino advertises a 100% deposit match paired with extra spins. Meanwhile, BetParx provides a rebate for first-day losses, returning net deficits as bonus credit under specific betting conditions. These […]

Science/Tech
Ring and Kidde’s Newest Smoke Detector Is Here, and It’s Battery Powered (2026)
The Alexa-enabled smoke detector is Kidde’s second model in collaboration with Ring—no wires required.
Science/Tech
Meta Begins $65 Million Election Push to Advance A.I. Agenda
Meta’s biggest election investment aims to prevent state legislation that it fears could inhibit artificial intelligence development. Its spending starts this week in Texas and Illinois.
Motoring

Motoring
Major warning for Chery owners in South Africa
The Chery Tiggo 7 has received a poor NCAP crash-test result, raising questions about the safety promises made by manufacturers in South Africa.

Motoring
What it costs to drive from Joburg to Durban at R20 per litre
With petrol at R20 per litre, right now may be a good time for a weekend getaway.
Motoring
Health
How Microbes Got Their Crawl
In the oceans and on land, scientists are discovering rare, transitional organisms that bridge the gap between Earth’s simplest cells and today’s complex ones.

Health
NHS joint ops disrupted amid bone cement supply problems
Around 1,000 operations a week rely on the product as patients are warned delays are inevitable.

Health
NHS must pay injured children higher compensation, court rules
The decision, on the case of a child who sustained a brain injury at birth in 2015, could have significant cost implications for the NHS.
Health
F.D.A. Reverses Decision and Agrees to Review Moderna’s Flu Vaccine
Moderna said it had held further discussions with regulators and announced that the agency would accept the company’s application for approval of its flu vaccine that uses mRNA technology.