Top Stories

Top Stories
Man shot and decapitated during umgidi ceremony in Eastern Cape
A traditional umgidi ceremony in the Eastern Cape descended into horror when 27-year-old Luxolo Yoko was shot and decapitated in full view of community members, leaving his family devastated and the village in shock.

Top Stories
FTSE 100 hits 10,000 mark for first time
A rally on the first trading day of the new year has taken London’s main share index through the milestone.
Top Stories

South Africa
Second swimmer found off KZN’s Pennington beach
On Thursday, one person was successfully rescued and two bodies recovered, at Pennington beach

South Africa
Meta to Acquire AI Firm Manus in Deal Aimed at Expanding Autonomous Agents
Meta Platforms said it is acquiring Manus, a Chinese-founded artificial intelligence company, as it looks to strengthen its AI capabilities and accelerate development of so-called autonomous agents. Financial terms were not disclosed, but analysts cited by Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal estimated the deal could be worth more than $2 billion. Meta said the […]

South Africa
Nvidia Targets Morocco as Next Hub in African AI Expansion
Nvidia has identified Morocco as a priority market in its expanding push to build artificial intelligence infrastructure across Africa. The move follows Nvidia’s entry into South Africa in June, where it partnered with Cassava Technologies to launch what the companies described as Africa’s first AI factory. Nvidia has since said it plans to roll out […]

South Africa
JMPD urges road safety as holidaymakers return to their homes
Traffic authorities say roadblocks will continue at various spots

World
Watch: Four men rescued from boat teetering on dam edge
According to reports, the boat had suffered motor failure before drifting to the edge of the dam

World
A fire in an Swiss ski resort bar has left about 40 people dead
A New Year’s party at a Swiss Alpine bar turned into a tragedy after about 40 people died in a fire and another roughly 115 were injured, many in their teens to mid-20s.
World
News24 | 6 killed, including security forces member, as Iran protests continue in several cities
Protesters and security forces clashed in several Iranian cities, with six reported killed, the first deaths since the cost-of-living demonstrations broke out.

World
Watch: Moment 400-pound runaway prop injures Disney employee
The incident took place during a live recreation of a scene from the film of Indiana Jones

Africa
Mali and Burkina Faso impose travel ban on US citizens in tit-for-tat move
The two states say they are taking reciprocal measures after the US announced full-entry restrictions on their citizens.

Africa
Saving South Africa’s threatened albatross from lethal fishing lines
A task force is trying to save seabirds from getting caught and killed in fishing boat nets.

Africa
Not Semenyo’s ‘last game’, says Iraola as Man City close in
Manchester City are close to agreeing terms with Bournemouth to sign Antoine Semenyo for £65m, but Andoni Iraola insists the forward has “definitely not” played his last game for the Cherries.

Africa
Guinea restricts social media sites as junta chief takes election lead
TikTok, YouTube and Facebook are down, as the nation awaits the final result from the presidential poll.

Business
Big petrol price cuts coming next week
Month-end data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) indicates that substantial price cuts for petrol and diesel are all but confirmed for January 2026, with the changes expected to take effect next week.

Business
Huge win for DStv subscribers, and tax shock for private schools in South Africa
Here are five important things happening in South Africa for Friday, 2 January 2026.

Business
Why everything from your phone to your PC may get pricier in 2026
The price of Ram – once one of the cheapest computer parts – has more than doubled since October 2025.

Business
How the defence sector is battling a skills crisis
Attracting younger workers into the defence industry can be challenging.

Politics
PAC President declares 2026 year of stability and growth for the party
Nyhontso says the PAC is ready to contest fully in the upcoming elections.

Politics
Political parties to use 2026 to focus in Local Government Elections
Political parties will head to the polls in the municipal elections, expected later this year.

Politics
Madlanga inquiry will be fully implemented: Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke during his New Year’s message earlier Wednesday afternoon.

Politics
President Ramaphosa positive of a prosperous 2026 for SA
The President also highlighted the importance of respecting women and young girls.

Sport
Orlando Pirates expected to announce first January signing
The transfer window’s officially open. Orlando Pirates are anticipated to confirm Stellenbosch FC’s Andre de Jong as their first January arrival.

Sport
‘He showed his bravery’: Khune backs Bafana AFCON star
Itumeleng Khune praised Bafana Bafana striker Lyle Foster for his performance at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Sport
Kaizer Chiefs vs Orlando Pirates coming early this year
The first round of this season passed without the Soweto derby, but fans won’t wait long in 2026. Kaizer Chiefs face Orlando Pirates on Saturday, 28 February 2026, at FNB Stadium.

Sport
London City appoint Maestre as manager
Women’s Super League side London City Lionesses have appointed Eder Maestre as manager following the sacking of Jocelyn Precheur.

Education
Days left to choose preferred primary school
The date by which people need to apply is 15 January – late applications can be less successful.

Education
‘I wasn’t allowed to study, but I will make sure no girl in this village hears those same words’
Health worker Naushaba Roonjho was ostracised by her family in Pakistan for wanting to work but now she is campaigning for political office
When Naushaba Roonjho became the first girl anyone in her district knew to have passed Pakistan’s national secondary school exam, the news was not celebrated. At home, in her village of Sheikh Soomar in southern Sindh, her father told her: “This is...
Education
Sudan: North Darfur – Wartime Education Collapse Portends ‘Lost Generation’
[Dabanga] North Darfur — Since the outbreak of war in Sudan on April 15, 2023, education has not been spared the repercussions of armed conflict; in fact, it has been one of the most severely affected sectors, particularly in historically fragile states like North Darfur. In the localities of Saraf Omra and Kutum, field reports prepared by the Darfur Victims Support Organisation reveal a dire...
Education
Youthful Mayor Mamdani Assembles a Team of Government Veterans
Zohran Mamdani has stocked his administration with seasoned officials, in part to allay concerns about his inexperience and left-wing stances.
Lifestyle

Lifestyle
iShowSpeed’s SA shark-diving stream goes viral after barking moment – WATCH
American streamer iShowSpeed has sparked another viral moment after taking part in a live shark-diving broadcast off South Africa’s coast.

Lifestyle
UPDATE | Makhadzi ‘recovering well’ in hospital after road incident
Multi-award-winning musician Makhadzi is “recovering well” in hospital following a road incident on the N1 outside Mokopane in Limpopo.
Lifestyle

Entertainment
Matric Results: Regulator’s decision to appeal publication ‘should be respected’ – activist
There are just ten days left before the 2025 matric cohort receives its results on 12 January 2026.

Entertainment
WesBank customer takes his used car fight to the Minister of Justice
Mzukisi Ndara purchased what he thought was a new car in 2004, but it turned out to be a used one with extras he did not ask for.

Entertainment
Pressure mounts on Eskom pricing as more retrenchments loom
Transalloys issues section 189 notice.

Entertainment
Will unemployment worsen in 2026? These were the companies that retrenched and closed down in 2025
There is a slight difference in unemployment rate of this year and the previous one.

Science/Tech
Why Vodacom Business won the 2025 MyBroadband Award for Most Trusted Enterprise Telecommunications Provider
Vodacom Business won the award thanks to its broad ICT offering and customer-centric innovation.
Science/Tech
ASUS Announces Price Hikes Starting January 5
ASUS has informed its partners that prices on certain products will increase starting January 5, just days before the company is expected to unveil new hardware at CES. In a letter dated December 30 and obtained by Digitimes, the Taiwanese manufacturer pointed to rising costs for memory and storage components as the primary driver behind the adjustment. The company specifically called out DRAM,...

Science/Tech
Big Starlink BEE lie in South Africa
Starlink owner SpaceX has called on South Africans interested in its satellite broadband services to email ICASA to voice their support.

Science/Tech
‘I need to help’: Barnsley woman’s rabies death inspires dog-vaccinating mission
Robyn Thomson immunised thousands of animals in Cambodia after shocking death of her mother this summer
It was just a scratch. Among all the feelings and thoughts that she has had to wrestle with since the summer, disbelief is the emotion that Robyn Thomson still struggles with the most. “You never think it would happen to you,” said Robyn. “You don’t really think it happens to...

Motoring
The salary you need to afford the cheapest and most expensive cars in South Africa
There is a R13.3 million price difference between the cheapest and most expensive cars in South Africa.

Motoring
The world’s oldest carmaker
There are many venerable car brands in the world, but there is one that holds the title for the oldest, and it isn’t Ford.
Motoring

Motoring
BYD’s bumper 2025
The carmaker delivered 4.6 million vehicles last year, up 7.7% from 2024.

Health
What is chickenpox and who can get an NHS vaccine?
The standard NHS childhood vaccination programme will include chickenpox from 2 January 2026.

Health
My son was given world’s most expensive gene therapy drug – now he can walk
Five-year-old Edward can walk independently, his mum says, and she hopes he will lead a happy life.

Health
‘Having skin cancer while pregnant made me feel so guilty’
Emma Giannuzzi used sunbeds throughout her late teens and was twice diagnosed with melanoma.

Health
What is the ultimate hangover cure?
The Food Chain’s Ruth Alexander on what helps – and what doesn’t – if you’ve overindulged.