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A new high-capacity undersea fibre-optic cable connecting South Africa to the rest of the world came online in 2025, while several more are planned to go live over the next few years. These rollouts will increase Internet capacity in South Africa, boost overall online reliability and service redundancy, and reduce international bandwidth costs, making broadband …

South Africans spent about R1bn a day on alcohol in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve, according to the Rethink Your Drink campaign. Rethink Your Drink is an alcohol harm-reduction campaign by the DG Murray Trust, aimed at challenging norms, policies and industry practices that promote and normalise heavy drinking. Kashifa Ancer, the …

Several drowning incidents were reported at beaches around the country on New Year’s Day, as thousands of people took to the water to welcome 2026. According to Lifesaving South Africa (LSA), New Year’s Day started with the drowning of an adult man on Strand Beach, Cape Town. Dhaya Sewduth from LSA said the organisation was …

Starlink owner SpaceX says claims that it will receive special treatment or workarounds to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) laws are misleading. In an email sent to people in South Africa who expressed interest in buying Starlink services, SpaceX said that it was one step closer to becoming available in the country. “South Africa is …

Staff Writer  ·2 Jan 2026 The rand has started 2026 on the front foot, having ended 2025 nearly 13% stronger against the US dollar, marking its biggest annual gain in 16 years. The local unit is a risk-sensitive currency, but still managed to post its first yearly rise against the dollar since 2019 and its …

Malcolm Libera  ·2 Jan 2026 The Department of Basic Education has published the 2026 school calendar, which kicks off on 14 January 2026 for all learners. In 2024, the department made a significant change to school start dates, setting it so that schools in both coastal and inland regions would start at the same time. …

Of the six brands, three are divisions of newly returned Geely. Following the returns of Geely, MG and JMC last year, as well as Chana under its official name, Changan, the influx of Chinese vehicles into the South African market will have no let-up in 2026. Picture in 2025 As it stands, the end of …

Malcolm Libera  ·1 Jan 2026 Homeowners in South Africa could soon get some financial relief, with the possibility of three 25 basis point interest rate cuts over the course of 2026. Izak Odendaal, Investment Strategist at Old Mutual Wealth, believes South Africa is heading into 2026 with a far more supportive inflation backdrop, which creates …

South Africa’s online on-demand grocery delivery industry continued to record strong growth in 2025, with double-digit increases in order values and volumes for many providers of this service. The platforms’ growth has also necessitated that they contract thousands more drivers — mostly operating on motorcycles — during the year. The largest on-demand grocery delivery app …

A proposed amendment to the Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill could leave South African schools facing severe cashflow strain, legal experts at Bowmans have warned. In a recent analysis, Barry Garven, Mogola Makola and Aneria Bouwer explained that many schools rely on income from taxable commercial activities. This… The Star: Based in Johannesburg, it is …

Constrained by Table Mountain, Cape Town’s need for expansion over the past two centuries has compelled it to extend into the Atlantic Ocean, with parts of the city’s CBD and its foreshore previously being part of Table Bay. The expansion dates back to the beginning of South Africa’s colonial history, when Dutch… Podcasting: The rise …

Luke Fraser  ·1 Jan 2026 Blu Label Unlimited provides an attractive investment case despite the disappointing listing of Cell C on the JSE.  Mike Gresty from Anchor Capital stated that the IPO of Cell C overshadowed the narrative surrounding the restructuring of Blu Label.  While the market responded well to the news, pushing the Blu …

By Marcus Moloko South Africa’s diverse cultural landscape has long been marked by unique traditions, and among them is the practice of New Year’s Eve bonfires. Video by Bongani Joka/Facebook In certain communities, residents historically gathered to welcome the new year by stacking old tyres around a tree and setting them alight. The ritual symbolised …

South Africa’s fiercely contested Song of the Year 2025 race has officially concluded across the country’s biggest radio stations — and one track has emerged as the clear national winner. After tallying announcements from major broadcasters including Ukhozi FM, Metro FM, YFM, Kaya FM, Motsweding FM, Ligwalagwala FM, Thobela FM and Gagasi FM, “Shela” by …

The public protector has cleared the Presidency and the department of defence of allegations of financial mismanagement and improper conduct relating to catering expenses on the presidential aircraft, Inkwazi. The complaint, lodged by DA leader John Steenhuisen, alleged that catering costs for a 2022 flight from London to South Africa amounted to R600,000 for fewer …

The use of physical bank cards is declining in South Africa, with many shoppers opting for digital payment options and virtual cards when purchasing products and services. This was evident over Black Friday in 2025, according to Discovery Bank’s latest SpendTrend report. Its data shows that nearly two-thirds of transactions during the shopping event were …

Broos compared his achievements with South Africa to his 2017 AFCON win with Cameroon. “You know, when I’m honest, I think what we did with South Africa was better than what I did with Cameroon… So what we did here for me, I am more than happy with the work I did here than with …

Everybody loves public holidays, but there is a catch in 2026. Now that 2026 has dawned, many South Africans will be looking forward to the next holiday, or should that be public holiday, which may not be very good news. Everybody loves public holidays. It’s a paid holiday; you don’t have to work, and it …

Free State police have arrested a 55-year-old man believed to be linked to a string of rapes and robberies in Welkom, Thabong and Bloemfontein over more than two decades. “The suspect’s run from the law ended recently after he allegedly attacked a 21-year-old female victim,” police spokesperson Sgt Mahlomola Kareli said on Thursday. The victim …

Unpacking political violence and terrorism trends in South Africa’s insurance landscape | Knysna-Plett Herald ×

Thursday, January 1, 2026 Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, is today expected to join postpartum mothers in welcoming their newly born bundles of joy at the Leratong Hospital in the West Rand. During the New Year’s Day ceremony, mothers will be presented with gift hampers for their babies. “Additionally, the MEC will …

South Africa’s car market has experienced significant price increases over the past few years, with the average cost of even low-end models exceeding R200,000. However, while the low end of prices has increased, it’s still a far cry from the most expensive cars available in the country. Of course, these generally include vehicles available only …

My Fellow South Africans, A new year is upon us. As we welcome the New Year, we do so with reflection, resolve, and hope. The year behind us was not easy. Many South Africans faced the strain of a myriad of challenges over the past year. It is a matter of concern that many South …

Warner Bros. Discovery plans to once again reject a takeover bid from Paramount Skydance after the rival media company amended the terms of its offer, according to people familiar with the company’s thinking. The Warner Bros. board hasn’t made a final determination, but will meet next week, said the people, who asked to not be …