Alerts

Luke Fraser  ·18 Feb 2026 Old Mutual has called on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to increase the contribution cap for tax-free savings investment accounts to at least R600,000, and bump the annual limit to R40,000. Introduced in March 2015, tax-free investment accounts allow South Africans to save a maximum of R36,000 per year, with all …

Malcolm Libera  ·18 Feb 2026 South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) shows that the Eastern Cape and North West are the only two provinces where more people are unemployed than working. According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the country’s official unemployment rate dropped to 31.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, down …

The Automobile Association (AA) has raised concerns about the safety of the Chery Tiggo 7 SUV, following its disappointing crash test results. The Chinese car was recently crash-tested as part of the #SaferCarsForAfrica campaign, which seeks to highlight the discrepancy in the safety levels of cars sold in Africa compared to those in other markets. …

The HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship 2025 is being played in Polokwane, South Africa from February 18-March 1, 2026. There are many ways you can follow the tournament so you don’t miss any of the action! FIXTURESFor the full fixture list, including results, you can click here. TICKETSEntrance to all matches is FREE. Tickets for the …

Staff Writer  ·18 Feb 2026 A tiny minority of taxpayers in South Africa pays a significant share of the country’s income tax, with the numbers even tighter at the top. Personal Income Tax is South Africa’s biggest income source, accounting for almost 40% of revenue collected for the fiscus. South Africa has about 26 million …

As the tourism sector looks ahead to 2026, it is increasingly clear that this is not simply another year of recovery. It is a transition point. Demand is present. Growth signals are visible. South Africa remains a highly desirable destination. At the same time, the environment in which inbound tourism operates has become more interconnected, …

It seems that South Africa is entering a long-overdue period of economic panelbeating, though the current pace of recovery suggests we are in for a painstaking restoration. Data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) on Tuesday and Wednesday this week paints a picture of an economy that is finally catching its breath. Headline consumer …

Malcolm Libera  ·18 Feb 2026 Criminals are increasingly targeting e-hailing drivers in South Africa with the aim of stealing the driver’s cellphone, vehicle, and any cash on hand.  E-hailing targets are lured through ordering a lift on the respective apps, and at late hours in the evening and early mornings, making them easy targets.  As …

Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s SONA Reply  Honourable Speaker, Last week’s SONA reminded us that South Africa has entered a new chapter defined by a shared commitment to delivery, stability, and progress. The GNU is demonstrating that it is possible to work across political lines to stabilise the country, grow the economy, and create jobs. It is …

In the early years of South Africa’s democracy, as the country confronted one of the most devastating public health emergencies in its history, the government turned to an unconventional yet powerful solution: mobilising ordinary citizens to save lives. Community Health Workers (CHWs), also known as Lay Counsellors, were introduced under the leadership of former Health …

Suleila Omar (left) and Mitchel Joffe Hunter (right) at the Interfaith Shabbat against Genocide at Claremont Main Road Mosque, October 2024. Photo: Tamara Nechama Thusi Two private Johannesburg schools, Roedean and King David, have sparked controversy. In a nutshell, Roedean students boycotted a tennis match with King David. Roedean’s management, instead of explaining why their …

Toyota unveiled the sixth-generation of the RAV4 for South Africa at its annual State of the Motor Industry (SOMI) event last week, with an expected launch window in the coming months. The launch of this model represents a crucial point for the Japanese automaker, as it looks to compete within South Africa’s hotly contested D-segment, …

Mesdames Speaker and Chairperson of National Council of ProvincesHis Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President, MashatileHonourable members, The 2026 State of the Nation Address went beyond recounting our progress and future intentions, it challenged us to act so we rise together, and that we must use strategies that have made us succeeded in the …

University of Pretoria-led team opens a new frontier using the power of MeerKAT and strong gravitational lensing Astronomers using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa have discovered the most distant hydroxyl megamaser ever detected. It is located in a violently merging galaxy more than 8 billion light-years away, opening a new radio astronomy frontier. …

South Africa’s unemployment rate dropped to the lowest level in more than five years in the fourth quarter, as the community and social services and construction sectors added workers. The jobless rate declined to 31.4% in the three months through December, from 31.9% in the prior quarter, according to data released by Statistics South Africa …

On 12 February 2026 the Executive Director was invited by the Speaker of the South African National Assembly, the Honourable Angela Thokozile Didiza, to be one of her guests at President Ramaphosa’s SONA address. The Honourable Angela Thokozile Didiza presided over the proceedings. SONA is a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament and …

On 11 February 2026, the British High Commission hosted a pre-SONA event that attracted over 763 guests, including leaders, diplomats, policymakers, and collaborators. This gathering aimed to foster meaningful dialogue and cooperation, focused on enhancing UK–South Africa relations. The evening featured engaging discussions, strengthened connections, and a shared vision for the year ahead. The Executive …

A new report, Policy to Power: Ten actions to deliver green, accessible and secure electricity, released this week by the South Africa Electricity Traders Association and produced by Krutham, argues that reform is no longer about drafting laws. It is about sequencing, accountability and political will. The report lays out 10 concrete actions that the …

Staff Writer  ·17 Feb 2026 The Department of Social Development has confirmed the extension of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, keeping the monthly payout at R370 until March 2027 until its new successor is finalised. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the grant would …

Toyota’s luxury sub-brand Lexus is gearing up to launch its first fully-electric car in South Africa – the RZ. The RZ is set to release in South Africa in early 2026, and while the carmaker has yet to announce the official release date, our sources at Duoporta Vehicle Information Specialists have managed to uncover the …

South Africa’s status as this region’s industrial anchor and lead global diplomat continues to slip. Wobbling economic development, alongside bruised foreign relations, presages a re-reckoning with a world busy reconfiguring itself. Last year Morocco became Africa’s top auto manufacturer. Stalled by high costs tracing to infrastructure mismanagement, South Africa’s momentum for a supportive industrial ecosystem …

South Africa’s official unemployment rate decreased by 0.5 percentage points from 31.9% in the third quarter (Q3) of 2025 to 31.4% in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2025. This is according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) for the fourth quarter of 2025 conducted by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA). The results show an …

The latest fuel price recovery data for mid-February shows that petrol and diesel prices are set to increase in March, with diesel users being hit particularly hard. New data from Central Energy Fund shows that the under-recovery for diesel prices has deepened while petrol prices have also dipped into the negatives. Petrol is now lined …

Staff Writer  ·17 Feb 2026 South Africa’s unemployment rate has dropped by 0.5 percentage points in the final quarter of 2025, to 31.4% from 31.9% in the previous quarter. However, the country has added 2.6 million people to the number of unemployed over the past ten years, with shocking levels of youth unemployment persisting. According …