Google

Toyota has achieved its best annual sales figure in 18 years in South Africa. The automotive industry reported strong growth in 2025, with many carmakers ending the year on a high note this December. Importantly, 2025 marked the year in which the industry finally recovered to pre-pandemic levels, reaching sales highs not seen in a …

CAPE TOWN – A Russian warship arrived at South Africa’s main naval base in Simon’s Town on Friday to join Chinese and Iranian vessels in military exercises that risk further damaging Pretoria’s relations with Washington. The exercises draw together several nations feuding with the US administration and come at a time of heightened tensions following …

 ·9 Jan 2026 Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa shrugged off criticism of South Africa hosting naval exercises with BRICS countries, asking, “What’s the big deal?” Warships from some members of the BRICS group of developing nations gathered in Cape Town waters for a naval exercise that places host South Africa at risk of renewed US …

In September, BYD launched its highly anticipated compact city EV, the Dolphin Surf, at R339,000 ($19,865) for the Comfort model and R389,000 ($22,795) for the Dynamic, making it the first EV priced under R400,000 ($23,439) in South Africa.  This is notable, considering the launch price of the BMW i3 in 2015 was R525,000 ($30,760), and when adjusted …

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is set to open up the national payments system (NPS) to entities without banking licences in 2026, increasing financial inclusion and competition in the sector. The NPS is a network that acts as the backbone of the country’s financial system, clearing and settling payments between banks. Only licensed banks …

South Africa is hosting a major international naval exercise this week, bringing together vessels from China, Russia and Iran. The exercise, formerly known as Exercise MOSI III, has been renamed Will for Peace, with China taking the lead. According to the South African National Defence Force, the drills aim to improve maritime safety, joint operational …

Luke Fraser  ·8 Jan 2026 The most recent data from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) indicate that undisputed tax debts have reached a record high of nearly R500 billion, with Value-Added Tax (VAT) being the primary concern. The most recent SARS Debt Collection Data from December 2025 shows a total of R63 billion in cash …

The Pretoria High Court has handed down a declaratory order setting aside the controversial tender that appointed Idemia as the preferred bidder for South Africa’s new driver’s licence card printer. The original tender was issued by the Department of Transport (DoT) to procure a new printer to replace the country’s sole, unreliable machine. However, the …

An Uber driver has made claims that certain staff members at vehicle testing centres in South Africa re soliciting bribes for favourable reports that can be submitted to the e-hailing company. The driver, who has been operating on Uber’s platform for nearly two years, recently contacted our sister publication MyBroadband to speak about the deteriorating …

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has advised that increased thunderstorms and heavy winds during the summer could lead to further tornado activity over the next few months. Two tornadoes recently formed in Mpumalanga on New Year’s Day, one to the north-east of Middelburg and the other in an area near Carolina. No fatalities were …

Luke Fraser  ·8 Jan 2026 Many provinces across South Africa are experiencing consistent heavy rain and hail, which is leaving a trail of destruction for homeowners and motorists. Forecasters have warned of more to come. Large parts of South Africa are likely to experience severe weather throughout the remainder of the summer season, which may …

South Africa’s municipal electricity debt crisis is often reduced to a familiar story: failing councils, weak billing systems, political interference, and a culture of non-payment. There is truth in that, but it is incomplete. Municipal electricity debt has become a macroeconomic and industrial issue because electricity distribution is not a niche municipal service — it …

SIMON’S TOWN – Chinese and Iranian warships were docked off South Africa’s main navy base on Thursday ahead of exercises that officials said were also meant to involve Russia. The January 9-16 “Will for Peace” drill hosted by South Africa risks further straining its ties with the United States, which is in dispute with many …

South Africa has a thriving wildlife economy – enterprises like trophy and meat hunting, ecotourism, live wildlife sales, and game meat production. Over the past few decades, private (predominantly white) farmers have converted millions of hectares (ha) once reserved for livestock into game ranches. These enterprises generate profits and jobs while maintaining natural vegetation and …

US and South African officials reached an agreement during a closed-door meeting in late December to allow the US to continue its controversial effort to take white South Africans to the US as refugees, an internal meeting summary reviewed by Reuters showed. The meeting came after President Donald Trump‘s signature refugee programme was disrupted weeks …

Staff Writer  ·8 Jan 2026 Economists are starting to shift their expectations to an interest rate cut this month, after previously pencilling in a hold through to March 2026. Markets are widely expecting South Africa’s interest rate cutting cycle to continue this year, with most forecasts projecting at least another 50 basis points of cuts …

South Africa’s energy regulator says it adjusted its R54-billion accounting error related to Eskom’s electricity prices to R76 billion “because of what it actually costs Eskom” to supply power. The High Court recently rejected the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa) secret R54-billion settlement with Eskom and instructed it to launch a short public …

A high angle closeup shot of a South African rand bill on a wooden surface JOHANNESBURG, Jan 8 (Reuters) – The rand may clock another year of gains supported by easing interest rates, with firmer public finances also boosting South Africa’s domestic economy, Goldman Sachs said in a research note. Wildlife Reserves: South Africa has numerous wildlife …

Luke Fraser  ·8 Jan 2026 Inflation is expected to decline to 3.0% in 2026, aligning with the new inflation target that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has been working towards. The SARB, led by Governor Lesetja Kganyago, pushed for a lowering of the inflation target by the National Treasury. While the SARB aims to …

Minister Gwarube to release findings of National Investigative Task Team (NITT) interim report into NSC 2025 examination breach The Minister of Basic Education will host a media briefing to formally release the findings of the Interim Report of the National Investigative Task Team into the recent examination breach. The briefing forms part of the Department’s …

Find out what the latest weather forecast from the SA Weather Service means for your region for 8 January 2026. The South African Weather Service (Saws) has warned of severe thunderstorms, flooding risks and extreme fire danger expected in parts of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and beyond. The weather service has released its latest weather forecast for 8 January …

Internationally loved food creator, Mattia Moleri, shows just how sweet South Africa’s festive treat really is. South Africa (07 January 2025) – South Africans didn’t need international validation to know that malva pudding is elite, but it’s still pretty satisfying when the rest of the world catches on. Popular food content creator Mattia Moleri recently …

If Eskom retained its transmission assets after its unbundling into three separate entities, insufficient new generation will be added over the next few years, necessitating the return of load-shedding. That is the warning from Anton Eberhard, emeritus professor of the University of Cape Town Power Futures Lab, who recently expressed concerns about government’s revised unbundling …