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Staff Writer  ·7 Jan 2026 South Africa’s rand softened on Tuesday after an S&P Global survey showed that the country’s business activity contracted sharply in December. However, even softer, the currency was still trading around its strongest level in more than three years. The Purchasing Managers’ Index declined to 47.7 in December from 49.0 in …

Residents in Island View, Vakansieplaas and Aalwyndal were evacuated on Tuesday due to a veld fire in Mossel Bay, with some damage to property sustained as the blaze encroached on urban areas. The N2 between Langeberg Mall off‑ramp and Dana Bay was closed to normal traffic due to heavy smoke and poor visibility while emergency …

Staff Writer  ·7 Jan 2026 The Department of Transport has given an update on the printing of driving licence cards in South Africa, including the approval of a new design coming to circumvent a now-delayed tender process for a new printer. The High Court has set aside the appointment of South Africa’s new driving licence …

Venezuela’s collapse did not happen overnight. It was the result of decades of policy choices that concentrated power in the state, weakened institutions and replaced competence with loyalty. In this episode of SA Explained, Francis Herd and Aakash Bramdeo trace how nationalisation, political patronage and corruption hollowed out Venezuela’s economy. Industries that once functioned efficiently …

Senior management of the Joint Operations Division of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) gained three major generals in the annual Department of Defence (DoD) Human Resources Division appointments/promotions announcement. The SA Army, one of three SANDF combat services, has four new top brass members while Lieutenant General Ntshavheni Maphaha’s SA Military Health Service (SAMHS) …

The National Financial Ombud Scheme has issued a warning to motorists regarding claims for accidents where the individual was under the influence of alcohol, as insurers can use various techniques to determine if the person was drinking prior to the incident. Insurers will refuse to pay for any claims where the person was driving while …

South Africa has taken another step towards extending the five-year validity period of driving licence cards to eight years, with the development of a digital permit to complement the physical documentation underway. Mathabatha Mokonyama, acting Director-General of the Department of Transport, noted in December that the country was “definitely” shifting over to an eight-year driving …

Staff Writer  ·7 Jan 2026 Knysna’s water supply has reached a critical stage, with the municipality warning that it only has 13 days of water remaining in the system to meet current consumption levels. The municipality alerted residents this week that Akkerkloof Dam is currently at just 20%, placing the town in a serious water …

December is a dangerous month for entrepreneurs. South African businessowners are experts at juggling pressure: cash flow, staff, clients, suppliers, and a volatile economy. But when December finally arrives and the phone stops ringing, something else sets in, clarity. With a bit of rest (and a quiet beach or bushveld view), many entrepreneurs begin confronting …

Pay-TV broadcasters, such as DStv, and streaming services, like Netflix, are facing a growing threat of piracy globally, including in South Africa. At least one major Internet service provider (ISP) in South Africa has observed a significant surge in BitTorrent traffic, while real-time streaming traffic has declined in the past year. According to Axxess marketing …

Staff Writer  ·7 Jan 2026 Saai and Agri All Africa Chairman Theo de Jager says the current foot-and-mouth outbreak is the worst livestock farming disaster in South African history. De Jager is a South African agricultural leader, farmer, and policy advocate, best known for his role in organised agriculture. Apart from his role as chairman …

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says South Africa will not cower and allow unilateral actions by the United States to go unchallenged. Mbalula, who was addressing journalists about the outcomes of the party’s recent national executive committee (NEC) meeting, said South Africa was ready to face the consequences should it be punished for the stance it …

How serious is the possibility of the US invading South Africa, deposing the government, and then imposing a regime of their own as they are doing in Venezuela? This is not an alarmist question or a sense of exaggerated importance of South Africa to the interests of the US. We have been on their radar …

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has officially opened registration for the 2026 academic year. Students across South Africa can register through UNISA’s regional centres in all provinces using the university’s online registration system. All students who have been admitted and accepted for 2026 are encouraged to register as early as possible to avoid missing …

South Africa’s second-largest political party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has slammed the Department of International Relations and Cooperation’s (DIRCO’s) response to the capture and prosecution of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the United States (US). The DA, a partner of the governing Government of National… Climate Change Effects: The country is experiencing the effects of …

South Africa soon plans to extend the five-year validity period of driving licence cards to eight years and is busy developing a digital permit to complement physical documents. The acting director-general of the Department of Transport, Mathabatha Mokonyama, assured in December that South Africa was “definitely” moving to an eight-year driving licence card. At the …

South Africa is finding itself at the centre of global internet culture, this time driven by the visit of US live-streaming sensation IShowSpeed. The 20-year-old YouTuber spent the festive season streaming live from Cape Town and Johannesburg, with millions of viewers tuning in as he explored the country, rang in the new year and interacted …

Staff Writer  ·6 Jan 2026 The South African rand continued to rise on Monday as investors assessed the implications of US military action in Venezuela, which escalated geopolitical tensions and increased safe-haven demand. The unit started the new week where it ended the last, trading around R16.50 against the dollar; however, by Tuesday, it had moved to …

Thunderstorms are expected across Limpopo and Mpumalanga on Wednesday, the SA Weather Service warned on Tuesday. Issuing a yellow level 2 warning which is valid for the whole day, the weather service said these thunderstorms will become severe over the central and southern escarpment of Limpopo and along the escarpment of Mpumalanga. “These thunderstorms will …

Address by the NSFAS acting Board Chairperson Dr Mugwena Maluleke on NSFAS preparations for the 2026 academic year, GCIS Hatfield Offices, Pretoria Good morning,  Fellow Board Members,NSFAS leadership and staff, Distinguished guests, Members of the media, and all stakeholders present here today,Fellow South Africans On behalf of the NSFAS Board, I wish you all a prosperous and …

The automotive retailer giant Motus has laid off 86 employees due to ongoing industry pressures. Additionally, 579 employees are being impacted by remuneration and benefit changes that were implemented on 1 January 2026. This is according to an official statement by the Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA), which is the majority trade union in South …

JOHANNESBURG – President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Advocate Andy Mothibi as South Africa’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP). Mothibi’s appointment comes into effect from 1 February 2026 The appointment follows an open selection process. The advisory panel concluded that none of the recently interviewed candidates were suitable for the role.  READ | No …

South African consumers will soon be able to purchase products from one of the world’s largest appliance manufacturers, Haier. The Chinese multinational firm recently sent out invitations for its official South African launch, which is happening on 2 February 2026. The company stated that the event would introduce its global vision, local commitment, and innovative …

Staff Writer  ·6 Jan 2026 The public has until 21 January 2026 to comment on energy regulator Nersa’s plan to force South African energy users to pay Eskom an additional R76 billion for its mistakes. Following a bruising court order in December 2025, rejecting a settlement agreement between the regulator and power utility, Nersa has …