The South African government says it is not able to accommodate citizens of Afghanistan seeking refuge in the country. The Middle Eastern country has been facing violence and instability, culminating in a mass exodus of Afghan citizens looking for safer regions to live in, with the United Nations Refugee Agency estimating that at least half […]

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla has again urged all South Africans over the age of 18 to get vaccinated against COVID-19… as the country is expected to enter a fourth wave of the virus in November. In an update to the nation on the vaccination rollout, Dr Phaahla said: “We have opened [vaccinations] for everybody above […]

Police have arrested seven suspects in connection with the recent shocking murder of senior Gauteng Department of Health finance official, Babita Deokaran, who was a key whistle-blower in the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) scandal. The swift breakthrough in the case – thanks to information received by the investigating team – was confirmed by National Police […]

President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to Germany tomorrow – Wednesday, 25 August 2021 – to attend a G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) meeting in Berlin on 26 and 27 August. President Ramaphosa has been invited by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. The G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) was initiated under the G20 German Presidency in 2017 […]

Law enforcement agencies are on high alert and say they are ready to ensure the safety and security of South Africans, amid threats of a “National Shutdown” on Monday. National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJOINTS) spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Netshiunda said that law enforcement agencies have, through the NatJOINTS, put measures in place to […]

The South African Cabinet, which held a virtual meeting yesterday, said in a press statement today that it welcomes the renaming of Brandfort in the Free State to Winnie Mandela, “in honour of the Struggle and liberation icon who was banished to the town during the height of apartheid”. Plans to unveil the name were […]

Nixon’s decision to delink the dollar from gold still hounds the IMF, South Africa and Africa. Five decades ago this month, US President Richard Nixon informed the world that the US would no longer honour its commitment to exchange US dollars for gold on demand. The commitment had been the foundation of the international monetary […]

At least 50 people marched to the Phoenix Police Station under the banners of the African United Activists and Qina Mhlali Movement in Durban at the weekend. A group of 50 people marched to the Phoenix Police Station to demand justice for those killed and attacked during the July unrest. They want a judicial commission […]

Immigrants whose shacks were gutted by a fire in Briardene informal settlement, north of Durban last month, have started rebuilding their homes thanks to the assistance of non-profit organisation Refugee Social Services. Last week, GroundUp reported that South African victims of the fire were rebuilding, but immigrants, who had been living in the settlement for almost ten […]

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, testifying at the Zondo corruption inquiry on Wednesday, said he chose to “remain but resist” rather than resign as deputy president when allegations of widespread corruption surfaced under his predecessor Jacob Zuma. Ramaphosa, Zuma’s number two from May 2014 to February 2018, has made the fight against corruption a pillar […]

Former President Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial, which was scheduled to begin tomorrow, is now likely to be delayed again as the former president has been in hospital since Friday. Zuma’s Foundation said on Twitter that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has sent a joint letter to Hon. Judge Piet Koen, on behalf of all parties, […]

Phoenix, Durban, came to a standstill on Thursday as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) marched to protest the killing of 36 people during the July unrest. Despite Covid-19 pandemic regulations, which were ignored, about 20 buses transported EFF party members from different parts of Durban to Phoenix. Demonstrators in the party’s red regalia sang struggle […]

The Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has confirmed that former South African President Jacob Zuma has been admitted to an outside hospital for medical observation. The DCS said in a statement on Friday: “As a former President, the healthcare needs of Mr Zuma require the involvement of the South African Military Health Services. This has […]

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday appointed the chair of Development Bank of South Africa Enoch Godongwana as finance minister, replacing Tito Mboweni who has asked to be excused from his position. The deputy health minister Joe Phaahla will head the health ministry, Ramaphosa said during a major cabinet reshuffle, that […]

Deputy President David Mabuza’s name has been trending on Twitter today as South Africans call for more transparency on Mabuza’s health, after he took what was meant to only be a few days’ leave in June for a medical appointment in Russia. According to some reports he is due home this week, over a month later. […]

Consumers will have to fork out an additional 91 cents for a litre of fuel as of Wednesday. This as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced that both grades of 95 (ULP and LRP) and 93 (ULP and LRP) will increase by 91 cents. This means that a litre of 95 ULP […]

DA Chief Whip and MP Natasha Mazzone will be hosting a special online event, on Wednesday, for South Africans abroad… to update them on the situation back home. In a press release, the DA Abroad said: “We were all shocked at the images and stories that started to stream through social media channels following Jacob […]

South Africa has received 2.8 million Pfizer vaccine doses from the United States as part of a donation that is set to boost the country’s vaccination rollout campaign. “The next batch will arrive on Tuesday to conclude the 5.6 million doses. The donation will contribute to the country’s expanded vaccination programme, which is fast gaining […]

There are calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, who is currently on ‘Special Leave’. The calls follow revelations from the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) that Mkhize repeatedly pressured the Health Director​ General, Malebona Matsoso, to approve the irregular R150-million Digital Vibes contract. In an affidavit to the Special Tribunal […]

Ten suspects were on Monday remanded in custody for their alleged role in the recent unrest in greater Durban. The suspects, who appeared before the Verulam Magistrate’s Court, face charges ranging from murder, attempted murder, malicious damage to property, possession of stolen goods, as well as unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Spokesperson for the […]

This follows an announcement by Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, that the death toll related to the unrest has risen to 337 in the two provinces. Briefing media in Pretoria on Thursday, Ntshavheni said the revision of the death toll, which stood at 276 on Wednesday, comes after people who were injured subsequently […]

The Department of Correctional Services granted former President Jacob Zuma permission to attend the funeral of his late younger brother today. In a statement, the department said a sentenced offender who was granted permission to leave a correctional centre remained a sentenced offender even while temporarily outside. “The permission granted to Mr Zuma is for […]

With the recent chaos specifically in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, and the media focus on these areas pertaining to the violent riots and looting, it is easy to get wrapped up in some tunnel vision, focusing exclusively on these events… writes Free State University’s Prof Petrus. The danger of this, of course, is that […]

The Pietermartizburg High Court has today – Tuesday 20 July – granted former President Jacob Zuma’s request for his corruption trial to be delayed. Appearing ‘virtually’ via a video link from Estcourt correctional facility, where he is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court (after failing to appear before the Zondo Commission of Enquiry […]

Acting Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says six individuals, who have been identified as alleged instigators of the violent riots that flared up in parts of the country, have been arrested and some have already appeared in court. Briefing journalists in Pretoria on Monday, Ntshavheni said efforts to restore economic activity have commenced and […]