The latest news from South Africa, summarised in English from the local press: politics, business, society, culture and sport. 41 articles published.
South African musicians Louis Brittz and Retief Burger have launched the “Nuwe Lof” project to create new Afrikaans songs of praise and worship. They believe this music plays an important role in church life and needs to be regularly renewed, reports Maroelamedia.
Source: Maroelamedia
South African prosecutors say businessman Sulliman Carrim was travelling to Saudi Arabia via Dubai when he was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport. He is charged with failing to appear before the Madlanga Commission, while a separate investigation concerns suspected fraud and corruption, IOL reports.
Source: IOL
ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji has asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove Democratic Alliance ministers from the Government of National Unity. He says the party is destabilising the coalition and calls on the Economic Freedom Fighters to adopt a more conciliatory attitude if it hopes to join it, according to IOL.
Source: IOL
Armed groups are using Johannesburg’s underground tunnels to steal copper cables from the electricity network, putting City Power workers at risk. An explosion at the Marshalltown substation recently disrupted supplies, after eight fires since January, six linked to theft, according to City Power.
Source: TimesLIVE
Isuzu Motors South Africa spent nearly 400,000 rand on diesel in one day to keep its factory running during a 15-hour outage in Gqeberha. The Nelson Mandela Bay Chamber of Commerce recorded 109 unexpected outages in major industrial areas between January 2025 and October 2026, Daily Maverick reports.
Source: Daily Maverick
Junior and Denise announced their engagement after pledging to marry last month in Lindley, in South Africa’s Free State. The couple plan to hold their reception on a farm, in what is described as the culmination of a relationship marked by love, reports Maroela Media.
Source: Maroelamedia
Verner Ayukegba, vice-president of the African Energy Chamber, says deals worth 10 billion dollars have already been concluded during African Energy Week in Cape Town. The projects mentioned involve Angola, Senegal and Nigeria, among others, while Extinction Rebellion activists denounced hydrocarbon ambitions, Africanews and the Associated Press report.
Source: Africanews
South Africa’s women’s football team eliminated Madagascar 7-0 on aggregate in the second round of African Olympic qualifying. Striker Ronnel Donnelly scored five goals across the two-match tie in Bloemfontein, reports the Daily Maverick.
Source: Daily Maverick
South African trade union federation Cosatu has decided to support both the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the 4 November local elections. Its congress also called for greater transparency in political appointments and defended social protection, public investment and workers’ rights, according to the federation’s statement reported by TimesLIVE.
Source: TimesLIVE
South African courts have barred Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela from restarting the recruitment of the National Skills Fund’s chief executive. The court ruled in favour of recommended candidate Innocent Sirovha after proceedings challenging the resumption of the process, reports Daily Maverick.
Source: Daily Maverick
Polls predict a strong advance for Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party in the 2026 local elections in eThekwini, the municipality of Durban. The presence of 69 parties could nevertheless result in a fragile coalition, while candidates promise to address unemployment, crime and management difficulties, reports Daily Maverick.
Source: Daily Maverick
South African back-row forward Cameron Hanekom has extended his contract with the Vodacom Bulls until the end of the 2028 season. His exact salary remains confidential, while public estimates suggest his potential earnings and a net worth of $585,000 in 2026, without independent verification, according to Tuko.
Source: Tuko
Three men suspected of taking part in the attack on a cash-in-transit vehicle were shot dead near Umlazi Mega City, South Africa. Two security officers were also injured in the shootout, according to ALS Paramedics medical rescuers cited by IOL.
Source: IOL
Nigerian national Odueze Chimezie Odueze died on 9 October in Cape Town after being arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs, according to Nigeria’s Consulate General in Johannesburg. The diplomatic mission accuses South African police of torturing him and calls for an impartial investigation into his death, ThisDay reports.
Source: ThisDay
Ismail Cassimjee, a former eThekwini municipal councillor, is appearing on charges of fraud and theft totalling 1.5 million rand in South Africa. Prosecutors accuse him of property scams and the fraudulent sale of a vehicle in several Durban neighbourhoods, according to IOL.
Source: IOL
Sarah Govender, 18, died in hospital two days after being hit and dragged by a taxi near her college in Umhlanga, South Africa. Her sister, who returned from China for her funeral, is seeking answers about the circumstances of the accident, IOL reports.
Source: IOL
South Africa’s Parliament has taken a step towards considering a R10 billion aid plan intended to stabilise petrol and diesel prices. The funding must be debated by the National Assembly, as petrol could rise by a further about R1.80 per litre in November, reports IOL.
Source: IOL
South African DJ Tumelo Mphai, known as DJ Melzi, performed for nearly a month in Guangzhou and Shanghai, China. After the international tour, he wants to perform in Dubai and continue expanding his music career, according to an interview with TshisaLIVE.
Source: TimesLIVE
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