South Africa

A collection of 35 posts

At Least 74 Dead in Johannesburg Building Fire

On Thursday, Johannesburg authorities announced that at least 74 people, including 12 children, have been found dead inside a five-story building that was ravaged by fire. The cause of the fire remains unclear.

Social issues

BRICS Leaders Agree to Add Six New Members

On Thursday, South African President and host of the 15th BRICS summit in Johannesburg, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced that the bloc's leaders have agreed to invite six more countries to join the alliance of emerging economies.

Politics

BRICS Leaders Meet in South Africa

On Tuesday, leaders of the BRICS nations met in Johannesburg where, according to South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, they agreed on expanding membership. The bloc already represents 40% of the globe's population and around 25% of the world's GDP.

Politics

Olympic Champion Semenya Wins Testosterone Ruling

Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya on Tuesday won a case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). The ruling said the South African runner had been discriminated against by World Athletics, who are forcing her to reduce her natural testosterone levels to compete.

Sports

South Africa: Deputy President’s Security Videoed in Violent Attack

A video has surfaced of members of South African Deputy Pres. Paul Mashatile's police security team apparently stomping on a man's head and body last weekend until the individual appeared to lie unconscious on the floor.

Social issues

Putin Shows 'Signed Peace Agreement' with Ukraine

Footage from last weekend's meeting between Vladimir Putin and African leaders shows the Russian president displaying an alleged peace treaty between Russia and Ukraine which he says was signed during a peacekeeping negotiation in Turkey in the spring of 2022.

World

Explosions in Kyiv as African Leaders Visit Ukraine on Peacekeeping Mission

Explosions were reported in the Ukrainian capital as a delegation of African leaders made their way to Kyiv on a peacekeeping mission on Friday.

Ukraine-Russia

BRICS Foreign Ministers Meet in South Africa

The foreign ministers from the BRICS ["Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa"] — the group of emerging economies — have gathered for a two-day meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, to hold talks on deepening ties ahead of the bloc's summit in Johannesburg in August.

Politics

Rwandan Genocide Fugitive Arrested in South Africa

A suspect in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Fulgence Kayishema, has been arrested after over 20 years on the run in South Africa, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) said on Thursday.

Rwanda

South Africa: Govt Faces Criticism Amid Cholera Outbreak

As South Africa grapples with an outbreak of cholera — with the death toll reportedly rising to 17 in the Hammanskraal region as of Wednesday — citizens are criticizing the government, citing a lack of clean water for the current situation.

South Africa

HIV-Prevention Drug to Be Made in South Africa

The Indian drug company Cipla has confirmed that an affordable generic version of its HIV drug cabotegravir (CAB-LA) will be manufactured in South Africa for the first time. The twice-monthly jab is expected to lower the risk of contraction for millions of at-risk Africans.

Health

Study: 81% of 10-Year-Old South Africans Battle to Read

According to a study published Tuesday, which tested the reading ability of 400K students globally, 8 out of 10 10-year-old school children in South Africa struggle with reading comprehension.

South Africa

South Africa's Army Chief Visits Moscow For Bilateral Talks

On Monday, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed that the commander of South African ground forces is visiting Moscow for bilateral talks between the two countries' militaries.

Military

South Africans Ask UK to Return Diamond in Crown Jewels

Some South Africans have called for Britain to repatriate the Star of Africa — the world's largest diamond — which is currently set in the royal sceptre and will be used in the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday.

Social issues

South Africa Backtracks On ICC Withdrawal, Blames Communications Error

South Africa's presidential office late on Tuesday cited a communication error from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to explain a backtrack on comments made earlier by Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa, who suggested the country was planning to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

World

10 Family Members Killed in South Africa Shooting

On Friday, gunmen stormed a homestead in a township outside the South African city of Pietermaritzburg, in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, and ambushed a family, killing 10 people, police said.

South Africa

South Africa: Pres. Ramaphosa Reshuffles Cabinet Amid Energy Crisis

On Monday, South African Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his cabinet and created two new positions in an apparent bid to address the country's severe energy crisis....

South Africa

US Warns China Against Arming Russia

As US officials report China is considering supplying the Russian military with artillery and ammunition for its war in Ukraine, US Pres. Biden's admin. is warning China that there would be serious consequences if it provided military assistance....

South Africa

Report: US Considers Releasing Intelligence on Potential Chinese Arming of Russia

On Thursday, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) — citing unnamed US officials — reported that the Biden admin. is considering releasing intelligence it believes shows that China is deciding if it should supply weapons to support Russia in the war in Ukraine....

South Africa

Report: Israelis and Palestinians Have Held Secret Talks for Weeks

An Axios report released on Monday claimed that senior aides of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority Pres. Mahmoud Abbas have held secret talks over the past two months to tame rising tensions in the West Bank....

Israel

UN Security Council Issues Formal Statement Denouncing Israeli Settlements

The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Monday unanimously approved a presidential statement strongly criticizing Israel's continued construction and expansion of settlements, a move that angered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to its support from the US....

Metaculus

Israel Passes Law to Revoke Citizenship for Terror Convictions

Israel's Knesset passed a law on Wednesday to permit authorities to strip people of their citizenship or residency if they were jailed and received funds from the Palestinian Authority for actions determined to be terrorism....

Israel

Iranian President Raisi Visits China

Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi on Tuesday kicked off a three-day trip to China, marking the first state visit by an Iranian leader to China in 20 years. The visit is reportedly a move to boost bilateral political and economic ties....

Metaculus

Rhino Poaching Surges in Namibia

The number of endangered rhinos poached in Namibia reached an all-time high in 2022 with 87 animals being killed compared to 45 in 2021 — a 93% increase. Most were poached in Namibia's largest park.

World

Yellen Praises South Africa's Energy Transition

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Thursday welcomed South Africa's efforts to accelerate its transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy under the Western-backed "Just Energy Transition Partnership" as she met South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.

World