South Africa

Traffic is flowing again along sections of the N2 in the Eastern Cape after a series of protests brought traffic to a standstill in EmaXesibeni, KwaBhaca and Qumbu.

International partnerships between Africa and Europe must move beyond shared ambitions to practical cooperation that supports economic transformation, industrialisation and prosperity for both continents.

The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has urged matric learners and their families to prioritise mental health and wellbeing throughout the National Senior Certificate exam period.

The 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations begin today, with Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli expressing confidence that this year’s matriculants will surpass the performance of the Class of 2025.

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Deputy Minister Namane Dickson Masemola has called for stronger support from national and provincial government, together with decisive intervention where failures persist, to restore institutional stability, improve performance and rebuild public confidence.

The Department of Basic Education has called for greater efforts to build girls’ confidence and leadership, while addressing barriers such as gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy and unequal opportunities in education.

The Department of Home Affairs has welcomed the arrest of two former officials linked to a syndicate that fraudulently issued South African passports to foreign nationals for up to R100 000 each.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing cybercrime. The tools that can help us work smarter, communicate faster, and solve complex problems can also be exploited to deceive, manipulate, and defraud us on an unprecedented scale.

Police will intensify operations across the country during the festive season, with increased visibility on roads, at shopping centres, ports of entry and other busy areas to protect residents and visitors.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has called for stronger implementation of the District Development Model (DDM), emphasising that government plans must translate into measurable results in people’s lives.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya is no longer an employee of the Service with effect from Monday, 12 October 2026.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says government is preparing to approach the Western Cape High Court to halt the further expansion of the occupation of Knoflokskraal, a 2 000-hectare tract of State-owned land in the Elgin Valley near Grabouw.

The South African National Parks (SANParks) has appointed new restaurant operators at selected camps in Kruger National Park as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the visitor experience and invest in world-class tourism facilities.

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh has called for closer cooperation between government and the traditional medicine sector to cultivate medicinal plants and reduce pressure on species threatened by unsustainable wild harvesting.

To further develop the local informal economy sector, the eThekwini Municipality is rolling out Informal Trade and Retail Markets By-law Review Roadshows, with the first session set to take place on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.