South Africa

With the start of the National Senior Certificate on Tuesday, the government has extended its well wishes to the class of 2026.

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.