News as at
August 24, 2026, 4:53 pm
World's Largest Research Funder Lifts Ban On South Africa
- [GroundUp] Many clinical trials were halted, and many researchers were retrenched when the NIH stopped funding
Approved in the Dark - - the Hidden Environmental Toll of SA's Data Centre Boom
- [Daily Maverick] As South Africa's data centre boom accelerates, civil society groups are petitioning the SAHRC for strict regulation and transparency before unmonitored facilities strain local water, land, and energy grids.
Gauteng Receives New Lenacapavir Stock
- [SAnews.gov.za] The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) has received an additional 28 593 Lenacapavir initiation packs as the province moves to expand access to the six-monthly, long-acting HIV prevention injection.
The First Generic Weight Loss Drug Hit South Africa In August - With Many Expected To Follow. Will It Be Enough To Kill The Black Market?
- [Bhekisisa] The first generic weight loss drug hit SA in August -- with many expected to follow. Will it be enough to kill the black market?
Dear Mbokodo - We Did Not March So Women Could Carry the Nation
- [Daily Maverick] This imagined letter places a composite speaker inside the thirty-minute silence of 9 August 1956. It draws on the events of the Women's March and the demands articulated by the Federation of South African Women.
Cape Town Planning Officials Must Listen to Residents, Drop the 'Take Us to Court' Attitude
- [Daily Maverick] The deputy mayor's response to Daily Maverick's Municipal Planning Tribunal exposé suggests that anyone who tries to hold the tribunal accountable for its far-reaching decisions will be denounced and discredited.
Four Arrested After Boxing Champion Tete Shot Dead
- [Scrolla] Police arrested four suspects aged between 22 and 28 after Zolani Tete was shot dead outside his Mdantsane home. A 22-year-old faces murder and attempted murder charges, while police say more arrests could follow as the investigation continues.
Food Inflation At a 16-Year Low, but You Still Can't Afford to Eat
- [Scrolla] Food inflation fell to 0.9% in July, its lowest level since 2010, according to Stats SA. Despite that, the real household food basket tracked by PMBEJD still rose in July, with apples, maize meal, wors and tomatoes all more expensive.
Minister Ndabeni Appointed Acting Health Minister
- [SAnews.gov.za] President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni as Acting Minister of Health.
Ethekwini Deploys Teams As Strong Winds Cause Power Outages
- [SAnews.gov.za] The eThekwini Municipality's Recreation and Parks Directorate, working together with the City's Emergency Services, has deployed teams to attend to multiple incidents across the city following strong winds, which caused outages across the city.
Youth Urged to Take Active Role in SA's Democracy
- [SAnews.gov.za] Young South Africans have been urged to take a more active role in democratic and governance processes, with concerns about youth disengagement, misinformation, unemployment and exclusion taking centre stage at a Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) roundtable in Pretoria.
President Ramaphosa to Respond to Questions in the National Assembly
- [SAnews.gov.za] President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday respond to questions from Members of Parliament on government's management of migration, the National Water Crisis Action Plan and interventions to combat illegal mining.
21-Year-Old's Crucial Kidney Dialysis Treatment Puts Family Under Financial Strain
- [Health-e] At 21, Brandon Booysen from Randfontein in Gauteng is bedridden with end-stage kidney disease and severe bone complications after living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) since childhood.
Lesotho, SA Courts Freeze Assets in M700m Clothing Industry Fraud Case
- [GroundUp] Appeals have delayed the implementation of two forfeiture judgments handed down in May
What Are Broadly Neutralising Antibodies and What Do They Mean for the Fight Against HIV?
- [spotlight] HIV is known for its ability to outsmart our immune system's normal defences. A small number of people living with the virus are however able to generate unusually effective immune responses. In this special briefing, we zoom in on broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs), the secret sauce in these immune responses, and their potential role in the future of HIV treatment and prevention.
Babita's Murder Exposes Deadly Cost of Corruption
- [Scrolla] Babita Deokaran uncovered suspicious payments before six hitmen murdered her, but investigators have still not identified who ordered and paid for the killing. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says the corruption exposed at Tembisa Hospital reflects a wider problem across government and local municipalities.
Courts and Commissions - Matlala Returns to Hot Seat
- [Scrolla] Vusimuzi Matlala is expected to answer more questions about senior police officials and his alleged links to the criminal underworld at the Madlanga Commission. A 22-year-old suspect charged with murdering boxing champion Zolani Tete and attempting to murder a woman is expected in court on Monday.
Ramaphosa Warns Failing ANC Councillors Will Be Removed
- [Scrolla] ANC councillors and mayors will sign public performance agreements and could lose their positions if they fail to meet their responsibilities. The ANC is promising a 100-day plan for councillors as communities battle water shortages, sewage spills, rubbish and failing infrastructure.
Artists Tell Stories of Heritage and Migration Using Surprising Materials
- [GroundUp] Matereality V2 opens at the Iziko South African National Gallery on Monday
Manifesto Test - SACP's Power to the People and a Working Class Embraced
- [Daily Maverick] The SACP's lack of governing experience shows up in its manifesto, which has some strengths but weaknesses too.
Plan to Write Off R23bn Is Illegal, Treasury Tells Nelson Mandela Bay
- [Daily Maverick] The National Treasury says Nelson Mandela Bay's proposed R23bn write-off is unlawful because the Municipal Public Accounts Committee failed to investigate the expenditure item by item, while an affidavit prepared by the acting city manager, Lonwabo Ngoqo, is legally defective.
March and March Leader Says She Does Not Fear White People
- [Scrolla] · Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma says criticism of the AfriForum meeting will not stop her movement from learning about programmes that could benefit poor communities.
Govt Continues Investigations Into Sardine Deaths
- [SAnews.gov.za] The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) says it is continuing to investigate the recent sardine mortality event, although no new mass-mortality incidents have been reported since Sunday, 16 August 2026.
Bombshell Testimony Implicates Mchunu in Alleged Bid to Target Mkhwanazi
- [Daily Maverick] Lieutenant Colonel Deendadayalan (Deena) Govender's sensational testimony has placed sidelined police minister Senzo Mchunu at the centre of allegations that he was part of an effort to pressure a witness into implicating KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
'Clock It' - ANC Reheats Old Election Promises in 2026 Manifesto
- [Daily Maverick] Struggling under declining voter support, the ANC has pledged tight timelines and targeted interventions on water and electricity to turn around failing municipalities ahead of the local elections.
Knysna Tensions Grow After Two Councillors Killed Within 24 Hours
- [Daily Maverick] Three recent murders in Knysna have raised fears among the community that this might signal the return of politically linked killings associated with faction fighting.
Why Water Rights Aren't Enough to Fix South Africa's Deeply Unequal Farming Sector
- [The Conversation Africa] South Africa's commercial farming sector is still shaped by the legacy of slavery, colonialism and apartheid. Black South Africans make up more than 80% of the population. But most commercial farms are still owned by a relatively small number of white farmers.
Air Traffic Control Is Becoming More Automated. Is Regulation Keeping Up?
- [The Conversation Africa] The International Civil Aviation Organisation, a specialised UN agency responsible for developing standards, oversight and monitoring, is leading the advancement of the global air traffic management system through the Global Air Navigation Plan. The introduction of automated air traffic control systems aims to improve the operational safety and efficiency of air traffic controllers. But these automated systems could introduce new risks.
Bok Coach Changes It Up for Must-Win Second Test Against Resurgent All Blacks
- [Daily Maverick] Flyhalf Handrè Pollard returns to the Springboks starting line-up for Saturday's second Greatest Rivalry Test against the All Blacks, while captain Siya Kolisi is bracketed.
