South Africa's economy has taken a knock. According to Statistics South Africa, the GDP decreased by 0,2% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter of this year. This is said to be due to mounting pressure on the country's goods producing sectors, with manufacturing, mining and electricity production all recording declines, as steep fuel price increases and weak consumer demand weighed on activity. While agriculture and parts of the services sector provided some support, it was not enough to keep the economy from declining. Innocent Semosa reports

South Africa's economy has taken a knock. According to Statistics South Africa, the GDP decreased by 0,2% in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter of this year. This is said to be due to mounting pressure on the country's goods producing sectors, with manufacturing, mining and electricity production all recording declines, as steep fuel price increases and weak consumer demand weighed on activity. While agriculture and parts of the services sector provided some support, it was not enough to keep the economy from declining. Innocent Semosa reports

Africa Rise & Shine

Rise & Shine

South Africa’s economy contracts 0.2% in Q2 as key sectors struggle amid rising fuel costs

South Africans are preparing to head to the polls on 4 November, for a highly anticipated local government election that features a record-breaking 546 political parties and over 137 000 candidates, competing for just over 10 500 municipal council seats nationwide. In an election heavily focused on local infrastructure, in two weeks citizens would be voting directly for municipal leadership to manage critical service delivery, including water, sanitation, and electricity grids. This election marks the first major test of voter sentiment since the formation of the country's national multi-party coalition - Government of National Unity (GNU) in 2024, with analysts predicting a highly fragmented vote that could result in a surge of local coalition governments across major economic hubs.

We spoke to Dr Tendai Mbanje : Human rights, governance, and elections expert.

South Africans are preparing to head to the polls on 4 November, for a highly anticipated local government election that features a record-breaking 546 political parties and over 137 000 candidates, competing for just over 10 500 municipal council seats nationwide. In an election heavily focused on local infrastructure, in two weeks citizens would be voting directly for municipal leadership to manage critical service delivery, including water, sanitation, and electricity grids. This election marks the first major test of voter sentiment since the formation of the country's national multi-party coalition - Government of National Unity (GNU) in 2024, with analysts predicting a highly fragmented vote that could result in a surge of local coalition governments across major economic hubs.
We spoke to Dr Tendai Mbanje : Human rights, governance, and elections expert.

South Africa’s local government elections set to test voter sentiment, service delivery and coalition politics amid record participation

Here's this week's segment of the African Arty Beats.

Here's this week's segment of the African Arty Beats.

African Arty Beats: Celebrating Africa’s vibrant arts, culture, music and creative talent

As Zambia prepares to celebrate 62 years of Independence from British colonial rule, a spotlight has been cast on the country's achievements and failures since 1964. Over the past six decades, Lusaka has made significant strides in nation-building, education, democratic governance and regional cooperation. However, the country continues to grapple with economic challenges, public debt, unemployment, inequality and more recently, claims that the government is clamping down on voices of dissent. One such voice, is that of Brebner Changala, he has a 33-year track record as a Zambian Human Rights Activist. He is currently on trial, charged with one count of seditious practices under the country's penal Code. The state alleges his recently recorded video remarks accusing the government of orchestrating criminal or terrorist acts against its own citizens, amount to inciting disaffection against the state. He now joins us on the line....

As Zambia prepares to celebrate 62 years of Independence from British colonial rule, a spotlight has been cast on the country's achievements and failures since 1964. Over the past six decades, Lusaka has made significant strides in nation-building, education, democratic governance and regional cooperation. However, the country continues to grapple with economic challenges, public debt, unemployment, inequality and more recently, claims that the government is clamping down on voices of dissent. One such voice, is that of Brebner Changala, he has a 33-year track record as a Zambian Human Rights Activist. He is currently on trial, charged with one count of seditious practices under the country's penal Code. The state alleges his recently recorded video remarks accusing the government of orchestrating criminal or terrorist acts against its own citizens, amount to inciting disaffection against the state. He now joins us on the line....

South Africa’s economy contracts 0.2% in Q2 as key sectors struggle amid rising fuel costs

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