



Learner Scholar Transport Safety Under the Spotlight
The tragic learner transport accident that occurred in Vanderbijlpark on the morning of 19 January has once again placed the safety of scholar transport in South Africa under intense scrutiny. The crash, involving a scholar transport minibus and a heavy vehicle, resulted in the deaths of several le…

National Disaster Declared as Floods Devastate Limpopo and Mpumalanga
The recent flooding in Limpopo and Mpumalanga has been formally classified as a national disaster following extensive assessments by South Africa’s disaster management authorities. This classification reflects the scale, severity and impact of the floods, which have gone beyond the capacity of prov…

President Ramaphosa appoints Adv. Andy Mothibi as new National Director of Public Prosecutions
President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially appointed Advocate Andy Mothibi as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), succeeding Advocate Shamila Batohi, who retired in January 2026 after serving in the position since 2018. Batohi’s tenure was marked by a determined effort to restore…

SANDF audit reveals only 27% of soldiers fit for duty/combat.
Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is in conversation with Associate Editor of the Daily Friend, and defence analyst at the Institute of Race Relations, Ricardo Teixeira.

South Africa bounces back into the imo council
The Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy, and Transport Deputy. Minister, Mr. Mkhuleko Hlengwa, have announced the re-election of South Africa back into the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council at the 34th session of the IMO Assembly - held at its headquarters in London, on Friday,…

In conversation with Former Acting National Police Commissioner
Khomotso Johannes Phahlane is a former senior officer of the South African Police Service. He served in various roles over his career, including constable, detective, personnel manager, and later as head of the SAPS Forensic Services Division. He was appointed Acting National Commissioner of the po…

ANC SECRETARY GENERAL FIKILE MBALULA
The African National Congress enters this period facing critical questions about its internal cohesion, its public standing and its ability to renew itself as both a political organisation and as the leading party in government. At the same time, the Government of National Unity continues to deman…

Tanzania president wins election as hundreds feared dead in unrest
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been declared the winner of Tanzania's presidential election, securing another term amid days of unrest across the country. Samia won 98% of the votes in Wednesday's poll, the electoral commission said. In her Saturday victory speech she said the election was "free…

Hamas-Israel Conflict - Truce violations threaten ceasefire
The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza came into effect on 10 October 2025, brokered by the United States. The truce includes a halt to large-scale hostilities, the release of hostages and remains, increased humanitarian access to Gaza, partial withdrawal of Israeli forces, and eventual di…

July 2021 Unrest: Sasria recovery continues
The SA Special Risks Insurance Association (Sasria), the state-owned special risks insurer, has still not fully recovered from the R24.3bn loss it suffered in the 2021 riots, but its financial position strengthened last year. Sasria insures against acts of terrorism, labour and civil unrest and rio…