South Africa Top Stories

    THE LOWLY NEWSPAPERMAN: Ramaphosa’s GNU survived an ANC rebellion, but Joburg will test everything
    As local elections approach, the ANC’s weakened position and Johannesburg’s crisis will test whether Ramaphosa can keep the DA in government.
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    Crypto Corner: Explainer: What is Africa Bitcoin Corporation and why did it make the FSCA mad?
    It’s been a wild time in the house that Warren Wheatley built with the Karan brothers, but it actually has very little to do with bitcoin and it takes reading only 251 documents to see why.
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    OUR CITY NEWS: Joburg’s public pools crisis — delays, neglect and empty promises during the summer heatwave
    A month and a half into swimming season, only 20 of Johannesburg’s 57 municipal pools are open, while only another 13 are expected to reopen this week.
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    ACCOUNTABILITY DIVIDE OP-ED: SA and Kazakhstan reveal sharply contrasting paths to biological weapons dismantlement
    South Africa’s apartheid-era Project Coast biological weapons programme was dismantled in the 1990s with limited transparency, external oversight and accountability, leaving unresolved concerns about materials, records and expertise. In contrast, Kazakhstan’s more transparent, internationally supervised dismantlement highlights the importance of verification, institutional safeguards and redirecting former weapons scientists towards peaceful research to prevent proliferation.
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    South Africa’s agriculture plan can unlock growth — if government, farmers, business and labour stop talking and start implementing it as crises worsen.
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    LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: ANC abandons plan to name mayoral candidates amid fears of supporter backlash
    With 42 candidates shortlisted across eight metros, the ANC is heading into local elections without naming who it wants to become mayor.
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    LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Ramaphosa signals fuel relief and warns of Agoa losses as elections loom
    In a wide-ranging briefing with editors and journalists on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged voter anger, hinted at fuel price relief and warned that South Africa could lose its Agoa trade benefits.
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    KHAMPEPE COMMISSION: Mbeki denies secret deals with apartheid-era generals, blames NPA for TRC prosecution delays
    At the Khampepe Commission, Thabo Mbeki rejects claims of political interference, explaining the ANC’s amnesty bid and distinguishing presidential pardons from prosecution decisions.
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    France imposes curfews in parts of Paris, other cities after weekend of riots
    PARIS, Oct 19 (Reuters) - French authorities set curfews in parts of several cities on Monday, including Paris, Lille and Nice, as they faced pressure over security failings after a weekend of riots and looting stemming from nationwide anti-government protests.
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    US Supreme Court to review 1868 federal ban on home distilling of liquor
    WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide the legality of a federal ban on the home distilling of alcoholic spirits that was enacted in 1868 after the US Civil War to crack down on liquor tax evasion.
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