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South Africa
South Africa
The latest news, analysis and opinion on South Africa. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
People use their mobile phones as Donald Trump walks across the stage before addressing the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump

Huge lines, laughs and gasps as Trump addresses Davos

Trump stuns Davos with jabs at Greenland, Nato, Canada’s Carney, and France’s Macron, as attendees liken the chaotic scene to a rock concert.

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Cyril Ramaphosa

13 children killed in South Africa as minibus collides with truck

Energy

Opinion | Clean energy works at scale. Now it must be coordinated

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Brics

Did China, Russia, Iran joint naval drills in South Africa signal a Brics shift?

Observers describe high-profile exercise involving economic grouping as largely symbolic rather than step towards military alliance.

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South African and Chinese flags fly aboard the Chinese guided-missile destroyer Tangshan, moored at port in Cape Town for joint naval drills involving Brics members, on January 10. Photo: AFP
Brics

Testing the waters: is Brics evolving into a security alliance?

The first naval exercises under the ‘Brics plus’ banner saw Brazil, Egypt, China, Russia and South Africa take part. India did not.

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Natural disasters

Over 100 dead in torrential rains and floods across southern Africa

Thousands have been forced to evacuate in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, with helicopters plucking people to safety.

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Diplomacy

China’s oil risks worsen as Trump threatens Iran

The US president’s suggestion of potential intervention in Iran after the fatal suppression of protests adds new jeopardy to China’s oil imports.

Iranian protesters from footage on social media validated by AP. (Photo: UGC via AP)
Hong Kong police

Editorial | Interpol meet will enable Hong Kong to bolster global crime-fighting ties

As host of Interpol’s 94th general assembly, the city will be able to show that its ‘superconnector’ role extends to international law enforcement.

China-South Korea relations

Li Qiang and Lee Jae Myung back free trade and multilateralism in Beijing talks

In meeting with visiting South Korean president, Chinese premier calls for cooperation in AI, new energy and high-end manufacturing.

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Science

China fossil unveils cross-equator migration corridor in supercontinent Pangaea

Remains of a new dicynodont species dating back over 250 million years link China and South Africa, suggesting passage of large animals.

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An artist’s rendering of the Dinanomodon guoi, a new species of dicynodont found in China’s Gansu province. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong police

Police to deepen Asean ties as Hong Kong set to host first top Interpol meeting

Police chief Joe Chow says Hong Kong’s high standing will help foster ties as city looks to host 196 member country representatives in November.

Hong Kong police chief Joe Chow Yat-ming attended Interpol’s general assembly in Marrakech, Morocco, last year. Photo: Handout
China’s military drills

China to lead joint naval drills with Brics nations in South African waters

It is the first defence cooperation under the Brics framework, with the Russian and Iranian navies reportedly taking part.

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Africa

41 young men die in South Africa from circumcision procedures

The procedures were done as part of traditional initiation, a rite of passage into manhood for young men from various ethnic groups.

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China economy

Opinion | Why China has moved to curb steel exports

China’s pivot to emerging markets has kept its export machine running. But frictions are growing and steel is the most visible flashpoint.

A worker stacks steel products meant for the export market at a factory in Binzhou, Shandong province, China on April 15. Photo: AFP
Crime

Multiple gunmen open fire at South Africa pub, killing 9 and wounding 10

Manhunt under way after the second South African mass shooting in three weeks.

Family members at the scene of the attack in Bekkersdal, Johannesburg, South Africa on Sunday. Photo: AFP
China-Africa relations

Entrepreneurs vie for Africa’s Business Heroes titles in start-up bonanza

Record 32,000 applications from 54 nations vie for seventh Africa’s Business Heroes awards to recognise 100 start-ups over 10 years.

Africa

Opinion | How China can help Africa build human capital

To truly harness their potential, countries across the continent seeking to industrialise must develop education and infrastructure in tandem.

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China-Africa relations

China promised zero tariffs for Africa. Why is South Africa missing out?

Botswana, Lesotho and Namibia also miss out on duty-free treatment over fellow trade bloc member eSwatini’s diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang (fourth left) poses with African and other G20 leaders, in Johannesburg on November 22. He has said Beijing is willing to work with South Africa to promote the early implementation of zero-tariff treatment for its goods. Photo: AFP
Crime

Mass shooting at a South African bar leaves 11 dead, including 3 children

Police say shootings at illegal taverns are becoming a serious problem, and over 11,000 such establishments have been shut down recently.

Donald Trump

US wipes South Africa’s G20 website clean for 2026 Trump summit

The US presidency of the G20 begins with the first-ever exclusion of a member nation.

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G20

Ramaphosa dismisses Trump’s threat to bar South Africa from 2026 G20 summit

South Africa’s president labels Donald Trump’s repeated claims about his country as ‘misinformation’.

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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the recent G20 summit in Johannesburg. Photo: AFP
China-Africa relations

China set to benefit as South Africa looks to diversify away from US

As ties with Washington deteriorate, Pretoria is ‘determined to pursue economic diplomacy’ as it pursues new markets in Asia and Europe.

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Pretoria is trying to secure investment and new market access for South African goods, particularly in manufacturing and agriculture. Photo: China News Service via Getty Images
War and conflict

Zuma’s daughter quits South African parliament amid Russian mercenary scandal

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is under investigation for allegedly recruiting South Africans for Russian mercenary roles in Ukraine.

Asean

Opinion | In its year under Malaysia, Asean tried to set systemic reform in motion

Despite grumbles about loss of focus and misgivings about the longevity of new networks, Malaysia, ironically, perhaps didn’t go far enough.

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Donald Trump

Trump barring South Africa from next year’s G20 summit in Miami

South Africa denounces US president’s G20 ban as punitive as relations between the two nations sour.

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A protester wears a Trump mask, as Oxfam activists demanding the taxing of the super-rich in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday, the opening day of the G20 leaders’ summit. Photo: Reuters
Diplomacy

Opinion | Why next year’s G20 could be make or break for global development

As the US prepares to chair the G20, it faces a strategic choice: engage or revert to a narrower agenda.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China-Japan relations

Why China took Japan criticism to UN twice but did not raise it at G20

Analysts say Beijing views the UN as a platform to ‘anchor’ its position on Taiwan, particularly because it offers a wider reach.

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India

Economics above politics? India and Canada to resume trade agreement talks

While their ties plunged in 2023 over the death of a Sikh separatist, they are keen to restart trade talks due to US tariffs, analysts say.

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