Stories from Johannesburg · South Africa

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Aoud-Adwa expressed dissatisfaction with the team's performance, comparing the match to karate rather than football. He questioned the nature of the game played.

Approximately 11,000 children die from malnutrition every year in South Africa. Paraffin prices are expected to remain above 1.5 rand per litre, according to the report. The South African National Treasury and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources are extending a fuel levy reduction for petrol for another month. The relief also includes pausing the tech In Mahi Gang, Bax-Mixon diesel levy to cushion consumers from expected price increases in May caused by the war in the Middle East. This extension will bring the estimated total cost of the temporary relief, which began on April 1, to 17.2 billion rand in foregone tax revenue. The extension is scheduled to take effect after 7 o'clock. Non-governmental organizations have issued an alarm regarding South Africa's decision to extend the lifespan of coal-fired power plants until 2050.

Measles vaccination coverage in South Africa has declined from 80% to 76% within one year. The country recorded 58,000 additional zero-dose children in 2024. One in five South African children is currently not fully vaccinated. African Vaccination Week begins this week. The data was presented during a national briefing by Kevimu Satana.

An educational project in a school near Johannesburg is teaching children about the importance of organ donation. The program focuses on educating youth early to improve long-term donation rates. Organ preservation and transplant processes are key components of the curriculum.

Family members are seeking justice following the deaths of 144 people across several institutions. Victims' relatives describe the incident as murder and demand the perpetrators be sent to jail. Specific details regarding the exact time and location of some deaths remain unknown to the families. The individual mentioned that while the circumstances of some brothers' deaths are known, others remain unexplained. A family in Johannesburg is seeking legal accountability for deaths they attribute to negligence. The family members expressed a commitment to follow the judicial proceedings until a conclusion is reached. They are calling for the imprisonment of those responsible within the South African justice system. The family is requesting that the case be handled transparently to ensure accountability.

Advocates are demanding legal recognition for obstetric violence, highlighting the need for accountability in healthcare. The complainants are calling for the individuals to be charged and jailed. There is a stated hope that the justice system will hold the accused accountable. The specific names mentioned in relation to the incident include Mampangela, Kepanimalano, Mahabunmanamela, Silibani, and Aetelman. Two women identified as NEC members, Kepanimalano and Mahabunmanamela, are being called to face justice. Elizabeth Pangela expressed a need for closure and the right to confront those who victimized patients for financial gain. One mother reported that authorities failed to perform an autopsy on her son's body following his death on September 10. The family faced difficulties retrieving the body for burial.

Discovery Bank CEO Hilton Kellner discussed a new consumer spending report involving 12 million clients and credit cards. The data aims to identify specific areas of the economy experiencing contraction or growth. Overall discretionary spending in South Africa increased relative to inflation during 2025. The increase is attributed to four successive interest rate cuts implemented throughout 2025. The trend reflects an injection of liquidity into the national economy. Consumer spending in South Africa continues to rise in the post-COVID era. Key drivers of this growth include travel and interest in medical innovations such as GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Financial leaders are utilizing this qualitative research to inform business decision-making across the healthcare and banking sectors. Approximately 46% of surveyed South Africans who bet safely are participating in the market.

The community is mourning the death of Chidonga musician Kenny Bevola, who died last week at age 53 following a battle with cancer. Traditional leaders and Mayor Moses Malulake attended the mourning proceedings. Three suspects are expected to appear in court regarding separate murders involving individuals who were part of the community.

The South African Constitutional Court ruled that the South African Human Rights Commission (SHRC) maintains constitutional importance despite lacking legally binding enforcement powers. The Commission said the need for careful reading of the judgment to avoid ultra vires actions. No specific timeline for legislative changes was provided. Spokespeople said the commission's ongoing role in protecting the rights of vulnerable and poor populations. The court affirmed the commission's function as a watchdog to ensure South Africans can access avenues for addressing human rights violations. The Constitutional Court has issued a judgment said the investigative role of the Commission for Gender Equality. The organization said that the move is intended to fulfill its mandate to protect human rights.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed a high-level event at Wits University regarding global inequality. He said that addressing inequality requires collective architecture of reform and credible monitoring. Ramaphosa noted that actionable insights must guide governments, multinational agencies, academia, and civil society. The speech followed the publication of the first G20 Inequality Report last year. He stressed that social and economic development remains severely constrained by these disparities. He cited the G20 Inequality Report which shows the richest 1 percent of the global population captured 41 percent of all new wealth between 2000 and 2024. The report notes the poorer half of humanity captured only 1 percent of new wealth created in that period.