Stories from Johannesburg · South Africa

A child protection organization in South Africa is providing therapy to victims of child abuse. The organization aims to support those affected through these therapeutic interventions.

A child protection organization in Johannesburg is using therapy dogs to assist affected individuals. Dogs trained by the Teddy Bear Foundation are being used to support children during court appearances in Johannesburg.

The Teddy Bear Foundation has launched the Court Preparation Program in Johannesburg to assist abused children preparing for court appearances. Shahidah Omar, the foundation's chair, stated the program uses reading and play to prepare children for court appearances.

A pilot announced the return of Sara Bartman to her country of birth as the aircraft entered Johannesburg airspace. The repatriation follows a period of 192 years. The flight was reportedly coordinated by government organizations.

Business trader Suleiman Karim testified regarding a relationship with Brown-Mochotzi spanning 15 to 18 years. Karim admitted to having business dealings with Brown-Mochotzi's wife or fiancée.

A commission is racing to meet upcoming reporting deadlines despite losing full days due to absent witnesses. The discussions allegedly involved passing names of companies to be awarded contracts back and forth.

The legal sector code aims to provide black legal practitioners with access to sustainable legal work and more representative ownership within large law firms. The proposed code intends to generate true transformation within the sector. The source noted that 72% of the economically active population in South Africa is black. The source claims opponents of the code seek to keep the generic code static. The Charter Council reported that the code has overwhelming support from domestic entities and large firms. Opponents are described as foreign solidarity groups attempting to maintain a monopoly. Critics suggest the opposition is an attempt to maintain a monopoly that has existed for more than two years. The professional associate level is already 59% black, suggesting a pipeline of people of color is available for equity positions.

A report found that fine particulate matter PM 2.5 and sulphur dioxide from power plants affect air quality in Gauteng province. The Madupi power plant, located nearly 300 kilometers from Johannesburg, was cited as a source of long-distance pollution transport.

South African forward Ron Williams has been nominated for the IFFHS Best Goalkeeper award following strong performances in the Africa Cup of Nations. The player is noted as the most expensive in the South African national team and currently plays in one of the top five European leagues. The player is noted for having strength and breakthrough capabilities, though his ceiling is described as limited. The player recently participated in matches against Panama, resulting in a 1-1 draw and a 1-2 loss. Analysts suggest the team needs to improve offensive capabilities and set-piece defense before the World Cup. The announcement coincided with the marking of Workers' Day in South Africa. South African exporters are benefiting from a preferential agreement with China that eliminates export duties. This zero-tariff status is expected to increase competitiveness for medium and small producers.

The election date for South Africa has been set for November 4, 2026. The period leading up to the vote is expected to be politically charged due to issues including municipal performance, service delivery failures, and public trust. Early signs indicate both political mobilization and voter apathy in the country. The source noted that 10,000 people die from diabetes. The broadcaster compared the scale of the issue to the HIV epidemic. Only 5% of employed people in South Africa are self-employed, according to a report from SAfm. Additionally, only 40% of the working-age population reports being employed, compared to a global average of approximately 60%. The low rate is attributed to deeply entrenched structural issues originating from the apartheid era. Experts suggest that overcoming this gap requires creative state-led collective action and union involvement.