Stories from South Africa

Nigerian business owners in South Africa's Eastern Cape province are closing their businesses due to fears of violence.

Akane Zimbini won the men's 100 meter sprint at the Zimbini Classic with a time of 9.98 seconds. Chaswell Johnson finished second with a time of 10.07 seconds. Aaron Brown took third place in 10.14 seconds.

New members of the MKP took their seats today to begin discussions regarding the election of the Bureau. The process was conducted behind closed doors. Regional caucuses have already started lobbying for their respective candidates.

The Minister of Basic Education has written to the Finance Minister requesting a probe into alleged irregularities in the textbook procurement process for Foundation phase. Lighthouse Publishers was awarded a tender to provide textbooks for grades 1 to 3.

The Minister of Finance and the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources confirmed the extension of a temporary fuel levy reduction. Diesel will attract no fuel levy during this period, according to the announcement. The government estimates the fiscal loss will be approximately $17 billion in revenue. Governments have officially extended a temporary reduction of the fuel levy to protect African citizens from a price increase expected next month. The announcement was reported by SAfm News. The extension follows previous temporary reductions to mitigate rising costs. The announcement was made by presenter Greg Chas. Petrol is expected to continue receiving a relief of three rand per liter. Analysts suggest an anticipated fuel price hike in May may still negatively impact the economy despite these relief measures.

The Eastern Cape Department of Health reported a decline in teenage childbirths within the province. MEC Tando Kazi addressed the current status of the crisis. The Eastern Cape MEC reported a decline in teenage births, specifically noting a gradual decrease in the 10 to 14 age group over recent years. The source confirmed the trend has occurred over several years. Teenage pregnancy rates in the Eastern Cape showed a decline during the 2025-2026 financial year. Data from the first quarter recorded 86 cases, followed by a decline to 62 in a subsequent period. The source noted fluctuations across different quarters including Goddard and Kota. These figures represent a downward trend in the region. The department reported that the rate for children between 10 and 15 years old is 54 percent.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Shriver announced a 12.5 billion Rand investment to upgrade border management at six key ports. The upgrades will target Alebombo, Pied Bridge, Oshoek, Kopfontein, Masiri Bridge, and Vixberg. Shriver stated the project marks the beginning of a new era for South African borders. These six ports are described as being at the center of regional trade and movement. SASCO first vice president Luan Lilius Melania welcomed a new 50 million rand sustainability fund for South African rowing. The initiative aims to support athletes competing in international competitions. The fund was unveiled earlier this month as part of a strategic pillar focused on governance and sustainability. Melania stated that government support alone will not be sufficient for the program.

The African Christian Democratic Party has called on the city of Johannesburg to stop taking new loans. The organization suggests that the city is taking on debt to keep the municipality afloat. A representative stated during a council meeting that the proposal to address these debts has been ignored. The party expressed opposition to loans used for electricity projects, citing concerns over exorbitant interest rates. The ACDP stated that these debt obligations will cause future generations to suffer due to the required paybacks. The ACDP argued that these debt loans create a negative knock-on effect for the city's future. A party representative stated that a concerted effort must be made to retrieve funds owed to the city, which currently exceed 71 billion rand. The representative noted that the city cannot place undue pressure on indigent citizens to resolve the debt.

Groups are demanding the deportation of all illegal immigrants to their home countries. The group is expected to move to Johannesburg tomorrow. The Simbini Classic is currently underway at Pildage Stadium. Athlete Akane Simbini is expected to compete in the meet. Athletes including Akane Simbini are expected to participate in the event, according to the report. The South African government has allocated 12.5 billion to a project aimed at strengthening border security. The project is part of a broader government plan to enhance national border defenses. The Border Management Authority announced the appointment of five construction consortiums to redevelop six strategic ports of entry across South Africa. The project is estimated to cost 12.5 billion. The move aims to transform the local cryptocurrency payment landscape through this new integration.

The Baobab consortium, which includes companies such as Inyambar and the Coron consortia, is working to redevelop CoFontain. The project aims to implement new technologies to address illegal migration and the movement of illicit goods. The consortium's involvement is intended to rebuild the port infrastructure.