Southern Africa

A diphtheria outbreak has been declared at South Africa’s Pollsmoor Maximum Security Prison following the death of a 19-year-old inmate. Health Minister Joe Phaahla said the male inmate, who contracted the disease last month, died on Sunday. Eight more inmates are in isolation after testing positive for the disease. “Two …

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of 3,300 army personnel to help combat illegal mining activities, Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement on Thursday. “The deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), which is expected to cost about 492 million rand ($26 million), is aimed …

South Africa’s Police Minister Bheki Cele says criminals have declared war on citizens, following a surge in crime levels in the country. This is after the country’s transport minister was robbed at gun-point in a daring attack on Monday. Sindisiwe Chikunga was travelling from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng when the incident …

Two men have been arrested in connection with the theft of foreign currency that was stuffed under a sofa cushion at South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in 2020. The suspects will appear in court on Tuesday. Police spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale said they are planning to arrest …

Zimbabwean member of parliament, Takudzwa Ngadziore, 25, has become the latest opposition member to allegedly be abducted. Mr Ngadziore, a member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), posted a video on Facebook showing a gun-toting man he said was chasing him. “I am being followed,” the panting MP said …

South African authorities have said the UN should deploy “a rapid protection force” to intervene in the Israel-Gaza conflict “to protect the civilian population from further bombardment”. In a hard-hitting statement, the international relations ministry highlighted the number of children who have been killed so far in the conflict and …

A popular South African TikToker who allegedly claimed to be a doctor has been arrested, nearly three weeks after authorities accused him of being a fraud, local media reported. Matthew Lani was arrested by the security team at Johannesburg’s Helen Joseph Hospital as he allegedly attempted to enter the facility …

Police in Mozambique suppressed violent protests on Friday as opposition supporters took to the streets to denounce the results of local elections earlier this month, which they say were rigged. According to a police spokesperson, at least nine civilians and one police officer were injured in protests in the city …

The World Bank will lend South Africa $1 billion to help the country resolve its energy crisis as it battles the worst power cuts in its history. There have been power since 2007 but they have escalated in recent years, causing blackouts of up to 16 hours a day. According …

South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi will start against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final on Saturday after a ruling there was “insufficient evidence” that he used a racist slur towards Tom Curry . But governing body World Rugby added that the England flanker had made the allegation in …