South African authorities have adopted sign language as the country’s 12th official language, local media reported. President Cyril Ramaphosa formally approved the Sign Language Bill into law during a ceremony in Pretoria. Some of the country’s other languages are Afrikaans, English, Xhosa and Zulu. South Africa is the fourth country …
Read More »President Putin will not attend Brics summit in South Africa
Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the Brics summit being held in August, local media reported, citing South African presidency. An arrest warrant has been issued against Mr Putin by International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. South Africa is an ICC signatory and so would …
Read More »South Africa designed world’s best country to visit
Readers surveyed by the UK’s Telegraph newspaper say South Africa is the world’s best tourist destination. The right-wing paper gushes over the beauty of Cape Town, calling it “a supermodel at the foot of Table Mountain”. It also hails the “fine vintages” of South Africa’s wine country and calls the …
Read More »Johannesburg sees first snowfall since decade
Johannesburg has seen its first snowfall since 2012, as cold weather is sweeping across much of the country. Residents are being advised to take extra precautions to stay warm and farmers to provide shelter for livestock. South Africa’s weather service said snow has also been reported in Eastern Cape and …
Read More »South Africa calls for vigilance as cholera deaths rise
South Africa’s health authorities are urging residents of the province of Gauteng to be vigilant about the liquids they consume as the death toll from a winter outbreak of cholera rises to nearly 50, local media reported. Unions and community groups have demanded more government intervention to improve water quality. …
Read More »Ten of South Africa’s gas leak victims were Mozambicans
Mozambique officials in South Africa say at least 10 of their nationals may be among the 17 fatalities after Wednesday night’s gas leak in an informal settlement in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg. At least four of those being treated in hospital after the incident in the densely populated Angelo shanty …
Read More »South Africa: Zulu king denies being poisoned
South Africa’s Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has denied allegations that he may have been poisoned, saying in a video that he was in good health. It comes amid conflicting concerns after the Zulu traditional prime minister said over the weekend that the king was being treated in neighbouring Eswatini for …
Read More »South Africa’s main opposition mulls pact against ruling party
South Africa’s main opposition Democratic Alliance (DA), along with six other parties, have announced that they will hold talks to outline a pact that they hope will unseat the ANC from government at next year’s elections, the BBC reported. The group does not include the country’s third largest political force …
Read More »South Africa: President Ramaphosa cleared in farmgate scandal
South African government watchdog has cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing related to a theft at his farm. The scandal erupted in June last year when a former spy boss, Arthur Fraser, alleged that President Ramaphosa had concealed the theft of millions of dollars in cash from his game …
Read More »South Africa to host BRICS summit despite Putin arrest warrant
South Africa said on Thursday it will host the BRICS bloc summit in August as planned, amid speculation that it may move to China so Russia’s President Vladimir Putin can attend in a nation not obliged to arrest him on war crimes accusations, Reuters reported. South Africa has a duty …
Read More »