Author: NationWatch

The death toll from a fuel tanker explosion in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, has risen to 15, South Africa’s Health Minister Joe Phaahla confirmed on Sunday. The explosion occurred after a tanker carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) became lodged beneath a bridge near a hospital and residential houses. Emergency services received a call around 7:50 a.m. local time reporting the tanker stuck under the bridge. Firefighters responded to extinguish the flames, but the tanker subsequently exploded. One of the injured was the tanker driver, who was taken to hospital. Videos shared by residents showed pedestrians fleeing the scene and vehicles…

The year 2022 proved to be another challenging one for the South African economy as the country struggled to recover from the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. High inflation, steep repo rate hikes, persistent load shedding, supply chain disruptions, and sluggish economic growth defined the year, while unemployment and business confidence remained low. Inflation Surge After averaging 4.5% in 2021, inflation rose sharply in 2022. It started the year at 5.7% in January, climbed to 5.9% in March due to surging fuel prices, and broke through the South African Reserve Bank’s target range to reach 6.5% in May —…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected as leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for a second five-year term, following a closely contested party leadership election. Delegates at the ANC’s national conference voted in favour of Ramaphosa over his main challenger, Zweli Mkhize, a former health minister and party treasurer. “Ramaphosa has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat … He was on the verge of resignation just weeks ago but has emerged stronger and more powerful. It is a remarkable turnaround,” said Richard Calland, a professor at the University of Cape Town. Both Ramaphosa and Mkhize…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been under growing pressure after a parliamentary inquiry found evidence suggesting he may have committed serious misconduct related to a large amount of cash discovered at his private game farm following a robbery. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, but the findings come at a critical time for the president, who rose to power after ousting his predecessor, Jacob Zuma, on a pledge to fight corruption. Before the inquiry’s report was released on Wednesday, Ramaphosa had been the clear favourite to lead the ruling African National Congress (ANC) into the 2024 elections and secure a…

Banyana Banyana have been drawn in a challenging Group G for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand. To advance to the knockout stages, coach Desiree Ellis and her team will have to overcome strong opponents, including women’s football giants Sweden, who are ranked second in the world by FIFA behind defending champions, the United States. The South African side will also face Italy, ranked 14th, and Argentina, ranked 29th, in what promises to be one of the toughest groups of the tournament. Based on rankings and reputation, Sweden are expected to…

Gauteng is set to experience a two-day “national shutdown” starting on Tuesday, ahead of the nationwide protest planned for Wednesday. The shutdown is being organised by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), and the General Industries Workers’ Union of South Africa (Giwusa). The unions are protesting against the rising cost of living, fuel price increases, and load-shedding. According to Giwusa president Mametlwe Sebei, members will gather at Burgers Park in Pretoria on Tuesday morning, where they will deliver memorandums to various government departments. A night vigil will be held at…

At least 15 people have been confirmed dead following a mass shooting at a bar in the Nomzamo informal settlement of Soweto, South Africa, early Sunday morning. According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the attack occurred shortly after midnight when a group of armed men stormed the bar and opened fire indiscriminately at patrons. Gauteng Police said the assailants were armed with rifles and 9-millimeter pistols. Police confirmed that 23 people were shot in total — 12 died at the scene, while 11 others were rushed to a nearby hospital, where two later died from their injuries. The…

A 19-year-old South African, Sinenjongo Phuthumani, has vowed never to visit nightclubs again after witnessing the tragic deaths of her friends and other partygoers at the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, East London. The weekend tragedy claimed 21 young lives, sparking national grief and calls for answers. “I have taken a decision never to go clubbing again,” Phuthumani said as she joined other mourners at the site of the disaster. “I’m still traumatised. I was very close to being among the dead. Everything I had promised myself in the future almost faded.” All the victims were teenagers, the youngest a…

A meeting took place in Pretoria between COP President Alok Sharma and a delegation of South African government ministers, including Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, and others. The discussions focused on progress since COP26 in advancing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), a long-term initiative aimed at enabling South Africa’s transition to a low-carbon economy and climate-resilient society. Under the Political Declaration issued in November 2021, the United Kingdom, European Union, France, Germany, and the United States committed to mobilising $8.5 billion over 3–5 years to…

The DHL Stormers claimed the inaugural Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) title after a hard-fought 18–13 victory over the Vodacom Bulls in the grand final at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday night. In a tense and physical encounter, the Stormers outscored their Pretoria rivals by two tries to one, sealing the historic win with a powerful second-half performance. Both teams delivered strong displays, using their forwards and backlines to fight for dominance on a cold, wet evening in the Mother City. The Bulls drew first blood early in the match when centre Harold Vorster crossed the line…