Table of contents for 2025-12-21 in Sunday Independent

As parenting evolves in the digital age, one familiar phrase continues to echo through homes worldwide: "Can I please have this?" The extravagant pleas for in-game items such as skins, weapons, or characters have become the norm, leading many parents to quietly concede and shell out hundreds of Rands for Fortnite V-Bucks or Roblox Robux, considering it a small price for maintaining peace. However, in the seemingly innocent world of gaming, a shadowy financial underworld is thriving, processing billions of transactions annually, an unregulated environment ripe for exploitation by financial criminals. In South Africa, banks and financial institutions have been ramping up their defences against money laundering, particularly under the looming pressures of the country's greylisting, which has only recently been resolved. Yet, as these traditional financial systems fortify, online…

This year saw the deaths of numerous South African artists, actors, musicians and cultural figures who left lasting marks on their communities, industries and fans. Their contributions shaped South Africa’s creative landscape, and their loss is felt across the country. Presley Chweneyagae, the acclaimed actor best known for his lead role in the 2005 Academy Award-winning film Tsotsi, died in May at the age of 40. His family confirmed it was from natural causes after experiencing sudden breathing difficulties at his home in Johannesburg. Chweneyagae was also celebrated for his portrayal of Cobra in the television series The River and its spin-off Cobrizzi, leaving a memorable mark on South African television. In June, the arts community mourned the loss of Rashid Lombard, a photographer, cultural activist and founder of the…

2025 was not without drama for former president Jacob Zuma, his relatives, and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). While facing charges of inciting July 2021 violence, Zuma’s daughter Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla allegedly risked her own relatives by trafficking them to Russia, where they ended up joining the war against Ukraine. MKP was also full of dramatic events, including its recent unsuccessful attempt to vote KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli out of office, leading to chaos at the provincial legislature in Pietermaritzburg early this week. Among the 17 men who found themselves in a war zone in Ukraine were the children of Zuma-Sambudla's sister, Nkosazana Zuma-Ncube, and those of her late uncle, Zuma’s brother. Zuma-Sambudla, who is now facing human trafficking-related criminal charges, relinquished her political role by resigning from the MKP, thus…

Two Mozambican men attempted to bribe Border Management Authority (BMA) officials with more than R34 00 cash after 46 fraudulent Mozambican passports were found concealed in their vehicle during a search. The BMA Commissioner, Michael Masiapato, reported that two Mozambican men were intercepted by the BMA Law Enforcement component around 5pm on Thursday. The men were travelling in a silver Volvo S40, entering the Republic of South Africa from Mozambique via the Kosi Bay port of entry. During a search of the vehicle, Masiapato said members discovered 46 fraudulently stamped Mozambican passports hidden under the boot mat. “The men were also found to be in possession of R34 890 in cash, which is suspected as the proceeds of illicit activities. “The suspects attempted to bribe BMA officials with the same…

KwaZulu-Natal is grappling with a profound social crisis, holding the unfortunate distinction of having the highest number of children under 18 sentenced to correctional facilities in South Africa. While national figures on child incarceration show a recent upward spike, KZN remains the epicentre, a grim reflection of deep-seated poverty, gang violence, and systemic challenges that are failing the province's youth. According to data from the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), the national number of sentenced children under 18 has fluctuated, showing a general downward trend before a recent spike. The total number dropped from 40 in the 2020/21 financial year to its lowest point of 29 in 2023/24, but the most recent figures for 2024/25 reveal a sharp increase back to 39, all male. KZN, however, has consistently led this…

THE Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG) has described 2025 as a year of “reinvigoration” in South Africa’s national legislature, marked by “committees pushing boundaries in their oversight” and a “resurgence of public interest and attention on Parliament”. But a close reading of PMG’s own detailed account reveals a more ambiguous reality — one in which vigorous activity often masks weak enforcement, reactive inquiries, and repeated constitutional missteps. PMG reported that the 2025 fiscal year opened with “one of the most dramatic disruptions in recent parliamentary history”: the national Budget presentation was “abruptly postponed after last-minute disagreements within the coalition government over spending priorities and revenue measures, related to a VAT increase”. What followed was: “A highly unusual sequence in which two separate budgets were eventually tabled, first an initial version that…

The year 2025 will be remembered in South Africa not just for political shifts, but for a sudden, terrifying wobble in its world-leading HIV response. The abrupt, politically charged pause in funding from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) sent shockwaves through the country’s health sector, forcing a rapid, often chaotic re-evaluation of its dependence on foreign aid. Since PEPFAR’s inception in 2003, the US government has invested over $100 billion in the global HIV/Aids response, saving over 25 million lives, preventing millions of HIV infections, and supporting several countries to achieve HIV epidemic control, all while significantly strengthening global health and economic security. While a series of waivers and a partial resumption of funding averted the worst-case scenario of mass treatment failure, the crisis exposed deep vulnerabilities…

The battle between National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and Gupta ally Iqbal Sharma and one of his companies is heading to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). Free State High Court Judge Johannes Daffue has granted the NPA the application for leave to appeal by National Director of Public Prosecution (NDPP) Shamila Batohi to head to the SCA. “Leave to appeal is granted to the SCA to Islandsite Investments 180 (Pty) Ltd (in business rescue) and its business rescue practitioners, cited as third to fifth defendants in the main application, to appeal against the amended orders 1.3A(a) and (b) handed down by De la Rey AJ on 16 September 2025 and the amended order of 30 September 2025,” reads the judgment. Judge Daffue said the High Court had earlier confirmed and…

It is now a year and seven months since South Africa held its 2024 general election, which, for the first time since 1994, did not produce an outright winner at the national level. The ANC received the largest vote, albeit with only 40.18%. It had the responsibility to constitute a government to avoid a minority coalition government. There were various options at its disposal. The first one was a grand coalition with the DA, which had been the official opposition party. This option failed when members of the Tripartite Alliance did not approve it. The second option was a Government of National Unity (GNU), which would have included the ANC, DA, MKP and the EFF. This option, too, failed since the DA did not want the EFF or the MKP…

US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” is reportedly set to be announced before the year’s end. This news coincides with increasing reports that the US administration is serious about pushing forward the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. However, many critical questions remain unanswered. How can a governing council be superimposed on Gaza when Palestinians are unified in their rejection of any new form of Western mandate over their lives? Furthermore, how can the proposed “International Stabilization Force (ISF)” operate in Gaza without total clarity regarding its mission? If the ISF ends up serving primarily as an Israeli line of defence, the entire project will collapse before it begins. Neither Arab nor Muslim countries will seriously engage in subduing Palestinians on behalf of Israel. Any other participating force will…

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad believes they have ticked multiple boxes during the recently concluded T20I series in India as they will return to the same country for next year’s ICC Men’s T20I World Cup. The Proteas lost the five-match series 1-3, with one match rained out without a ball bowled. Despite the series loss, Conrad believes they have ticked multiple boxes as a team and admitted that they still have work to do before the World Cup. The coach highlighted the return of Quinton de Kock, David Miller and Anrich Nortje as he aims to finalise the squad for the World Cup. “I think we've ticked quite a few boxes in terms of probably our middle order and middle to lower order. In many respects, it's great to see Quinny…

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany confirmed captain Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich are among several absentees for today's Bundesliga match against Heidenheim. Speaking to reporters yesterday ahead of the final match of the calendar year, Kompany said Sacha Boey would also miss out through injury, Konrad Laimer is suspended while Nicolas Jackson is away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Senegal. Long-term absentee Jamal Musiala returned to team training this week but would not feature in any matchday action until 2026. France winger Michael Olise, who had eye surgery earlier in the week, is expected to return, as is Luis Diaz who missed out last week due to suspension. The dependable Olise is yet to miss a match with injury since joining Bayern from Crystal Palace in 2024. Kompany…

Aston Villa are the Premier League's form side, with Unai Emery's men surging into Premier League title contention alongside Arsenal and Manchester City. After failing to win any of their opening six games of the season, Villa have won 15 of their past 17 in all competitions, including 10 of 11 in a fiercely competitive Premier League. The Birmingham-based club have shrugged off their status as sleeping giants since Emery's arrival just over three years ago. But Villa have not won a league title since 1981 and that was their first since before World War I. Here we look at whether they can realistically maintain a title charge up against the might of Arsenal and City. Villa's winning streak is the latest example of year-on-year improvement under skilled tactician Emery.…

Kaizer Chiefs Amakhosi have emerged as contenders for a top-three finish in the league this season, reflecting the club’s renewed ambition and competitive spirit. This strong positioning indicates their competitive spirit and determination to succeed amidst challenging circumstances. Facing pressure across both league and Confed Cup competitions, Chiefs are under scrutiny to restore their previous glory. This dual challenge requires the team to display resilience and strategic insight to navigate it successfully. With only six points shy of last season’s total at the midway point, there is a clear avenue for improvement. The team has demonstrated its ability to evolve, but unlocking its full potential remains a work in progress. Despite their progress, the Chiefs still face challenges with ongoing instability. This uncertainty can hinder their performance and require a…

Over short periods, markets can be unpredictable, and 2025 was no exception. We expected a volatile year, and that has certainly played out. Nobody anticipated a placid administration out of the US or a quick resolution to any of the geopolitical tensions, but there have been some surprises on both fiscal and monetary fronts – both domestically and abroad – that signal where markets may be heading and where volatility could emerge. Not all of these surprises have been negative. The rand has performed far better than many expected, and South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in October has helped reduce perceived country risk. Alongside incremental improvements at some of our key state-owned enterprises, this has begun to build momentum that could carry through…

IF actions indeed speak louder than words, this week’s decision by the US to approve a record weapons sale to Taiwan is proof that the Trump administration is doing everything in its military power to trigger a confrontation with China. The $11.1 billion sale (R186bn) of a massive package of advanced weaponry for Taiwan was greenlighted by Pete Hegseth’s Department of War and is the second since US President Donald Trump returned to power in January. The first was a $330 million deal for parts and components in November. Predictably, China has taken umbrage at the move, correctly highlighting that under international law, and recognised by the UN, Taiwan is an integral part of China under the One-China Policy. On October 25, 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758,…

THE recent conduct of the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Shamila Batohi, at the Nkabinde Enquiry has sparked serious concerns about the integrity of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Legal analyst Bophelo Seleke said Batohi’s actions could significantly erode public confidence in an institution already under scrutiny. As the initiator of the enquiry into Advocate Andrew Chauke’s fitness to serve as South Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions, Batohi’s role is pivotal, yet her recent decisions raise questions about her commitment to accountability. On September 29, 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa established an enquiry chaired by retired Justice Bess Nkabinde to investigate serious allegations regarding Chauke. Following these allegations, the President suspended Chauke with full pay, effective from July 20, 2025, pending the enquiry’s outcome. During the enquiry on Monday,…

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has defended the precautionary suspension of the Road Accident Fund’s acting CEO and chief finance officer. Responding to parliamentary questions from EFF MP Mazwi Blose, Creecy said the pair was suspended amid several allegations of financial misconduct that were brought to the attention of the RAF interim board. In November, the board placed the acting CEO, CFO, chief governance officer, and the head of the office of the CEO on precautionary suspension, effective immediately. It decided to allow for an independent and unhindered investigation into certain administrative and governance matters. “These precautionary measures do not in any way constitute a finding of wrongdoing against the affected officials but are intended to ensure the integrity and transparency of the investigative process,” said the board. According to Creecy,…

A mother, who shares parental and responsibility rights with the father of her four-year-old child, has been ordered by the court to return to Switzerland with the toddler boy after she made a unilateral decision to stay in South Africa, where she holds dual citizenship. After the Italian couple attended a South African family wedding in 2022, the mother contracted Covid-19, and as a result, the father left alone for Geneva, Switzerland, with an arrangement in place that the mother and child would join later once she was cleared of the infection. However, according to the court record, the relationship between the couple had become strained, and after recovering from the virus, the mother made several excuses to delay her return to Switzerland and stayed in South Africa, where she,…

Troubles for the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality continued to pile up in 2025 following damning revelations at the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry. The municipality’s now-controversial ex-city manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi, achieved infamy after her testimony at the commission of inquiry investigating allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. Mashazi’s evidence precipitated the suspension of the head of human resources, Linda Gxasheka, who was fingered for allegedly protecting Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) boss Julius Mkhwanazi. The municipality confirmed that Gxasheka has been placed on precautionary suspension, with immediate effect. Evidence tabled at the commission stated that Gxasheka, as relayed by suspended EMPD chief Jabulani Mapiyeye, was that Gxasheka and legal boss Advocate Kemi Behari allegedly blocked Mkhwanazi’s…

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the presence of asylum seekers in the country and bona fide refugees has no impact on border security. Schreiber was responding to parliamentary questions by MK Party MP B B Muhammad, who wanted to know the current backlog in the processing of asylum, refugee, and permanent residence applications. Muhammad also enquired about how the backlog impacted border security and service delivery. In his response, Schreiber said there was no backlog in the processing of both asylum applications and the review of asylum seekers’ claims. He said only 13 cases were reflected as not adjudicated on December 1 for asylum applications. However, Schreiber said the Standing Committee on Refugee Affairs (SCRA) has a backlog of about 3 700 cases awaiting outcomes on Section 27 adjudications…

While tragedy has struck at sea in two separate incidents, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has advised beachgoers to be cautious during the new moon spring tide, which peaks today, Saturday, December 20, as it will greatly impact tidal conditions throughout the weekend. “This natural phenomenon occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth align during the new moon phase, amplifying the gravitational pull on the Earth’s oceans. The effects of this new moon spring tide will be felt over this weekend and for the next few days, and the NSRI is asking beach visitors, rock and surf anglers, and people who intend to walk on coastal paths to be aware of the stronger tidal variation typical of spring tides,” the NSRI said. This week, in Hermanus, a man’s body…

Morocco captain and star player Achraf Hakimi is fit and ready for the host nation’s Africa Cup of Nations bid but may not start in the tournament’s opening game, coach Walid Regragui said yesterday. “Tomorrow (today) will be my decision but he has more than done his job. His injury was not an easy one,” Regragui told reporters in Rabat where Morocco play minnows Comoros in the first match today. “I still have another night to sleep and decide whether he starts or whether we protect him and see how it goes for the remaining games. “He is able to start, but he might not start.” Paris Saint-Germain right-back Hakimi, the African player of the year, has not played since coming off with a left ankle injury in a Champions…

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in their controversial Netflix-backed bout in Miami on Friday. The fight at the Kaseya Center, which saw both men reportedly splitting a mammoth purse of $184 million, had triggered alarm across boxing due to the gulf in physical size and class between Britain's two-time former world champion Joshua and Paul, an internet personality who has forged a lucrative career through a handful of novelty boxing contests. In the event, however, Joshua made hard work of defeating his vastly less accomplished opponent, before his superior size and power eventually told in the later stages of the eight-round fight, with a sixth-round knockout. A lackluster contest descended into farce at times, with Paul repeatedly dropping to the canvas and grappling at…

Stellenbosch FC is entering a new chapter following the announcement that Steve Barker has stepped down as head coach with immediate effect. Barker will join Tanzanian Premier League giants Simba SC. After nearly nine years with the club, Barker’s decision marks a significant moment in Stellenbosch’s evolving narrative in South African football. Barker first joined Stellenbosch as an assistant coach during the club’s inaugural season. He was promoted to Head Coach in July 2017 and played a pivotal role in transforming the team into a noteworthy contender in the local football landscape. His tenure has been nothing short of impressive; he led the club through 309 matches across all competitions, guiding them to win the National First Division title in the 2018-19 season and achieve promotion to the Premier League.…

Defending champions Ivory Coast will face a stern test at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, with several title-chasing nations eager to dethrone them when the tournament kicks off in Morocco. Only Cameroon and Egypt have successfully defended an AFCON title in the past, with the Pharaohs achieving the feat in dominant fashion by winning three consecutive tournaments between 2006 and 2010. Egypt head into the competition as the most decorated nation in AFCON history with seven titles to their name, although their last triumph came in 2010. Hosts Morocco, meanwhile, will be hoping to finally translate their consistent progress and strong Fifa rankings into silverware, boosted by the advantage of playing in front of their home supporters. With several contenders in the mix—including Bafana Bafana, Senegal, Algeria and Cameroon—attention…

Chelsea saved Enzo Maresca from more awkward questions as they fought back from two goals down to rescue a 2-2 draw against Newcastle yesterday. Maresca's side were in danger of a damaging defeat after Newcastle's Nick Woltemade struck twice in the first half at St James' Park. But Chelsea hit back after the interval thanks to Reece James's superb free-kick and Joao Pedro's eye-catching solo effort. Chelsea remain fourth in the Premier League after a disappointing run of just one win in their last five top-flight matches. But the Blues' gritty fightback was essential for Maresca after a turbulent week that raised questions about the Italian's long-term future with the club. Maresca claimed on Friday that reports he could replace Pep Guardiola as Manchester City boss were "100 percent speculation".…

In a significant forecast for South Africa’s property sector, Samuel Seeff, chairman of the Seeff Property Group, has announced expectations for a robust recovery in the housing market in 2026. With the Cape region asserting its dominance as a seller’s market, Gauteng is projected to continue its struggles unless critical service delivery issues are addressed. Seeff stated that the property landscape will wrap up 2025 on a firmer footing compared to prior years. As economic fundamentals seem promising, the outlook for the next year remains relatively upbeat. However, the market will evolve as a “tale of two markets”, where the Cape continues to flourish, while other regions, notably Gauteng, remain more favourable for buyers. The Seeff Group is celebrating another record year in turnover, primarily fuelled by substantial sales in…

Not everyone is spending Christmas surrounded by family and noisy cousins, which is perfectly okay. Whether you’re choosing solitude, working through the festive season, or simply craving a slower pace, a solo Christmas can be surprisingly joyful, freeing and deeply restorative. Here’s how to turn Christmas Day into a celebration of you with no awkward small talk required. Create your own Christmas ritual Who says traditions have to be inherited? Start one of your own. Wake up late, light a scented candle, play your favourite playlist, and enjoy your morning exactly the way you want to. Whether it’s journalling, meditation, or a quiet prayer, grounding your day with intention sets the tone for a peaceful celebration. Dress up even if you’re not going anywhere There’s something powerful about getting dressed…

THIS past year has revealed a pattern we must confront. Not isolated scandals, but ongoing moments where we stay silent, look away, or leave accountability to someone else. Our collective hesitation has a cost. The truth is simple and unsettling. Our biggest problem is not a lack of rules or institutions. It is a shortage of courage. I was reminded of this while listening to Julius Malema reflecting on his formative years, how school, structure, and discipline shaped his worldview. Strip away the politics, and the message is clear. Accountability is not automatic. It is learned, reinforced, and defended. When it disappears, disorder does not announce itself. It creeps in quietly and settles down as if it belongs there. We like to pretend corruption arrives fully formed, wearing a villain’s…

FORMER head of the Cato Manor Organised Crime Unit, Johan Booysen, is expected to appear before the The Enquiry into the Fitness to Hold Office of Advocate Andrew Chauke (The Enquiry), where he says he will respond to allegations linked to the controversial prosecution of his former unit. Booysen, who held the rank of Major-General during the unit’s operations, was mentioned this week at the Enquiry, where National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi was questioned about her involvement in the criminal case against him and the unit. Speaking in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Booysen has maintained that his interactions with Batohi were minimal and strictly professional. “The first time I got to know about advocate Batohi was when she was the evidence leader or cross-examined Hansie Cronje I…

THE GOOD: Hard truths finally on the record SOUTH Africa’s great political safety valve has always been the commission of inquiry. When pressure builds, we appoint a judge, hire evidence leaders, and wheel the cameras into a hotel ballroom. In 2025, that instinct has gone into overdrive. Three major inquiries have framed the year: the national Khampepe Commission into delays in prosecuting Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) cases; the Madlanga Commission into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system; and the Usindiso/Khampepe Commission in Gauteng into the deadly inner‑city building fire and the broader “bad buildings” crisis. Taken together, they show the good, the bad and the frankly ugly of South Africa’s reliance on commissions. ON the positive side, these inquiries are surfacing truths that have been…

SHAUN Jacobs recently penned a dehumanising piece in the Daily Investor titled ‘ANC chasing South Africa’s most iconic company out of the country’ (30 November 2025). The article is not about the ANC per se, but the broader agenda to water down apartheid. Now emboldened by the MAGA’s showing in the United States under Donald Trump, the conservative, anti-DEI bloc in the white South African community is showing its ugly head. Over the past months, these groups have visited the US on numerous occasions to spread their vile stories, which now crisscross with geopolitical wars. Besides South Africa taking a moral stance in alleging genocidal acts in Gaza, the white groups are nostalgic about the olden days with Israel. The South African diocese of MAGA has centred South Africa in…

It always starts the same way: a date, a city, a familiar name, and then the realisation that something big is coming back. This time, it’s Africa’s Grandest Gathering, which is returning to Cape Town. On March 27 and 28, 2026, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival will once again take over the Cape Town International Convention Centre, launching its 23rd edition with a bold new visual identity and a first-wave line-up that signals confidence, ambition and global reach. Ranked as the fourth largest jazz and music festival in the world, CTIJF 2026 places Cape Town firmly back at the centre of the international jazz map. This is where the world comes to listen and where South Africa answers back. Leading the charge is seven-time Grammy Award winner Jacob Collier,…

WHEN Nelson Mandela spoke the following words, he was describing a force capable of bridging the deepest chasms of our unequal society. “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.” In the life and career of the Springbok legend Lusanda Dumke, we saw those Mandela’s words made flesh. Dumke’s journey from the grassroots fields of the Eastern Cape to the captaincy of the Springbok Women was more than a sports story; it was a masterclass in defiance against systemic odds and a profound contribution to the very fabric of South African leadership. Dumke was a titan of the turf, earning…

IN 2025, South Africa's public healthcare system faced profound strain as chronic issues of staff shortages, critical infrastructure failure, crippling surgical backlogs, and pervasive corruption reached breaking point. While the government announced limited recruitment and budget boosts, these efforts were widely regarded as insufficient to stem a tide of deterioration that placed patient lives at risk daily. At the heart of the crisis throughout the year was the significant gap between the demand for medical professionals and the state's ability to employ them. The issue of unemployed healthcare graduates, particularly doctors and nurses, ignited nationwide protests, setting an unfortunate tone for the year. The National Health Council's April announcement to recruit 1,650 new healthcare workers —including 1,200 doctors and a mere 200 nurses — was met with a mix of…

As South Africa winds down 2025 and prepares to enter 2026, it does so with a guarded but undeniable sense of optimism. The recently published Labour Market Dynamics data indicates that the economy created 248 000 jobs in the third quarter of 2025. After years of stagnation and policy drift, this outcome suggests that under conditions of stabilising electricity supply, easing logistics constraints and modest economic recovery, the labour market retains a residual capacity to respond. Most certainly, the economy is on a positive trajectory. The numbers matter. They signal movement where there has long been paralysis. Yet accordingly, they must be read soberly, not as evidence of arrival, but as an opening through which the deeper structural condition of the economy must now be confronted. The improvement recorded in…

A quarter of the way through the 21st century, Africa continues to face numerous familiar challenges, while also making strides in entrenching democracy, the rule of law and good governance. 2025 saw a mix of progress and setbacks across Africa, as coups and attempted coups continued to destabilize some countries. Meanwhile, conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, alongside broader geopolitical tensions, had far-reaching repercussions for the continent. At the same time, there has also been encouraging economic growth and infrastructure investments. What follows is a recap of some of the most significant developments in African peace and security during 2025. Elections: In 2025, 17 countries held various forms of elections across all of the continent’s regions, ranging from…

Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Doctor Khumalo believes Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s move to Major League Soccer represents a smart step in his development, insisting the league’s competitiveness and exposure to elite players will fast-track the young defender’s growth. The former Orlando Pirates defender’s rise has been rapid; in less than a full calendar year since making his senior debut from the reserves, Mbokazi has captained Pirates, represented Bafana Bafana in crucial World Cup qualifiers, and now secured a move to MLS side Chicago Fire. The 20-year-old is expected to play a key role for Hugo Broos and Bafana at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco before turning his attention fully to life in the United States. Despite his obvious potential, the youngster’s move to the MLS has drawn mixed reactions,…

The Kaizer Chiefs coaching duo of Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef find themselves under pressure after a recent bad run of form. The two were promoted to co-coaches following the sacking of Nasreddine Nabi and have done relatively well during their time in charge. However, their recent run of form – three draws and a loss in their last four games – has seen former club legends and impatient fans baying for blood. This is despite the club finding themselves in a very good fourth place in the Betway Premiership, four points behind leaders Orlando Pirates, and just two behind the reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns. In all of the speculation about the Chiefs job, one name that refuses to go away is that of former Bafana Bafana and Sundowns…

The LIV Golf League and its players have no idea what awaits them in South Africa next year. According to Stinger GC captain Louis Oosthuizen and teammates Dean Burmester and Branden Grace, it won’t be a shock, but a thunderous reception driven by one of the most passionate sporting crowds in the world. After a season of ups and downs on the LIV Golf League, South Africa’s Stinger GC are ready to harness that homegrown energy as the tour makes its long-awaited stop in the City of Gold from 19-22 March at Steyn City. The past year tested the Stingers, with Masters winner Charl Schwartzel as the fourth, in every sense. Adapting to LIV Golf’s fast-paced, team-focused format came with challenges, and results did not always reflect the depth of…

When Bafana Bafana kick off their AFCON campaign against Angola tomorrow evening, the team will be fired up to deliver a performance aligning with their lofty aspirations. Both teams know the significance of this opening Group F tournament encounter, which Sudanese referee Mahmood Ismail will officiate in Marrakech. Securing maximum points from the very start will be key to building momentum on the road to continental glory. Angola, a rising force in African football, is not participating in this tournament by chance. They emerged as one of the standout surprise packages in the last Afcon held in the Ivory Coast, impressively finishing at the top of a challenging group that included heavyweights Algeria and Burkina Faso. Their remarkable run in the last tournament culminated in a quarter-final finish, demonstrating that…