South Africa
South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent, bordered by Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Eswatini, with Lesotho as an enclave within its territory. The capital cities are Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative) and Bloemfontein (judicial). With a population of about 60-million people, South Africa has the most industrialised and diversified economy on the continent, historically built on mining—particularly gold, platinum and diamonds—but also encompassing manufacturing, finance, agriculture and services. The country's currency is the rand. South Africa operates as a parliamentary republic with a president serving as both head of state and head of government. It is a member of the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, BRICS Plus and the Commonwealth. The economy is characterised by significant infrastructure, including extensive rail and port networks, but faces challenges including high unemployment, inequality and intermittent electricity supply constraints. Key exports include minerals, metals, vehicles and machinery. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa has pursued economic liberalisation and regional integration whilst grappling with the legacy of racial segregation and uneven development.
South Africa Updates
Beyond catch-up
By: Terence Creamer Updated 5 hours ago For most South Africans living in the country’s largest cities, the infrastructure backlogs are not only visible but painfully disruptive. Driving... →
New-phase R60bn capex programme announced by Impala Platinum 
By: Martin Creamer 3rd September 2026 A big part of Impala Platinum is focused on the future and on developing future strengths and competitive positioning, Implats CEO Nico Muller... →
DA escalates battle against Gayton McKenzie
By: Thabi Shomolekae 3rd September 2026 The DA has escalated its political war against Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, submitting what it says is more “damning... →
Solidarity welcomes AGOA extension until 2028
3rd September 2026 Solidarity welcomes last night’s signing of an extension act by US President Donald Trump in the White House, which also extends the African Growth... →
DWS calls for responsible water use as Spring Day celebrations raise concerns about water wastage
3rd September 2026 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is calling on South Africans to rethink how water is used during celebrations and in everyday life,... →
Report identifies extreme poverty, barriers to business growth in townships and rural areas
By: Schalk Burger 3rd September 2026 The Competition Commission’s '2026 Rural and Township Economy Report' finds that township and rural households continue to face severe economic... →
Engineering loses its top spot as South Africa’s most in-demand skills shift
3rd September 2026 Give us engineers. Over the past five years, that has been the constant refrain from companies across South Africa. According to findings from... →
Memoir of a Fractured Heart
3rd September 2026 Memoir of a Fractured Heart is a poignant, endearing story of one man’s journey through heart failure, mortality, the intricacies of transplant... →
SA: Barbara Creecy: Address by Minister of Transport, at the Road Safety Practitioners' Colloquium, Birchwood Hotel, Ekurhuleni (02/09/2026)
3rd September 2026 We cannot normalise our current situation of recording close to 12 000 deaths on South Africa’s roads annually. This why we have set ourselves the... →
1985: The Langa Massacre and the Ending of White Rule in South Africa
3rd September 2026 On 21 March 1985, police opened fire on a funeral procession in Langa township outside Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, killing peaceful protesters... →
