For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: GDP increased by 0.5% in the first quarter; Cholera outbreak in Nigeria's Borno kills 74; And, WHO says Congo Ebola contact tracing is below target but has improved

GDP increased by 0.5% in the first quarter

South Africa’s GDP increased by 0.5% in the first quarter, following an increase of 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2025, Statistics South Africa reports.

Its data shows that the finance, real estate and business services industry increased by 0.9%, contributing 0.2 of a percentage point. Increased economic activities were reported for financial intermediation and auxiliary activities.

The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry increased by 3.9%, contributing 0.1 of a percentage point, primarily owing to increased economic activities reported for field crops and horticulture products.

The trade, catering and accommodation industry increased by 0.7%, contributing 0.1 of a percentage point. Increased economic activities were reported for wholesale trade, motor trade, food and beverages and accommodation.

The transport, storage and communication industry increased by 0.7%, contributing 0.1 of a percentage point, with increased economic activities reported for land transport, air transport and transport support services.

The manufacturing industry, however, decreased by 0.8%, contributing -0.1 of a percentage point.

Cholera outbreak in Nigeria's Borno kills 74

A cholera outbreak that began in early May in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state has killed at least 74 people and infected more than 7 800, overwhelming health facilities, aid group Médecins Sans Frontières said today.

MSF said 7 850 suspected cases had been recorded across 14 local government areas as of June 7, citing the state ministry of health, with infections rising sharply each day.

The outbreak is straining an already fragile healthcare system in a region at the heart of a 17-year Islamist insurgency, mass displacement and poor water and sanitation, raising the risk of wider spread if containment falters.

MSF, working with the state ministry of health, has set up a cholera treatment centre in the capital Maiduguri to support the response.

MSF said it had treated 7 439 patients, averaging about 230 admissions per day, with more than 500 cases recorded on June 5 alone, the highest number admitted in a single day since the response began.

And, WHO says Congo Ebola contact tracing is below target but has improved

Efforts to trace contacts in the Democratic Republic of Congo to try to contain the country's Ebola outbreak have improved but are below target, the World Health Organization said today.

There have been 550 confirmed cases of Ebola, including 101 deaths, according to the WHO's latest figures, as well as 94 suspected cases.

The outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola was announced on May 15, though officials have since said it went undetected for weeks, complicating efforts to bring it under control.

The WHO said it has reached 62% of contact tracing, hoping to to achieve its 90-95% target in the coming weeks.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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