South Africa’s southeastern province, birthplace of the Zulu Kingdom and home to Durban’s port
Police crackdowns have led to arrests and seizures in West Africa and at OR Tambo International, with cocaine, cannabis and illicit goods seized and investigated. In Ghana, three suspects face charges after 866 parcels of cocaine were found concealed in gari sacks at a Tema Harbour warehouse.
A wave of xenophobic protests in South Africa has intensified, targeting undocumented migrants and fueling violence, looting, and displacement. Governments are coordinating repatriation, while discussions on formal migration policy and regional dialogue are accelerating ahead of local elections.
South Africa will host the SADC summit under the theme of resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation, focusing on infrastructure, agriculture, minerals transformation and regional value chains. Leaders will review regional stability, intra-regional trade, and progress under the African Continental Free Trade Area, with Ramaphosa set to take over as chair.
Shadrack Sibiya, the suspended deputy national police commissioner, has been charged with rape, trafficking and grooming a minor. He faces additional allegations linked to political killings investigations and a controversial health tender within the Madlanga Commission inquiry. The case sits amid ongoing scrutiny of police corruption and gender-based violence in South Africa.
Undocumented migrants in South Africa have faced intensified pressure amid anti-immigrant protests and a looming deadline to leave. Diaspora returnees are arriving home amid job scarcity and limited social support, while authorities say they are screening returnees for needs. Protests and diplomatic tensions continue as elections approach, with communities seeking safety and stability.
Violence erupts in Soweto and Durban after a Constitutional Court ruling removes barriers to asylum applications. Refugee offices are overwhelmed as migrants and locals clash amid protests and looting; authorities pledge to expand processing capacity while stressing that asylum eligibility remains individual and not automatic.