Administrative capital of South Africa, seat of the executive, hosting all foreign embassies.
Clashes have intensified between Ethiopian federal forces and the TPLF in western Tigray near the Sudan border. Civilians are fleeing, and both sides accuse the other of violating the Pretoria peace deal. The fighting follows months of deteriorating relations since the Pretoria agreement and raises fears of a wider conflict in the region.
Tanzania has 222,057 tonnes of seed cotton in 2025/26 and is pushing to keep more value at home by expanding spinning, weaving and garment manufacturing. The Nyamatara Industrial Zone is under development, with land compensation already paid and infrastructure underway. Government and private sector leaders say investment is needed to unlock domestic processing and create high-value jobs.
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.
Malawi has completed the repatriation of its nationals from South Africa, bringing home 56,723 people after four months of mass return transport. Many had laboured in South Africa’s farms and industries since 2019, facing harsh conditions before returning to Malawi’s villages and towns.
South Africa has arrested a 50-year-old Thai national at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg for attempting to smuggle parrot eggs in a homemade incubator bag. Investigations indicate the eggs belong to CITES-listed parrot species. A second Thai national was arrested in July for attempting to smuggle 418 eggs. Authorities say these seizures highlight a coordinated, intelligence-led effort to dismantle wildlife trafficking networks.
Farmers across Africa and beyond are adapting to increasingly unpredictable weather. From drought- and heat-stressed crops in Europe to drought-tolerant varieties and soil-smart practices in Africa, researchers and farmers are deploying drought-tolerant seeds, smarter irrigation, and regenerative methods to protect harvests and local food supplies.
The US has announced visa restrictions for foreign nationals it finds responsible for or complicit in race-based discrimination, uncompensated land seizures or incitement of violence against minority groups in South Africa. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the measures respond to concerns about land-expropriation laws, affirmative-action policies and violent rhetoric; Pretoria has rejected the allegations.
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.
A coalition of seven armed groups has formed to topple Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, escalating violence in northern Ethiopia. After gains in Mekelle and other fronts, flights to Mekelle have been suspended amid the current security situation as clashes widen in Afar and Amhara. The Pretoria peace framework remains challenged as parties accuse one another of violations.
Fighting between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Ethiopian government has intensified, with the TPLF and its allied groups seizing airports and moving across Afar and Amhara. The conflict risks a return to the 2020–22 civil war, prompting international concern over civilian harm and humanitarian access.
Guinness World Records adjudicators are reviewing evidence from Pretoria, where about 3,000 people gathered for a mass braai. Organizers said rules require simultaneous grilling for at least five minutes; final verdict could come Friday.
Two separate mass shootings in South African townships have killed at least 27 people and wounded scores. One attack at a tavern in Wedela, southwest of Johannesburg, has left 17 dead; a second attack in Lwandle, near Cape Town, has left 10 dead. Police have launched investigations and are searching for multiple suspects.
Human Rights Watch says US deportations to African countries violate international law by removing third-country nationals to destinations with little or no ties. The program has expanded under Trump’s return to power, with over 500 people affected and at least 12 LGBTQ individuals sent to hostile states. Critics warn of non-refoulement breaches and opaque deals.
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.
Tshwane authorities have continued to battle contaminated, unchlorinated tap water after hundreds of illnesses were linked to the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Works. Officials say chlorination has resumed, but safety remains uncertain as cases persist and investigations continue into upstream sewage pollution and governance failures.
Fighting in northern Ethiopia has intensified after Mekelle’s fall, with rival factions forming a broad opposition alliance. A caretaker administration is being set up, while Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of aggression; both sides accuse each other of escalating the crisis. The conflict threatens regional stability and the ongoing humanitarian toll remains dire.
Authorities say rebel forces are collapsing and urge fighters to enter a disarmament program, while government troops and allies conduct security operations. A drone strike near Mekelle has killed several civilians as fighting continues three weeks after rebels lost the regional capital.
Former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has been denied bail by the Randburg Magistrate's Court, amid charges of rape, human trafficking, and sexual grooming involving a 16-year-old. The court cited lack of exceptional circumstances for release; his case is postponed to 24 November for further investigations. Sibiya has resigned from the SAPS and remains in custody.
A Nigerian independent investigation has found that severe overcrowding, heat stress and dehydration caused the deaths of 33 detainees in Minna, Niger State. The panel recommends prosecution for officers involved, compensation for families, and reforms to detention practices. The government says the deaths were preventable custodial tragedies linked to overcrowding and poor conditions.
Ethiopia has announced that Su-35 fighters and S-400 air defenses have arrived ahead of schedule, strengthening national security as fighting in Tigray persists. The government credits Russia’s delivery for enabling a pre-emptive deterrence, while Moscow seeks closer military and economic ties with Africa.
The United States has notified Congress and partner governments that South Africa and Rwanda will lose duty-free access to the US market under AGOA from January 2027. Washington cites barriers to trade, corruption and national security concerns. South Africa warns of job losses in farming and manufacturing and vows to diversify markets while seeking a negotiated solution.
South Africa's municipal elections have produced the ANC's worst local result since 1994: the party has won about 31% of the national vote while the Democratic Alliance has taken roughly 24–25% and Jacob Zuma's MK party about 9–10%. Turnout has risen to about 54–55%. Several major metros, including Johannesburg, Pretoria and Ekurhuleni, are heading for coalition talks.